High Hesket war memorial is just one of countless (or uncounted) such memorials across the length and breadth of the UK. Every name on every memorial has a story behind it, of a life lived and a life lost.
Today is Remembrance Sunday, ahead of Remembrance Day on November 11. The following is a look at the names that appear on the war memorial at St Mary’s Church, in the village of High Hesket, Cumbria. These are First World War deaths only.
PRIVATE JOHN JOSEPH TROUGHEAR
Service Number: 513254
London Regiment (London Scottish) 1st/14th Bn.
Died 13 April 1917 Age 21 years old
WARLINCOURT HALTE BRITISH CEMETERY, SAULTY
John Joseph Troughear was the grandson of Joseph Troughear, who appears in this post.
His mother Mary died when he was just four, and he grew up in High Hesket with his father (another Joseph) and step-mother Mary.
John Joseph Troughear joined the Army in March 1916 as Private 513254. He was 5’ 9 1/4” tall.
He served in France from 29.9.16-13.4.17. He served with 14 Res Battery London Regt (London Scottish).
On April 10, 1917, he suffered gun shot wounds to his back and neck. He died from the wounds three days later at 43 Clearing Station France, from wounds and was buried at Warlingcourt Halte British Cemetery, Saulty (VIII. D. 12).
That section, and others, was filled in April/May 1917 by clearing station deaths from the Battle of Arras – a battle which resulted in stalemate, at the cost of 158,000 British casualties, and;130,000 German casualties.
PRIVATE ALBERT JOHN WALTON
Service Number: 16369
Border Regiment 11th Bn.
Date of Death. Died 13 August 1916
CAMBRIN CHURCHYARD EXTENSION
Albert John Walton was one of the eleven children of railway labourer Robert Walton and his wife Mary Ann.
He was farm servant when he signed up on November 7, 1914. aged 19. He was 5ft 8ins. had brown eyes, fair hair, a ruddy complexion, and had scars on the right side of his neck.
His record only shows his 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal were signed for by his father Robert Walton of Barrow Hill, Southwaite. Along with his personal effects: letters, photos, prayer book, New Testament, tobacco tin, a belt and other bits and pieces.
Albert’s brother Thomas William Walton is also on the High Hesket memorial – he died in the same month as Albert, aged 25, but was serving with the 16th Canadian Scottish
PRIVATE THOMAS WILLIAM WALTON
Service Number: 420913
Canadian Infantry 16th Bn.
Died 04 August 1916
LARCH WOOD (RAILWAY CUTTING) CEMETERY, Belgium
Thomas William Walton was a horseman working on a farm at Armathwaite in 1911. At some point between then and 1916, he has to have emigrated to Canada.
The Penrith Observer, September 5, 1916.
MEMORIAL SERVICE TO HIGH HESKET SOLDIERS. A memorial service was held in Hesket Church for two young men of the parish who have given their lives for their country—Private Thomas W. Walton. Canadian Scottish, and Private Albert John Walton, Border Regiment, sons of Mr. R. Walton. Barrow Mill. The service was conducted by the vicar, who took for his text ‘Vacant Places’ — and preached a very impressive sermon. A large number of the deceaseds’ relatives and friends were present.
TROOPER WALTER NOTMAN STRONG
Service Number: 1584
Household Battalion (CWG . memorial says lifeguards)
Died 03 May 1917 Age 19 years old
CRUMP TRENCH BRITISH CEMETERY, FAMPOUX. This was made by fighting units between April and August 1917. After the Armistice, 85 of the graves were found to have been destroyed.
Walter was the son of Joseph Strong , a gardener and farmer, and his wife Hannah, née Notman, who had two sons and daughter. And that’s about all the information that is readily available.
PRIVATE JOHN GEORGE STOREY
Service Number: 202992
Border Regiment 7th (West. and Cumb. Yeomanry) Bn
Died 13 March 1918 Age 18 years old
FLESQUIERES HILL BRITISH CEMETERY
Sadly, I couldn’t find any information on him.
May 21, 1918, Penrith Observer
Next Sunday evening, a memorial service will be held at Hesket Church for Privates Cannon, Gordons; W Strong, Guards Household Battalion; H Rutherford, Highlanders; and Hartley, RFA.
GUNNER WILLIAM MUSGRAVE HARTLEY
Service Number: 215373
Royal Field Artillery “C” Bty. 46th Bde. Died 04 April 1918
CRUCIFIX CORNER CEMETERY, VILLERS-BRETONNEUX
William Musgrave Hartley was a railway porter, born about 1895 – one of four children of railway surfaceman John Hartley and his wife Dinah, née Musgrave.
PRIVATE ROBERT MCQUEEN CANNON
Service Number: S/10955
Gordon Highlanders 2nd Bn.
Died 12 October 1917
Etaples Military Cemetery
Sadly, I again couldn’t find any information on him.
PRIVATE JAMES HENRY RUTHERFORD
Service Number: S/29659
Cameron Highlanders 1st Bn.
Died 18 April 1918 Age 20 years old
WOBURN ABBEY CEMETERY, CUINCHY Pas de Calais
James Henry Rutherfod’s parents were Joseph, a former temperance hotel keeper, and Mary.
Penrith Observer May 14, 1918
Private James Henry Rutherford, of the Cameron Highlanders, Hesket, was killed in action on the 18th. He was a goods clerk at Staveley.
PRIVATE THOMAS DALGLEISH
Service Number: 29801
Border Regiment “A” Coy. 1st Bn.
Died 15 October 1918 Age 20 years old
DADIZEELE NEW BRITISH CEMETERY, BELGIUM
The 1911 census shows Walter Dalgliesh, alabaster mines labourer, wife Elizabeth, had had six children, two of whom had already died. Tom and two girls are on the census with them.