The Above Photo, from the Illustrated War News of September 1915
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The above photo, from the Illustrated War News of September 1915, exposes how many cameras of that era were unsuited to action shots, but the caption suggests another reason, that the photographer realised the batsman had an eye on hitting the ball into his stomach! Whatever, it is a seasonal frontispiece and several items inside mention cricket. One article, about disturbing the eternal rest of one of the “Several Battalion Commanders” in my talk last May is definitely not cricket but telling the story will hopefully result in a reverent solution see Page 15. Editor’s Musing survived to become manager of Martins Bank in Kendal. In my report on the talk given by Clive The other Harris (Page 20) I refer to him getting brother who “under the skins of the individuals in his served was talk”. This is a feeling I experience when George Bargh. researching officers for presentations. The family (5 There is a compulsive feeling to pursue brothers, two all means to gather information to sisters) was understand and portray the individuals. I brought up at muse about them when my mind has Proctor’s Farm nothing better to think about. in Wray and Having delivered my talk last May, George was Gilbert Mackereth went out of my third youngest. At the age of 12 and after thoughts and in a sense the visit to his attending Wray School, George went to grave in San Sebastian last summer was live with his newly married eldest sister final closure. To be subsequently Hannah and her husband George Platts, advised of the threat to his earthly a butcher in Halifax. Young George won remains flicked me back under his skin a scholarship to the Halifax Higher Grade and I have mused much about him again. School and then a place at University He was an extraordinary individual and College Reading. After graduating he maybe realised his burial in Spain would became a schoolmaster at Hawes ensure he would not be forgotten. Grammar School and lived at East House, Gayle. Whilst in Reading George served for MORE INFORMATION FOR ARTICLES WHEN: two years as an officer cadet with the (+P) : photos, maps in Photo Gallery, Reading Contingent of the Officers’ (+S) : supplementary information report Training Corps (Senior Division). On 2 See our website www.wfanlancs.co.uk and look January 1914, whilst living in Gayle, against this Despatch George applied for a commission in the 1st Battalion King’s (Liverpool) Regiment 2ND LIEUTENANT GEORGE BARGH and was placed on the Special Reserve “MISSING IN ACTION”: Tricia Platts list. At the outbreak of the Great War he (+P) was appointed a Second Lieutenant and joined his regiment which was stationed Many members of the Branch will be in Aldershot. As was the case with many familiar with the green and gold liveried young officers, George was transferred to lorries of SJ Bargh Ltd, the haulage a regiment short of officers, in his case business based in Caton village. Sam the 1st Btn Suffolk Regiment. George Bargh had two brothers who served in Bargh landed at Le Havre on 20 February the Great War. John William, a private 1915 and, according to the War Diary, (later Company Sergeant) in the 8th was posted to ‘C’ Company on 28 Border Regiment, crossed to France on February whilst the Suffolks were at 26 September 1915, was wounded three Bailleul preparing to ‘engage the enemy’ times (according to family legend) but at Ypres (Ieper). 2 insight into the plight of a family whose son has been posted ‘Missing in Action’. The War Office telegram to the Bargh family was followed by a report in the local newspaper: Second-Lieutenant George Bargh, who belonged to the King's Liverpool Regiment, but was attached to the 1st Suffolk Regiment, and who, before he received his commission, was a schoolmaster at Hawes is reported missing since May 10th. He was 25 years of age. His people have farmed in Lunesdale for many years, and his father took an active part in public affairs. A War Office letter dated 1 June tries to add some finality, “The Military Secretary . deeply regrets to inform Mrs Bargh that 2Lt G Bargh, previously George survived the opening phases reported missing, is now unofficially of the 2nd Battle of Ypres when the reported killed.” However, Mrs Bargh’s German’s gas attack on 22nd April broke response on 23 June is to request a form into the Salient west of Poelcappelle. His on which “I can send particulars to the battalion was attacked by gas near American Ambassador in London asking Gravenstafel Ridge on 24th April. In the for enquiries to be made . in Berlin.” succeeding days the Germans made This procedure is duly carried through but further strong attacks and on 4th May the the response eventually forwarded to British established a new line of defence. Wray is brief: Nicht in den George was north of Frezenberg on 8th Kriegsfangenlisten verzeichnet. May when the Germans broke through on Nachforschungen warden angestelit, bei the Suffolks right flank. According to the Ermittlung erfolgt Benachrichtigung”. Official History “the Suffolks held out The next letter from the War Office is desperately in isolated detachments dated 7 February 1916 and is based on when with all communications cut they news forwarded to the WO by Col were surrounded. Lieut Col Wallace, 11 Wallace’s wife many months previously. officers and 432 other ranks became Her husband, who is a prisoner of war, casualties”. The entries in the battalion writes that 2Lt Bargh was besides him War Diary for the 8th to 10th May are thin during the attack on 10th May. The and record that in the evening of 9th May Craven Herald reprints an article from the the 29 men “survivors from the trenches” London Gazette: were joined by 127 NCOs and men from News has reached Mrs. Bargh from Felixstowe via le Havre. From 18th April Colonel Wallace, 1st Suffolk Regiment, to 8th May the Suffolks had lost all but who is a prisoner of war in Germany, that one of its officers and 947 other ranks. on that date her son was shot in the head George Bargh’s Officer’s Records are just before the Germans took the available at Kew and give a fascinating 3 trenches as he was bandaging a portrait, taken from a photograph, is with wounded soldier and killed instantly. another Bargh nephew. The WO now asks Mrs Bargh “to confirm the fact that no further news of this officer has reached you . and be regretfully constrained to conclude that he died on or since that date.” The reply is almost too poignant. Helen Bargh has refused to lock the front door of Proctor’s Farm for nearly twelve months in case her son came home. She now writes, “I’m only too grieved I cannot give you any further information Holy Trinity Church, Wray. Marble Tablet regarding my son, missing May 10th” On 3 November 1916 the Craven HOW BRIGHT THESE Herald reports on the Impressive GLORIOUS SPIRITS SHINE - Memorial Service held in Hawes. Pte E L Mathers Cameronians A very impressive memorial service for the soldiers from the parish, and those closely connected with the parish, who THE HARRIS ORPHANAGE MEMORIAL have fallen in the War, was held in St. FULWOOD: Mike Sherrington Margaret's Church on Sunday afternoon. From the Church tower the flag of St. The Harris Orphanage was founded at George was flying half-mast, and the the bequest of a wealthy Preston solicitor solemn tolling of the Church bell, Edmund Robert Harris (1804-1877) who announcing the hour of service, left £100,000 to support the charity. Its deepened the solemnity of the occasion. design was based on an idea pioneered There was a large congregation, among by Dr Barnardo for a village of houses whom were the relatives of many who arranged looking inwards around a have fallen. The service was conducted green. It was built on former agricultural by the vicar (Rev. S. D. Crawford), and land between Black Bull Lane and the hymns were ‘ Lead, Kindly Light', ‘On Garstang Road (A6) in Fulwood, then a the Resurrection Morning', and ‘For all largely rural area. The architect was the Saints'. The soldiers whose Benjamin Sykes, and George memories were honoured were: Rowbotham, Preston Parks’ Frederick Cockett, Albert Leach, Thomas Superintendent was responsible for the Walton, J. W. Fryer, Reginald Milburn, design and lay out of the grounds. James Banks, J. Chaytor Metcalfe, The orphanage provided homes for George Bargh, and James H. Milner approximately 120 children whose George Bargh is remembered on the parents had to have lived within 8 miles war memorial and Roll of Honour in Holy of Preston town hall for a minimum of one Trinity Church, Wray and on the Menin year. Accommodation was based in 8 Gate. After his death the family single sex houses, each containing 16 commissioned a full length portrait of him. children. The orphans were looked after It is now in the keeping of his nephew by childless married couples; the John Bargh and a head and shoulders housemothers saw to the needs of the 4 children, while the men were employed white marble statue of a soldier with rifle on the estate. It was a strict but caring reversed. The inscription reads: regime. The houses featured every “In loving memory of the old boys of modern amenity including washrooms, the Harris Orphanage who fell in the bathrooms and electric lighting. In Great War 1914-1918. They died the addition there was a gatekeeper’s lodge, death of honour for God, King and an infirmary, a laundry, a tailor’s shop, Country.