Unit/Regiment	6th Reserve Bde, Royal Field Artillery
Date of Death	12/10/1918		Age at Death		25
Burial/Memorial & Reference	Prescot Churchyard NP 183
Census Details	1901 Census The Forshaw family lived at 19 Cross Street, Prescot and comprised John, a 41 year old Iron Foundry Labourer, his 21 year old wife Alice and their children Lily (10), John (8), Dorothy (4) and William (3 months).
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations	Birth registered Q2/1893, Prescot, Volume 8b, Page 679
SDGW – Where Born		Enlisted		Birkenhead	Resided	Birkenhead
How Died	Died			Theatre of War	Home
Notes	The youngest member of the family, William, aged 3 months on the 1901 census, died in 1903 and is buried with John as shown on the headstone picture below.
Research Ref. No.	P110

Service Details

A Medal Index Card, reproduced below, is held at the National Archives for John Edward Forshaw, Private 858 with the Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry. The picture below of John Forshaw’s grave at Prescot clearly shows a carving of the LHY Regimental Badge, further recording that he died at Edinburgh Military Hospital.

The Medal Card shows his Enlistment Date as 15^th October 1912, a pre-war regular, but then his discharge date is 27^th November 1914, noting that he was discharged due to sickness.

It appears that he later joined the artillery, serving with the reserve brigade although not overseas. It is likely that whilst serving with his unit at Edinburgh Castle in 1918, he died from illness associated with his earlier service.

 

 

John Forshaw's Medal Index Card

 

 

John Forshaw’s grave in Prescot Churchyard

 

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Unit/Regiment	9th Bn., Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Date of Death	18/04/1918		Age at Death		19
Burial/Memorial & Reference	Tyne Cot Memorial Panel 63 to 65
CWGC Family Details (if shown)	Son of John and Margaret Foster, of 6 No 1 Court, Victoria Place. Prescot, Lancs.
Census Details	1901 Census - 6 Court, 1 Victoria Place was the home of the Foster family, comprising John (38), a Watch Balance Maker, his wife Margaret (36) and children James (7) and Herbert (2)
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations	Birth Registered Q4/1898, Prescot, Vol 8b, Page 711
SDGW – Where Born	Prescot, Lancs	Enlisted		St Helens, Lancs	Resided
How Died	Killed In Action			Theatre of War	France & Flanders
Research Ref. No.	P111

Research ongoing

 

 

Herbert Foster’s Medal Index Card

 

 

Herbert Foster’s inscription on the Tyne Cot memorial. In addition to his official commemoration, his family also have an inscription on the family grave in Prescot, shown below. The regimental number inscribed on the grave is incorrect.

 

 

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Unit/Regiment	4th Bn, King's (Liverpool Regiment)
Date of Death	11/04/1918		Age at Death		21
Burial/Memorial & Reference	Chocques Military Cemetery VI A 32
CWGC Family Details (if shown)	Son of William and Sarah Foster, of 36, Houghton St., Prescot, Lancs.
Census Details	1901 Census - William Foster, a 39 year old Watch Regulator Maker, lived at 23, Houghton Street with his wife Sarah (39), and children Jane (17), Ann (12), Thomas (10), William (5),  Sarah (3) and Arthur (1).
SDGW – Where Born	Prescot, Lancs	Enlisted		Liverpool	Resided	Prescot, Lancs
How Died	Killed In Action			Theatre of War	France & Flanders
Research Ref. No.	P112

Unit/Regiment	"A" Coy, 1st/5th Bn, South Lancashire Regiment
Date of Death	12/04/1918		Age at Death		32
Burial/Memorial & Reference	Loos Memorial Panel 76
CWGC Family Details (if shown)	Son of the late Peter and Margaret Foster.
SDGW – Where Born	Rainhill, Lancs	Enlisted		St Helens, Lancs	Resided	Prescot, Lancs
How Died	Killed In Action			Theatre of War	France & Flanders
Research Ref. No.	P113

Research ongoing

 

 

Henry Foster's Medal Index Card

 

 

Henry Foster’s inscription on the Loos Memorial

 

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Unit/Regiment	1st/5th Bn., King's (Liverpool Regiment)
Date of Death	31/07/1917		Age at Death		23
Burial/Memorial & Reference	New Irish Farm Cemetery XIX D 15
Census Details	1901 Census - Son of Thomas and Annie Fowler, of 23 Derby Square, Prescot.
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations	Birth registered Q2/1894, Prescot, Vol 8b, Page 683
SDGW – Where Born	Prescot, Lancs	Enlisted		Liverpool	Resided	Prescot, Lancs
How Died	Killed In Action			Theatre of War	France & Flanders
Notes	Previously served as Pte 3047 with the same regiment, but also see below.
Research Ref. No.	P114

Service Details

It seems highly likely that Edward Fowler had enlisted once before the above referenced service. There is a set of service records surviving at the National Archives for a Private 2858 Edward Fowler of the 5^th Battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment which probably relate to the same man. 

2858 Fowler attested for service in Prescot on 19th September 1914. The records show that he lived at 16, Derby Square, Prescot and that his next of kin was his father, Thomas Fowler of the same address. His service only lasted until 14^th October 1914, when he was discharged as “Medically Unfit”.

His initial medical inspection at attestation shows his to be aged 19 years and 1 month, to be 5 foot 6 inches tall and to have a 37 inch chest measurement, His vision and general physical development were both recorded as “Good”. It was his later, more detailed, medical which found him to be not fit for service and led to his discharge.

There is only one birth recorded in Prescot in the mid-1880’s for Edward Fowler, and that is the one shown in the table above. Similarly, the 1901 census shows only one entry for Edward Fowler, with a father called Thomas, and they lived at 23 Derby Square at the time.

Consequently, it seems likely that Edward joined up with the South Lancashire Regiment within a few weeks of the outbreak of war but for whatever reason, he was classed as unfit for service and discharged within a few weeks. He then appears to have enlisted again, this time with the King’s (Liverpool) Regiment, with whom he served and died.

The Battle of Pilkem Ridge, from 31st July to 2^nd August 1917, was the first part of the Third Battle of Ypres, and the King’s (Liverpool) Regiment had no less than ten battalions involved, including the 1/5^th, with Pte Fowler.

On the night of 30^th/31^st July, the battalion formed up in the assembly trenches, ready to go over the top. It was a particularly dark morning and at Zero hour, 3.50 a.m., the men experienced great difficulties in keeping proper distance. Both the 1/5^th and 1/6^th advanced up to the barrage and took the German front line with little opposition. There are few records surviving of the detail of the operation, however, and the battalion diary sums up the whole attack by saying “Battalion attacked at 3.50 a.m. Operation orders attached herewith. Four officers wounded, Casualties other ranks – wounded 105, killed in action 26, missing 45.”

Pte. Edward Fowler was one of those killed. His body was recovered and he now rests in New Irish Farm Cemetery. 

 

 

The original attestation paper signed by Edward Fowler

 

 

Edward Fowler’s Medal Index Card

 

 

Edward Fowler’s grave at New Irish Farm Cemetery

 

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Unit/Regiment	1st/7th Bn, Worcestershire Regiment
Date of Death	16/08/1917		Age at Death		35
Burial/Memorial & Reference	Tyne Cot Memorial Panel 75 to 77
CWGC Family Details (if shown)	Husband of Elizabeth Fowler, of 5, St. Helens Rd., Prescot, Lancs.
Census Details	1901 Census - Living at 12, High Street, Prescot, were Joseph Fowler, a 42 year old Green Grocer, his wife Margaret (40) and children Jane (20), John (19, a Watchmaker - Jeweller), Charles (17), Joseph (12), Thomas (7) and William (1).
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations	Daughters Margaret (1912) and Florence (1915) born in Prescot
SDGW – Where Born	Whiston, Lancs	Enlisted		Prescot	Resided	Prescot, Lancs
How Died	Killed In Action			Theatre of War	France & Flanders
Notes	Formerly served as Private 40584 , 3rd Bn., South Lancs Regt. Brother of Thomas Fowler, who died of wounds on 02/10/1918
Research Ref. No.	P115

Service Details

The Parish Magazine of 30^th August 1917 reported the death of Private Fowler as follows “”Private John Fowler of the 3^rd South Lancs., who was killed in action on August 16^th, and leaves a widow and three children at No 5. St Helens Road. He had been transferred to the Worcesters.

The town is full of sympathy for Mrs. John Fowler, whose husband was so recently called up. In his younger days he was our organ blower at church, and was well known and respected by all men who knew him. It is just one year since Mrs. Fowler lost her brother, John Birchall, killed in action in France”. 

 

 

John Fowler’s Medal Index Card

 

 

John Fowler’s inscription on the Tyne Cot memorial

 

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Unit/Regiment	2nd/4th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment
Date of Death	02/10/1918		Age at Death		24
Burial/Memorial & Reference	Sunken Road Cemetery III E 8
CWGC Family Details (if shown)	Husband of Gertrude A. Sharp (formerly Fowler), of 6, Duke St., Prescot, Lancs.
Census Details	1901 Census - Living at 12, High Street, Prescot, were Joseph Fowler, a 42 year old Green Grocer, his wife Margaret (40) and children Jane (20), John (19, a Watchmaker - Jeweller), Charles (17), Joseph (12), Thomas (7) and William (1).
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations	Gertrude Fowler was remarried to George Sharpe in 1922
SDGW – Where Born	Prescot, Lancs	Enlisted		Prescot	Resided
How Died	Died of Wounds			Theatre of War	France & Flanders
Notes	Brother of John Fowler who was killed in action on 06/10/1917
Research Ref. No.	P116

Service Details

After the outbreak of war in August 1914, second and third line battalions were formed within several battalions of the regiment; the second line battalion would be equipped and trained for overseas service  whilst the third line battalion would be used for development and training of men ultimately drafted into the first and second line battalions, as replacements and reinforcements.

The 2^nd/4^th Battalion of the South Lancs was formed in September 1914 and did much of its training in the south of England. At the same time, it formed part of the force retained in England for home defence, and it carried this role out throughout 1915 and 1916.

Early in February 1917, the battalion was chosen for overseas service and on 15th February it left Frith Barracks and entrained for Folkstone. The battalion comprised 31 officers and 799 men. They arrived in Boulogne the following day, stayed in Hazebrouck for a few days then went to Sailly-sur-Lys in preparation for moving into the line. On 24th, they occupied trenches for the first time near Bois Grenier, where they remained until 4th March.

 

At this time, it was officially "quiet" on the Lys front, although the British were preparing for what they knew must be coming soon; a German assault. However, "quiet" was a relative term, and few days passed without a casualty of some sort, incurred by snipers, trench-mortars, raids (both attacking and defending), etc.

 

The battalion remained in this area until October 1917, when it moved to the Ypres sector. Here, they were mainly involved in Pioneer work, although they did serve in the trenches on the Pilckem Ridge.

In 1918 the battalion had been part of the defence against the German attack in March, and by the middle of the year they had moved to Arras, remaining out of the line from the end of July until the 17^th August. By this time, the British counter-attacks were making significant headway and attacks on the German lines were becoming more frequent. On 2^nd September, a large attack was launched against the Drocourt-Queant system of trenches, where it joined the Hindenberg Line. The battalion were at the forefront of this attack and all the objectives were taken at slight cost.

The battalion was withdrawn from the line into reserve the following day

On 27^th September, the battalion attacked the Graincourt Line as part of the assault on the Canal Du Nord. By this time, the trench systems were being left behind, resulting in a more open, flowing fight. The battalion were in place at their assembly point in a sunken road by 5.20 a.m. although they never moved into the attack until after 10.00 a.m. They then moved forward under heavy shell fire to the canal crossing, near lock No. 5, from which they advanced over 1,.000 yards. By 3.30 p.m. the battalion was again on the move, this time ordered to attack Graincourt. They assaulted the village but came under withering machine-gun fire which inflicted severe casualties.  By the evening, the assault came to a stop and the troops concentrated on “mopping up” enemy strong points which were holding out.

Orders were received to take the village of Cantaing the next day which they did with few casualties. The total casualties from the fighting of the 27^th and 28^th were 20 killed and 90 wounded. On the 29^th, the battalion attacked again, near to Proville, quickly capturing the village with 4 men killed and 41 wounded

On 1^st October, the battalion was moved into reserve at La Folie Wood

Private Fowler is one of the men wounded over this period of fighting, although records do not show the actual details. He succumbed to his wounds on 2^nd October 1918, at one of the local Casualty Clearing Stations and was buried in the Sunken Road Cemetery.  Just six weeks later, the war was over.

 

The Parish Magazine of 29^th October 1918 reported “The following names to be added to the Roll of Honour” and included “Pte. Thomas Fowler of Cambridge Street, died of wounds 2^nd October”.

 

 

Thomas Fowler’s Medal Index Card

 

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Unit/Regiment	1st/6th Bn., Northumberland Fusiliers
Date of Death	25/03/1918		Age at Death		40
Burial/Memorial & Reference	Pozieres Memorial Panel 16 to 18
CWGC Family Details (if shown)	Son of Robert and Elizabeth France, of Prescot, Lancs.; husband of Margaret Elizabeth France, of Stoneleigh, Orrell, Wigan, Lancs.
Census Details	1901 Census - Robert France, a 61 year old Draper and Outfitter, lived at 16&18, Eccleston Street, Prescot, with his wife Elizabeth (54) and children Ada (26), Louisa (25), Robert (22) and Annie (20)
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations	Birth registered Q1/1879, Prescot, Vol 8b, Page 714 Marriage to Margaret Pemberton registered in Q3/1913, Wigan, Vol 8c, Page 125 Son James France born Birmingham, 1914
SDGW – Where Born	Prescot, Lancs	Enlisted		Prescot	Resided
How Died	Died			Theatre of War	France & Flanders
Research Ref. No.	P117