John Rodden
John Rodden was born in Chorley on the 21st January 1894, the eldest of six children born to Ellen and Charles Salisbury Roden. Prior to enlisting with the Pals on the 21st September 1914, he lived at 11 Coventry Street in Chorley and worshipped at St. Gregory’s Church. The 1911 Census recorded him as an Apprentice to Iron Moulder (possibly to his father).
John was wounded at Serre on the 1st July 1916, being admitted to the 14th General (Chateau Mercien) Hospital at Wimereux before being shipped to the 5th Southern Hospital at Portsmouth on the 6th July. After recovering from his wounds he was transferred to the 10th (Reserve) Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment, with a new service number of 35450.
After the war he returned to Chorley and married Mary Sharratt in 1920 and had two children – William Ivor (born 1926) and Catherine (born 1928).
