Went to Caernarvon with the Chorley Company in February 1915 and was known to have transferred to the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment as 58205 (date unknown).
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Served in the Company machine gun section, being wounded in the shoulder on the 1st July 1916. After recovering from his wounds he was placed briefly with the 8th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment with the serial number of 35433. On the 2nd August 1916 he was transferred to Officer training and received a Commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Machine Gun Corps. He was still in the Army in 1919 as he was part of his Battalion football team who were runners-up in the 5th Army football competition. Born in Brindle on the 22nd September 1895 to James and Susannah (nee Woods), he was baptised in St. James’ Church in the village by Rev. Kinton Jacques on the 3rd November that year. James lived with his parents at Pear Tree Cottage in Clayton-le-Woods, attending St. John’s Church at nearby Whittle-le-Woods, working in textiles at Swansey Mill in the village. He married Jessie Golledge on the 8th May 1920 at St. John’s in Whittle-le-Woods and was the first of the family to emigrate to the United States after the war, living in Pawtucket in Rhode Island where he continued to work in the textile trade. James made a return trip to the U.K., arriving in Liverpool from Montreal on the 2nd June 1959; he died in America on the 27th March 1962. His other three brothers fought in the war – Arthur, Charles and Percy (the latter in the Pals, see below). Other information: James Allsup had two cousins who served in the war. John Allsup served as Corporal 680900 in the Royal Field Artillery and after the war became Managing Director of Bamber Bridge Spinning Co. Also, Lieutenant Edmund Woods who was killed on Gallipoli on the 7th August 1915 whilst serving with the 1st / 4th Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment. Their stories can be found in the book ‘Brindle & Hoghton Pals’. Born in Chorley in 1889, one of six children to his parents Joseph and Mary (nee Heald). They were living at 4 Wellington Street in Chorley in 1901, 1911 and 1914 when Eli enlisted in the Pals. Although not married he had a partner and three children, and worshipped at St. Laurence’s and Hollinshead Congregational Churches. Fluent in French, he worked as a Weaver at Mayfield Mill in the town, and played football for Hollinshead Street. Eli was wounded at Serre on the 1st July 1916, breaking his arm and leg and being treated at a hospital in Glasgow. He was killed in action on the 13th May 1917 at Oppy Wood and, having no known grave, is commemorated on the Arras Memorial. Two of his brothers were killed in the war, but not with the Chorley Pals – Joseph on the 15th June 1915, aged 22, serving as Private 2055 with the 1st / 4th (T.F.) Battalion Loyal North Lancs. and Henry (Harry) in Gallipoli on the 28th August 1915 serving as Private 4405 with the 5th Battalion of the Connaught Rangers. Aged 20, he was single and lived at 20 Chorley Old Road, Whittle-le-Woods. He attended St. John’s Church and worked in textiles at Kem Mills in the village. Thomas was wounded in the chest during the attack on the 1st July 1916; he died in 1983. |
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