James Speakman
James Speakman was born in Chorley in 1887, one of seven children born to Elizabeth and Joseph Speakman. He married Margaret Darbyshire at Chorley in 1911 and their daughter, Mary, was born in 1913. They set up home at 11 Hindley Street in Chorley and attended St. Gregory’s Church. Prior to enlisting in the Pals, James worked as a Bleacher at Birkacre Bleachworks.
He was killed at Serre on the morning of the 1st July and, having no known grave, is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.
After James’ death, his wife moved back to her mother’s at 23 Gilbert Street in Chorley and re-married in the mid-1920s.
Other Information: Five of James’s brothers served in the Army during the war. Two were killed whilst serving with the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment in 1916 – Daniel was killed on the Somme on the 1st July 1916 and George two months earlier on the 2nd May; his brother Charles won a DCM.
