Ralph Rainford worshipped at St. Chad’s R.C. Church, South Hill in Whittle-le-Woods and not Hollinshead Street Congregational Street Congregational Church (the latter was printed in the Chorley Guardian ‘Roll of Honour’ lists c1915).
He was born in Brindle in 1893 and was living at Denham Springs Farm in Brindle in 1910; he was also listed on the 1918 Electoral Roll for Brindle as an absent voter due to military service. Sometime after the war he ran the Whittle Springs Hotel (later the Howard Arms) and eventually the Mitre Hotel in Chorley.
He told his family that he served in Egypt and went over the top with the Chorley Pals at Serre on the 1st July 1916.
Ralph Rainford died in Chorley and is buried in St. Gregory’s R.C. Church.
Acknowledgement: Many thanks to Margaret Rainford – Grand-daughter of Ralph Rainford – for the above information.
