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Blackburn Prisoners of War

During the First World War about 7,335 officers and 174,491 other ranks of the British Army were captured by enemy forces. There is no complete list covering all of these POWs. There are very few sources of information about what happened to them while in captivity and little information on those who were liberated after the Armistice in 1918.

On Monday 6^th January 1919 in the Assembly Rooms of the Town Hall a “Welcome Home" party was given by the Mayoress Mrs Cotton, wife of the Mayor Lawrence Cotton, who was President of the Prisoner of War Help Committee.

There were 670 [a fortnight later this figure was give as 760, was there a slip of the pen somewhere?] names of Blackburn men on the POW Help Committee's list, of these, only about 580 soldiers attended the party. Some soldiers had yet to be repatriated. Each man was given a sovereign by the Mayor.
There was a total of 29,949 parcels sent out by the Blackburn Prisoner of War Fund.

In 'The Blackburn Times', 23rd November 1918, a letter was printed from the Blackburn Prisoner of War Help Committee it reads;

“Sir, We are once again trespassing on your kindness, and shall be greatly obliged if you will make it known in your paper that this Committee are anxious to have all the names of any local men who may have been prisoners of war bur have not been notified as such. We think it is probable that a number of local men previously reported as missing may turn out to have been prisoners behind the lines and that they have had no opportunity of letting their whereabouts known. We hope that if there are any townsmen amongst such returning prisoners of War, that they will let us have their names and addresses.

For the present our office in Victoria Street remains at work and the hours are 11 to 12-30 and 2-30 to 4 o’clock daily except Saturday afternoons.

Yesterday we had a visit from Pte. J. Davis, 7 Percival Street, who has been a prisoner since last March and behind the lines all that time. We had an address in his case, but no one was able to get into touch with him.

We cannot be sufficiently grateful to you for all the kind help you have given us in the work, and thank you very sincerely.

Your assistance has been invaluable

Yours etc.

Hilda Dugdale

Anna Spencer

Hon. Secs.

From November 1918, when it seems, Prisoners of War began to return en-masse “The Blackburn Times" began to print their names, together with their Rank, Regiment, and Address.

Below is that list with the date of the issue.
There are 662 names on the list below. The list is not complete according to the figures shown above.

The Blackburn Times November 30, 1918

"Blackburn men who have been prisoners of war in Germany are returning home in considerable numbers. The Blackburn Prisoners of War Help Committee have this week been visited at their Victoria Street office by the following local men who have just been repatriated:"

Name/Rank	Regiment	Address
Private J. Roberts	K.O.R.L Regiment	70 Brunswick Street
Private W. Pickering	East Lancashire Regiment	177 Downham Street
Private C. Fee	Royal West Surrey	33 Pink Street
Lance Corporal W. Haworth	South Lancashires	24 The Croft
Corporal Standen	Scottish Rifles	95 Audley Range
Corporal S. Entwistle	East Lancashires	30 Fielden Terrace, Cherry Tree
Corporal W. Perkins	Cyclist Corps	40 Withers Street
Private H. Haworth	Welsh Regiment	292 Whalley Range
Private F. Martin	Loyal North Lancashires	8 Ash Street
Sergeant Pickering	9th Lancers	60 Livesey Branch Road
Private W. Cartmell	East Lancashires	34 Maudsley Street
Private J. Whittaker	M.G.C	28 Mayfield Terrace, Cherry Tree
Private F. Munster	East Lancashires	25 Disraeli Street
Private H. Chadwick	Loyal North Lancashires	26 Southworth Street
Private A. Pickup	Royal Dublin Fusiliers	22 Meadow Street
Private H. Ford	East Lancashires	69 Hazel Street
Private Haworth	East Lancashires	21 Folywell Street
Corporal C. Hoole	Loyal North Lancashires	14 St. Ann Street
Private H. Holden	Northumberland Fusiliers	107 Redlam
Private A. White	East Lancashires	34 Livesey Branch Road
Private R. Turner	East Lancashires	25 New Garden Street
Private R. Hoverd	Royal Dublin Fusiliers	71 Hollin Bridge Street

The Blackburn Times December 7, 1918

"In addition to the men whose names were published last week, the following Blackburn Prisoners of War have now returned, and have reported themselves to the Prisoners of War Help Committee:"

Name/Rank	Regiment	Address
Lance Corporal A. Leaver	K.O.E.L	114 Heyes Lane, Livesey
Rifleman J. Edmondson	K.R.R	30 Hollin Bank Street
Corporal W.R.	ScottWest Yorkshires	9 Mayson Street
Private A. Hounslow	Lancashire Fusiliers	59 Havelock Street
Sergeant F. Bone	East Lancashires	5 Byrom Street
Lance Corporal H. Neville	Manchesters	38 Accrington Street
Lance Corporal Thompson	East Lancashires	109 Accrington Road
Private J. Holt	LoyalNorth Lancashires	12 Jack Croft
Corporal J. H Marsden	East Lancashires	170 Accrington Road
Private T. Johnson	East Lancashires	5 Pendle Street
Corporal W. Radmore	East Lancashires	1 Palmer Street
Private J. Gillman	M.G.C	8 Grant Street, Witton
Private T. Barton	South Wales Borderers	9 Willow Street
Private A. Moon	Labour Battalion	1 Duke of Sussex Street
Sergeant T. Caton	4th East Lancashires	6 Sandon Street
Lance Corporal W. Waddington	Gordon Highlanders	17 Stephen Street
Private C. A. Travis	East Lancashires	50 Cedar Street
Private W. Bolton	Lancashire Fusiliers	136 Moss Street
Private H. Wilde	Royal Fusiliers	67 Whalley Banks
Private A. Turner	King’s Liverpools	Ship Inn, Penny Street
Private J. Atherton	East Lancashires	66 Whalley Banks
Private W. Parkinson	M.G.C	10 Pendle Street
Private E. Bolton	R.A.M.C	21 Jessel Street, Mill Hill
Lance Corporal Livesey	East Lancashires	1 Billinge Street
Private W. Smethurst	East Lancashires	6 Providence Street
Private Newby	Royal Irish Regiment	7 Freme Street
Lance Corporal Lee	Cheshires	7 Kemp Street
Lance Corporal Dyball	East Lancashires	25 Culvert Street
Private A. Broadbent	East Lancashires	9 Young Street, Mill Hill
Private J. Worden	K.O.B.L	91A Scotland Road
Private G. Cocker	East Lancashires	19 Carlisle Street
Private A. Walmsley	East Lancashires	215 Cornelian Terrace
Private F. Holden	M.G.C	8 Wolsley Street
Private C. Ford	East Lancashires	2 Mosely Street
Private C. Hartley	Manchesters	31 Blakewater Street
Private T. Hall	K.SL.I	104 Bonsall Street, Mill Hill
Private C. L. Rowland	4th East Lancashires	13 Whalley New Road
Lance Corporal W. O’Brien	East Lancashires	6 Southworth Street
Private Harbour	Royal Welsh Fusiliers	38 Francis Street, Mill Hill
Private J. Riley	East Lancashires	19 Marsh Street
Private F. Shorrock	Royal Marine Light Infantry	4 Livingstone Road
Signaller J. Rodgers	East Lancashires	35 Oozehead Lane
Private Read	Durham Light Infantry	12 Eastwood Street
Corporal H. Marsden	K.O.B.L.	48 Lawrence Street
Rifleman H.E. Wilson	Rifle Brigade	61 Hozier Street
Private R. Clough	South Lancashires	35 Napier Street
Private J. Ingham	R.A.M.C	53 Peter Street
Private C. Hart	Border Regimen	t8 Springfield Terrace, Cherry Tree
Private F. Parkinson	K.O.R.L	6 Industrial Street
Bombardier F. Burgess	R.F.A	197 St. James’s Road
Private J. Hill	East Lancashires	65 Hancock Street
Corporal W. Woods	K.R.R	23 Double Street
Private A. Smith	M.G.C	321 Shear Brow
Private C. Abbott	East Lancashires	64 Hall Street
Private J. Duckworth	K.O.R.L	28 Minden Street
Lance Corporal Beresford	East Lancashires	2 St. Ives Road
Private E. Tracey	East Lancashires	2 Frederick Street
Private J. Dewhurst	East Lancashires	27 Franklin Street, Witton
Gunnar Beardsworth	R.F.A	85 Alker Street
Private B. Newton	East Lancashires	85 Accrington Road
Private E. Walsh	East Lancashires	41 Francis Street, Mill Hill
Private W. Hindle	East Lancashires	227 Pringle Street
Lance Corporal E. King	East Lancashires	5 Dryden Street
Private J. Waddington	East Lancashires	12 Myrtle Street
Lieut. Atkinson	East Lancashires	151 Whalley Old Road
Private Nixon	Lincolnshires	70 Duckworth Street
Private Yates	Liverpools	Higher Wilworth Street
Private Holden	Manchesters	12 Ross Street
Private Partington	East Lancashires	121 Bolton Road
Lance Corporal Clough	East Lancashires	7 St. Paul Street
Corporal N. D. Tootle	East Lancashires	41 Napier Street
Corporal West	East Lancashires	60 Moorfield Avenue
Private Fish	East Lancashires	192 Whalley Old Road
Private F. P. Houghton	East Lancashires	130 Audley Lane

The Blackburn Times 14 December, 1918

"The following further list of Blackburn men who are returned prisoners of war, is kindly supplied by the ‘Blackburn Prisoners of War Help Committee:"

Name/Rank	Regiment	Address
Private B. Lysons	Lancashire Fusiliers	144 Mosley Street
Private W. Shaw	Liverpools	15 Duchess Street, Lower Darwen
Lance Corporal J. Corson	East Lancashires	44 Kenyon Street
Private W. George	M.G.C	44 Ceadar Street
Lance Corporal J. Mitchell	Gordon Highlanders	72 Johnson Street
Leading Seaman F. Holden	R.N.D	33 Brookfield Street
Private J. Riley	East Lancashires	19 Marsh Street
Private J. Woods	East Lancashires	60 Snape Street
Private J. H. Thompson	Royal Dublin Fusiliers	17 St. Thomas Terrace
Lieut. H. A. Riley	East Lancashires	25 St. Silas Road
Gunnar W. Haworth	R.F.A	31 New Park Street
Lance Corporal W. Roberts	East Lancashires	25 Isherwood Street
Private Donlan	East Lancashires	24 Plane Street
Lance Corporal Ormerod	Loyal North Lancs	12 Mitton Street
Sgt. Major Woodruff	R.F.A	3 Baines Street
Bdr. Thompson	R.F.A	85 Dewhurst Street
Private H. Burgess	London	59 Cedar Street
Private Howarth	Border Regiment	25 Baines Street
Private H. Garner	East Lancashires	63 Bromley Street
Private Maguire	East Lancashires	69 Whalley Street
Sgt. Wall	Loyal North Lancs
Private Coggins	East Lancashires	1 Wellesley Street
Private F. Hornby	Coldstream Guards	55 Primrose Terrace
Private Atkinson	East Lancashires	79 Byrom Street
Private Haslam	Loyal North Lancs	23 Daley Street
Private Holden	Sherwood Forresters	Tanners Arms, Langho
Private Lomax	East Lancashires	58 Eccles Street
Lance Corporal Pickup	Welsh Regiment	62 Lord Derby Street
Private Catlow	East Lancashires	18 Saunders Road
Private Warburton	East Lancashires	9 Haydock Street
Private Haworth	Liverpools	17 Aston Street
Private Royston	M.G.C	214 Whalley Old Road
Private Hunter	K.O.S.B	30 Rockcliffe Street
Lance Corporal Hewson	East Lancashires	119 Chester Street
Private Braithwaite	East Lancashires	111 School Lane, Guide
Private Tomlinson	South Lancashires	246 Whalley New Road
Private Barnes	Royal Dublin Fusiliers	34 Griffin Street
Private Knowles	Royal Warwicks	1 New Garden Street
Private Waring	M.G.C	199 Wensley Street
Private Bolton	Lancashire Fusiliers	Gibralter Hotel
Private Pickup	East Lancashires	90 Poplar Street
Private Groggins	East Lancashires	59 Brownhill Road
Private McCaffrey	East Lancashires	44 John Street
Private Swarbrick	M.G.C	2 Brown Street
Private A. Gill	K.S.L.I	3 Charnley Street
Private Adcroft	K.S.L.I	151 Downham Street
Private Bury	Liverpools	194 Livesey Branch Road
Private B. Stuart	East Lancashires	10 Isherwood Street
Private A. Aspden	Liverpools	11 Bicknell Street
Private Knowles	East Lancashires	68 Hall Street
Private Dent	Warwicks	7 Sandon Street
Private Anderton	Loyal North Lancashires	64 Granville Road
Private Bell	Royal Dublin Fusiliers	43 William Street
Serft. Hodgson	East Lancashires	111 Audley Range
Private Kavanagh	Manchesters	49 Fielding Street
Private Sharples	Lancashire Fusiliers	79 Hutton Street
Lance Corporal J. Smith	Lancashire Fusiliers	3 Markham Street
Private Higginson	Manchesters	14 Hardman Street
Corporal Baker	East Lancashires	122 Bonsall Street
Private Barnes	East Lancashires	75 Galligreaves Street
Private F. Duxbury	Loyal North Lancashires	113 Cornelian Street
Private Edmondson	Lancashire Fusiliers	112 Haslingden Road
Private Houghton	Loyal North Lancashires	50 Trinity Street
Private Sowerbutts	East Lancashires	121 Infirmary Street
Private Parr	East Lancashires	St. Mark’s Schoolhouse
Private Jex	Royal Welsh Fusiliers	76 Landsdowne Street
Private Walton	East Lancashires	167 Addison Street
Private Butterworth	East Lancashires	Seven Acre Brook
Rifleman Fletcher	Liverpools	20 Crabtree Street
Corporal Harwood	South Lancashires	157 London Road
Private Cunliffe	East Lancashires	81 Witton Parade
Private Brierley	East Lancashires	98 Whalley New Road
Lance Corporal Watson	East Lancashires	69 Highfield Road
Private Jones	East Lancashires	13 St. James’ Road
Private Haworth	South Wales Borderers	101 Syke Terrace
Corporal Orrell	Loyal North Lancashires	123 Cleaver Street
Private Whittam	Sherwood Foresters	203 Moss Street
Private J. C. Hoole	M.G.C	30 West Street
Brigadier Cooper	R.F.A	70 New Bank Road
Private R. Wood	East Lancashires	10 Woodland Place, Lower Darwen
Private W. Smith	Lancashire Fusiliers	44 Pendle Street
Private A. Smith	East Lancashires	44 Pendle Street
Private R. Foster	Royal WelshFusiliers	32 Stanley Street
Private Padget	M.G.C	36 Heatley Street
Private Mason	Lancashire Fusiliers	59 Nuttall Street
Private Shambrook	East Lancashires	206 Pringle Street
Private Leaver	East Lancashires	35 Proctor Street
Lance Corporal Reid	East Lancashires	Royal Exchange Hotel
Pioneer Osbaldiston	East Lancashires	23 Great Bolton Street
Private Smith	East Lancashires	204 Pringle Street
Brigadier Wray	R.F.A	79 Langham Road
Private Singleton	East Lancashires	176 Audley Range
Private Whalley	East Lancashires	36 Warrington Street
Private Edmondson	East Lancashires	59 Whitehead Street
Private Sheldon	Lancashire Fusiliers	138 Irving Place, Ewood
Private Clarkson	K.O.R.L	386 Bolton Road
Private Scanlon	Lancashire Fusiliers	7 Salisbury Street
Private Gibson	East Lancashires	50 Hollin Bridge Street
Private Sowerbutts	Suffolks	York Lane, Langho
Lieut. Woodacre	Manchesters	37 Stephen Street
Private BamberEast Lancashires	East Lancashires	56 Kemp Street
Lance Corporal Watson	Essex Regiment	94 Queen’s Park Road
Private Hindle	M.G.C	20 Snow Street
Private Wade	Liverpools	114 Scotland Road
Private Barratt	Liverpools	27 Hamilton Street
Private McIntyre	East Lancashires	68 Ingham Street
Private J. Smith	Liverpools	15 Bradshaw Street
Private J. T. Smith	East Lancashires	5 Palm Street
Private Garratty	East Lancashires	30 Fox Street
Rifleman Gregory	Rifle Brigade	92 Accrington Road
Corporal Casson	East Lancashires	93 London Road
Lance Corporal Sutton	East Lancashires	68 Anvil Street
Private Thompson	Northumberlands	29 Audley Street
Private I. G. Sharrock	Labour Corps	32 Woolwich Street
Corporal R. Hacking	R.M.L.I	47 Hasligden Road
Private Bowling	Durham Light Infantry	30 Leech street
Private Riley	Manchesters	15 Dixon Street
Private Cook	Middlesex Regiment	64 Heys Lane, Livesey
Private G. C. Lang	Royal Dublin Fusiliers	104 Oswald Street
Sergeant Duxbury	East Lancashires	125 Burnley Road
Private Maloney	East Lancashires	18 Heatley Street
Private Neville	Liverpools	42 The Croft, East Park Road
Private Grogan	Loyal North Lancashires	139 Birley Street
Lance Corporal Baron	Royal Welsh Fusiliers	Riverdale, Great Harwood
Private Brown	Northumberlands	3 Roebuck Street

The Blackburn Times December 21, 1918

"The following is a further list of Blackburn men who have been prisoners of war, have returned home and have visited the offices of the Prisoners of War Help Committee, to whom they have expressed their gratitude for parcels of food sent to them whilst in captivity:"

Name/Rank	Regiment	Address
Private Walmsley	Staffords	13 Pitt Street
Private T. Ingham	Royal Dublin Fusiliers	4 Nottingham Street
Private A. Walsh	East Lancashires	25 Beardsworth Street
Corporal H. Naylor	Manchesters	32 Accrington Road
Sergeant Tanner	East Lancashires	58 Shaw Street
Private C. Eastham	East Lancashires	43 Bold Street
Private J. Ellison	Liverpools	34 Mincing Lane
Corporal J. Marshall	East Lancashires	64 Leyland Street
Private F. McGowan	East Lancashires	9 Limbrick
Private Barton	K.O.R.L	19 Warwick Street
Private O’Hare	Essex Regiment	51 Riley Street
Lance Corporal R. G. Brandwood	K.O.R.L	181 Leamington Road
Private J. Hargreaves	East Lancashires	1 Cuckoo Hall
Private R. Hartley	East Lancashires	13 Higher Audley Street
Private G. Aspin	M.G.C	15 Brunswick Street
Private F. Miller	Border Regiment	9 Mary Ann Street
Private H. Walmsley	East Lancashires	73 Anvil Street
Gunner J. Dougherty	R.F.A	64 Lord Derby Street
Sergeant H. Eccles	East Lancashires
Private J. Young	Scottish Regiment	3 Manner Sutton Street
Sergeant J. R. Hutchinson	Durhams	3 Shaw Street
Private A. Watson	East Lancashires
Private A. Frankland	Royal Dublin Fusiliers	51 Lambeth Street
Private Seed	Liverpools	10 Vale Street
Sergeant J. Grimshaw	East Lancashires	7 School Lane, Guide
Private Mather	Welsh Fusiliers	62 Montague Street
Private H. McGregor	Northumberlands	5 Knuzden Brook
Private A. Tate	East Lancashires	17 Oozebooth Terrace
Private J. Pickering	East Lancashires	36 Patterson Street
Private T. Dickinson	South Lancashires	43 Saunders Road
Private M. Entwistle	East Lancashires	38 Lower Audley Street
Gunner J. Pickard	R.F.A	73 Chester Street
Private Anelay	Suffolks	146 Alker Street
Lance Corporal Bretherton	M.G.C	142 Accrington Road
Private Armistead	Manchesters	17 Regent Street
Private Earnshaw	K.O.R.L	56 Brookhouse Lane
Private Brindle	R.A.M.C	306 Accrington Road
Lance Corporal Cooper	East Lancashires	31 Infirmary Road
Lieut. Collinge	Royal Naval Reserve
Private Isherwood	East Lancashires	109 New Wellington Street, Mill Hill
Sergeant Cotterill	East Lancashires	15 Houghton Street
Private Wallwark	Wiltshires	Berwyn, Wilpshire
Private R. Holden	East Lancashires	129 Moorgate Street
Private N. Howson	Essex Regiment	35 Daisy Street
Private F. Ainsworth	K.O.R.L	22 Maple Street
Private G. W. Haworth	M.G.C (CAV)	34 Tottenham Road, Lower Darwen
Private F. Cotton	East Lancashires	25 Copperfield Street
Lance Corporal Collow	Liverpools	33 London Road
Private Arkwright	South Lancashires	3 South West Street
Private J. Oates	East Lancashires	57 Fox Street
Lance Corporal Sayer	South Lancashires	65 Winston Road
Sergeant Broadbent	East Lancashires	1 Norman Street
Private Greenwood	Leicestershires	Albion Hotel, Smithies Street
Corporal Farrington	K.R.R	15 Haworth Street
Private Chennell	R.A.M.C	28 Revidge
Private Brooks	East Lancashires	58 Nottingham Street
Private Baldwin	Liverpools	8 Alker Street
Private Cullen	Essex Regiment	8 Pitt Street
Private R. Waring	East Lancashires	25 Pilkington Street
Private F. Leaver	East Lancashires	3 Lorne Street
Private Bresling	Northumberlands	11 William Jackson Street
Private A. J. Wolsteholme	R.A.M.C	4 Johnston Street
Private W. E. Watson	East Lancashires	50 Manor Road
Private E. Howard	Cheshires	15 Whalley Street
Private Cobham	K.O.R.L	99 Higher Audley Street
Private W. Yates	East Lancashires	32 School Lane, Guide
Sergeant Pender	East Lancashires	55 New Wellington Street
Private Williams	K.O.R.L	62 Woodbine Road
Private Riding	Cheshires	64 Maudsley Street
Private H. Mercer	Loyal North Lancashires	405 Whalley New Road
Private J. Jenkinson	H.L.I	18 Islington
Private J. Jenkinson	Royal Scottish Fusiliers	18 Alice Street
Private Boardman	Sottish Rifles	59 Moss Street
Acting Sergeant Proctor	Royal Fusiliers	379 Whalley New Road
Private G. Bowman	East Yorkshires	44 Helen Street
Lance Corporal Lund	East Lancashires	3 Cromer Place
Private E. Holden	Border Regiment	81 Garden Street
Private J. Slyne	South Lancashires	7 Rutland Street
Private R. Haworth	Worcestershires	36 Sykes Street
Sergeant West	K.R.R	Elker Lane, Billington
Private H. Nuttall	Worcestershires	126 Queen's Park Road
Private W. R. Holden	K.O.S.B	21 Ingham Street

The Blackburn Times December 28, 1918

"The following Blackburn men, who have been prisoners of war, on returning home have notified the Blackburn Prisoners of War Help Committee:"

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Blackburn Prisoners of War

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Blackburn Prisoners of War