Lancashire At War.co.uk
Exploring the hidden history of War sites in Lancashire
World War One sites
The "War To End All Wars" between 1914-18 did not leave as many physical scars on this county as WW2, but the emotional scars were huge. The disproportionate numbers of dead enlisted men in the tiny village of Hawkshaw, two zeppelin attacks across the county and letters home from The Front - the war touched communities here nearly 100 years ago in different ways.
Click on some of the links below to find out more information on these stories.
"And we hit the beach, and on the beach we're hit,
Became a line of crimson, alone on a beach with Jesus,
Instead of you what I do now,
Instead of you,
And we moved out slowly, does her light still shine,
Has she forgotten or does it matter anyway....."
Lyrics from 'Forget Georgia' by Something Happens!
Our Great Uncle Thomas Causey was in the Royal Army Medical Corps in World War One. He received a beautiful letter from a friend on the front line (left) after being gassed. He probably trained in 1914 near Turton (the three black & white photos on this page) and we have now learned more about him from the Lancashire Fusiliers Museum in Bury.
Jonathan Ali, grew up in Hawkshaw, a small village near the border of Bolton and Bury. He became so interested in the village's First World War story, that he wrote a book about it.
Our Boys is a fascinating document detailing the lives of ordinary people both on the front line and at home in a desperate time. This village suffered greater losses than any other. One wonders how it must have affected the village as a whole over subsequent years.
Here is one village's story
If you would like to buy a copy of this book - Contact Us and we will pass your details on to Mr Ali.
Preston Station World War One Free Buffet
Inglis Bridge - A WW1 invention rebuilt
These pages, all text and photographs, unless stated, are the copyright of The Brothers B. No reproduction is allowed in any form without prior written permission
Lancashire suffered Zeppelin attacks during the First World War TWICE! It is incredible to think that almost 100 years ago HUGE airships flew over Lancashire and dropped bombs on its villages.
Holcombe Village - near Ramsbottom, still has the scars of this attack.
Heaton Park was in use by the RAF throughout WW2 - CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS - but it was also used in WW1. According to C.S. Jackson, in his book "Down Hollow Lane - Memories of Higher Blackley" he mentions the park being used "for the billeting and training of thousands of soldiers". And that "In one part of the Park there was a small mock-up of a trench system like those on the Western Front (The Pitch and Putt golf course is now on the site.)"
As well as being used for training - they were a tourist attraction! - see advert, Right.
In WW1 it was used by The 16th, 17th, 18th & 19th Pals Battalions of the Manchester Regiment who trained in the park between September 1914 and April 1915.
Dazzle Ships are a little known part of World War One history. Painting ships not as camouflage but in a way that would confuse the enemy as to their direction and speed
During the First World War, a group of volunteer women worked around the clock to give refreshments to the troops passing through Preston Station to and from the war.
They served over three and a half million troops.
The story of a World War One hero from Bury.
Harold Taylor won the Military Medal before dying in the last few weeks of the war. Read his story on THIS PAGE.
His family allowed us access to his letters home, his personal items and other family memorabilia so that we could bring his story to the world.
His story has a heartbreaking modern twist for his family....
Could you help solve the mystery of how he achieved his Military Medal?
And could you help recover his stolen medals which were sold illegally?
The Inglis Portable Military Bridge was a light weight ‘kit’ bridge that could be rapidly built and used to move supplies and troops quickly at the World War One battle front. Today in St Catherine’s Park, Lostock Hall near Leyland there is a newly built replica of the bridge across the River Lostock.