In 1995 the idle curiosity of a group of local firemen about the names on the Marple War Memorial gradually developed into something of an obsession. Their initial interest grew into a compulsive search for every scrap of knowledge that could be discovered about those young men from Marple who lost their lives during the First World War. This quest culminated in the publication of the book "Remembered" two years ago, on Remembrance Day 1999.

During their research authors Peter Clarke, Andy Cook and Jon Bintliff travelled far and wide in their efforts to explore every aspect of these men's lives and to learn more about the war that took them. Their travels extended as far as the battlefields of France and Belgium, where many of the men now rest in the multitude of large and small cemeteries still impeccably maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Although the main task was achieved and the book completed, their interest has remained and regular trips to the Somme region of France have continued to feed their in-depth knowledge of the First World War. One of the three, Andy Cook, has even become a part-time professional tour guide.

I've been fortunate to accompany the authors to France on three occasions, most recently at the end of October this year. We were joined by Steve Condliffe, another local enthusiast and veteran of previous trips.

With the need to prepare an article for the November issue of the News, to be published on the weekend of Remembrance Day, coupled with the timing of this latest trip to France, it seems the subject has chosen itself. There is even a link to last month's article by Peter about Field House, where John S. Collings-Wells V.C. D.S.O. once lived. It was curiosity about his exploits, resulting in the award of the Victoria Cross, which sparked off our trio's personal odyssey.

J.S.Collings-Wells V.C. D.S.O.

Edward Wareham-Fowler

Fred Lloyd

Leonard Robinson

We departed from Marple at 12.45am on the morning of Thursday 25th October, a little later than anticipated because Steve had trouble removing the surplus seats from our hired seven-seater Galaxy. We managed to recover this delay and arrived in Folkstone with perfect timing to drive straight on to Le Shuttle for our scheduled 5.30am channel crossing. A further two hours driving saw us arrive at our accommodation in the tiny village of Ovillers in "Mash Valley" at only 9.00am.

Despite tiredness and the atrociously wet weather, we decided there was no time to waste recovering from the journey and once unpacked we donned our waterproofs and ventured into the Somme. Our first visit was to the huge Thiepval Memorial, usually visible for many miles but on this day hidden in low cloud. This giant monument records the names of 73,367 men lost during the First Battle of the Somme, between 1st July and 13th November 1916. This horrendous number is just the soldiers with no known grave, not the total casualties. Seven Marple men are commemorated here, including Edward Wareham-Fowler.

A small section of Le Tommy Bar's trench

After a long day first day we retired to Le Tommy Bar in Pozieres for food and other essential refreshments. Le Tommy Bar is a must for anyone visiting the Somme. Run by Dominic Zinardi and his wife Melanie, it's full of photographs and memorabilia and even has a full size trench in the garden. Dominic, who used to run the Albert museum, is also a renowned expert on the First World War.

Alan Norbury

Ernest Bradbury

Charles Henry Ingham

Oswald Neale

Also commemorated in Pozieres Cemetery are three more of our Marple men. Private Alan Norbury, age 29, of The Filters in High Lane was reported missing in the Spring of 1918. It was first hoped he had been taken prisoner by the Germans but when the armistice was signed and all prisoners of war returned, Alan was not amongst them. Ernest Bradbury was a Gunner with the Royal Field Artillery and another High Lane man. He belonged to the same Liberal Club as Alan Norbury and worked at Strines Printworks. During Christmas 1917 Ernest married Miss Harriet Bennett, a Stockport girl who worked at the Goyt Mill. Only three months later Ernest was one of 445 members of the Royal Field Artillery to be killed in action during the first day of the German Spring Offensive, on 21st March 1918. He was 24 years old. The following day saw members of the 432nd Field Company of the Royal Engineers come under enormous pressure whilst trying to hold the village of Jeancourt as the Spring Offensive continued. Sapper Charles Henry Ingham, a blacksmith by trade from Lower Farm, Marple Bridge was amongst those lost during the heavy fighting and intense artillery bombardment on the village. Charles was well know locally as a vocalist, being a member of the Marple Bridge Male Voice Choir that had won prizes at Crystal Palace in London and the Buxton Music Festival.

The Chapel in the caves at Berny Riviere

On the second day of our visit we drove to a small village called Berny-Riviere to see some caves that had been used by French forces during the war. Situated on a hill in dense woodland these were very impressive with dozens of large underground chambers cut into the soft chalk. There was even a chapel dedicated to the regiments that had occupied it, with carved banners and emblems in their memory. It was whilst investigating these caves that Peter and Steve disturbed a family of wild boar and were to be seen running faster than they've done for many a year. Fortunately the boar were equally startled and ran in the opposite direction. On the memorial of the nearby town of Soisson another former worker from the Goyt Mill is commemorated. Oswald Neale of Church Street was a 29 year old Private with the 6th Battalion South Wales Borders when he was killed by an exploding shell on 28th May 1918, the second day of the Battle of the Aisne during the German Offensive in Champagne.

The third day saw us back in the Somme region near the villages of Fricourt and Mametz which were in German hands on the 1st July 1916. This was the first day of the Battle of the Somme and the blackest in British military history with 60,000 British casualties, still the greatest number ever sustained by the British Army in a single day. Two of these were Marple men and both had worked in the Goyt Mill before enlisting. Private Stanley Proctor was 22 years old and had worked there as a packer. He lived in Hawk Green and was the son of the local policemen. Another of the seven Marple men commemorated on Thiepval, Stanley served with the 15th Battalion Royal Scots and was killed during their attack on the village of La Boiselle. Private Horace Platt of the 5th Manchester Pals Battalion was only 19 years old when he too gave his life on this black day. Horace, who lived at 2 Lockside with his parents, worked in the spinning room at Hollins Mill before moving on to a new job at the Goyt. He attended the Marple Congregational Sunday School and was also associated with the Marple Recreation Club and Gymnasium before joining the army in 1914.

Stanley Proctor

Horace Platt

Harry Frost

Thomas George Ferguson Warner M.M.

Harry Frost, aged 27, lived at 3 Shepley Lane, Hawk Green and was yet another worker from the Goyt Mill. He was a also a Private in the 5th Manchester Pals, the same battalion as Horace Platt. During the hectic period leading up to the "Big Push" of 1st July 1916 Harry was detailed for sentry duty in a forward position in the trenches. During his watch on the 18th May 1916 he spotted a German sniper and decided to take a shot at him. Unfortunately Harry exposed too much of himself above the trench parapet whilst getting into position and was shot and killed by another German sniper who had gone unnoticed. The condolences sent to Harry's wife Annie on 24th May included a message of sympathy from fellow Goyt Mill worker Horace.

A.I.F. Burial Ground on a wet misty morning

On our final day before departing for home we found time to visit the A.I.F. Burial Ground at Grass Lane in Flers to pay our respects to Thomas George Ferguson Warner M.M. of High Lane. Thomas was only 18 years old when he joined the 3rd Manchester Pals Battalion in September 1914. He went through severe fighting and attained the rank of Sergeant but was then wounded in June 1916. After spending time in hospitals in both France and England he returned to the front line and in January 1918 won the Military Medal for gallantry in the field and devotion to his country. Thomas finally ran out of luck on 5th April 1918 when his position came under heavy bombardment during the Spring Offensive. He was hit by a shell burst not far from where he had been wounded previously, this time he was killed immediately. Thomas was assistant Scoutmaster of the 1st High Lane Troop of B.P. Boy Scouts before he joining the army and he had become the fifth of its former members to be killed in the war.