Arthur Albert Ormerod

Private 6685
2nd Bn, East Lancashire Regiment

Arthur was the son of Thomas and Alice Ormerod, of Accrington.

At the time of the 1901 Census Arthur was living with his wife and daughter at 48 Grange Lane, Accrington. Their details are recorded on the 1901 Census as follows.

The record for Arthur in the 1881 Census shows details of his parents and siblings.

At the time of the 1911 Census it appears that Arthur is living with a new wife, Mary Ann Ormerod, and 3 year old son, Richard, at 11 Parsonage Street, Church.

Arthur's entry in the Oswaldtwistle Roll of Honour reads:

"ORMEROD, Pte. Arthur Albert, 6685 (2nd Bn., East Lancs. Regt.); lived at Oswaldtwistle; k.i.a. 18th January 1915; bd. Cabaret-Rouge Brit. Cem., Souchez. [Sources: Commonwealth War Graves Debt of Honour Register, Officers and Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1919, not listed in Accrington Observer & Times, 17th January 1922]"

The Church Roll of Honour notes:

"ORMEROD, Pte. Arthur Albert, 6685 (2nd Bn., East Lancs. Regt.); lived at Henry Street, Church; k.i.a. 18th January 1915; bd. Cabaret-Rouge Brit. Cem., Souchez. [Greater Accrington Roll of Honour 1914-1919, first published in the Accrington Observer & Times, 1919, Commonwealth War Graves Commission Debt of Honour Register, Officers and Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1919, Accrington Observer & Times, 18th September 1923]"

At the time of his death the 2nd Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment, formed part of 24th Brigade, 8th Division, which had been formed from regular army units from various points around the British Empire to reinforce the British Expeditionary Force in France.

In British Battalions on the Western Front January-June 1915, Ray Westlake states that in January 1915 the 2nd Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment, were holding 'A' lines trenches between Pont Logy and Port Arthur, to the southeast of Neuve Chapelle. The close support line was at Rouge-Croix, Brigade Reserve at Red Barn, and Divisional Reserve in Pont Rochon.

He also notes that the Battalion shared their duty in the trenches with the 1st Sherwood Foresters, and that Lieutenants G.A. Seckham and E.A.M. Larkins were killed by snipers on 6 and 18 January 1915 respectively.

Arthur is buried in Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, France (Grave Ref. XXVI. A. 4).

The index cards to the First World War Medal Rolls show that Arthur was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal, as well as the 1914 Star (with clasp). Arthur served in France from 20 October 1914.

The Soldiers Died in the Great War Database records that Arthur was born in Clowbridge, and resided in Oswaldtwistle. He enlisted in the Army in Accrington, and was killed in action on 18 January 1915.