Harry Ormerod

Age 21        Married with 1 child

Private 35021
16^th Bn., Lancashire Fusiliers

Killed in action on
Sunday 1^st April 1917

At the time Harry was called up, he was residing at 33 Shakespeare Street, Padiham. He had been born and raised in Sabden, only moving to Padiham when he married.  As a child he attended the Roman Catholic School and on Sundays he went to the Wesleyan School, the family being Wesleyans. 

Upon leaving school he learnt his trade as a loomer at Sabden's Union Mill.  Harry had spent six months off work suffering from Rheumatic Fever and on his first day back at work he received his call up papers. 

Whilst in training at Whitchurch Camp, Harry suffered a wound in his hand and blood poisoning set in causing him to spend his 21^st birthday in hospital. 

Just weeks after Harry's going out to the Western Front, his wife Beatrice gave birth to their first child but tragically Harry was never to see his baby.  Mrs Ormerod received letters from Captain Smith and the Chaplain, the Rev. W. H. Fawkes.  Captain Smith says

“Pte. Ormerod was at the time assisting in an attack on a wood, and whilst advancing through it was struck in the neck by a bullet from a German machine-gun.  I am glad to be able to say that his end was immediate and painless.  He was a man well respected by us all, and I wish to offer you on behalf of my fellow officers and your husband's comrades our very sincere sympathies on your sad loss.”

 The Chaplain writes, 

“As Chaplain, it is my painful duty to let you know of the death of your husband, whose body I buried in a Military Cemetery near to where other of his comrades were also killed.  Think not that his life is wasted because he has given thus; on the contrary, he has probably never done a deed so noble, so full of real and lasting usefulness to mankind as that which so closely the great sacrifice of him who died to save humanity.  May you find in Christ comfort, consolation and enlightenment which we all need so sorely in these days of distress and trial.”

Harry is buried at Savy British Cemetery, Aisne, France.

In Sabden he has been remembered on both the School and Church Plaques