Enoch Robson

Age 18        Single

Private 22660
1^st Bn., East Lancashire Regiment

Killed in action on
Wednesday 18^th October 1916

Enoch was born in Sabden and lived with his parents at 52 Wesley Street.  He attended Sabden County School and the Sunday School where he was a member of the choir.

His father had died when Enoch was a toddler and in 1914 his mother re-married and the family moved to their new home at Whiteacre Lane, Barrow, Near Whalley.  Enoch began work at Messrs Longworth's Mill, Whalley. 

At the age of eighteen Enoch enlisted into the army and after training in England, his regiment was posted to France.  He first went into action on the morning of 18^th October 1916.  Two weeks later his mother, along with the parents of two of Enoch’s pals and comrades from Whalley, Lance-Corporal Knowles and Private A Garratt, received a telegram informing them that their sons were missing in action.  A note accompanying the telegram read, 

“The term ‘missing’ does not necessarily mean that the soldier is killed or wounded.  He may be an unwounded prisoner, or temporarily separated from his regiment.  Any further information received will be at once sent on to you.”

None of the families heard anything for ten months until the 17^th September 1917 when the parents of Private Garratt received official news that their son had died in a Prisoner of War Camp.  This gave the other two families hope that their sons may too be held captive.

In early 1918 official news was received that Enoch was presumed killed in action on 18^th October 1916.  The family of Lance-Corporal Knowles received the same sad news regarding their son.

Enoch has no known grave and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

In Sabden he has not been remembered on either the School or Church Plaques.