9th Lancashire Fusiliers, 3 October 1917
The Rochdale Times dated 20 October 1917
WELL-KNOWN HORNETS’ PLAYER KILLED
News was received on Thursday morning that Private John Bolton, of “Varna,” Oldham Road, the well-known player for the Rochdale Hornets’ Club, had been killed in action in France. Private Bolton was 30 years of age, and was a partner in the firm of J. Bolton and Co., merchants, of Manchester. In July 1913, he married the daughter of Mr. John Hamer, manager of the Balderstone Mill Co., and until he joined the army in January of this year, he resided in Rochdale. He was educated at Monmouth and Manchester University.
Up to the outbreak of war he was a regular playing member of the Eccles Rugby Union Club, and had also played for Lancashire County. During the whole of the 1915-16 season and part of last season he played for the Hornets’ and was a great favourite with the crowd; he was a rare bustling forward of the real Rugby Union type, and a very clever goal kicker. On entering the army he joined the Lancashire Fusiliers, and was drafted to France in August last. His brother Captain Reginald Bolton, is at present in France, and Mr. Hamer, his father-in-law, has two sons serving – Second-Lieutenant. Robt. Hamer, of the Lancashire Fusiliers’ who went to the East Coast on light duty on Thursday after being gassed; and Driver John R. Hamer of the A.S.C. (Army Service Corps) Motor Transport, who is in Salonica.
In a letter to Mrs. Bolton, the second-lieutenant of the platoon states that Private Bolton and several others were hit by a shell, and he died shortly afterwards. Private Bolton was highly popular with the work-people of Balderstone Mill, and yesterday the roll of honour there was hung with white flowers as a tribute to his memory. Mrs. Bolton and her little son aged three years, now live at Eccles.
Further Information
Prior to his entry into the war, in the 1911 Census, he was shown as being employed as a Cotton Piece Goods Buyer in a Shipping Warehouse.
Due to the destruction of the WW1 military documents in the blitz of WW2 it is difficult to give a specific date as to when John joined the army, what we do know is that he enlisted in Manchester and that following training he would have gone to France or Belgium around August 1917.
It would appear that including John, there were a total of 3 members of his unit killed on the same day which appears to have been by enemy shell fire.
He was later honoured and remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium as either he was never found or his body remained unidentified.
His wife Ethel was the sole legate of his belongings.
War Diary of the 9th Lancashire Fusiliers
The War Diary for the 9th Lancashire Fusiliers dated the 3 October 1917 in the area south west of Poelcapelle, Belgium, states the following :-
“The day passed off quietly with exception of frequent enemy shelling in the back area.”
The following day, the 4th October, the 9th Battalion pressed an attack on the trenches in which around 46 of the Battalion resulted in fatalities.
Family
John Bolton was born in the third quarter of 1887 at Eccles, Lancashire. The following family information is taken from the 1891 and 1911 Census and the Commonwealth War Graves Records.
His family is shown as follows :-
- Wife: Ethel Hamer or Bolton, born 18 July 1890.
- Son: John, born 25 May 1914.
- Father: John Bolton, born c.1857 at Liverpool, Lancashire. (Merchants Buyer)
- Mother: Catherine Ellen Bolton born c.1859 at Salford, Lancashire.
- Sister: Bessie, born c.1885 at Eccles, Lancashire.
- Brother: Reginald Lightbown, born January 1888 at Eccles, Lancashire.(Cotton Goods Worker)
- Sister: Catherine Nicol, born 27 April 1891 at Eccles, Lancashire.
- Sister: Winifred, born c.1898 at Eccles, Lancashire.
- Sister: Sarah, born c.1901 at Eccles, Lancashire.
- Sister: Mary, born c.1904 at Eccles, Lancashire.
Addresses
The following addresses have been ascertained for John Bolton. :-
- 1891: 3 Gilda Terrace, Eccles, Lancashire.
- 1917: ‘Varna’, Oldham Road, Rochdale, Lancashire.
- 1917: Holly Lane, Balderstone, Rochdale, Lancashire
- Post death: It appears that following his death his widow and child moved to ‘Corries’, Park Road, Ashton, Sale, Manchester. At this time his parents were residing at High Wray Bank, Ambleside, Westmorland.
Medals
John Bolton was awarded the Victory and the British War Medals for his service in the Great War.
Memorials
John Bolton is honoured and remembered on the following memorials:-
- Buersil and Balderstone War Memorial, Rochdale, Greater Manchester.
- Eccles Wesleyan Church And School War Memorial, currently held at Salford Museum, Salford, Greater Manchester.
Links to Additional Information
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission – John Bolton
- Find a Grave website – John Bolton
- A Street Near You website – John Bolton
- Lives of the First World War – John Bolton
References
- Medal Index Card.
- Soldiers Died in the Great War.
- Pension Card.
- Register of Soldiers Effects.
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
- 1891 Census.
- 1911 Census
- Medal Roll – Lancashire Fusiliers – British War Medal and Victory Medal.
- Rochdale Times dated 20 October 1917.
- War Diary – Lancashire Fusiliers.
Groups
Contributors:-
- Vincent Stuart.
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