Captain M. Bolton
NOW KNOWN TO HAVE DIED

Definite information has now been received as to the fate of Capt. Maurice Bolton, M.C., third son of Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Bolton, of Heightside, Newchurch who was reported missing on March 21st last.

Every possible endeavor has in the meanntime been made to obtain some reliable particulars as to what actually befallen Capt. Bolton, the hope being the he had been taken prisoner and was an inmate of either a German internment camp or hospital.

News however has been conveyed to Mr. and Mrs. Bolton that their son died of wounds in the German hospitalat Le Cateau on March 26th. The sad intelligence, we understand, has come through the medium of a Blackburn soldier, who has visited Mr. Bolton senr., and informed him that he (the soldier)was taken prisoner along with Capt. Bolton. They were both wounded and taken to the same hospital and Capt. Bpolton died there on the date given.

The late Capt. Bolton was educated at Shrewsbury School,and Pembroke Collage, Cambridge, and graduated in history in 1915. At the outbreak of war joined the Cambridge O.T.C., and was gazetted to the 11th Batt ., Manchester Regt., on 22nd August 1914. He was promoted captain in May 1915 and in July of the same year was transferred to the East Lancs. Regt. In February 1917 he embarked for Egypt via Sulonica, but on arrival in Egypt he found found that the 42nd Divivion which he was going to join were embarking for France. So he turned back only having three days at Alexandria. He returned to France with the details of the Division and was to join the 14th Batt. East Lancs Regt., on arrival at Etaples.

On November 22nd of the same year Capt. Bolton was awarded the Military Cross for "gallant conduct in the field" near Nieuport. His last leave was just a year ago when, at 11.30 on the morning of Christmas Day he walked into the house at Heightside, to great delight of his parents and family, who had no previous knowledge of his arrival in England. He returned to France onJanuary 7th 1918. In Frebruary the same year on the reorganisation of Divisions he was transferred to the 4th Batt. East Lancashire Regt. 66th Division.

It will be remembered that Capt. Bolton's two elder brothers, Capt. H. H. Bolton, and Lieut. J. Bolton both of the 1-5th Batt. East Lancs Regt. were killed in Gallipoli, and his younger brother, Capt. G. G. H. Bolton, M.C. served four years with the same battalion. The latter gazetted to the Territorial Force, Reserve of Officers, on October 22nd last in order to resume duties at the collieries of Messers. George Hargreaves and Co.

It may be added the the late Capt. Bolton's Commanding Officer and Major were both killed in March 21st. His N.C.O's and men all speak well of him as an officer whom they loved, for whilst a fine disciplinarian he always showed a kindly and thoughful disposition.

No information available

We regret to record the lose which Mr. and Mrs. Foster Bradley, of Rose Mount, Booth road, Waterfoot, have sustained by the death of another of their sons, namely, Pte. Fred Bradley, who was killed in action on October 23rd last. The sad news reach the parents on Monday – the day on which the armistice was signed.

Pte. Bradley would have been 20 years of age next month. He joined the forces in January of last year, and went out to France after about six months training. In civil life he was employed as a slipper worker at Messers W Hardman and Coy’s Union Works, Waterfoot, and was a much respected scholar at the Unitarian Sunday School, Newchurch. He was also an esteemed member of the Waterfoot Liberal Club, at which institution the flag has been flying mast during the week in respect to his memory.

He is the second son Mr. and Mrs. Bradley have lost in the war, the other one being killed on October 30th 1916. Deep sympathy will go to them in their double bereavement.

We regret to record the death in action of another Waterfoot soldier, namely, Private Ronald Bradley, son of Mr. and Mrs. Foster Bradley of 13, West Street, Waterfoot. The information was received by Mr. and Mrs. Bradley on Tuesday morning from the Infantry Record Office at Preston. The announcement is to the effect that their son, Private Ronald Bradley, 23958, of the 2nd Batt. Royal Lancaster Regiment, had been killed in action on the 31st of October last. The official record does not give the locality of his death, but as he was last heard from in Salonica it is presumed that he has fallen there.

Private Bradley was 19 years of age last April, and immediately prior to joining up was employed by Messrs. Geoffrey and Co., sock manufacturers at Warth, Water foot. Before that he worked at Messrs. Spencer and Johnson's Slipper Works. He enlisted on the 12th of May last, and visited Waterfoot on furlough about the July holidays. He was drafted to Salonica on the last Monday in August and arrivwl1 there on the 9th of September. The last Jotter which his parents received from him was dated! October 11th and he was then in good health.

Private Bradley was a well-known and much esteemed young man, and was a scholar at Bethlehem Unitarian Sunday School, Newchurch. He was one of the members of the Dramatic Society, and had taken part in the dramatic recitals which have been held there from time to time. He was also a popular member of the Waterfoot Liberal Club, at which institution the flag is flying at half-mast in respect to his memory. Mr. Foster Bradley, the father of the deceased soldier, is employed as a block printer at the Broad Oak Print Works. Arlington. Private Bradley was the eldest son.

No information available

Official intimation has been received by Mrs. Brown, Windle Street, Cloughfold, that her husband, Gunner Frank Brown, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Brown, 5 Plantation Street, Cloughfold, had died from wounds received in action in France on Sunday July 29th. The deceased soldier, who was well known and highly respected in Cloughfold, joined up about 12 months ago and had been in France about 8 months. He was employed in the grocery department at Cawl-terrace Co-operative Society, where the flag is flying at half mast.
On Friday week Mrs Brown received a letter from the Chaplain that here husband had been wounded in the body and hand and was doing vey well. The following day another letter came from the same person, but dated one day previous to the first communication saying that Gunner Brown had died from the wounds and had been buried in a churchyard early this week. A friend of the soldier livinf in Stacksteads received a cheerful letter saying that he was in good health. This must havebeen written on the Sunday morning that he received the fatal wounds in the afternoon.
Great sympothy is felt for the wife and parents of Gunner Brown, who was a very cheerful young man, and had not been married very long.