Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

British War Medal 1914-20 (10) (240199 Cpl. W. Hosker. Lan. Fus.; 14453 Pte. H. Horrocks. Lan. Fus.; 46374 Pte. G. Ridings. Lan Fus.; 24042 Pte. J. Marshall. Lan. Fus.; 242099 Pte. C.F. Hodgkinson. Lan. Fus; 39080 Pte. A. Stainstreet. Lan. Fus.; 15710 Pte. W. Williams. Lan. Fus.; 202146 Pte. E. Cretney. Lan. Fus.; 4685 Pte. J. Kenworthy. Lan. Fus.; 10262 Pte. E. J. Evans. Lan. Fus.) very fine or better (10) £140-180

Walter Hosker resided in Rhodes, Manchester and enlisted into the 1/6th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, landing in Gallipoli on 5 May 1915. After the Dardanelles campaign he moved to France along with his battalion, where he was killed in action on 15 September 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.
The following is an excerpt from a letter to the recipient’s mother from Sergeant Berry, a fellow member of the 1/6th Battalion:
‘I had only been talking and joking with him a few hours before, and later on I heard that he and a lance corporal had been wounded. As neither of them had written me, I began to get a little anxious, and a day later three people came to me telling me that they had been killed. We were always the very closest of chums ever since mobilisation, and if ever three pals stuck to one another it was Walter, Fred, and I. I cannot tell you how lonely I feel without his company, but we must all do our best to bear his loss with as light a heart as possible, for we all at the present time must be prepared to make sacrifices for the common good. My own brother died of wounds received in action only two months ago, so you will be able to judge the state of my present feelings.’

Henry Horrocks served on the Western Front with the 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers. He was killed in action on 12 October 1916 during the battalion’s unsuccessful attack towards Le Transloy, where they suffered 345 casualties. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.

George Ridings originally enlisted into the Cheshire Regiment before serving on the Western Front with the 16th (Service) Battalion (2nd Salford) Lancashire Fusiliers. He was attached to the Trench Mortar Battery and was killed in action on 10 August 1918 in an attack on Damery Wood near Bouchoir. He is buried at Bouchoir New British Cemetery, France.

John Marshall, a native of Boroughbridge, originally served with the 9th (Service) Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers and was later posted to the 10th (Service) Battalion. He was awarded the Military Medal (London Gazette 13 March 1919). Judging by other 10th Battalion M.M. winners who are both mentioned in the war diary and listed in the same gazette alongside Marshall, it is likely that he won his award for deeds during September 1918, while the battalion was in action around Gouzeaucourt.

Charles Frederick Hodgkinson, a native of Masborough, Rotherham, originally enlisted into the York & Lancaster Regiment before serving on the Western Front with the 1/6th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers. He was killed in action while in the trenches at La Bassée. He is buried in Gorre British and Indian Cemetery, France.

Arthur Stainstreet enlisted on 16 November 1914 and served on the Western Front with the 3/5th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers. He later transferred to the Mechanical Transport branch of the Army Service Corps. He was discharged on 22 January 1919 as a result of wounds.

William Williams originally served with the Lancashire Fusiliers before transferring to the Labour Corps.

Edmund Cretney enlisted on 10 December 1915 and served on the Western Front with the 3/5th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers. He was discharged on 1 April 1918, being no longer physically fit for war service.

Joseph Kenworthy served with the 1/8th Lancashire Fusiliers, landing in Egypt on 29 March 1916. He proceeded to France with the battalion in March 1917 and was invalided home 22 November 1917. He returned to the Western Front in September 1918 with 23rd (Service) Battalion and shortly after transferred to the 34th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment.

Ernest Jones Evans served on the Western Front with the 2/6th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers.