HAROLD Lofthouse was a First World War hero who is not going to be forgotten, thanks to the work of David Eason.

This year will see the centenary of the start of the Great War and David — a former Royal Hussar — has been completing a roll of honour for the men killed from the 11th Hussars.

His painstakingly meticulous investigations have discovered Bolton soldiers whom he hopes to discover more about.

He turned to The Bolton News for help in tracking down more information about two men in particular — Private Albert Heaton and Lance Corporal Harold Lofthouse, and an appeal in Looking Back has brought success.

Local historical enthusiast Alan Martland has a copy of the Bolton Journal from December 29, 1916, which he picked up at a car boot sale on the site of Bolton Market a couple of years ago.

This newspaper contains a roll of honour naming 800 local soldiers killed in the first two years of the war and one of those named is Harold.

“When I saw the appeal in the paper I knew I’d be able to help,” said Alan. He has a photograph of Harold.

Unfortunately Alan does not have an image of Albert as he died after the paper had been printed.

Last week we told the story of Albert in the hope descendants might get in touch.

This week it is the turn of Harold.

Here is his story as researched and told by David: Lance Corporal Harold Lofthouse died of his wounds on Friday, April 28, 1916, aged 21.

He was the son of Arthur who was born 1867 in Blackburn and Mary Alice who was born in 1868 in Bolton. They lived at 23, Rosamond Street in Daubhill, Bolton.

Harold had brothers called Matthew, born in 1888, Albert, born in 1893, and sister Jenny, born in 1899, and Jessie, born in 1899.

Harold was born in Bolton in 1895 and was the third eldest of five children.

In 1901 his father, Arthur, was employed in Bolton in a weaving mill along with eldest son Matthew, who at the age of 13 was also employed as a cotton weaver at the same mill.

The young Harold was educated at the Sunning Hill Board School. When he left school he was in the employment of Messrs Tootal Broadhurst Lee Company Cotton Mill as a drawer-in and attended the St George the Martyr Church. In 1911 the family was living at number 23 Rosamond Street in Bolton and Harold, now aged 16, had joined his father and brother Matthew, who had married Amelia and had a son Albert who was 16-months-old, and all were working at the same cotton mill.

In 1913 Harold enlisted at Manchester into the regular army and after completing his training with the 12th Reserve Cavalry Regiment in Aldershot joined B squadron 11th Hussars under Captain John Alexander Halliday in Aldershot.

Harold went to France with the regiment on August 15, 1914 and quickly saw action in Flanders a few days later at the Battle of Mons, August 23, 1914, and during the subsequent retreat to the River Marne, just east of Paris at the First Battle of the Marne, September 7 to September 9.

Harold would go on to see action in 1914 before the first Battle of the Aisne and Aisne Heights, September 12 to September 20, before moving back to Flanders.

There he saw action during the Battle of Messines, October 12 to November 2, in which, on October 30 to October 31, the 11th Hussars held a line from Messines to Hollebeke. Unknown to them the Germans had brought forward six new divisions for an all-out attack on the British line from Messines to Gheluvelt which began at 8am on October 31.

During the initial German artillery bombardment B Squadron’s trenches had been targeted and destroyed, burying Harold and half the squadron.

Later that day Colonel TT Pitman and B Squadron Leader Captain John Alexander were wounded, John later succumbing to his wounds.

In 1915 Harold, now promoted to Lance Corporal, and the Regiment was involved in second Battles of Ypres at the Battle of Frezenberg, May 8 to May 13, just east of Ypres at Potijze Chateau and the Battle of Bellewaerde, May 24 to May 25, in which, on May 24, the Regiment was on the Hooge-Menin Road where they narrowly escaped an enormous cloud of gas which passed over them.

After Bellewaerde the Division was withdrawn back to France in preparation for the following years forthcoming Battles of the Somme, July 1 to November 18.

It was during the period of rest and training on Friday April 28, 1916, while practising firing rifle grenades when one Harold had fired exploded prematurely wounding him in the head.

Sadly, later that day in hospital Harold succumbed to his wounds aged 21.

Harold is buried alongside four of his comrades including Private Herbert Halkett of Oldham at the Etaples Military Cemetery (pas de Calais) in France. David is hoping someone in Bolton will be able to furnish him with more information about Harold and Albert so that he is able to give them the recognition they deserve.

“These are my Regimental forefathers and therefore deserve recognition for what they did,” says David, who lives in Warwickshire.

Anyone who can help should contact Gayle McBain on 01204 537269 or email gmcbain@theboltonnews.co.uk