HUNDREDS of men from Edgworth, Chapeltown and Entwistle fought for their country in World War I.

When they enlisted, photographs were taken of many of them and displayed on the wall of the Edgworth community centre, The Barlow.

During its renovation in the 1970s, however, they were thrown into a skip and it was only through the foresight of resident Michael Williams, who retrieved 144 of them, that they are now once again on show.

To commemorate the centenary of the Great War, a lottery-funded project is now underway to create a biography for every one of these village servicemen – those who survived and those who did not.

It will include their military records, immediate family history and all other relevant information, which, it is hoped, will be added to the Imperial War Museum Lives of the First World War website, under the name Edgworth Pals.

The aim is to create a fitting tribute to the 101 men known not to have made it back, and their grief-stricken widows, as well as the survivors, who may have had their lives torn apart by injuries or trauma.

A research group meets most Wednesdays and has the names of 280 men who went to war from the three villages – while recognising there were many more.

Now our readers have been asked to help with any information, photos or stories regarding soldiers from these three communities.

Linda, Alan Woodward and Sandra Glancy have already researched the service and death of Private Samuel Holden, who was the ninth soldier from the district to be listed as killed or missing in the fighting.

The son of Albert and Mary, of 3 School View, Edgworth, he enlisted in the Grenadier Guards with his friend and workmate William Mather in January 1915.

They were the first men from Edgworth to join the crack regiment, and went to the front in September of that year.

It is known Sam saw much fighting, participating in several bayonet charges, but he was killed in action in March, 1916, aged only 20.

Awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, Sam is buried at Potijze Burial Ground in Belgium. There is no service record for him.

His parents heard the news in a letter, sent by one of his stretcher bearers, who also enclosed photographs found on his body.

One was of his brother, John "Jack" Holden, of the Royal Naval Division, who was injured later in 1917 – it is not known if another brother James went to war — a second was of the Know Mill cricket team and another was of William, who had been killed two months earlier.

No particulars were given of his death, beyond that it was instantaneous, the writer adding that Sam received "a hero’s burial".

After his death, his father received a war gratuity of £4 10s.

William, the son of Mr and Mrs James Mather, of Blackburn Road, Edgworth, was killed when a German shell exploded in his company’s trench.

Both he and Samuel worked at the Know Mill Printing Company at Entwistle and both played for the cricket team.

They also worshipped at St James’ Mission Church and attended the Sunday School there.

If you have any information about a family member or would like to help with the research, contact Linda Spencer at lespncr@aol.com or telephone 01204 853638.