BAMBER BRIDGE IN WORLD WAR 1
Casualties in 1918
After the horrors of Passchendaele, the winter of 1917-18 was relatively quiet. By the Spring however, it was clear that the Germans would launch a major offensive. Tom Massam was killed while reinforcing defences in anticipation of the attack.
German Spring Offensive
On 21 March the Germans launched Operation Michael, whose objective was the capture of the towns of Arras and Amiens. Despite significant advances over the Somme battlefield, the German army was eventually unable to make the breakthrough it needed and by 30 March the offensive was all but over.
When Operation Michael failed, the Germans attempted a new offensive, named Operation Georgette, or the Battle of the Lys, which began on 9 April. The Germans quickly recaptured all the ground taken at such cost during the battles of Passchendaele but were ultimately unable to break the Allied lines and they called the operation off on 29 April. Nineteen Briggers lost their lives during the German Spring Offensive.
George Spencer was killed in 'ordinary' fighting in a 'quiet' sector as both sides tried to recover from the exhaustion of the Spring Offensive. The tentative counterattack began at Vieux Berquin in June, where John Green was killed. In an otherwise quiet month, Ralph Cheetham was killed in an enemy gas attack on his camp. Henry Fazackerley was killed in the Battle of the Marne 1918, he'd only been at the front a few weeks.
The Allies' final push, later to be known as the 100 Days' Offensive, began in earnest on 8 August.
John Moss died in Baghdad from complications following malaria.
Wilfred Green, James Flannigan, Tom Pearson, James Darwen, William Slater, Jasper Shovel, Cornelius Seed and John McNamara VC were all killed in the advance towards Cambrai. In the very last action of his Division during the War, Robert Shackleton was killed during the capture of the village of Ingoyghem. He had previously been awarded the DCM.
Robert Clifton was killed in a naval accident in Dover harbour. Robert Brindle died whilst serving in India. John Rylance died in a PoW camp in Germany having been take prisoner in May.
Influenza pandemic
James Waterhouse, Edward Hough, Robert Croskell died of the flu in Europe; William Parkinson and Richard Howcroft both died of the flu in Alexandria, Egypt
Thomas Massam, Sherwood Foresters, 3 March 1918
John Riley M.M., Machine Gun Corps (Infantry), 22 March 1918
Walter Gahaghan, King's (Liverpool Regiment), 23 March 1918
Edward Bamber M.M., (King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment), 23 March 1918
William Turner, King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment),
23 March 1918
Alfred Bradshaw, Royal Field Artillery, 24 March 1918
Walter Wilson, King's Liverpool Regiment, 24 March 1918
Henry Blackburn, Cheshire Regiment, 27 March 1918
William Riding, East Lancashire Regiment, 27 March 1918
Peter Kirkman Stirrup, Royal Field Artillery, 29 March 1918
James Knight, Grenadier Guards, 30 March 1918
William Clarkson Nun Preston, Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment), 3 April 1918
Arthur Nuttall, King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment),
9 April 1918
Robert Hardacre, Royal Field Artillery, 9 April 1918
Frank Sumner, Royal Field Artillery, 9 April 1918
James Beaver, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment,
10 April 1918
Thomas Callaghan, Lancashire Fusiliers, 12 April 1918
Francis Schultz M.M., Royal Field Artillery, 13 April 1918
Norman Grime, Royal Field Artillery, 14 April 1918
William Henry Higham, Royal Fusiliers (City of London) Regiment, 24 April 1918
Thomas Westby, Cheshire Regiment, 25 April 1918
Robert Darwen, Cheshire Regiment, 29 April 1918
Thomas Roberts, King's (Liverpool Regiment), 29 April 1918
George Spencer, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment,
23 May 1918
John Green, East Lancashire Regiment, 28 June 1918
Joseph Pearson, Royal Garrison Artillery, 4 July 1918
Ralph Cheetham, Scots Guards, 12 July 1918
Henry Fazackerley, Devonshire Regiment, 20 July 1918
Matthew Brierley, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment,
11 August 1918
George Whalley, King's (Liverpool Regiment), 21 August 1918
Charles Albert Golding, East Lancashire Regiment,
22 August 1918
John Moss, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment,
1 September 1918
Robert Stott, King's (Liverpool Regiment), 2 September 1918
Wilfred Green, Royal Field Artillery, 9 September 1918
Robert Clifton, Royal Navy, 16 September 1918
James Hunter Flannigan, Royal Welsh Fusiliers,
18 September 1918
Thomas Aloysius Pearson, Royal Field Artillery,
27 September 1918
James Anselm Darwen, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment,
28 September 1918
William Slater, Manchester Regiment, 3 October 1918
Rev. Thomas Jasper Shovel, Army Chaplains' Department,
5 October 1918
Cornelius Seed, Northumberland Fusiliers, 14 October 1918
Robert Brindle, Bedfordshire Regiment, 15 October 1918
John McNamara VC, East Surrey Regiment, 16 October 1918
John Rylance, Royal Field Artillery, 19 October 1918
Robert Shackleton D.C.M., Cameronians (Scottish Rifles),
25 October 1918
James Waterhouse, Royal Field Artillery, 30 October 1918
Edward Hough, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment,
30 October 1918
Robert Croskell, Royal Field Artillery, 11 November 1918
William Parkinson, Royal Field Artillery, 20 November 1918
Richard Howcroft, Royal Field Artillery, 24 November 1918