Whitehaven in the Great War by Ruth Mansergh

Whitehaven in the Great War by Ruth Mansergh

Whitehaven in the Great War covers Whitehaven's immense contribution to the Great War effort; it is thought that 625 Whitehaven men - from a town that, in 1901, had a population of around 21,000 - lost their lives fighting in the war. Meanwhile, on the home front, military service deprived many businesses of their established male workers, and women went to work in what had previously been exclusively male areas of employment. Notable people written about include recipient of the Victoria Cross Abraham Acton, an Orangeman in Whitehaven; local hero Robert Curwen Richmond Blair DSO, EM; and close friend to Kaiser Wilhelm II, Lord Lonsdale, the famous Yellow Earl who formed his own Pals battalion, the Lonsdales (11th Battalion, Border Regiment), to fight the Germans. It was often said, 'No bombing Zeppelin or Gothe ever attacked our peaceful backwater during hostilities.' However, on 16 August 1915 a U-boat, U-24, shelled the Harrington Coke works at nearby Lowca. This unexpected attack caught the community off-guard, and during the hour-long bombardment fifty-five shells rained down on the factory and the surrounding area - not one single shot was fired in return.War memorials to those killed in the Great War have been moved following church closures, however this book acts an practical reference guide to where these memorials stand today. Interesting stories come to light, like that of Baden Powell Thornthwaite, whose name was inscribed on a local grammar school war memorial, who had not died after all, but most likely deserted.

Ruth Mansergh is a mother of two who has worked as a journalist and as a freelance sub-editor and proofreader. She was educated at Harecroft Hall, a prep school near Gosforth, south of Whitehaven, Giggleswick, and Leeds University. She has a degree in English with social history, that stemmed from an interest in the history of the north of England. She has an excellent grasp of the English language and maintains a positive approach to life despite a disability.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781473833999
ISBN 10	147383399X
Title	Whitehaven in the Great War
Author	Ruth Mansergh
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Pen & Sword Books Ltd
Year published	2015-12-11
Number of pages	176
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.