1885 - 1916
CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916
Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916
Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916
Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918
Pte 37410 Albert Sucksmith
- Age: 26
- From: Shaw, Lancs
- Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
- K.I.A Thursday 12th April 1917
- Commemorated at: Arras Memorial
Panel Ref: Bay 3
Albert was born in June quarter of 1890 the son of Joseph Sucksmith and his wife Mary Ann (née Harrison) who were married on the 02nd January 1888 at Holy Trinity Church, Shaw. Joseph was a 22 year old of East Crompton, his father, Abraham, was a waste dealer , whilst Mary was aged 23, a speed tenter(cotton) of Shaw, her father, Samuel, was a clogger. His father, from Shaw, and his mother from Oldham had six children, two of whom died young. Albert had an older sister Annie born in 1889, and younger siblings Samuel, born 1893, and Gladys Milne, born in 1906. He was baptised on 03rd August 1890 also at Holy Trinity, his father a minder of Seville Street.
At the time of the 1891 Census, the family, with two children, is living at 4 Seville Street, Crompton. His father is aged 25, a cotton operative, born Crompton, his mother, Mary Ann, is aged 26, born Crompton. Their children are Annie aged 1, and Albert aged 9 months old.
At the time of the 1901 Census the family is living at 102 Manchester Road, Shaw, with three children. His father, is aged 35, a minder (spinner, in a cotton mill), his mother, Mary, is 26. They have three children declared in the household; Annie is aged 11, Albert is aged 10 and Samuel is aged 7.
In 1911 they are still at 102 Manchester Road. His father, is aged 45,and is a spinner, his mother is 46. They advised that they have been married for 23 years, and have had 6 children, 4 still alive), and Gladys is 5. His father and the three working aged children all work in a cotton mill. They declare all four surviving children in the household; Annie, aged 21, is a cop winder, Albert, aged 20, and Samuel, aged 17, are mule piecers, a piecer mends broken threads during spinning, usually employed by the spinner, rather than directly by the mill owners. A spinner would often employ their own children, thus keeping the money in the family. Gladys is aged 5.
The Cotton Factory Times on Friday 28th February 1913 paid tribute to his father;
Secretary's Retirement.
MR. J. SUCKSMITH, OF THE SHAW SPINNERS.
By the resignation of Mr. J. Sucksmith, secretary of Shaw branch of Oldham Operative Cotton Spinners' Association, the district has lost one of the best officials the present generation has known. My mind goes back (writes a correspondent) to the time of his appointment, about six years ago. when he gave up many positions in order to be in closer touch with his fellow workers, and his devotion to his duties will long be remembered by those with whom he worked. His methods of bookkeeping were perfection, and will bear investigation by all who follow him. Members sought his advice at all times, and found him cool, patient, and ready to give of his best. Those who were injured he was ever ready to visit in order that they might get the society's full benefits and what they were entitled to under the Compensation Act. I am sure Shaw spinners and the public generally trust that with a little rest and more leisure Mr. Sucksmith may be quickly restored to that state of health which he so richly deserves.
He married Eunice Rowlinson a cotton operative of 6 Greaves Street, Shaw, Lancashire on 06th July 1916, his occupation is “Soldier 37410 King’s Liverpool Regt.”, giving his residence as the training camp at Whitchurch, Shropshire at the time. Both aged 26.
Cotton Factory Times - Friday 28 February 1913
Secretary's Retirement.
MR. J. SUCKSMITH, OF THE SHAW SPINNERS.
By the resignation of Mr. J. Sucksmith, secretary of Shaw branch of Oldham Operative Cotton Spinners' Association, the district has lost one of the best officials the present generation has known. My mind goes back (writes a correspondent) to the time of his appointment, about six years ago. when he gave up many positions in order to be in closer touch with his fellow workers, and his devotion to his duties will long be remembered by those with whom he worked. His methods of bookkeeping were perfection, and will bear investigation by all who follow him. Members sought his advice at all times, and found him cool, patient, and ready to give of his best. Those who were injured he was ever ready to visit in order that they might get the society's full benefits and what they were entitled to under the Compensation Act. I am sure Shaw spinners and the public generally trust that with a little rest and more leisure Mr. Sucksmith may be quickly restored to that state of health which he so richly deserves.
His body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as his name is recorded on the Arras Memorial in France.
The ARRAS MEMORIAL commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave. The most conspicuous events of this period were the Arras offensive of April-May 1917, and the German attack in the spring of 1918. Canadian and Australian servicemen killed in these operations are commemorated by memorials at Vimy and Villers-Bretonneux. A separate memorial remembers those killed in the Battle of Cambrai in 1917. Both cemetery and memorial were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, with sculpture by Sir William Reid Dick. The memorial was unveiled by Lord Trenchard, Marshal of the Royal Air Force on the 31 July 1932 (originally it had been scheduled for 15 May, but due to the sudden death of French President Doumer, as a mark of respect, the ceremony was postponed until July).
He died less than a year after his marriage. There appears to be no children born.
Albert’s name appeared in the list of casualties in the Rochdale Times on 28th April 1917.
Killed.
Pte. Albert Sucksmith, King's Liverpool Regiment, of 6, Greaves Street, Shaw.
His funeral was descirbed in the Cotton Factory Times on Friday 31st January 1919;
SHAW & CROMPTON.
FUNERAL OF MR. JOS. SUCKSMITH. The funeral took place at Shaw Church on Saturday afternoon of Mr. Jos. Sucksmith, who died at his home, Queen-street, on Wednesday, after a long illness from bronchitis. Deceased was formerly employed as a spinner at the Fern Spinning Co., but owing to ill-health was compelled to leave the mule room. He was last employed as assistant secretary at the Rutland Mill Co. For a long number of years he occupied the position of secretary for the local branch of the Spinners' Association, and held the position of secretary for the Insurance Section up to the time of his death. He was always known as a strong and loyal trades unionist. He was 53 years of age, and leaves a widow, one son and two daughters.
In loving memory of
JOSEPH SUCKSMITH
Who died January 22nd 1919 in his 53rd year.
Also of MARY his beloved wife
Who died December 31st 1920 in her 56th year.
Nothing in my hands I bring,
Simply to thy cross I cling!
Also of ADA ALICE their daughter
Who died July 21st 1888 aged 16 days.
Also WILFRED their son
Who died May 15th 1893 aged 9 months
Also of ALBERT their son
Killed in action at St Martin sur Cojeul, Sud Arras, on April 12th 1917 in his 27th year.
Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friend.
Killed On This Day.
(109 Years this day)Sunday 22nd April 1917.
Pte 52865 Hyman Barnett Gadansky
28 years old
(108 Years this day)
Monday 22nd April 1918.
Pte 136181 Edwin Williams
19 years old