James SMALLEY

'Clitheroe Times’ (21 July 1916)

(Kindly supplied by Shirley Penman of Clitheroe and Dorothy Falshaw of Gisburn)

VILLAGE VICTIM

This has been the most tragic week Grindleton has experienced for a long time, for two well-known young men have paid the utmost price of their patriotism. One, Gunner Fred Slater, is referred to elsewhere, and the second is Private J. Smalley, of the West Surrey Regiment, only son of Mr. and Mrs. R. Smalley, of Pendle-view. He joined the army early in the war and was quickly drafted to France, undergoing great hardships and realising to the full the horrors of war. It is not very long ago that Private Smalley was buried in a shattered trench, and at the same time he was ‘gassed,’ being set to hospital and later enjoying a furlough at home. Now comes official news that he was killed on June 28th. Private Smalley was well-known and respected in Grindleton. He formerly attended the Quaker Chapel, and also the Parish Church. He was employed as a weaver at the bottom mill. Private Smalley was 22 years of age.

‘Clitheroe Times’ (28 July 1916)

(Kindly supplied by Shirley Penman of Clitheroe and Dorothy Falshaw of Gisburn)

VILLAGE VICTIM

PRIVATE J. SMALLEY of the West Surrey Regiment, only son of Mr. and Mrs. R. Smalley, Pendle View, Grindleton, and a member of the village band, who, as recorded last week, was killed in action on June 28th.

[Photograph caption]

Grindleton War Memorial – Biographical Notes by Shirley Penman

JAMES SMALLEY, son of Robert and Catherine nee Whalley (marriage not found), was born at Grindleton; resided at Grindleton and enlisted at Clitheroe. He went to France as part of 3rd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers on 5-10-1915 but was transferred to 1st Battalion Royal Fusiliers on 21-10-1915 when the brigade was sent to Egypt; he then moved to 20th Battalion Royal Fusiliers between 31-5-1916 and his death on 28-6-1916. It seems that James was killed in the run up to the Battle of Albert (1st day of the Somme) which started on 1st July after a bombardment of artillery fire of one month; raiding parties were sent out before the battle to observe the “fall” of the shells, these raiders found the enemy to be in greater numbers than before and far more alert - perhaps James was on one of these raids? James worshipped both at the parish church in Grindleton and the Quaker chapel in Sawley. He was a weaver at the Bottom Mill previous to enlistment.

Commemorated on:

Grindleton Memorial