Lawrence Lancelot DOWBIGGIN

07 January 1916

HIGH BENTHAM – Home for the Holidays

A good many young Benthamers in khaki have visited the old folk at home this week-end for the New Year, among them being Corpl. Alec Kidd, R.A.M.C., Newcastle; Pte. Lancelot Dowbiggin, son of Mr. L. Dowbiggin, of Summer Hill, of the Lancashire Fusiliers; Pte Ernest Newhouse, of the King’s Royal Rifles, son of Mr. Stephen Newhouse of Toadhill, and stationed at Onslow…

27 October 1916

PTE. LANCELOT DOWBIGGIN, HIGH BENTHAM

Pte. Lancelot Dowbiggin, of High Bentham, is reported missing and is believed to be killed. Further details will be found on page 3.

27 October 1916

BENTHAM SOLDIERS’ FATE

Private Lancelot Dowbiggin, the second son of Mr. Lawrence Dowbiggin, of Summerhill, Bentham, who used to farm Stockbridge, Lowgill, for many years (where Pte. Dowbiggin was born nineteen years ago next January), is reported missing and is believed to be killed. Deceased joined the Royal Fusiliers, and received his training in Kent, and went over to France in April last without being able to get a furlough. His elder brother, Pte. John Dowbiggin, lies in a Portsmouth hospital suffering from a gunshot wound in the face and a badly broken jaw. He joined the King’s Own at Lancaster last January and was out in France about five months.

The news respecting Pte. Lancelot Dowbiggin was received from the War Office on Monday morning last as follows:–

“Dear Mrs. Dowbiggin, – It is with the deepest regret that I have to report that your son, Pte. L. Dowbiggin, 2963, is missing, believed killed, in the attack on October 7th, 1916. Any further news will be sent at the earliest possible moment. Please accept my deepest sympathies. Yours truly HUGH T. PILGRIM, Second Lieutenant.”

Another Bentham boy missing and reported killed is Corporal Edward Walton Briscoe, the grandson of ‘Old Taylor Shepherd’ of the Collingwood Houses, who is in his 91st year. Corp. Briscoe was the son of the late Mr. Edward W. Briscoe. He won a County Council scholarship and took a school teacher’s post at Ackworth School, under Mr. J. Swinbank, and prior to enlisting in the Duke of Wellington’s appeared to have a promising career before him. Much sympathy is felt with his widowed mother.

16 March 1917

HIGHER BENTHAM – SOLDIER BOYS HOME ON LEAVE

Pte. John Dowbiggin, who was badly wounded on September 7th last, is on sick leave from the military hospital at the Isle of Wight, for ten days. His brother was reported missing on the 7th inst., and has not been heard of since. He was in the Royal Fusiliers, and a pal of Pte. Robert Carter, who was reported killed two weeks ago…

16 November 1917

HIGHER BENTHAM – MEMORIAL SERVICE

The second memorial service for soldiers killed at the Front was held at St. Margaret’s Church on Sunday afternoon. The sacred edifice was well filled by parishioners of every shade of religious and political opinions. The Vicar (the Rev. G. H. C. Bartley) officiated, and the service was choral, commencing with the opening sentences of the burial service, chanted, as a processional with the Union Jack was carried in front, draped with violet. Between the lessons the choir gave the anthem, ‘I heard a voice from Heaven’ very beautifully, and the Vicar read out the names of the fifteen heroes who have laid down their lives from the parish, as well as the three who are missing, and supposed killed, as follows:– Captain D. Morrison; Private Ed. Magoolaghan; Lance Corporal Joe Jackson; Captain S. C. Bartley (the Vicar’s brother); Corporal E. Leeming; Private Tom Wilcock; Captain G. G. Eccles; Private Ezra Stevenson; Private Len Nelson; Captain Pollard; Private Percy Whitfield (N.Z.); Corporal Wm. Robinson; Corporal Harry Smith; Corporal R. Clarke (missing); Private Lancelot Dowbiggin; Private Ed. Briscoe; Private Edwin Smith.

As the names were read out many tears were shed at the memory of the loved ones ‘Gone West’. Then followed an excellent sermon by the Vicar from the words ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend’, at the conclusion of which Miss V. Stubbs played the ‘Dead March’ whilst the congregation remained standing. The recessional hymn was ‘For all the Saints’, and at the close the organist played ‘I know that my Redeemer liveth’ as a voluntary. The entire service was of a very impressive character.

21 June 1918

HIGHER BENTHAM – Memorial Service

A memorial service was held at St. Margaret’s Church on Sunday evening. The Vicar, the Rev. G. H. C. Bartley, officiated and there was a full choir, one member, Mr. Alec Procter, being present from the Front on leave. The service was held for the late Private Lancelot Dowbiggin, Corporal Ernest Newhouse M.M., Private John Maudsley, Sergeant Walker Sanderson M.M., Private Edwin Smith, and Private Richard Wilcock Carr – six of the Bentham heroes to make the great sacrifice during the past six months. There was a large congregation, special hymns were sung and a most sympathetic sermon was delivered by the Vicar. At the close the Dead March was played by the organist, Miss. V. Stubbs.