Private Tom H. Stansfield, of the Lancashire Fusiliers, was killed in action on March 26th, 1918
This soldier who carried on a business of pawnbroker in Long Street, Middleton, was 38 years of age, and was a member of the Conservative Club.

Private Stansfield has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, France.

2nd Lieutenant Bertie Swallow was attached to the 18th Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers when he was wounded and died on 31 October 1918. When the remains of an unknown officer of the Lancashire Fusiliers were uncovered, they were found buried very close to 13 other soldiers of the 18th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers who were all known to have died on 31 October.

There were 79 Lancashire Fusiliers officers who are listed as “missing” on memorials in Belgium. Of these 79, only 2 Lt Swallow died on or after 31 October 1918. As 2 Lt Swallow is the only officer listed as missing on/after this date, it was concluded that he lies in Plot ii.A.11 of Harlebeke New British Cemetery

The Battalion's Padre and soldiers from Y and W Companies attended a grave rededication ceremony for 2Lt Bertie Swallow at Harelbeke New British Cemetery in Belgian Flanders on Tuesday morning.

2Lt Swallow, of 18th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers was killed in action leading his platoon into an attack following the Battle of Courtrai on 31st October 1918 near the Belgian village of Kloosterhoek. When his remains were exhumed from the battlefield in the early 1920s they were identified only as an Unknown Officer of the Lancashire Fusiliers. Joint research undertaken by an Australian historian and the MOD took into account the location in which these were found, and indicated by a process of elimination the remains could only be those of 2Lt Swallow.

Of the 32 other officers and soldiers of 18th Lancashire Fusiliers who died that day, thirteen rest alongside him in Harelbeke. His new headstone, which has formally identified him for the first time in almost 99 years, was installed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and will commemorate his final resting place in perpetuity.

Bertie Swallow was aged 33 when he lost his life. Originally born in Leeds, he lived in Blackpool and was employed as a Bank Clerk prior to joining up. He had served for two years on the Salonika front prior to commissioning into the Lancashire Fusiliers. He had only been with the 18th Battalion for a matter of days prior to his death. He left behind his wife Katherine. Lest we Forget. #OAFAAF

sent in by Mike Murray