Robert Liddle
Lance-Sergeant 45225, 2nd/5th Battalion The Lancashire Fusiliers.
Formerly he was in the 24th Manchester Regiment (The Oldham Comrades'),
No. 14245, 'B' Company, 5th Platoon
Born 1898 - died 24th August 1918

He was the son of Robert and Margaret Liddle, of 39, Westfield St., Chadderton, Lancs.
He died age 20

Robert's ⁽¹⁾ Family ...
Robert's father ⁽²⁾ and grandfather ⁽³⁾ were both named Robert

On the 1891 census Robert's father ⁽²⁾, as a 15 year old was living on Oldham Road, Tonge, with his own father (Robert ³), mother Emma and a younger, 8 year old brother, Benjamin C. Their 48 year old father was a 'Manager of Dying Cotton works'. 15 year old Robert ⁽²⁾ was a 'Polished Cotton Maker-up'

Robert's father⁽²⁾ married Margaret O'Kell in 1895, at the church of St. Michael, in Tonge, Middleton, where both of them had been born.

Robert ⁽¹⁾ junior was born in Royton, in the 2nd Quarter of 1898. He was the second of the four sons born to Robert and Margaret Liddle (Née O'Kell).

On the 1901 census, after their marriage, Robert and Margaret were living in Royley Clough, Chadderton, with their two sons, Edgar aged 5 and Robert age 3. Robert⁽²⁾ senior was an 'Overlooker Cotton Yarn ...'

By 1911 the family had another 2 sons ... Henry then age 10 years and Benjamin Edward age 6. Their father was a 'Carder' (cotton spinning)' and they were living at 14, Chadderton Fold, Royton.

When war broke our Robert⁽¹⁾ enlisted with the 'Oldham Comrades', 24th Battalion Manchester Regiment and, after their period of training, went out to France with the 24th in November 1915. He is on the photograph of his platoon, No. V, in 'B' Company, in the book ''The Oldham Battalion of Comrades' HERE.

At some stage he was made up to a lance-sergeant and transferred to the Lancashire Fusiliers. Unable to find his service record, it's difficult to be more specific as to dates.

Hewould have been sent with his battalion, the 24th Manchester, to France in November 1915. the Battalion was transferred to the 22nd Brigade in the 7th Division. In May 1916 the 24th was converted into a Pioneer Battalion and, remaining with the 7th Division and under its direct command, were rarely far from the front, seeing action on the Somme, at Mametz, Ginchy, Bailleul, Pozières, the Battle of Ancre, Bullecourt and Ypres, before being transferred to the Italian Front in November 1917. It's unlikely that Robert was still with the 24th by this time and could very possibly have transferred to the Lancashire Fusiliers at some time after May 1916.

Referencing 'The Lancashire Fusiliers' website HERE we can find the following information on their movements :

2nd/5th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers

07.01.1916 Battalion transferred to the 164th Brigade of the 55th Division.
During 1916
The Battle of Guillemont, The Battle of Ginchy, The Battle of Flers-Courcelette, The Battle of Morval.(The Somme)
During 1917
The Battle of Pilkem Ridge, The Battle of Menin Road Ridge. (3rd Battle Ypres)
20th Nov to 3rd Dec the Battle of Cambrai
During 1918
The Battle of Estaires, the Defence of Givenchy, The Battle of Hazebrouck, The capture of Givenchy craters, The capture of Canteleux trench, the Final Advance in Artois.

Robert was killed in action at Givenchy, on the 24th August 1918, and is buried at Houchin British Cemetery.

His family have a map (see below), which was sent to them, and shows the route taken as his friends brought his body back to the transport lines so that his body could be returned for burial with his battalion.