The Battle of Loos (25^th September to 13^th  October, 1915) was one of the British Army’s first attempts at a major offensive operation. As with many of the offensives that were to follow, it led to heavy casualties for little territorial gain. With nineteen deaths, the opening day of the battle, the 25^th September, was the worst day of the War for Lancaster (equal to the 8^th May 1915 during Second Ypres). Most of the casualties were with the Seaforth Highlanders at Loos, however others were with different units and elsewhere on the front.

The nineteen Lancastrians killed that day were:

Joseph Bland, 9 Claremont View, Bowerham Road, killed with the 8^th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders at Loos. His brother John was killed in 1918.

Thomas Bleasdale, whose addresses are give as 3 Clarence Street, 42 Clarence Street, and 2 Alfred Street, killed with the 8^th Seaforth Highlanders at Loos. His brother John was killed on the first day of the Somme, the 1^st July 1916.

John Condon, 32 Green Street, killed with 8^th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders at Loos.

Frederick Donhue, Wright’s Cottage, Queen Street, killed with the 8^th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders at Loos.

John Griffin, 29, Charles Street, Greaves, killed with the 8^th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders at Loos.

Christopher Leeming, 12 Vincent Street and 3 Railway Street, killed with the 8^th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders at Loos. His brother James was killed on the Somme in September 1916.

Richard Mason, 7 Prospect Street, killed with the 8^th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders at Loos.

Edward Nicholson, 50 Derby Road, Skerton, killed with the 8^th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders at Loos. His brother James was killed on the Somme in July 1916.

John Seddon, 118 Aldren’s Lane, Skerton, killed with the 8^th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders at Loos.

Samuel Seekins, 9 Ashford Road, Scotforth, killed with the 8^th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders at Loos.

Albert Jackson, 16 Roseberry Avenue, killed with the 7^th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders at Loos.

James Squires, 52 Williamson Road, killed with the 7^th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders at Loos. His brother Robert was killed with the 1^st/5^th King’s Own in May 1918.

Frederick Dent, 12 Mary’s Street, killed with the 2^nd Battalion, Border Regiment at Loos.

Joseph Wardley, 83 Saint Leonardsgate, killed with the 1^st Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment at Loos.

George Wright, killed with the 5^th Battalion, Cameron Highlanders at Loos. His brother Douglas had been killed in the counter-attack on the 23^rd April 1915 at Second Ypres.

John Noble, 70 Clarence Street, killed with the 10^th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry near Ypres.

John Clarke, 10 Gregson Road, Moorlands, killed with the 5^th Battalion, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry near Ypres.

Peter Garrity, 4 Elgin Street, Moorlands, killed with the 5^th Battalion, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry near Ypres.

William Robinson, 26 Hope Street, killed with the 5^th Battalion, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry near Ypres.

 

Further reading on the Battle of Loos:

MacDonald L. (1997) 1915: The death of innocence. London: Penguin.