The following is a brief review of the six men of the village of Rothwell, Lincolnshire whose names are inscribed on the memorial to the fallen of the Great War 1914 – 1918..Personal data has been drawn from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) and ‘ Soldiers Died in The Great War 1914 – 1919’ Vol 15.
St Mary’s Church, ROTHWELL
The memorial consists of a stone plinth surmounted by an octagonal column bearing a tablet on which is incised a representation of the crucifixion. It is situated inside the churchyard adjacent to the footpath. On the plinth are inscribed the words:
REMEMBER IN THE LORD
THESE WHO WENT OUT FROM US
AND GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR
THE WORLD’S FREEDOM IN THE
GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918
Pte Joseph A ATKIN Nov 15 1915
Pte Alfred BERRIDGE Oct 1 1916
Pte David CLARK July 1 1916
Capt Francis W McAULEY May 21 1916
Pte William NEAVE Nov 1 1916
Pte Hubert STORER May 4 1918
JOSEPH ARTHUR ATKIN
Joseph Arthur ATKIN served as Private 16506 in the 3rd Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment and died in the United kingdom on the 25th November 1915 at the age of 18.He was the son of Florence Atkin of Whitegate Hill, Caistor and is buried at Rothwell.
ALFRED BERRIDGE
Alfred BERRIDGE was killed on the First day of The Somme, July 1st 1916, whilst serving as Private 8023 in the 1/6 Northumberland Fusiliers. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
DAVID CLARK
David CLARK was born in Caistor, Lincolnshire the son of Charles and Maria Clark, later of Rothwell. He was killed in action aged 20 whilst serving as Private 14843 in ‘D’ Company of the 7th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment and is buried in the Gordon Dump Cemetery at Ouvillers, La Boiselle, France.
FRANCIS McAULEY
Francis McAULEY is recorded by the CWGC as McAULAY, the son of Samuel and Maud Mary McAulay of Aylesby, near Grimsby. As a Captain in ‘ B ‘ Battery of the 230th Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery he was killed on 21st May 1916 and is buried in the Fonquevllers Military Cemetery in the Pas de Calais.
WILLIAM NEAVE
William NEAVE was born at Audleby near Caistor and enlisted into the 2nd Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment as Private 23595.He was killed in action on the 16th November 1916 and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
HUBERT STORER
Hubert STORER served as Rifleman S/3200 in the 12th Battalion, The Rifle Brigade and was killed, aged 27,on the 24th March 1918.He was the son of Emily Grace Dawson, formerly Storer, of Cherry Willingham and of the late Henry Storer.
