Soldiering on pays off for war writer

IT has taken 11 years, 13 flights abroad and £6,000, but one man in Milnrow has finally got his book on the First World War published.

Ralph Davidson (68), who used to work as an executive officer at Strangeways Prison in Manchester, was inspired to learn more about the war in 2001 after speaking to a group who went every year to the Western Front.

The following year, he accompanied them to France and on his return decided to record all the local fallen heroes of Milnrow and Newhey.

“People have done books on the Salford Pals, the Barnsley Pals, but no-one has written anything about the soldiers in Rochdale,” Ralph said.

“So I thought if I’m going out there, to France and Belgium, I’m not going to waste my time wandering about.”

All of the 223 soldiers mentioned in his book “Not forgotten: Milnrow and District Fallen Heroes of the First World War” are casualties. None of them came back, except one by the name of Percy Dromsfield whose house on Shaw Road is still standing.

Ralph wanted to thank the Oldham Chronicle and the Oldham Local Studies and Archives centre, on Union Street, for helping him with his research, which involved him looking through old copies of the Chronicle that carried news reports of all the men featured in the book.

Ralph, who lives with wife Irene, said: “It’s heartbreaking. The odd thing is that none of the soldiers suffered from their wounds. It’s amazing. When a bullet gets in to your system it chews your insides out, it doesn’t go straight through.”

It cost Ralph around £6,000 with his many trips abroad to do the research. But, he said, that does not bother him.

He added: “What bothers me is that these people are not forgotten. I hope people will read all this and say, that’s my uncle or my grandad. The cost to me is immaterial.”

The book is available to purchase from the Chronicle office for £19.95. Alternatively, contact Ralph directly on 01706-650 311.