Hawkshaw Lane End, Greater Manchester: The Headmaster at the Front

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Hawkshaw Lane End is a small village north of Bury. In 1914 there were approximately 800 people living within the parish boundaries. Their life centred round the village school, two Methodist chapels and the parish church. They worked locally in two cotton mills or bleaching cloth at Two Brooks works. When war broke out, the men flocked to the colours. By the end of the conflict 167 names appeared on some of the 11 war memorials erected in their honour. Of these names, 40 died in military service, another 40 were wounded. Their service was appreciated by everyone but none more so than their old headmaster at the village school, Thomas Beckett - who tried to keep his former pupils’ morale high by writing to them from the front. Location: Hawkshaw Lane End, Greater Manchester BL8 4AJ Image: St Mary’s School, courtesy of JE Wardle