The Bell Family

Ormrod Family in the World Wars

World War 1

Richard, William and Bertie Ormrod all joined up in the First World War. It is thought that although the family moved to Stalybridge before the war, Richard and Bertie stayed behind in the Cartmel area.

 

Bertie the youngest died at the end of the war, he was only 1 in the 1901 census so must have only been 18 when he died.

 

From the website of Howard Martin

 

One of the last was Bertie Ormrod, killed on August 28th 1918 in France, while attached to the Royal Fusiliers. He had been in the Choir and a member of the Lads' Club and was brought up by his Aunt, Mrs Withers, the landlady of the Cavendish Arms. Bertie was found dead in a trench after an attack. He was only 18 years old and had been in France a fortnight. He is buried in HEM FARM MILITARY CEMETERY, HEM-MONACU, Somme, France.

 

Howard Martin also sent me the text of a piece in the Millom News dated Sat 2nd Nov 1918

 

LOCAL SOLDIER FOUND DEAD IN TRENCH

 

Official news has been received that Pte Bertie Ormrod who has been brought up by his Aunt, Mrs James Withers, late of the Cavendish Arms Hotel, Cartmel, had been killed in action or died of wounds in France on August 20th. Pte Ormrod was 18 years of age. He was called to colours on March 11th last, joining the Cheshire Regiment. Subsequently he was transferred to the London Regiment and attached to the Royal Fusiliers. About 6 weeks ago his parents received a letter from Lance Corporal E Cowell, Suffolk Regiment stating that about a week previously a party of men, including himself, entered a trench round about which there had just been an action, and that he came across a young man who had been killed. He took a pocket-book found from his pocket and found out who he was. Lance Corporal Cowell forwarded the pocket-book to Mr Ormrod with an expression of sympathy. He added that he was of the opinion that Pte Ormrod had been killed instantaneously, judging from his wounds. Two other brothers are in the army, one in the Border Regiment and the other in the East Lancashires. Pte Ormrod had been in France a fortnight when he was killed.

 

Commonwealth War Graves Commission entry for Bertie Ormrod

 

 

William Ormrod

 

World War 2

 

Younger brother Ernest Ormrod was lost in World War 2. He was married to Esther PAYNE and had a daughter Jean.

 

Commonwealth War Graves Commission entry for Ernest Ormrod