Cleator Moor World War 1 Project

19/05/2026

Cleator Moor born James Leary, a miner and a soldier
An almost forgotten Veteran of the Boer War and the 'Great War'
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Born at Cleator Moor in 1872, James Leary was both a miner in civil life and a regular soldier with the Border Regiment, serving in the Second Boer War. After the outbreak of the so called 'Great War' in 1914, by this time married with a family and living at Whitehaven, James signed up to serve with the Border Regiment once again. He served , serving in the front line with both the 1st and 6th Battalions. For a period he was a Lance Corporal but was demoted back to Private for non-compliance of an order.

In April 1917, Private James Leary was diagnosed with TB and sent back from the Western Front to Britain to be treated at Bradford War Hospital and discharged on health grounds from the Army in July 1917 (awarded the Silver War Badge). On Saturday 9 November 1918, two days before the Armistice ending this so called 'Great War', James Leary died at his home, Torrentine's Court, Tangier Street, Whitehaven, aged 44. The primary cause of death being the tuberculosis he had contracted during his military service.

James Leary was laid to rest in Whitehaven Cemetery (Grave 6/O/270) with the funeral service being conducted by Father Simon Finch, O.S.B. of St Begh's R.C. parish on Thursday 14 November 1918. It does not seem to have been a 'military funeral' and it was not recorded as a military death by the War Graves Commission.

James Leary was the second burial in the grave, the plot being owned by a near neighbour, and possible relative Patrick McGlennon. The first to be buried in that grave was a 7 year old, James McGlennon, died 28 March 1915 (buried 31 March 1915). Emily Leary, widow of James passed away aged 43 in July 1921, and was also laid to rest in the same grave as her husband. Emily's funeral service was again conducted by Father Simon Finch, O.S.B. of St Begh's parish (21 July 1921). Two young McGlennon children were subsequently buried in the same grave: Mary Theresa in 1928 and Patrick in 1931, making 5 burials in all. The headstone then erected over the grave commemorates the McGlennon children but not James and Emily Leary.

During the research for the Cleator Moor Roll of Honour, it was found that Cleator Moor born James Leary was not commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Nor was he remembered on the war memorial where he was baptised, Cleator (St Mary's) R.C. parish. Nevertheless, James Leary was not completely forgotten. He was remembered by the WW1 war memorial of St Begh's R.C. parish, Whitehaven, the parish where he had died in 1918.

Although a discharged soldier, James Leary had died of an affliction contracted due to his military service and within the qualifying period for commemoration by the War Graves Commission. After obtaining the relevant documents for the Cleator Moor Roll of Honour, the case for James Leary to be recognised as an official war casualty was submitted to the CWGC in 2014. Shortly afterwards, it is believed relatives of the family made a similar submission to the Commission. After going through the CWGC checking process, James Leary was accepted as an official war casualty (October 2015). An official CWGC headstone was erected at the foot of the grave on Friday 24 February 2017, and leaving the headstone remembering the McGlennon family in its original location.

Two brothers of James Leary also died in the 'Great War': Private John Leary (died of wounds, 4 November 1914) and Private William Leary (died of malaria, 6 November 1918).

"Lest We Forget"

25/04/2026

Today is ANZAC day, the anniversary of the landing of troops from Australia and New Zealand Army Corps on the Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey, in World War I , April 25, 1915This campaign was ill conceived and poorly planned and not surprisingly the Gallipoli campaign failed in its military objectives , this should not in anyway detract from the courageous Anzacs whose bravery and appalling casualties during the campaign has left a powerful and enduring legacy in Australia and New Zealand to the present day .On this day its is right to honour the men from Cleator Moor who left this town and emigrated to the other side of the World , enlisted, fought , and died for freedom in the Great War. These men are
Pte .Foster Hunter, Australian A.M.C, died 29/9/17
Pte Maurice Ideson, Australian Infantry died 3/9/1916
Pte William Aubry Oates, Australian Infantry died 24/7/916
Pte Douglas H Tembey, Australian Infantry died 7/6/1917
Pte Ralph D Kearton , Canterbury (NZ) Regiment died 18/6/1916

At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them"

23/03/2026

Sapper William Frears Pearson, Cleator Moor (born 1889)
Inland Waterways and Docks, Royal Engineers
He died on 30th October 1918 whilst on active service and based at Sedbury camp, Tidenham, Gloucestershire. His Royal Engineers unit was working to establish the National Shipyard at Beachley, Gloucestershire.

At the time of the 1891 census, William F. Pearson was living at 20 The Crescent, Cleator Moor. His parents were William and Mary Hannah Pearson (nee Sanderson). In 1913, he was married to Miss Mary Ann Tear and their home address was 12 Hilton Terrace, Whitehaven. William initially enlisted to the Westmorland & Cumberland Yeomanry at Penrith, Cumberland on 17th September 1914 but discharged on health grounds in 1915. After about 18 months, he was called up to serve with the army again, but this time with the Royal Engineers. In civilian life, William Pearson was a Carter (Grocer's Warehouse).

William Pearson was buried in Whitehaven Cemetery (Grave Ref. 4/N/281) on 4th November 1918. He was the fourth person to be laid in a common grave, all four being unrelated. He was survived by a widow and three children.

The War Graves Commission later removed its commemorative stone from the grave where he was buried and replaced it with a special memorial next to its Cross of Sacrifice adjacent to the entrance gates to the cemetery.

Sapper William Frears Pearson is commemorated by the Cleator Moor Roll of Honour.
'Lest We Forget'.

17/03/2026

St Patrick's Day, Tuesday 17th March 2026
"Little Ireland" (Cleator and Cleator Moor)
Raising the Tyneside Irish Brigade flag at Cleator (St Mary's) .....................................................................
"Your people, now exiles on many a shore,
Shall love and revere you till time is no more;
And the fire you have kindled shall ever burn bright,
Its warmth undiminished, undying its light."
- 'Hail Glorious St. Patrick',
Sister Mary Agnes (Elizabeth) McSweeney (1823 - 1905).
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Cleator (St Mary's) R.C. parish marked St Patrick's Day 2026 firstly by raising the Tyneside Irish Brigade flag on the flagpole outside the church and secondly by Mass attended by children from St Patrick's Catholic Primary School. The raising of the flag on St Patrick's Day was in remembrance of the local men of the parish who volunteered to serve with the Tyneside Irish Brigade during WW1, believed to have been at least 41 in number of which 16 lost their lives. months of the First World War it is believed at least 41 men linked to the district of Cleator and Cleator Moor ("Little Ireland") enlisted to the Tyneside Irish Brigade (Northumberland Fusiliers) with at least 16 making the ultimate sacrifice of their lives.

18/02/2026

Reminder This Friday Evening . All welcome to what will be a very interesting talk on the Town in times of conflict
Admission is Free

06/02/2026

"Cleator Moor at War" (WW1)
This link goes to some portraits of Cleator Moor soldiers of WW1 which appeared in the 'Illustrated Chronicle' and created by Newcastle Libraries.
Private P. Burns, 3rd Border Regiment (wounded)
Private Michael Kennedy, 6th Border Regiment (Killed)
Sergeant G. McStraw, Tyneside Irish (Died of wounds)
Private Frank Cromwell, 7th Border Regiment (Died of wounds)
Captain Frank Cavanagh, M.C., Royal Field Artillery (Died)
2nd Lt. J. Dalziel, Royal Garrison Artillery (Greek M.C.)
Private N. Southward, 8th Regiment South African (Died of wounds)
Sapper J. McIlwraith, Royal Engineers (Military Medal)
Private C. Hutchinson, Army Service Corps (Military Medal)
Corporal J. Tremble, Border Regiment (D.C.M.)
Lance Corporal W. Watson, South African Infantry (M.S.M. award)
Lance Corporal H. Pearson, 2nd Border Regiment (Killed)
Corporal J. Morton, Seaforth Highlanders/M.G.C. (Military Medal)
Corporal J. Dawson, K.O.R.L. (Military Medal).....................................................

25/11/2025

25/11/2025

25/11/2025

Tuesday 25th November 2025 - Cleator (St Mary's) churchyard
Dedication of CWGC headstones and remembrance service
Corporal John James Cash and Private Henry Welsh
Two WW1 Border Regiment soldiers from Cleator Moor
"Eternal Rest grant unto them, O Lord".
We will remember them.
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22/11/2025

Memorial prayer card for two Cleator Moor brothers of WW1
James Grant and Patrick Grant
6th Battalion The Border Regiment ................................................
Private James Grant was killed in action in France on 27th September 1916 (Battle of the Somme) and was laid to rest in Puchervilliers British Cemetery, France. He is officially commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Private Patrick Grant was discharged from the Army on medical grounds in 1917 and died shortly thereafter at Cleator Moor on 22nd July of that year. He was laid to rest in Cleator (St Mary's) R.C. churchyard two days later on 24th July. Patrick Grant is not officially commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the submission for inclusion being turned down by after referral to the National Army Museum. Nevertheless, Patrick Grant is remembered on the Cleator (St Mary's) parish WW1 war memorial, and by the Cleator Moor Roll of Honour.
"Lest we forget".