Roll of Honour
1939-1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946-1947
Introduction
This list refers to men and women who died during 1939-1947. The criteria for inclusion embraces those who were born, lived or worked in Blackburn and surrounding areas. N.B. Using the criteria selected by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission the list covers those who died from 3rd September 1939 to 31 December 1947.
View the Roll of Honour: Please select a year (above) in order to see the names recorded on the Roll of Honour.
Format:
The Roll of Honour is presented in chronological year order and the format chosen to record the names is as follows:
Surname, First name
Rank, Service Number, Regiment/Squadron, Ship or Naval Base
Date of Death and age (if known)
Grave or Memorial
ABBOTT, Henry
Private, D/23274, 4th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry
19/09/1939,
CWG Blackburn Cemetery C R/C 1016
How the List Was Compiled:
Stephen Irwin (Education Officer), Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery worked with a student from a local school, Ryan Baron, in order to compile the initial list. Stephen and Ryan researched and retrieved information from newspaper reports in “The Northern Daily Telegraph”.
Each person found during the search was then cross referenced and checked against the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website and added to an Excel Database.
Subsequent research was undertaken in 2017 by the late Ray Smith.
Glossary of Abbreviations used throughout the Roll of Honour:
A & AEE
| Aeroplane & Armament Experimental Establishment
|
AA
| Anti-Aircraft
|
C/E
| Church of England
|
DEMS
| Defensively Equipped Merchant Ship
|
DFC
| Distinguished Flying Cross
|
DFM
| Distinguished Flying Medal
|
ELR
| East Lancashire Regiment
|
FAA
| Fleet Air Arm
|
HAC
| Honourable Artillery Company
|
HCU
| Heavy Conversion Unit
|
| HM LCT | His Majesty’s Landing Craft (Tank)
|
HM
| His Majesty’s
|
HMS
| His Majesty’s Ship
|
MGB
| Motor Gun Boat
|
MiD
| Mentioned in Dispatches
|
MM
| Military Medal
|
MTB
| Motor Torpedo Boat
|
MV
| Motor Vessel
|
N/C
| Non Conformist
|
NAS
| Naval Air Squadron
|
R/C
| Roman Catholic
|
RAC
| Royal Armoured Corps
|
RAF
| Royal Air Force
|
RAAF
| Royal Australian Air Force
|
RCAF
| Royal Canadian Air Force
|
RNZAF
| Royal New Zealand Air Force
|
SLAIS
| Specialised Low Attack Insructors School
|
SS
| Steam Ship
|
Grateful Thanks
Blackburn with Darwen Library & Information Service would particularly like to thank and acknowledge Stephen Irwin for sharing the initial Roll of Honour which he compiled with Ryan. Stephen’s compilation of the "Glossary" above plus his guidance and assistance in reviewing the entries prior to publication on Cotton Town has been invaluable.
Ray Smith’s valiant research during the latter half of 2017 was greatly appreciated and he uncovered additional names for inclusion. Further research has also been undertaken by Community History Volunteer, Fran Stevenson.
The time and skill of another Community History Volunteer, Stephen Smith, in creating the online version of Blackburn’s Roll of Honour for Cotton Town deserves our thanks.
Thank-you also to Carol Curphey, Blackburn with Darwen Library & Information Service.
Further Information
The Roll of Honour published on Cotton Town is by no means definitive. There must be dozens of memorials in churches, schools, sporting clubs, community venues such as political, social groups and work memorials, plus others, which may offer other names for consideration.
The Cotton Town team would warmly welcome any further information especially additional names for inclusion, photographs as well as potential amendments.
Please check the Roll of Honour and contact the Library on the following email if you think you can help:
Email: library@blackburn.gov.uk
August 2020
