The Distress Committee continued to dole out relief to the families of volunteer servicemen, the community gave asylum to refugees, and, as soon became necessary, help was organised for the wounded of the war. Great houses such as Haigh Hall were turned into hospitals and convalescent quarters for the duration and staffed by women volunteers. Collecting donations to buy eggs for the nourishment of the wounded became a cause which allowed youth groups to do their bit.
Chorley Guardian and Leyland Hundred Advertiser 23 January 1915
ADLINGTON DISTRESS COMMITTEE
At a meeting of the Adlington and District War Distress Committee, held on Tuesday, Mr R.R. Roberts, JP, presided. The Secretary reported that 17 sacks of potatoes had been received, and the Treasurer reported the week’s subscriptions amounted to
£1 15s. 4d, making a grand total of £697 8s. 10d. The Hon. Treasurer also reported that contributions from Ellerbeck Colliery employees would not, in future, be paid in to the National Relief Fund, as a committee was being formed to utilise the funds which would still be collected, for the provision of relief for the dependants of colliery men who had joined the colours. The total amount collected from the employees of the Ellerbeck Colliery Co. was £188 16s. 2d, making an average of
£8 11s. 9d. for 22 weeks. There were six applications for assistance, and four were granted.
Chorley Guardian and Leyland Hundred Advertiser 13 February 1915
At a meeting of the Adlington and District War Distress Committee held on Tuesday evening, Mr R.R. Roberts J.P. presided. It was reported that the coke presented by the Adlington Gas Co. was exhausted. Thanks were accorded to the Wigan Coal and Iron Co. for having distributed the same free of charge. The treasurer reported that since the last meeting he had received a sum of £16 11s. 6d., making a grand total of £695 13s. 6d. There were four applications for assistance, and three of these were granted. The list of persons in receipt of flour was revised, and the committee are now prepared to consider applications for flour from all persons who are suffering through the war, such applications to give full particulars of income and family.
Chorley Guardian and Leyland Hundred Advertiser 23 January 1915
NATIONAL EGG COLLECTION
The collection made this week by the Boys’ Brigades in Chorley and district is 144 eggs, donations £1 14s.3 ½d.
Collected throughout the country 42,254 eggs; donations to date £49 9s which are used for the purpose of purchasing eggs. The number of eggs required to supply our wounded soldiers and sailors is 2,000,000 per week.
Just after Christmas 1914, three more men from Adlington and district volunteered.
Chorley Guardian and Leyland Hundred Advertiser 2 January 1915.
Two more Adlington young men, Frank Howard and James Normanton [sic should be Jonas Normington] have enlisted in the Army this week. They left the district on Monday for Lancaster, having joined the King’s Own Regiment. Normanton is well known in the district as a playing member of the Adlington Football Club.
Although those two had travelled to Lancaster to ensure that they enlisted, a fortnight later, Jonas Normington’s workmate at Standish Bleachworks, James Smith of Woodville Road, enlisted at Adlington into the same battalion. Most of our new soldiers had a period of time in training camps, but the 2nd Bn. KORL set sail for Le Havre on 16 January and was fighting around Ypres all that spring. Privates Smith and Normington were killed at the Battle of Frezenburg, 8 May and Private Howard died of wounds, 19 May. These were the first soldiers from our district to die in the war.