Private James Hargreaves MM
5652 1st East Lancashire Regiment
Lived at 22 Hapton Street

Hargreaves was a native of Burnley, Lancashire. Awarded the M.M., in the London Gazette of 18 June 1917. The battalion War Diary states for operations from the 9th - 18th April 1917. James Hargreaves was born at Burnley, Lancashire circa 1894 and enlisted into the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment on the 12 May 1914 then 19 years and 184 days of age. He embarked for France on the 11 December 1914 and joined the 2nd Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment during which time he suffered from frost bite to the feet and was admitted to hospital on the 11 January 1915, he returned to his battalion in April 1915 and suffered a severe gun shot wound to the left leg on the 9 May 1915. He again returned to his battalion in July 1915 and was further wounded in the lower extremities on the 26 August 1915. Following further hospital treatment he returned to France in August 1916 and joined the 1st Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment with whom he served for the remainder of the war during which time he won the Military Medal and suffered further wounds from gas poisoning (April 1918). He was discharged on the 19 February 1919 and returned to his home at 22, Hapton Street, Burnley, Lancashire and his former employment as a drawer at a local colliery. For his service during the war he was also awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War and Victory Medals and the Soldiers War Badge # B324740 (List H/2969/1).

Information courtesy of Steve Owen of Great Harwood.