James Harrison was one of so many of Bollington's young men who
answered the call to arms and went off to the First World War.
We presently know little about James but we put this page together
because he sent home to his wife Eleanor a collection of pictures
and cards showing where he was working in the services.
James survived the war and lived to be 78 before he died at his
home at 18 Church Street, Bollington, in 1976. He worked for
60 years at the Oak Bank mill cloth printing works belonging to
Bollington Printing Company Ltd. He played cricket for the works
team and won a special award from the works manager, John Woolam,
for scoring 100 runs and taking six wickets in their match against
Clarence mill - clearly a grudge match!
He was one of five brothers who served in the choir at St Oswald's
and St John's churches. His father was the foreman Master
Mason on the building of St Oswald's church, Bollington Cross.
War Service
James served in the Royal
Army Medical Corps and at least part of the time found James
working at the No.3 British Stationary Hospital in Rotterdam,
Holland. This was a Base Hospital. Read more about the casualty evacuation chain
.
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122-13 This looks like the inside of a billet hut. James
Harrison is in the front row, first on the right. The back
of the cards has 'Rotterdam June 1919' written on it. This
card also has "What a life!". |
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122-16 James on the right with his ambulance crew. |
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122-17 James is on the steps on the right. |
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122-14 The British Stationary Hospital camp. |
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122-15 High level view of the hospital camp at Rotterdam. |
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122-18 Further view of the hospital camp. |
Acknowledgement
We thank Maureen Miller, neice of james Harrison, for providing
the pictures and information to the Discovery
Centre historic picture
collection. The life history information comes from James's funeral
notice in the Macclesfield Express.
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