Albert Barrow and Tom Gill were two boys from Newburgh, best friends who went to school together, grew up together, joined the Army together to serve in the Great War, and both died serving their country

Albert Barrow was born in Newburgh on 20th March, 1888, the son of John (1847-1913) and Ruth Barrow nee Dean (1850-1914). His mother was born at Everton, and his father, born at Newburgh, was a labourer on the canal.

At the time of the 1891 Census, the family were living at Back Lane, Newburgh. His father was away, and his siblings are recorded as Elizabeth E, 16yrs, born at Everton; Ruth Alice, 10yrs, born Newburgh; John, 7yrs, born at Newburgh; Thomas, 5yrs, born at Newburgh and Albert aged 3yrs. Thomas Gill was also 3yrs old, and his family, too lived in Back Lane. His father was William Gill, 38yrs, a Canal Boatman, born at Liverpool and his mother was Hannah, 33yrs, born at Pendleton. Thomas’ siblings were Mary, 5yrs, born Lathom; William 1yr, born Newburgh. Thomas was born at Lathom according to this Census. Albert and Thomas (Tom) were the same age, lived in the same street in a small village, and both their fathers worked on the nearby Leeds-Liverpool Canal. They would have been classmates at the village school.

At the next Census, in 1901, Albert’s father was still employed as a canal labourer, now 53yrs old. But the family address is now recorded as ‘Newburgh Village’. Perhaps they had moved onto the main road through the village, close to the Red Lion public house. At home were, Albert, 13yrs, Albert’s mother Ruth, 50yrs, siblings John, 17yrs, like his father, a canal labourer; Thomas, 15yrs, an agricultural labourer; and Ruth A, 20yrs.

Tom’s family were still at Back Lane – Tom’s father, William, 46yrs, Canal Boatman, Tom’s mother Hannah, 42yrs, and siblings William, 11yrs, Maggie, 7yrs, John, 5yrs, Eleanor, 1yr, and Hannah, 1 month old. All the younger siblings were born at Newburgh.

By 1911, the Barrow household consisted of John & Ruth, now 64 and 60 yrs old respectively, with John now working as a ‘Bank Ranger’ employed by the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Company. Also at home are daughter, Ruth Alice, 30yrs, single, and Albert, 23yrs, single and employed as a boat builder. The Census record also tells us that John and Ruth have been married for 39 years, and, of their 10 children, six had died.

William (55yrs) and Hannah Gill (51yrs) have been more fortunate. They had been married for 26 years, had had seven children, only one of whom had died by this time. At home for the Census, apart from William and Hannah, were Tom, 23yrs, working in a stone quarry, Mary, 25yrs, Margaret, 17yrs, John, 15yrs, Eleanor, 11yrs and Hannah, 10yrs.

When war broke out in August 1914, it probably seemed quite remote to the people of Newburgh, but the call for men to enlist quickly spread throughout the country. Ormskirk’s Drill Hall, later to be known as the Civic Hall, was the base for the Ormskirk Company of the 9th Battalion of the King’s Liverpool Regiment, which had its headquarters at Everton Road, Liverpool. The Drill Hall became one of the recruiting offices in the town, and many local men signed up there.

Albert was, at this time, employed on the docks in Liverpool, so this was probably the reason he and Tom attested in Liverpool, probably at Everton Road, on Monday, 19th October 1914.

The 9th King’s had been deployed at the beginning of the war, initially to Dunfermline Scotland as part of the Firth of Forth defence scheme, at a time when there was a perceived threat of a German invasion, but by the time Tom and Albert joined them, they were in Tunbridge Wells which was to be there home until the battalion proceeded overseas the following March.

Apart from the standard training, the battalion, or parts of it, were used for guard duties and for the preparation of defences in case of invasion. On 12th March 1915, the two friends, with their battalion, were on their way to France.

More training and a gradual introduction to war on the Western Front followed, and both men saw the war in all it’s raw brutality, spending time in the front lines, and regularly losing comrades.

Wigan Examiner, 17th July 1915:
“Private Albert Barrow, of Newburgh, is also in France with the 9th King’s, and letters home say that he is in the best of health, and quite comfortable.”

It was in the trenches at Vermelles, in northern France that Albert Barrow received a gunshot wound to his head on 29th July 1915. He was evacuated to No. 1 Field Ambulance where he died the following day. Original reports said that he had been buried 'Behind the firing line' but it was later confirmed that he had been buried in the Bethune town cemetery.

The Battalion War Diary states simply: "3 other ranks wounded; 1 other rank died of wounds."

The Army Records Office at Preston, wrote to Miss Ruth A. Barrow at "Newburgh Village, Wigan, Lancashire" on 29th April 1916 asking her to acknowledge receipt of "1 Cigarette Case, 1 Belt". His parents were both deceased before he enlisted. At some time after Albert's death, his brother, Thomas, lived at 62, Delph Street, Wigan.

Wigan Examiner, 7th August 1915:
“Newburgh Soldier Killed – Private Albert Barrow – News has been received at Parbold that Private Albert Barrow, of Newburgh, who was serving with the 9th King’s Liverpools “somewhere in France”, was shot in the head by a sniper a week ago. Private Barrow, who was 27 years of age, was formerly employed at the Dockyard, Parbold, at which place he served his time, and later worked at the Liverpool docks. He was a member of the Parbold Old Band, and was much esteemed throughout the district. In a letter sent by Private T. Gill, of Newburgh, a member of the same regiment, to Mr. J. Parr, of Station Road, Parbold, Private Gill says:- “I have returned from hospital quite well from my rheumatism, but I regret to have to tell you that on returning to my regiment the first news which reached my ears was the loss of my dearest pal, Albert. I shall miss him more than I can say. He was a great favourite amongst the boys in our platoon. You would never hear him grumble; he was always ready to do his duty, which I believe he was doing when he was called away from all his loved ones. I have no doubt it will be a great blow to his dear sister and mother, but I hope God may give them strength to bear up top their bereavement. He is buried a few miles from the firing line, and they made a very nice funeral over him. He has only gone a little while before us, so we must look on the bright side of the world… We are out of the trenches at the time of writing, but I think we shall be going in them again by the end of the week.”

Ormskirk Advertiser, August 12th 1915:
Ormskirk And The War – War’s First Newburgh Victim – Newburgh Man Killed
News has been received at Newburgh that Pte. Albert Barrow has died as a result of wounds received in action “somewhere in France”. He was shot in the head on Thursday, 29th July and died shortly after midnight on 30th July. He was 29 years of age and was a boat builder by trade, following his employment at the dockyard at Parbold, and just prior to joining the Army in October last, at Liverpool. He was a most popular man both in Newburgh and Parbold, and was a member of the Parbold Old Prize Band. That he was popular amongst his soldier comrades is testified by several letters of sympathy from various members of the 9th, amongst which was one from Pte. Tom Gill, who deplores the loss of his greatest friend; he and Pte Barrow enlisted together. The deceased soldier was buried behind the firing line.

On Sunday, at the Newburgh Parish Church, the vicar, the Rev. C. Harris, made a touching reference to his death during the morning sermon, when he said: - “The man who dies a soldier’s death today has made the supreme sacrifice, and set the noblest example that was in his power. One is now especially in our thoughts – the first of our Newburgh men to fall in action. Pte. Albert Barrow, of the 9th King’s Liverpool Regiment, will be remembered with affection not only here in his own home and parish, but by those with whom he fought, side by side, and to whom, by his character, he has endeared himself so greatly. Always cheerful, courageous even to the point of daring, always hopeful ever ready to cheer and hearten and help a friend – no wonder that he was popular among his fellows, and that he lived so as to be greatly missed.”

A LAST LETTER
One of the last letters which Pte. Barrow wrote has been received since his death by Mr. H. Halton the Newburgh schoolmaster, in which he says:-
“Just a line thanking you for the tobacco and ‘fags’. Sorry to say Tom Gill is in hospital with rheumatism in his legs. He has been away about a week and am expecting him back any time… I met D. Kirkwood [another Newburgh man] to-night for the first time, and had a long chat about old times. We are at present away on reserve, and by the time you read this we shall be in the trenches.”

MEMORIAL SERVICE
A memorial service was held last evening at Newburgh Church, when there was a crowded congregation. The service was a shortened form of the burial office, and was fully choral, opening with the National Anthem. The hymns, which were selected by his brother and sister, were “Brief Life is Here our Portion” and “Let Saints on Earth in Concert Sing”. Mr H. Halton presided at the organ and played “O Rest in the Lord” at the opening of the service and the “Dead March” (Saul) at the close. The vicar, in the course of an address, again made reference to Pte. Barrow’s death.”

Wigan Examiner, 14th August 1915:
Memorial Service – On Wednesday evening a memorial service was held at Christ Church, Newburgh, for deceased, the village church being crowded. The Vicar (Rev. C. Harris, M.A.) delivered a very touching and impressive address respecting the deceased soldier and other young men of the district who have so gallantly gone to serve their King and Country. Reference was also made to the wounded, one of hom was in the congregation, having lost an eye at Neuve Chapelle. The deceased soldier was also a member of the Parbold Old Prize Band before he joined the Forces, and his fellow bandsmen, along with the committee, attended the service. Amongst the congregation was Mrs. Sheldon and family, Barrow having been apprenticed to their boat building yard. At the close of the service the organist, Mr. H. Halton, most ably rendered the Dead March from ‘Saul’.

Wigan Examiner, 11th September 1915:
”Letters From Newburgh ‘Sports’ – Praise For The 9th King’s – We quote extracts from letters which have been written to friends in Newburgh by two members of the Newburgh Cricket Club, both playing regularly for the second team before going to the Front. The first is from Lance-Corporal James Turner, of the 9th King’s (Liverpool) Regiment, who resides at Parbold, and who prior to joining the Territorials shorly after the outbreak of the war, was employed as chauffeur by the late Captain Milward Rogers, of the 5th Manchesters, who lost his life recently at the Dardanelles. He has been promoted since going to the Front. He writes on August 23rd :- “We go into the trenches again tomorrow for a few days. We were inspected by the General this morning, and he said we had done good work since we came out here, and that we were the finest battalion of Territorials out here. I hear you had a memorial service at Newburgh for poor old Albert Barrow. Tom Gill misses him very much, but we can’t have everything our own way. He has died a soldier’s death, and that is one thing to be proud of… There is not much doing out here at present; just an occasional ‘scrap’ or a bit of shelling. I have been expecting to hear of Jack Heaton coming out here soon, as he joined long before me, and we are completing our six months here. Give my best wishes to all the old folks at Newburgh.”

Thomas Gill wasn’t there when Albert was mortally wounded. He was in hospital suffering from rheumatism, which particularly affected his legs. On his return to the battalion, having been declared fit, he received the devastating news – the loss of his best friend.

Tom was wounded at the Battle of Loos, in September, but returned to duty again and survived the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

He was an experienced soldier by 1917 and the Third Battle of Ypres – best know as ‘Passchaendale’.

After heavy losses on the first day of the battle, 31st July 1917, Tom and the 1/9th King’s were back in action on the 20th September. He was one of a small group of men sent out into the dangers of No Man’s Land before his battalion attacked, to reconnoitre the ground which they would attack over.

For his valuable work in this period, he was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry.

Ormskirk Advertiser, 22nd November 1917 & Wigan Examiner, 24th November 1917:
“Newburgh Cricketer Awarded The Military Medal – Pte. Thomas Gill, of Culvert Lane, Newburgh, the well-known Newburgh cricketer, has been awarded the Military Medal for conspicuous bravery at Ypres on September 20th. He is attached to the King’s Liverpool Regt., with whom he has been in France since March 1915. He was wounded in the first battle of Loos.”

Liverpool Daily Post 24th November 1917:
“Private Thomas Gill, of Newburgh, a well-known cricketer in the Ormskirk district, who is attached to the King’s (Liverpool Regiment), has been awarded the Military Medal for conspicuous bravery in France”

Tom had been serving for over four years on the Western Front by the summer of 1918 and at the end of August, his luck finally ran out. He was badly wounded and evacuated to a military hospital at Rouen, where he died of his wounds on 1st September.

Liverpool Echo, 5th September 1918:
“Ormskirk District Casualties – Lance-Corporal Thomas Gill, M.M., K.L.R., son of Mr T. Gill, of Newburgh, has died of wounds.”

In 1921, Hannah Gill, Tom’s mother, was granted a dependant’s pension as a result of Tom’s death in service. Her address at that time was Deans Lane, Newburgh.

Both commemorated on the Newburgh village war memorial