Ben Howard's Story.
EARLY LIFE
Ben Howard Kirkham was born on 27 May and baptised with his twin sister Ada Howard Kirkham on 11 June 1896 at St John the Baptist Church, Penistone, West Yorkshire, the son of Ruth and Sampson Kirkham, a farmer of School Wells, Thurlstone, near Penistone. In 1901, four-year-old Ben was living at School Wells, Thurlstone, with his parents and siblings Ann and John (twins aged 6), Ada (4), and Ruth (2).
By 1911 the family had moved to Cut Thorn Farm, Wildboarclough, where fourteen-year-old Ben was helping his father on the farm. During and after the Great War, the family lived at various locations in Wildboarclough including Dry Knowl, Eagle and Child Cottage, and Burnt Cliffe.
In some official records, Ben is named as Benjamin, but his correct name is Ben.
WW1 SERVICE
Ben enlisted in Macclesfield, joining the 1st Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment. According to his medal entitlement, he did not serve overseas until after 1915.
The Second Army began the third phase of its offensive on the 4th October 1917. The 5th Division had to capture the spur south-west of Reutel (Polderhoek) to protect the flank of the Army. The 1st Battalion, Cheshire Regiment were in reserve in Sanctuary Wood, suffering an average of 12 men killed and 40 wounded daily from shell fire. The Battalion was destined to exploit the success of the 95th Brigade, but, as success was not obtained, it had to endure, as patiently as it could, the inevitable shelling of reserve positions. Benjamin was killed in action on 4th October 1917, aged 21 years.
Medals: British War Medal and Victory Medal. These medals were sent to his parents who were now living at, Eagle and Child Cottage, Wildboarclough. Ben’s elder brother John, also in the 1st Battalion, died of wounds the following day.
COMMEMORATION
Private Ben Kirkham has no known grave and is commemorated on panel ref. 61 to 63. on the Tyne Cot Memorial, West Vlaanderen, Belgium.
Locally, Ben Kirkham is commemorated on the war memorial in St Saviour's Church, Wildboarclough, and also on the Macclesfield Park Green, Town Hall and St Michael's Church war memorials.
The deaths of Ben and his brother John were commemorated by 'In Memoriam' notices published in the Macclesfield Courier on 5 October 1918:
KIRKHAM - In loving memory of Private Ben Howard Kirkham, who was killed in France October 4th 1917. Also his brother, Private John Kirkham, killed October 5th, 1917, in France; both of Dry Knowl, Wildboarclough.
Sleep on, dear brothers, we would not wake you,
Sorrow and care would darken your brow,
Peace be your sleep while angels are near you,
No earthly sorrow can come to you now,
So sad, but so true, we cannot tell why,
The best are the first that are called to die.
Sadly missed by Father, Mother, Sisters and Brother, Buxton, October 1st, 1918.
KIRKHAM - With loving memory of Private John and Private Ben Howard Kirkham who were killed in France, October 4th and 5th, 1917.
Dear ones cease your weeping, Angels round us smile,
We are only parted For a little while.
We are happy now, Though 'twas hard to part,
Yet still our spirits linger Around your aching hearts.
From Mr and Mrs Brassington and Family.
Hollin Hall, October 1st, 1918.
NOTE
Brother of John Kirkham, who also served in the 1st Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment and died of his wounds the following day, 5th October 1917.
SOURCES
GRO (England & Wales) Index: Births, Marriages, Deaths
Census (England & Wales): 1901, 1911
West Yorkshire Parish Baptism Registers (Ancestry): Penistone, St John the Baptist
British Army Medal Index Cards (Ancestry)
Soldiers Died in the Great War (Find My Past)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Lives of the First World War website
Macclesfield Courier: 5 October 1918
With thanks to Ben Kirkham's family for supplying the photograph.
Cheshire County Memorial Project would like to thank H.A.G Carlisle for this information on Ben.
Further research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.