ELDRED WARDLE 

EARLY LIFE

Eldred Wardle was born on 18th April 1893 and baptised on 20 January 1895 at Park Street New Connexion Methodist Chapel, Macclesfield, the only son of Hannah (née Clayton), a silk weaver, and Eldred Wardle, a silk cloth overlooker,  of 53 James Street, Macclesfield. Hannah and Eldred already had a daughter, Frances, who was two years older than Eldred junior. Another daughter, Annie Elizabeth, was born in 1904.

Eldred was educated at St George's National School, south Macclesfield.

By January 1907 the family had moved to Quarry Cottage, Hollins Road, Macclesfield. Eldred had left school and was employed as an office boy, and he enrolled at Macclesfield Technical School to further his education. He re-enrolled there in September 1907; by then he had been promoted to embroidery designer.

In both 1908 and 1909 Eldred gained a first class pass in his design examinations. While still studying at Macclesfield School of Art, he won a bronze medal in the National Art Competition, 1913 for a design for a woven tapestry hanging.

 

WW1 SERVICE

 

Eldred initially joined the local 7th Cheshire (Territorial) Regiment in 1910 and became time-expired around January 1914. After the war broke out he rejoined the Army on 16 February 1915, joining the Cheshire Yeomanry with service number 1563. He was posted overseas to join the 8th South Lancs Regiment on 29 September 1916.

On 10 November 1916 the Macclesfield Times reported that Eldred was seriously wounded, and his parents had gone to Boulogne to visit him in hospital.

Eldred's death was reported in the Macclesfield Times on 17 Nov 1916:

WOUNDED IN BAYONET CHARGE – PTE E WARDLE DIES AT BOULOGNE

…Private Eldred Wardle, South Lancs Regt, son of Mr and Mrs Wardle, Quarry Cottage, Hollins Lane, Macclesfield, succumbed to his wounds in the 13th General Hospital at Boulogne. Injured in a bayonet charge on October 21st, Private Wardle managed to crawl into a captured trench, where he lay through a heavy bombardment until the next day… It was found that a bullet had lodged in his spine, and as his condition was serious his parents were sent for… The bullet was extracted, but septic poisoning supervened, and he passed away shortly before midnight on Sunday. He was buried on Tuesday, his parents being present at the sad ceremony, and they returned to Macclesfield on Wednesday night.

The deceased was an only son and 23 years of age. A native of Macclesfield, he was educated at St George’s Day School… and attended the Church there. Private Wardle served his apprenticeship as an embroiderer-designer at the mill of Councillor A W Hewetson, and at the time of enlistment in February 1915 was in the employ of a London firm. He was a well-known footballer and played in the local Workshops Competition. Drafted out to France nearly two months ago he was subsequently transferred from the Earl of Cheshire’s Yeomanry (which he originally joined) to the South Lancs Regt.

 

COMMEMORATION

Private Eldred Wardle is buried in Grave Ref. VIII. D. 173. of the Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. His father requested the inscription "He nobly did his duty" to be added to his gravestone.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission holds casualty details for Private Eldred Wardle.

In Macclesfield, Eldred Wardle is commemorated on the Park Green, Town Hall, St Michael's Church, St George's Church and St Peter's Church war memorials.


Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.