I was kindly sent a newspaper cutting from a 1915 edition of the Bradford Daily Telegraph reporting the death of Isaac Longbottom. He had left a widow and seven children under 14…Following a little work, I found Isaac was well into his 30’s and must have enlisted at the beginning of the war…’What was he thinking?’, I thought…

…Then I remembered my own Great-Grandfather, Charles Young. He too came from Bradford, he had been the same age as Isaac, he too with a large young family... He was conscripted in 1916, although later wounded and gassed, he was lucky and survived to come home to bring up his family…that one day led to me…

…Here then is Isaac Longbottom’s story…told by one, but for fate alone, might not have been…indeed - you might now be reading the story of Charles Young…

Isaac Longbottom was born in the third quarter of 1877 to Harry and Hannah Marie Longbottom.

In 1881, they were living with Harry’s widowed mother, Rachel, Isaac now having two siblings (Annie 2 years, Florence 2 months) at 3, Kaye Street, Frizinghall, Bradford. Harry was working as a ‘Warehouseman’.

By 1891, Harry and Hannah were now living at 10 Midland Road, Frizinghall. Isaac (now 13 years) having three further siblings Harry (8 years), Frank (5 years), and Emma (1 year). Harry working as a ‘(Stuff) Warehouseman’.

By 1901, Isaac (23 years) had left home and was now living with his Uncle and Aunt at 19 Greenhill Lane, off Leeds Road, Bradford. Isaac was working as a ‘Plumber’.

That same year, Isaac married Ada Harvey at the ‘Parish Church’ (i.e. Bradford Cathedral).

By 1911, Isaac and Ada Longbottom were living at 49 Napier Street, also off Leeds Road, Bradford. Isaac still working as a ‘Plumber’. This Longbottom family had now begun an association with Napier Street, living later at number 87, that would last to the redevelopment of the area when the Victorian housing was demolished, being replaced by new – though the street name still survives…!

Isaac and Ada had also started their growing family, in 1911: Edwin (9 years), Roland (6 years), Annie (3 years) and twins Cyril and Eric (1 year).

By the time Isaac went to France in 1915, the family would have increased further with Isaac (b. 1911) and May (b. 1915). This would give Isaac seven children; all aged under 14…leaving Ada, on her own, to look after them…

Isaac Longbottom’s Service Records have not survived. He is listed in the ‘Bradford Roll of Honour’ as enlisting with the (2nd Battalion) Northumberland Fusiliers in ‘July 1915’. This is believed to be in error as Isaac is listed, on his Medal Index Card, as ‘entering a theatre of war’ (France) on 22nd July 1915. Given this date for going overseas, and an allowance for training, it is more probable that Isaac enlisted at the very beginning of the war as 18384 Pte. Isaac Longbottom into the Northumberland Fusiliers.

In August/September 1914, there had been a call for ‘single men, aged 19-30’ to enlist. The response was massive…But Isaac was married, aged 36 with a large, young family…Still, he was allowed to enlist...

It is probable, as an older recruit, that Isaac was originally allocated to the 3rd Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers. They were based at East Bolden near Sunderland acting as a ‘Garrison’ battalion. They would remain here for the duration of the war.

‘2nd Bn War diary:

24th July 1915 - A draft of 100 men from 3rd Bn joined the Bttn. Strength of Coys now around 226 with Transport.

26th July 1915 - …reconnoitred trenches to be occupied night 27/28. Draft trained in the Discipline and care of arms.’

The 2nd Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers would now take over and hold trenches to the East of Kemmel, a relatively ‘quiet’ sector at this time. Here they would remain until September taking their turn holding the front, support and reserve positions with other battalions.

To the south preparations were being made for a major British offensive at Loos. This would begin on the 25th September and involve the first use of poison gas by the British. The opening day had seen little success, thanks in part to the changing direction of the wind blowing the gas along the British lines, stout German defence and their superior gas masks.

To continue the offensive, troops from ‘quiet’ sectors would be brought in to take over and hold the dearly won enemy positions. Chief among these were the German positions around the Hohenzollern Redoubt…

It would be here that Isaac Longbottom with the 2nd Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers would take possession of these lines on 30th September.

The following is a transcript of the 2nd Battalion War Diary 25/9/1915 to 3/10/1915 covering the arrival of the battalion at Loos following the start of the main offensive. After a quiet spell at Kemmel, a period of training, Isaac Longbottom would now be thrown into the heat of battle at the Hohenzollern Redoubt. Only part of this strong German defensive point had fallen at the start of the battle. The subsequent days would see almost continuous action with smaller scale attacks (bombing raids) along the disputed trenches, each side desperate to hold any captured/recaptured ground.

It would be in one such bombing raid that Isaac Longbottom would lose his life…

‘25th Sept 1915 – Bttn at ROUGE CROIX. Bttn inspected by GOC 84th Inf. Bde.

26th Sept 1915 – Bttn marched in Bde from ROUGE CROIX to billets at QUENTIN.

27th Sept 1915 – Bttn left its billets at QUENTIN and em-bussed at PARADIS, de-bussed at BETHUNE and marched to billets at SAILLY-LABOURSE

28th Sept 1915 – Bttn in billets at SAILLY-LABOURSE. Corps physical exercises musketry and training.

29th Sept 1915 – Bttn marched out to ANNIQUIN at 3.30pm. Stood to Arms ½ hours notice for the night.

30th Sept 1915 – Battalion relieved Y and Lan Rgt in the trenches in Big Willie and about 150 yards of Hohenzollern Redoubt.'

'1st Oct 1915 – About dawn, about an hour after the Battalion had taken over the trenches, the enemy working unobserved down an old communication trench which ran from their line into the junction of BIG WILLIE and HOHENZOLLERN Redoubt, gained a footing of about 100 yards by a surprise bomb attack. C & D Companies at whose junction this attack took place, at once built a double barrier and stopped further advance. About 6pm, C & D Coys assisted by a bombing party from 2/Cheshire Regt (in a sap to the rear) by heavily bombing from right, left and rear. Retook about 50 yards of the ground lost.'

'2nd Oct 1915 – This was repeated several times but without further success.'

'3rd Oct 1915 – Between 5 and 6am the enemy having gained a footing in LITTLE WILLIE (held by 1st WELCH) came rapidly down the trench from left to right bombing their way through the 1st Welch and 2nd Cheshires, forced D Company backward into the barrier. The survivors (26 men) falling back over the open onto the support trench in rear. This bombardment was most violent and the grenades which were very large were well thrown came in a constant hail breaking down all resistance and killing all before it. The barrier previously built by C Company stopped any further advance. Capt Freeman 2nd Cheshire Regt took over command of D Coy ½ hour before the attack took place as there were no officers of the Coy left. Capt Lamb being wounded and 2/Lieut G.H.L.Gilchrist a/Adjutant killed the previous night. The battalion was relieved by the Kings Own Royal Lancaster Regt at 3pm and took up a position in the control VERMELLES keep for the night.

The following casualties occurred among the officers:

Lieut Col G.A.ARMSTRONG killed 1/10/15

Capt W.E.JENKINS killed 1/10/15

2/Lieut and a/Adjutant G.H.L.GILCHRIST 2/10/15

Capt R.M.R.LAMB wounded 3/10/15

Capt R.H.HOFFMAN wounded 3/10/15

Capt F.C.LONDEN (4 D.L.I.) wounded 1/10/15

Lieut A.J.HOPKINSON (4 D.L.I.) wounded 1/10/15

2/Lieut H.A.FORDHAM wounded 3/10/15

2/Lieut G.SWEET wounded 3/10/15

2/Lieut D.F.C.BACON (4 D.L.I.) wounded 2/10/15

2/Lieut G.WILKINS wounded 3rd died 4/10/15

2/Lieut B.GREW wounded 1/10/15

2/Lieut S.H.ROSE wounded 1/10/15

2/Lieut H.J.HOLMES wounded 1/10/15

2/Lieut A.B.HOWELL (4 Nor.Staffs) wound & missing 1/10/15

Casualties amongst the men:

Killed 23, Missing believed killed 100, Wounded 115, Missing [number deleted]’

The battalion would stay in reserve before finally being relieved on 5th October, going back to Bethune…in a matter of days, they would be on their way to Salonika…

Isaac Longbottom’s date of death is officially given as 2nd October 1915. The Battalion War Diary suggests this may have been when bombing parties were trying again to regain lost ground. However given the devastating events on the following day and the stated losses, this date of 2nd October may not be correct. This would be further supported by the fact that the CWGC records no deaths for the 2nd Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers for 3rd October.

In any case, of the 102 stated fatalities to the battalion 30/9/1915 to 4/10/1915, only 8 have known graves…

18384 Private Isaac Longbottom, killed in action, stated date 2nd October 1915, has no known grave and is commemorated alongside 20,638 others on the LOOS MEMORIAL.

The CWGC list 13 men of the 2nd Northumberland Fusiliers who lost their lives on 2nd October 1915. Of these, 12 (including Isaac Longbottom) have no known grave and are all commemorated on the Loos Memorial. It is probable the 13th died of wounds received earlier at a Field Ambulance at Vermelles (where he is buried).

Isaac Longbottom’s death was covered in an article in the Bradford Daily Telegraph:

Transcript:

‘ANOTHER LEEDS ROAD HERO’

‘Father of seven little children’

‘Leeds Road district has remained true to its traditional patriotism, for it has undoubtedly contributed more men to the Colours than any other area of Bradford. There are many sad homes in this district through the loss of loved ones, and today we have to record the death in action of another Leeds Road hero, named Private I. Longbottom of 87 Napier St. He was in the 2nd Batt. of the Northumberland Fusiliers and previous to enlisting was employed by Mr Hill, White Abbey.’

‘The sad feature of the case is that Private Longbottom, who was very highly respected by all who knew him has left a widow and seven children, the oldest of whom is only just fourteen years of age. It is to be sincerely hoped that some charitably disposed citizens will see the wife of our fallen hero is adequately provided for.’

For his service Isaac Longbottom was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals. These, together with a Commemorative plaque would have been sent to his widow, Ada.

Ada, received a payment of just £1-18-5d on 25/1/1916 and a further War gratuity of £3 on 28/7/1919. There would also have been a war pension for herself and remaining children (Roland had died in 1917). Ada did not re-marry (she died in 1952).

It is not known what help she received from ‘charitable citizens’…however…the 1921 census (and indeed the 1939 Register) shows the family still together in Napier Street. Edwin (now 19) was working in a textile mill as the only bread-winner, the rest of the children still at school – knowing Bradford people from these times myself – I am certain the family and neighbours would have done their best to help them out!

David P.Whithorn

Acknowledgement

The author is greatly indebted to Margaret Holden for passing on this newspaper cutting and sharing in the desire to preserve the story of Isaac Longbottom and his family by the CWGC ‘For Evermore’.