AFTER apprentice painter Henry Pinder joined the East Lancashire TF in 1912, he was one of the original volunteer force to be sent overseas when war was declared.

Between 1914 and 1918 he served on both the Eastern and Western Fronts, winning the Military Medal and the Distinguished Conduct Medal, for his conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.

He survived injury until he was hit with poison gas in August, 1918 and was sent home to St Mary’s Military Hospital in Whalley, suffering lung damage, as a consequence of gas shell poisoning and conditions in the trenches.

He was later transferred to Blackpool to aid his recovery and he returned home to Darwen, at the start of 1919.

Born in Over Darwen in 1891, Henry started work as apprentice house painter, following in his father and grandfather’s footsteps in to a profession which was then a more decorative art, and was employed by Messrs George Duxbury and Sons.

He attended St James Church, Darwen and was a member of its cricket team.

Henry belonged to a signal company of the 42nd division (East Lancashire) Royal Engineers, which was warned, a month after war broke out that it would be sent to Egpyt.

Four days later on September 10, the division began to embark at Southampton.

The following year he saw service in Gallipoli and was aboard the troopship The River Clyde when the boilers were exploded by Turkish shell fire.

Henry was sent to France in 1916 where he was promoted sergeant — and came home to marry his young lady Elizabeth Jane Harwood in 1917, when granted extended leave.

Henry’s brother Arnold also joined the East Lancashire Regiment at the age of 16, but was killed in action in 1918.

He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal after a senior officer congratulated him on ‘ his excellent work throughout as a sergeant in charge of brigade signal lines, in both Sinai and France.

Then came the Military Medal for gallantry and devotion to duty near Gomincourt in 1918. His citation read: “The untiring energy and organisation of Sergeant Pinder is largely responsible for obtaining and maintaining communication with the units of the brigade.

“He showed conspicuous gallantry by supervising the work of the section under heavy shell fire and did, on many occasions, mend the broken wires himself.”

Both citations were presented to him at a ceremony in Darwen town hall, by the Mayor, Ald W Worth.

Another that has pride of place among his memorabilia for his family is a ‘mentioned in dispatches’ citation for gallant and distinguished service in the field, which is signed by Winston Churchill, then Secretary of State for War.

Henry later established his own painting and decorating business, which employed a dozen men, including his two sons — one of them, Harry, took it over on his retirement.

He lived with his family in Marsh House Lane and was secretary of the Master Painters Association, group leader of Darwen Special Constabulary and president of the Two Gates, Subscription Bowling Club.