Council accused of vandalism over Darwen hero's grave

Councillors, residents and historians have slammed Blackburn with Darwen Council for laying down the headstone and piling the side stones on the top of the grave of Ralph Bolton in Darwen's old cemetery.

Ralph,16, his cousin James,10, and William Cooper Longton,18, died days before Christmas 1917 after they were caught in a blizzard while walking on Darwen Moors.

After the three became stranded, Ralph, took off his coat, wrapping it around his cousin before setting off to get help in just a cheap suit.

Ralph's headstone, which told of the his brave attempt to raise the alarm, was paid for by Darwen workers.

It is inscribed with a passage from the bible: "Greater love hath no man than he who layeth down his life for another."

Councillors have now demanded answers and said they would fight to get the headstone restored.

The laying flat of the headstone comes after the council employed health and safety specialists to check 50,000 headstones in cemeteries across the borough.

Ray Grimshaw, the council's assistant director for the environment, said they made every effort to contact the person who bought the grave for those less than 30 years old.

But this stance put him at odds with the council's deputy leader, Darwen councillor David Foster who said: "Each generation has a duty to pass on our town's history to the next.

"This gravestone marks one of these important stories and is an example of the courage and bravery that sets an example to us all.

"We are looking to see if there is an alternative to just pulling them down. I want to know if the council has explored every option."

His wife Karimeh, also a councillor for the Whitehall ward, said: "I will be taking this case up with the council to find out why this important grave has not been repaired.

"I realise there are important health and safety issues regarding the gravestones, but I want to know what alternatives we have to just knocking them down and leaving the cemetery like a bomb site."

Last year father and son team, Peter and Daniel Mitchell, from Kent, inspected headstones using the topple test' with a digital force tester.

If stones moved using a force less than 35kg they were deemed unsafe and were laid down.

Ralph, of Maria Street, and James of Princess Street - now Mayfield Gardens - both Darwen, were buried in the same grave in Darwen's old cemetery.

A smaller headstone at the opposite end of the grave in memory of James has been left standing.

William, of Culvert Street, who was about to join the Army, was buried yards from the cousins in the cemetery with one of his grandparents.

Tony Gaffney, a firefighter at Darwen Fire Station, discovered Ralph and James' grave when he was inspired to find out about the cousins after reading an article on the council's website.

He said: "I was more than disappointed the find the Bolton lads' grave in such a state of dereliction.

"It seems to me that a selfless act of courage in the most desperate of situations, by someone so young should always be valued and remembered."

Darwen historian and journalist, Harold Heys, who has researched and written about the tragedy, said: "I am utterly dismayed. Dozens of memorial stones have been flattened and the cemetery looks a right mess.

"I'm not blaming the lads who work there; they have a thankless job to keep the two cemeteries tidy. I blame the council."

Simon Entwistle, who has told the story of the cousins on his popular tours of the area, added: "Ralph Bolton was a hero. He sacrificed his life in the hope his cousin would survive.

"Heroes should be honoured and respected and I think this is sad.

"I would like to see it restored."

June Taylor of Derby Close, Darwen, broke down in tears when she saw the grave.

She said: "It's awful and is just vandalism."

Her sister, Mrs Patricia Banks of Bowling Green Close, added: "The quicker it's restored the better."

Mr Grimshaw from the council said: "Blackburn with Darwen Council makes every effort to contact the person who bought the grave if the details are less than 30 years old.

"Unfortunately if the details are older than this we struggle to make contact."

THE BOYS' TRAGIC STORY:

IN December 1917 the three friends decided to go for an afternoon walk on the moors above the town after Sunday School at St Barnabas.

Despite Darwen being gripped by one of the most severe blizzards the town had seen for years and that it would be dark in a hour, the youngsters set off ill prepared for the weather.

William Cooper Longton and Ralph Bolton were wearing cheap serge suits and overcoats and 10-year-old James Bolton a suit and light overcoat.

The three set off and were last seen heading in the direction of Rough Height Farm, above Bull Hill Hospital on the southern moors.

Snow had drifted up to 10ft and conditions were very difficult.

The alarm was raised that Sunday evening and by dawn a big search was under way by police and volunteers.

On Tuesday afternoon the body of William Longton, 18, was found to the south of Old Lyons Farm, a couple of miles from Bull Hill.

It is believed he had set off to get help and had reached the farm only to find it unoccupied before pressing on.

On Wednesday, the body of James Bolton was found in the lee of a stone wall about 400 yards to the north of the empty farm. He was wrapped in his cousin's coat, which had been placed over his own jacket Ralph, 16, left with just his cheap suit, was found frozen to death about 200 yards away.

It seems as though he had set off to get help after making the his cousin as comfortable as he could.

On the Saturday, the bodies of the three pals were taken from their homes to a funeral service at St Barnabas' Church where the older boys had been in the Church Lads' Brigade and in the choir. William had also been the Sunday School secretary.