A VISIT to Blackburn Library to research his family tree led Mr John Duckworth, of Ramsgreave to discover details of three members of his family, including his father, who fought in WWI.

Newspaper cuttings told of his father, Lance Corporal John Duckworth, being badly wounded after a German shell exploded at the Front in 1916.

The blast killed six of his comrades, wounded six others and also killed four war horses that happened to be in the vicinity.

Lance Cpl Duckworth, son of Mr and Mrs John Duckworth, of 210, Accrington Road, Blackburn, was seriously injured and transferred home to a war hospital in Edinburgh.

He had served at the Front since March 1915.

He recovered from his injuries and went back to the Front, though even as long as the 1950s, still had small pieces of shrapnel in his body.

He was an active member of St Jude’s Church, Blackburn.

John later poignantly told his son that when the authorities promised a land fit for heroes, he had not realised they were talking about the 1914-18 cemeteries, where all the heroes were buried.

There were also cuttings of John’s uncle, Private William Henry Duckworth, his father’s brother, who also lived at 210, Accrington Road.

In April 1918, the 32-year-old soldier with the 1st Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancasters, was officially reported wounded and missing.

In a letter home, a comrade said he saw William coming down the line, wounded in the leg, and believed he was taken prisoner.

William had enlisted in the Army in 1915 and suffered two previous injuries.

He had previously been a minder at a colliery in Oswaldtwistle.

Although his parents urged any information, it is officially recorded that he died that day in April and he is remembered with honour on the Loos Memorial at Pas de Calais.

Fred Richmond, his mother’s brother, also gave his life in the Great War.

He was the 19-year-old son of Albert and Jane Richmond, who lived at 168 Accrington Road, Blackburn.

A signaller with A Company, the 10th Royal Warwickshires and late of the 3rd East Lancashire Regiment, was reported missing on April 10, 1918.

It is recorded that he died on April 19, 1918 and he is remembered with honour on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, in Belgium.

Later, however, his body was found and identified and he also has a grave in the cemetery.

A sad epitaph is that his mum never believed he was dead, rather that he was wandering round Belgium shell shocked - so she would not allow his name to be put on the church memorial.