Private Frank Bax and Private Gordon Bax

Researchers Lily, Jean and Janet, in 2014 found an article from the Oldham Chronicle dated October 1916.

Mr and Mrs Bax of Wade Row, Uppermill, received official news on Thursday evening that their son, Private Frank Bax, Northumberland Fusiliers, died on September 30th from wounds received the previous day. The worst has been feared for some time past-in facr, ever since a chum wrote of thw wounds having been inflicted and no word was received from Frank himself. This chum wrote stating that both he and Frank had been wounded by shrapnel, but they had been seperated and sent to different hospitals. The wounds about the body and legs. Private Bradbury, who lives at Huddersfield, afterwards wrote:-

I received your letter asking me if i could give any further information regarding your son Frank. Unfortunately I am unable to give any further details. When it is possible to do so I will make inquiries and get to know everything possible, because your son was one of the best friends I ever had – a friendship that will last as long as life itself. He was always ready to give a helping hand, and never failed in his duty. He was respected by officers and men alike. I can only hope and trust that you will soon hear good news of him and that this terrible war will soon be finished. I have had a letter from Mr George Wood, of Springhead, asking if I could give any further information about the death of our dear friend Oliver, but I am sorry I cannot send him any better news than I have been able to gather casually. As regards myself, my wound is doing nicely, and when I am convalescent I shall be please to call upon you.

Private Bailey, of Golcar, wrote: I am sorry to inform you that Frank was wounded by a shell and sent into hospital. I do not know his address but he will no doubt write you. I was very sorrt I had to lose him, but we were sent to different dressing stations and I had afterwards to rejoin my company.

Private Bax was formerly an overlooker at Victoria Mill, Uppermill. He was called up on May 25th and obtained his final furlough for Saddleworth Wakes. He left for the front on August 29th. His brother, Private Gordon Bax, had his final furlough at the same time, and is now with the West Yorks at the front. The deceased soldier was for some time a ringer at Saddleworth Church

In another issue of the paper another article reported; Private Gordon Bax, Uppermill. Mr and Mrs Bax of Wade Row, Uppermill, now fear the worst in regard to their son Gordon. They last heard of him in October last, just about the time that his younger brother Frank was reported killed. Soon afterwards, he was posted as missing. This week Nurse Bax, his sister, received a letter from an Australian soldier with her brothers pay book and a letter from her to himas an enclosure. He stated that he had found a pocket-book containing these on the battlefield, but the wording being somewhat vague there is uncertainty as to whether the pocket-book was taken from the soldier’s body. Miss Bax has written the Australian in the hope of getting more information.

The following Month (November 4th 1916) Mr and Mrs Bax and Family of Wade Row, responded to well wishers via the paper. Thank all friends for their sympathy in the loss of their sons – Frank and Gordon

Additional research carried out by Jean Singleton, contains a photograph of the Bax family of Uppermill. date not known.

Within the research, there is also a copy of an additional article issued October 18 1917.

Sad Death at Uppermill Mrs David Bax of Tame Street, Uppermill, died unexpectedly on Wednesday afternoon. The loss of her two sons, Gordon and Frank, has undoubtedly hastened her end. One was reported killed and one missing last October, and a few weeks ago was … presumed to be dead. An inquest was held yesterday at the Mechanics’ Institute, Uppermill, before Mr B W Norris, district country coroner.

Tom Bax said his mother had been ailing for some time. She was attended by Dr Price in February last.

Mr Herbert Whitehead, rate collector, said he was speaking to Mrs Bax at her home on Wednesday afternoon when she suddenly put her hand on the top of head and said ‘Oh’. She immediately fell to the ground. Dr Price was sent for but she was quite dead.

Dr Price said he attended the deceased for nervous shock in February. She had , had a great deal of trouble. Death was due to syncope, resulting from fatty degeneration of the heart. A verdict of that effect was returned.

Our Index for the family plot shows

• Bertha Bax 27th May 1891 aged 3
• Ellen Titley 23rd January 1903 (who died of Small Pox at the Infectious Hospital on Runninghill Road (The old Workhouse) aged 34
• Mary Bax buried 13th October 1917 aged 69.
• David Bax 17th December 1927 aged 78
• Kate Bax 22nd December 1943 a Nurse, having passed in Scarborough
• George Arthur Bax 26th January 1951 aged 65 a fee of £3 15s was charged

_{appended 13/7/2025}

Granddaughter Jean Singleton, sometime ago, wrote the following story about a Saddleworth Family’s Experiences of WW1.

My Great grandparents, David and Mary Bax and their three young children orginated from the Dorking area of Surry, coming first to Pudsey, Yorkshire and then on to Saddleworth in about 1874/75. They lived at Brownhill Bar, Dobcross, then at various addresses in Uppermill and finally No 9 Wade Row. The family had 12 children in all losing 4 in infancy and 2 sons during the Great War, within a month of each other, during the Battle of the Somme, Flanders, France 1916. Their Mother died suddenly a year almost to the day of her second son’s death; it was said of a broken heart on 13th October 1917 aged 69…

… Frank worked as an Overlooker at Victoria Mill, High Street Uppermill (now Saddleworth Museum). He was a bell ringer at Saddleworth Church and was engaged to to be married to Elsie Roberts also of Uppermill prior to his army service.

Private Gordon Bax’s last letter home was dated October 23rd and he told his parents he was all right and he also thanked the Red Cross workers for their acceptable presents. His death was later confirmed from the War Office.

Gordon had no known grave as an Australian comrade took his pay book and identlty tag and sent them to Gordon’s sister kate. He had got her address from a letter she sent to Gordon, which he was carrying with him…

Gordon worked as a spinner at Messer’s Buckley, Kinders Mill, Greenfield.

In his 80th year David Bax – the father of Frank and Gordon Bax, having 2 sons killed in action, was selected by the local branch of the British Legion to lay a wreath on Pots & Pans War Memorial in November, but was prevented from doing so by his serious illness. David was known to almost everyone in the District.

Brother and Sisters of Gordon Bax; Ellen, Kate (Nurse), James (went to America), Thomas, Fred (a painter of Store Cottages) , Edwin, George Arthur