WWI - How it Affected Broadwath

I recently visited the weeping poppies at Carlisle Castle and it got me thinking, what effect did WW1 have on a small village like Broadwath.

During the First World War I estimate there were about 40 people occupying seven dwellings in Broadwath, with another 33 people in 6 dwellings in Allenwood.

The Burrow family lived at Broadwath Cottages. Joseph and Dora Burrow had eight children, James, John Howard, Violet, Dorothy, Joseph, Barton and George. The two elder brothers James and John Howard enlisted soon after the outbreak of war.

Private 17425 James Burrow, Border Regiment was born in 1893, when he enlisted on the 21^st December 1914, he was 21, he had been a grocer’s assistant. On the 2^nd December 1917 he received a wound to his left leg but recovered and survived the war. He was awarded the Victory, British and Star medals. He later married and had two children.

Rifleman 243809 John Howard Burrow, The King’s (Liverpool Regiment) born October 1897 was only 19 when he was killed in action at Armentieres, France. He is buried at the Cite Bonjeen Military Cemetry, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France.

What a great loss that must have been to the Burrow family and indeed the whole of the small community of Broadwath.

Written by Jim Prescott