Samuel Liddle 1919-1944

A few weeks ago I wrote about 16-year-old Mary Liddle who, in 1930, was awarded the R.S.P.C.A.’s Gold Medal for her bravery in helping to rescue a sheep from a disused stone mine.

Adam and Elizabeth Liddle with their family of eight children were living at Lonsdale House Farm (now called Oak Tree Farm). That’s Oak Tree Farm just right of centre.

Their youngest was Samuel, born in 1919, and when war broke out in 1939 Samuel was amongst the first to enlist, joining the 2nd Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment¹Anthony, Cedric. “Glimpses of Kildale History”. Pages 486/7. Geni Printing. 2012..  He was soon fighting on the Maginot Line and was later was evacuated from the beaches of Dunkirk.

By 1942, the Regiment was in North Africa and suffered severe loses with only 194 men from an initial strength of 689 surviving. It was amalgamated with the 128th Hampshires and sent first to Italy, then to Egypt and finally, in 1945, back to Italy.

Samuel Liddle was killed on the 5th December 1944 during the successful attack on Casa Poggio and the storming of the ridge above Olmatello²The Royal Hampshire Regiment Museum. (2017). The Italian Campaign after Salerno – The Royal Hampshire Regiment Museum. [online] Available at: https://www.royalhampshireregiment.org/about-the-museum/timeline/the-italian-campaign-after-salerno/ [Accessed 29 Mar. 2022].. His grave lies in the Forli War Cemetery near Bolonga³Anthony, Cedric. “Glimpses of Kildale History”. Pages 486/7. Geni Printing. 2012..

• 1
  Anthony, Cedric. “Glimpses of Kildale History”. Pages 486/7. Geni Printing. 2012.
• 2
  The Royal Hampshire Regiment Museum. (2017). The Italian Campaign after Salerno – The Royal Hampshire Regiment Museum. [online] Available at: https://www.royalhampshireregiment.org/about-the-museum/timeline/the-italian-campaign-after-salerno/ [Accessed 29 Mar. 2022].
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  Anthony, Cedric. “Glimpses of Kildale History”. Pages 486/7. Geni Printing. 2012.