MANY of the Furness and South Cumbrian men to die on the first day of the battle of Passchendaele 100 years ago today served with the 1/4th Territorial Battalion of the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment and have no known grave - being named on the Menin Gate memorial to the missing at Ypres.

Pte William Bond was army number 24170 and was aged 32.

He was the husband of Blanche White, formerly Bond, of 1 Davy Street, Barrow.

Cpl James Hird was army number 200170 and was aged 22.

He was the son of William and Eleanor Hird, of 31 Sun Street, Ulverston.

L/Sgt Henry Hugh Pill was army number 200583 and was aged 29.

He was the son of Benjamin William and Nanny Pill, of 25 Mainsgate Road, Millom.

Before the war, he was an apprentice with the tailor Seth Slater, in St George’s Terrace, Millom and then worked for Barrow Co-operative Society.

News reached Millom of his death the day after his sister’s wedding.

Pte Robinson Shone was army number 200637 and was aged just 19.

He was the son of George and Frances Shone, of 307E Duke Street, Barrow.

In a letter, his company captain noted: “I, in common with his officers, had the greatest admiration for your son’s coolness and courage.

“He never failed me under the most trying circumstances.”

Pte John Steel was army number 201056 and was aged 28.

He was the son of Eleanor Steel, of Thwaite Head, Rusland.

One from the 1/4th Battalion with a known grave is Pte Ernest Watson.

He was army number 202229 and died at the age of 22.

Pte Watson is buried at Brandhoek New Military Cemetery No. 2.

He was the son of John Briscombe Watson and Jane Watson, of Ladysyke, Haverthwaite.

Another from the 1/4th Battalion whose body was recovered was L/Cpl Thomas Akister.

He was army number 200442 and died at the age of 20.

L/Cpl Akister was buried at Potijze Chateau Grounds Cemetery and was the son of Mr and Mrs Thomas Akister, of Beckside, Allithwaite.

Pte Richard J. Ainsworth was army number 24585 with the 7 th Battalion of the King's Own.

He was aged 27 and is named on the Menin Gate.

Pte Ainsworth was the son of William and E. Ainsworth, of 3 Hall Street, Barrow.

He was the husband of Clara Dunkley, formerly Ainsworth, of 7 Wallace Street, Barrow.

Also with the 7th King's Own was L/Sgt J. W. Metcalf, who was army number 32593.

He was aged 26 and is buried at Voormezeele Enclosure No. 3.

L/sgt Metcalf was the son of James and Christina Metcalf, of Bowness and the husband of Thirz Hepworth, formerly Metcalf, of 41 Cobden Street, Dalton.

Another with the 7th Battalion was L/Cpl Albert Edward Lewis who was army number 30219.

He was aged 20 and is named on the Menin Gate.

L/Cpl Lewis was the son of James and Annie Lewis, of 19 Sun Street, Ulverston.

Others to die on July 31 served with a variety of regiments.

Pte Fred Docker was army number 57598 and served with the 1 st Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers.

He was aged 23 and is among those named on the Menin Gate.

Pte Docker was the son of Robert Fell Docker and Frances Docker, of 62 Wellington Street, Millom.

Pte Richard Floyd was army number 38254 with the 10/11th Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry.

He died at the age of 20 and is buried at Ypres Reservoir Cemetery,

Pte Floyd was the son of Thomas and Jane Floyd, of Main Street, Haverigg.

Pte Herbert Hayhurst was army number 21131 and served with the 6 th Battalion of the Royal Berkshire Regiment.

He was aged just 17 and is named on the Menin Gate.

Pte Hayhurst was the son of Christopher Hayhurst of 51 Raglan Street, Barrow, and the late Frances Hayhurst.

Pte Fred Holden was army number 28007 and served with the 8 th Battalion of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment.

He was aged 26 and is named on the Menin Gate.

Pte Holden was the son of George and Dinah Holden of 38 Cleator Street, Dalton.

Pte Thomas Gaskell Lindow was army number 44893 and served with the 73rd Company of the Machine Gun Corps.

He was killed aged 27 and is named on the Menin Gate.

Pte Lindow was the son of Mary Augusta Coward, of Rose Cottage, Lowick Green.

Pte Saville Lyne was army number 52398 with the 18th Battalion of the King's Liverpool Regiment.

He died at the age of 20 and is named on the Menin Gate.

Pte Lyne was the son of George Lyne, of 15 Newton-in-Furness, near Dalton.

Pte William Shaw was army number 25197 and served as a machine-gunner with the 2 nd Battalion of the Grenadier Guards.

He died aged 19 and is buried at Artillery Wood Cemetery.

Pte Shaw was the son of William and Jane Shaw, of 25 Casson Street, Ulverston.

A letter from an officer noted: “He was one of the best and keenest men in the section.

“He was killed by a shell with the rest of his gun team and death would have been instantaneous.”

He was former pupil of Pennington School and worked for William Case at Stank Farm before the war.

Pte Reuben Yates was army number 34173 and served with the 8th Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment.

He was killed at the age of 38 and is named on the Menin Gate.

Pte Yates was the son of Elenor Yates, of Dalton and the husband of Caroline Yates, of 39 Garden Street, Nelson, Lancashire.