BARROW soldier Jessie Taylor was honoured by military authorities for his bravery but didn't survive the fighting long enough to receive his medal.

The company quartermaster sergeant was among more than 19,000 men to have been killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on July 1 in 1916.

He was awarded the Miitary Medal for bravery and this was sent to his widow Jennie Taylor and their two young children at 96 Kent Street, Barrow.

CQMS Taylor had been born in Barrow and was army number 18734 with the 12 th Company of the Machine Gun Corps.

He is buried at Bertrancourt Military Cemetery.

The Barrow News of May 12 in 1917 said that his widow received the Military Medal along with a sympathetic note from King George V.

The paper noted: “The Military Medal was awarded to her late husband for conspicuous bravery in France last year.

“The deceased was killed on July 1 last year in the first day of the Somme offensive.

“He had served in the Army before the war and was called up as a reservist on the outbreak of hostilities in 1914.

“He went out with the early contingents and was subsequently transferred to the Machine Gun Corps and he had been through many engagements.

“He leaves a widow and two young children, the oldest only two-and-a-half years of age.

“For the mother, there will be deep sympathy felt at her loss of a brave husband.”

Pte Charles Spencer Milton won the Distinguished Conduct Medal on August 8 in1916 and survived the war.

The Barrow News of May 26 in 1917 noted an event held in his honour by foremen and fellow workers in the platers’ shed at Barrow shipyard where he was given a gold watch and other gifts.

He had carried wounded officers and men to safety while under fire in France during 1916.

Pte Milton was an apprentice plater and due to wounds received in winning his medal was sent back to Britain to work on the production of munitions.

The paper noted: “In front of machine gun and other fire he rescued his comrades on the field of battle and he showed that nothing appealed to the true Britisher more than risking his life to save others.”

Dalton soldier Frank Lee earned the Military Medal for gallant conduct on April 9 in 1917.

The lance corporal was serving with the Scottish Rifles and was from Prince Street.

He had been recommended for the medal by Lt-Col A. C. Stanley Clarke for gallantry and devotion to duty on April 9.

A report in the Barrow News on June 30 in 1917 noted: “Lee’s platoon sergeant got killed and he had to take command.

“He showed coolness and leadership under fire on the occasion – and on March 26, when in command of an advanced sap during a particularly heavy bombardment.”

The Military Medal also went to Sgt Joseph Kirkham, of 6 Barton Street, Barrow, who served with the King's Own.

The Evening Mail on June 30 in 1917 said he had been promoted as well as receiving the medal for brave conduct.

It noted: “He is one of three brothers serving his Majesty, one of them in the Army and the other in the Navy.

“He joined the King’s Own shortly after the outbreak of war, when 22 years of age, and went out to France in 1915.”

He had played rugby with the Barrow “A” team and had won a silver cup for boxing.