THE deaths of three keen amateur footballers who all fought with the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment were reported in the Barrow News on March 24 in 1917 reported .

Pte Mark Jackson Arnold, age 24, was number 22253 with the 8th Battalion of the Royal Lancaster Regiment.

He had been reported as missing since October 29 and was now officially listed as killed in action.

His parents lived at 34 Highfield Road, Barrow.

He was buried at Railway Hollow Cemetery at Hebuterne, Pas de Calais, France.

Before the war he had served his apprenticeship as a coach painter with the Barrow-based Furness Railway Company and later worked for Coutts at Hindpool.

The newspaper noted: “He was a keen footballer and at one time played for the YMCA and afterwards with St Matthews.

“He was married on Boxing Day of 1915 but had the misfortune to lose his wife by death in the following July.

“Pte Arnold’s brother was in board HMS Nottingham when that vessel was torpedoed but he was picked up and saved after being two hours in the water.”

Pte Thomas Smith, aged 29, of 14 Goldsmith Street, Barrow, was reported as having been killed on the night of 9 to 10 March.

He had joined the 1/5th Battalion of the King’s Own on September 28 in 1916 and sailed for France on Christmas Day.

Before the war he had been a plasterer and was married to Sarah.

He was buried at Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery, near Ypres, Belgium

The paper noted: “He was a football player and assisted the Roose Association team.

“He was married and leaves a widow and two little children.”

His battalion’s quarter-master sergeant, a man called Kirkby, said: “You will be relieved to learn that he was brought well behind our line for burial, which was conducted by our own chaplain.

“I was there along with many of his comrades.”

Pte Gerard Huck made it back to England but died of his wounds and the effects of poison gas a Meathop, near Grange.

The 26-year-old served as number T4/1779 with the 4 th Battalion of the King’s Own and had been born at Milnthorpe.

Before the war he had been a Barrow shipyard worker.

He is buried at the Parkside Cemetery in Kendal.

The paper noted: “He was a fine, capable young fellow and extremely popular in the Dalton and Askam district, where he was well known as a football player.

“He was through five of the big engagements in France, once being commended for bravery, before he was gassed and wounded in the neck.

“He was discharged last October but has been in hospital ever since.

“His injuries destroyed his power of speech.”