SomeKindHand Pilgrimage

[stephen binks]

The single Commonwealth burial at Forest-Montiers churchyard, Somme, is 4366 Private Luke Shanley, D squadron, 1/King’s Dragoon Guards, who died of heart failure on the 30^th January, 1917. Private Shanley, a regular soldier, enlisted at the age of 18 and was in India at the outbreak of war. Three other brothers served in the Great War; an older brother, Bombardier Peter Shanley, fell in the Boer War, Christmas Day, 1901.

I knew that as a Burnley lad his story would be well documented, thanks in part to our old friend, Dennis Otter (R.I.P). I wonder if Dennis ever got to Private Shanley’s grave? Denis, if you didn’t, we said “Thank-you” for you!