Chorley Pals: The poignant story of a bible from Croston which reconciled soldiers on opposite sides in World War One

As the Chorley Guardian reflects on the 150 years since it published, we're telling the stories of people from our community who have touched peoples' lives.

At this time of the year stories resurface with regards to the Battle of the Somme (July 1st, 1916) and locally our thoughts tend to turn to the story of the Chorley Pals; a company from our borough who served in the 11th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment.

Although the Chorley Pals have come to epitomise our local involvement in World War One, men and women from all across the borough and of course the country, were involved in many other regiments and organisations.

However, one interesting tale from one of our Chorley Pals is that of reconciliation.

Lawrence Singleton was born in Croston in 1898 and worked as a weaver.

Although underage, he enlisted into the Chorley ‘Pals` (East Lancashire Regiment) in October 1914.

Before leaving the town to head off to war, Lawrence (who became a corporal) was presented with an Army Pocket Testament by the Bishop of Whalley, Dr Rawstorne.

The little bible from Croston travelled with Lawrence through the trenches and remained amongst his possessions up to the point of him being wounded in action.

He was badly injured during the Allied advance in April 1918.

Having been taken to a hospital near La Basse, from April 11-14, Lawrence was cared for by Wilhelm Knorr of the 68th German Infantry Regiment.

Such was Lawrence’s condition at the time that as a sign of gratitude for the care shown to him, he gave Wilhelm his little pocket testament which was gratefully accepted.

Fast forward to November 1935 and when members of the Royal British Legion from Brighton and District visited German ex-servicemen to exchange greetings,

Wilhelm Knorr gave up the testament, hoping it might find its way back to a relative of Lawrence.

Captain McCabe who was in charge of the visiting party, saw the inscription inside the cover and got in touch with the Bishop of Blackburn.

Dr Herbert, in turn, communicated with the Rector of Croston, the Rev R A Rawstorne, son of the Bishop of Whalley and so the testament eventually came back home.

As it happened Lawrence survived his wounds, presumably without Wilhelm knowing and in due course he was repatriated back to England.

Lawrence remained in the Army and transferred into the 3rd (Depot) Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment.

However, sadly, having survived the wounds received on the battlefield, Lawrence died of sickness on February 23, 1921.

A poignant conclusion to the story is that Lawrence is buried in the churchyard of St Michael’s Church in Croston, where he attended and received his treasured bible.

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