16780 PTE. A. RABY. L.N.LAN.R

Ambrose Raby was born around 1893 and was the son of James and Elizabeth Louisa (nee Nutall) of Turton, near Bolton, Lancashire.

Prior to the war, Ambrose was working as a plaiter in a print works; as were his two elder brothers John and James Henry. His father had worked as stone mason and died in 1914; his mother had died in 1905.

Ambrose was in A Company, 10th Battalion the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment and landed in France on 31st July 1915. In the few months that followed he was promoted to Lance Corporal.

Photo credit: Barlow WW1 Project Group at https://livesofthefirstworldwar.org/lifestory/3636364

On 21st September 1915, Ambrose was shot dead whilst returning to the line. The daily diary entry refers;

At 01:15hrs, whilst 2nd Lieutenant Claude Arthur Stephen Bidwell was returning from a listening post through his newly-cut wire opening, four Germans suddenly leapt up close to him. He challenged them, and they fired at point-blank range killing him instantly. Lance Corporal Ambrose Raby was also mortally wounded.

Ambrose is buried at the Bienvillers Military cemetery.

Rank: Lance Corporal
Service No: 16780
Date of Death: 21/09/1915
Age: 21
Cemetery: BIENVILLERS MILITARY CEMETERY

Ambrose Raby also has a gravestone in St Anne Churchyard, Turton. His mother and father are also buried here, as is his eldest brother John who died in 1919 aged 30.

Raby, Ambrose L/Cpl – d. 21.9.1915 age:22 – Old Ground Left P16

Raby, Elizabeth Louisa – d. 14.8.1905 age:50 bur. 16.8.1905 – Old Ground Left P16

Raby, James – d. 2.11.1914 age:61 – Old Ground Left P16

Raby, John – d. 24.5.1919 age:30 – Old Ground Left P16

Unfortunately no service records survived.

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Paul McCormick

Paul McCormick is the creator and administrator for the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment website. Since 2010 he has been researching the soldiers that served during the First World War and sharing their stories on his website. You can contact Paul through the website 'Contact Me' page or on Twitter and Facebook.

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