Furlough time leads to discovery of long-lost Burnley ancestor who died on the Somme

After being furloughed due to the coronavirus pandemic, sales manager Dave Rushton decided to put his extra spare time to good use by researching the life and death of his great-grandfather Owen Nichols, a private in the East Lancashire Regiment.

Dave, who had never seen a photograph of Owen, was amazed when he clicked on a website to be greeted by his proud ancestor in uniform.

Sadly, Owen, like so many Burnley men in that conflict, did not return home, having been killed in action during the Battle of Ancre Heights, part of the Somme Offensive on October 25th, 1916.

Proud Dave said: "Several years ago my wife Andre and I tracked down great grandad Owen Nichols, a private in the 7th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment. He was laid to rest I presume where he was killed, Grandcourt Cemetery, Somme, France.

"Unfortunately I am one of the many on furlough so had some time to look at several First World War websites. I'm not a train spotter but when you are stuck at home climbing the walls you will resort to anything.

"Amazingly on the website there were pictures of five soldiers out of hundreds in the cemetery where Owen is buried, one of which is great grandad Owen. It was fantastic to see his face.

"My mum Evelyn and her brother Raymond has never even seen a picture of Owen until this week. I can say that we don’t know that much about Owen but proud to say that he was one of many Burnley pals that sacrificed everything for us."

Owen was the husband of Sarah Jane Nichols, whom he lived with at 140 Finsley Gate, Burnley.