This is the story of the five Fitzmaurice brothers who all served in the First World War.
John Patrick Fitzmaurice enlisted on 10th December 1915 to the 11th Battalion East Lancs Regiment. He was posted to France in May 1916 and joined the then decimated Accrington Pals in September 1916. On 13th April 1918 he was buried by a trench collapse at the Battle of Lys and was taken to the London General Hospital. He was injured and medically downgraded to the Labour Corps but continued to serve on the railways at Boulogne. He volunteered to remain after the war where he helped to clear the battlefields of the fallen until May 1920 when he was discharged due to pains in his back and head. He was absent without pay in July 1919 but this was his only indiscretion.
Peter Fitzmaurice enlisted in the 4th East Lancs as part of the 1st Volunteer Battalion in August 1902 transferring in April 1908 to the 1/4th Battalion.
He sailed to Egypt along with his brother Walter and served in Gallipoli. He rose through the ranks to 2nd Lieutenant. In March 1917 he left Egypt for the Western Front. He transferred to the Royal Engineers, Railway Operating Division and returned home on 14th August 1917. He was discharged from active duty on 30th April 1918.
Walter Fitzmaurice was wounded in the buttocks on 7th August 1915 at the Battle of Krithia Vineyard, Gallipoli. He was removed to hospital in Alexandria then to the Western Front in the 80th Rifle Brigade. He spent time at Kantara defending the Suez Canal and returned to England on 15th March 1917. He suffered from TB and was hospitalised in November 1917. In April 1918 he was transferred to the 53rd Welsh Division and served in Jerusalem until 19th October 1918 and was demobbed on 7th March 1919.
Henry Fitzmaurice served as a driver in the 55th Ammunition Column of the 55th West Lancashire Division. He enlisted on 31st May 1915 and was not sent to France until 2nd March 1917. His daughter Margaret died of measles in August 1917 and Henry himself died in action on 28th August 1917 at Paschendale. His son Peter also died shortly after this.
Thomas Fitzmaurice the youngest brother enlisted in 1916 to the 2/4th Battalion. He was sent to Le Havre on 2nd March 1917 and was taken prisoner in the spring offensive of March 1918. He sent a postcard to his sister from the prison camp on 27th July 1918, his 21st birthday. He returned home towards the end of 1918 and was invited to a mayoral party to welcome him home.
