LANE, Andrew

Andrew Lane was the son of Mr Andrew Lane and was born at Kidderminster. He was a member of the Stourbridge Roman Catholic Church and enlisted as a pre-war regular soldier in the East Lancashire Regiment. As a reservist he was called up at the outbreak of war and joined the 1st Battalion in the 4th Division. They crossed to France on the 22nd August and were immediately involved in the retreat from Mons. After the retreat they fought continuously for two months in the Battles of the Marne, the Aisne and Armentičres. By November it was clear that the German attempt at quick victory had been prevented and the campaign settled down into trench warfare. The East Lancashires were in trenches near Ploegsteert Wood during the winter of early 1915. Shelling was frequent and Private Andrew Lane was killed in action on the 3rd January. 1915. He is buried at Lancashire Cottage Cemetery (1 D 2). He was 35 years of age and is commemorated on the Stourbridge and Roman Catholic church Memorials.