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Tom LittleThomas Little (Tom) was born in 1896 in Barrow in Furness. His father Thomas was a consulting engineer and his mother Elizabeth was an architect. In 1911 the family were living in Ainsdale Lancashire. Alongside Tom were his younger brother Charles (born 1898), and sisters Elizabeth Ann (born 1900) and Dorothy Irene (born 1903).


We’re not sure why Tom ended up in the South Wales Borderers, and sadly all we know of his war service is that he died on the 10th November 1917 at the Second Battle of Passchendaele in Belgium. He is buried at the Passchendaele New British Cemetery.


We believe that Tom’s parents bought Goldrill House (what is now the Patterdale YHA) as a holiday house and whilst they owned this we think that they commissioned Daweswood, which they moved in to after the end of World War One. This would explain why Tom is not listed on either the Glenridding Village Hall Roll of Honour or the Patterdale War memorial, as his parents only had a holiday home in the village until after the war. We do know that Daweswood was requisitioned by the War Office during the war and used as a convalescence home - see the photo below.


We do know that his parents remained at Daweswood until their deaths. His mother Elizabeth died on the 4th September 1930 aged 59 - and a stained glass window in St Patricks Church was dedicated in her memory (see below). Tom’s father Thomas died on the July 21st 1955 aged 84. Their daughter Elizabeth Ann continued to live at Dawes Wood until her death in March 1975 at the age of 75. She is still fondly remembered by many of the older residents of the dale including Stephen Gorton from Hartsop. Elizabeth also wrote a book, “Chronicles of Patterdale”, which was published in 1961. It was originally written as part of the Patterdale Women’s Institute entry in the WI “Village Histories” competition in 1957. She won and four years later published the work as a book, with all proceeds from the sale going to the Patterdale WI. The book is an update of the one written in 1902 by the Rev WP Morris, and provides some fascinating information into life in the Dale as well as some great photos.


In 2017 we were contacted by Tony Little, whose father was a cousin of Tom. He was able to provide some additional information on Tom’s siblings following his own research.


“Dorothy did …. marry the Rev Geoffrey Michael Longsdon and they lived in Caterham (Church of St John the Evangelist) until 1960. Geoffrey died on 12 March 1963 in Oborne, Dorset and Dorothy died on February 1985 in Yeovil, Somerset. They had 3 children, Joan, Elizabeth and Mary. Tom's brother Charles Henry, married Muriel Gilbert in 1948. I don't believe they had any children together, although Muriel had a family from a previous marriage. He died in 1959 in Liverpool.”


If you have any further information please let us know.


Feb 2018 Update

In February 2018 we made a trip to Flanders in Belgium including a visit to the Passchendaele New British Cemetery to find Tom’s grave - see photo below.

Private Tom Little

44611, "B" Coy. 1st Bn., South Wales Borderers

Born 1896, Barrow in Furness.  Died 10th November 1917 aged 21 at the 2nd Battle at Passchendaele.

Son of Thomas Royal Little, and Elizabeth Ann Little, of Goldrill House, and Daweswood Patterdale

Tom’s Gravestone at the Passchendaele New British Cemetery






Daweswood, the Little family home after the war, was used by the War Office throughout World War One






War Medal and Victory Medal

Tom’s Family Gravestone in Patterdale Churchyard, with his parents and sister.






South Wales Borderers Tom’s Gravestone at the Passchendaele New British Cemetery Tom’s Family Gravestone in Patterdale Churchyard, with his parents and sister. The Little Family in the 1911 Census Notes on the Fallen Contact Us Roll of Honour Daweswood, the Little family home after the war, was used by the War Office throughout World War One

The Little Family in 1911






Tom Little Medal Card Patterdale WRVS in the 1950s

The photo above was taken in the Dale in the 1950s and shows members of the local WRVS training for possible Cold War fuel shortages. The lady at the front looking directly at the camera with her arms raised is Elizabeth Little, Tom’s sister.

The stained glass wiondow dedicated to Tom’s mother Elizabeth in St Patrick’s Church

The stained glass window dedicated to Tom’s mother Elizabeth in St Patrick’s Church Patterdale. The inscription reads


“In gratitude to God for the life and joyous memory of Elizabeth Ann Little wife of Thomas R. Little of Daweswood who died 4th September 1930, aged 59 years.”

Thomas Royal Little Stone Carving in Patterdale Elizabeth Ann Little Stone Carving in Patterdale

These carvings were discovered by John Davies-Allen in the grounds of what is now the Patterdale YHA but what was once Goldrill House, the home of Tom’s parents.


The top two are clearly the initials of Tom’s parents, Thomas Royal and Elizabeth Ann, and we believe the ones below are for Tom’s sisters, Elizabeth “Betty” Little, and  Dorothy Irene.


It would be wonderful to find one for Tom himself….

Betty Little Stone Carving in Patterdale Private Tom Little South Wales Borderers - Passchendaele New British Cemetery - Photo © Rob Shephard