A WORLD War One hero finally received full military honours yesterday, 80 years almost to the day since his death alone and destitute in the Haslingden workhouse.

Accrington historian Bill Turner came upon the name of Private James O'Hara when he was researching the 488 Haslingden men who died in the Great War.

He discovered that Private O'Hara, a soldier for 23 years until his death in service at the age of 49, had never had a Commonwealth War Graves headstone on his grave in Haslingden Cemetery.

In fact, only the intervention of the then mayor of Haslingden, Cllr Ervin Russell, had saved him from a pauper's grave. Mr Turner wrote to the War Graves Commission and Rossendale Council in an attempt to have the old soldier finally honoured, and yesterday an official headstone was erected and dedicated.

The new Mayor of Rossendale, Cllr Peter Heyworth, laid the first wreath, followed by Mr Graham Woodcock, president of Haslingden Royal British Legion.

Father John Broadley, formerly of Haslingden St Mary's, whose own father died in World War One, conducted the ceremony.

Representatives of the East Lancashire, Kings Liverpool and Kings Royal Rifle regiments and the Irish Democratic Club attended the short service in Holden Hall Cemetery, Haslingden.

Mr Turner said: "It was very satisfying to see Private O'Hara finally honoured. I tried to replicate as far as possible the ceremony which he would have had in 1917."

Private O'Hara served in Burma and Belgium before being wounded in action.

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