FROM THE VIDEO ARCHIVES: THE BALLAD OF BILLY UNSWORTH - A SALFORD HERO

A chance meeting in The Park Hotel, Monton between Graham and his friend Tony Gibbons set in motion the chain of events which led to the song, with Tony having photographs and poignant letters from his great grandfather, Billy Unsworth. 

Graham looked deeper into the story after reading the letters and contacted Captain Joe Eastwood of the Lancashire Fusiliers Association who supplied further details of Billy's life. 

We know that Billy had previously served in the Boer War and fought at Spion Kop. 

He married a local girl Bella and they had several children together. 

The tragedy of this story is that Billy Unsworth was a brass turner by trade and was therefore exempt from joining the forces, also he was considered to be quite old to join the army, furthermore he had done his bit for Queen and country some fourteen years earlier. 

I looked at the Billy Unsworth Facebook site and was amazed to find the story of Billy's life and death immaculately researched and recorded by Dave Quinn, who deserves full credit for the work he has done. 

I contacted Dave who has kindly given me permission to reproduce his article in full below, it makes fascinating reading and gives a wonderful insight into the life and death of Billy Unsworth. 

"William Unsworth was born in Salford in 1881, his first known address was on Sunnyside Street, Ordsall. He first joined the Army as a teenager and went off to South Africa to fight in the Boer War where he was involved in the battle at Spion Kop. 

When he returned to Salford he settled down and married Bella, who was also born in Salford in 1881, they moved to 65 West Dixon Street, between Mark Addy's Bridge and Ordsall Lane, where he and Bella had 5 children, one of whom tragically died at an early age and is buried in Weaste Cemetery. 

William (or Billy as we affectionately call him) liked a pint with the lads, and his local was the Greyhound Pub on Woden Street, Ordsall, when at the time, was nicknamed Nicky Burke's (after the landlord Nicholas Burke). Billy was a brass turner by trade and worked at Glovers in Trafford Park, and was technically exempt from joining up for WW1 due to his trade skill, however, after a night in Nicky Burkes, he decided to join up. 

The circumstances surrounding his decision is that on his way home from work one evening, he decided to call in for a pint, his mates were inside already and had decided between them that the next man to walk through the pub doorway would join the Army, and of course, that man was our Billy. Billy went home and the next day explained his decision to his wife, who you can imagine, was not best pleased, particularly with a young family to support, and the knowledge that he did not have to go if he chose not to. 

Just prior to actually going into the Army again, Billy tried to overturn his decision but was unsuccessful, so off he went with the 9th Battalion the Lancashire Fusiliers, who were made up mostly of lads from the Salford area. 

Billy was made a Corporal due to his previous military experience, and at the training camps in Grantham and then Godalming, trained the young enlisted men as best possible in the short period of time he had, in basic battle skills and discipline. 

The troops were then issued with brand new khaki uniforms, a new style helmet, and a rifle, there was very little time before the Battalion was on it's way to pastures unknown, and they believed that they were on their way to France as all the talk was about facing the Germans in battle. 

Billy realised that he was going to war with men and boys who had no idea of what they were about to face, and that they believed they were all going on a great adventure and that they would be back with their families, as hero's, by Christmas 1915. 

As the troop ship left England, none of the soldiers knew where they were heading, and indeed, it was not until the 6th August, when they stopped off in the Mediterranean that they were told where they were actually going...Gallipoli. 

Between then and the battle at 'W' beach, which took Billy's life, the Lancashire Fusiliers were put into battle not only against the Turk's, but against the sheer heat, the arid rocky and sandy hills, the lack of water where men were collapsing with dehydration and disease, and worst of all, poor intelligence and tactics, which led to changes in command at the highest level, and some drastic decision making by those who were sent to take charge. 

Those who did take command were unproven leaders when it came to actual battle. On the 21st August, 1915, General Ian Hamilton decided that they're would be no mass withdrawal, rather, one further attack. Billy was wounded and died, as many others did, burnt to death in the forest fires caused by the relentless bombardment which set the scrubland alight to devastating effect. 

118 Lancashire Fusiliers were also killed that very same day, and a total of around 35,000 allied troops died during the Gallipoli campaign, where at its end, a silent withdrawal was achieved under the very noses of the Turks." 

Billy's name is recorded on the Helles Memorial at Gallipoli, Turkey along with hundreds of his pals from the Lancashire Fusiliers. 

He is also on the fallen soldiers memorial board in St Clements church, Ordsall, and spookily enough the name directly beneath Billy Unsworth's is a G. Walker! 

I would urge everybody to purchase this song when it is released, it is a story of one man from Salford and his ultimate sacrifice, plus monies raised from the sale of the CD will go to SWARM the group who help save war memorials in Salford, how good is that? 

The record will be available soon and credit must be given to the boys in the band, Anthony Roach (Lead Guitar), Nigel Dunne (Harmonica), Big Vern (Cajun, Cabarra, Penny Whistle), Dave Hobson (Bass) not forgetting Graham Walker (Acoustic Guitar and Vocals). 

We apologise for the variable sound quality on this video. It is my fault, mea culpa. Tom (News Ed)

Article by Tony Flynn with additional material from Dave Quinn. Edited by Tom Rodgers.

This article originally appeared on SalfordOnline, it is reproduced here courtesy of man of the peephole Tony Flynn.