THIS is an apt day to tell you about a book which has just been published, Manchester Scottish, The Story of the Manchester contingent of the 15th Battalion, Royal Scots, 1914-1918.

You may wonder what it has to do with this column, which looks back at the Bolton area, but in fact, a number of Bolton men served in the 15th Royal Scots, and are mentioned in the book.

They are Thomas H. Best, Richard B. Baron, Alfred C. Crompton, Samuel Farish, Stanley Hodson, Thomas H. Mather, Alfred Reddyhough, Harry Unsworth, Ralph Unsworth, Albert V. Brooks, George Glendening, Arthur Laidlaw, Harold Smethurst, Thomas Gaughan (Kearsley) and Peter Kirkman.

The book, by Roger J. Dowson (price £5.75), and, says publisher Neil Richardson, on sale at the Artifacts shop at Bolton Central Library, is full of great detail, not only of the Battalion itself, but of those who were members.

For instance, on Pte (Signaller) Baron, whose name appears on the Thiepval Memorial, it tells of how he was killed, aged 22, when part of his dug out was blown in during a heavy bombardment on July 1, 1916.

'He was born in Bolton, the son of Robert Bailis and Elizabeth Ann and lived at 236 Waterloo Street. He was connected with St James's Church and School, and was a playing member of the Market Hall Wednesday League football team and of the Raikes hockey team. Before the war he worked for Halford Ltd., Bradshawgate. Pte Baron is also commemorated in Tonge Moor Cemetery, Bolton.'

Brothers Harry and Ralph Unsworth both died in action, and all six sons of the family served. Harry had been a warehousman at Mather's cotton works, off Halliwell Road, and lived at 22, Whittle Grove, Bolton. Ralph worked as a cellarman at the Joiners Arms, Deansgate. Both brothers are listed on the St Luke's Roll of Honour and also on Brownlow Fold and Oxford Grove Council School rolls.

It is detail like this which makes it compelling reading, not only for the families of those who died, and who may well still be living in this area, but to anyone who is interested in history.

The book is also interspersed with photographs of many of those who died, together with some general pictures, and tells of some of the actions involving the Battalion. Mr Dowson must be congratulated on his thorough research; he has produced a fascinating book.