Orrell Taylor Duerden was born at Victoria Street, Oswaldtwistle on 21st June 1895, the eldest son among six children born to James and Eliza Ann Duerden. Orrell was employed as a weaver at the recently-built Hambledon Mill on Marlborough Road, Accrington when he enlisted into the reserve company of the Accrington Pals between 12th and 14th December 1914. At some time in the next twelve months, Orrell was transferred out of the reserve company, for he left with the battalion for Egypt in December 1915. By 1st July 1916, he had been posted as signaller to the battalion's Z (Burnley) Company and would take part in the attack at Serre. At first reported to have survived the attack with wounds (an unfortunate confusion with another Pal, Robert Edward Duerden), Orrell was listed among the missing. Corporal Henry Hale, who was with Orrell during the attack, described the action in a letter to Orrell's parents:

There were three of us, signallers, with Z Company, and we went over the top with the rest of the lads. We had gone about a hundred yards when a shell burst about a hundred yards away. The force of the explosion knocked me down. Orrell and the other chap said "Are you hit?" I said "No! I am O.K.," and we went forward again. We could see the lads dropping all round and we remarked that it was marvellous how we were being missed. We passed over three lines of trenches and got to the Germans' first line when I got hit in the hand by a bullet. Orrell and I got in the trench and he helped me to bandage my hand. He then said, "Will you take this piece of shrapnel out of my head?" I was surprised, for it was the first he had said about it, and he must have got it from the shell that knocked me down. I took it out; it was only a small piece, and although it was near the temple he said it didn’t hurt. Anyhow, he did not look any the worse for it. He envied me having received such a nice 'Blighty,' but you must not think that it was cowardly to do so, for it was simply awful. While we were in the trench a shell came and knocked the parapet in, burying two chaps, and almost smothered us. Orrell and I, after the chaps had got out, said that it was rather unhealthy there, so we had to part, he to go forward to keep communication, and me to the dressing station, for my left arm was useless. We shook hands and wished each other the best of luck. Beyond that, Mrs. Duerden, I cannot say what happened. I can only say this, that the place where we had to make for was a long way through the German lines, and as our chaps were cut up before they reached the final position there is the possibility that any chaps who got well forward would be taken prisoners.

Orrell's remains were never identified and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

Above left: Orrell with his brothers, Edward (left) and Tom (right). Above right: Orrell with unknown young lady (possibly Gladys Duckworth). Photographs by kind courtesy of Kevin Laycock.

Above left: Orrell. Above right: Orrell's parents James and Eliza Ann Duerden; the locket worn by Eliza carries a photo of Orrell. Photographs by kind courtesy of Kevin Laycock.

Above: Pension record by courtesy of the Western Front Association.

© Andrew C Jackson 2024
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I would like to thank Orrell's great-nephew, Kevin Laycock, for allowing me to use photographs from his collection. This article was also compiled using the Accrington Observer & Times of 18th July 1916 and 5th August 1916.