Tragic tale of the band of Blackpool blood brothers

This band of brothers are George, William and James Moran, from Blackpool, and they all fought in the First World War.
Brothers George, aged 32, William, 25, and James, 19, Moran, in 1917 during the First World WarBrothers George, aged 32, William, 25, and James, 19, Moran, in 1917 during the First World War
Brothers George, aged 32, William, 25, and James, 19, Moran, in 1917 during the First World War

George, who was 32 in this photograph, taken in 1917, was in the Australian 1st Battalion, having emigrated to Australia in the 1890s. He returned to join his brothers in the fighting.

William and James both fought under the Kings Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. William was 25 when this picture was taken, he had a landau on Blackpool seafront.

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James had joined up in 1915, when he was just 17, lying about his age as the minimum age was 18.

George was wounded and James – who was a sniper, having learned to shoot at Rossall School – was gassed, but both survived. William was killed on April 9, in the Battle of Lys.

Surviving relatives include nephews Jack Gavaghan, aged 83, who lives in London and supplied the photo and information for this story, and Michael Gavaghan, aged 82, who lives in Blackpool.

James’ daughter is actress Pauline Moran, who played Miss Lemon in the TV series Poirot, alongside David Suchet.

She now lives in London.

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