Son of Rev Thomas W Openshaw, clerk in Holy Orders, and Anne Openshaw, of 47 Oakfield Road, Clifton. Younger brother of Eleanor F, and older brother of Edith M, and Anne G. Husband of Edith Mary and father of Edward Reginald.

​

Openshaw was born on 05/12/1867, and attended the School from 1878-1884. He served as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Army, with the Somerset Light Infantry 1st/4th Bn.. Openshaw sadly lost his life on 23/07/1917, as a result of the War.

 

Openshaw is buried in Basra War Cemetery, Iraq, grave reference IV. R. 15.

 

​

Somerset Volunteers (BGS Chronicle December 1917)

​

"has died in hospital in India. Dr. Openshaw had a medical practice at Cheddar, and was an officer in the Somerset Volunteers and subsequently in the Territorials, where he rose to the rank of hon. Lieut-Colonel. He went to India with his regiment in October 1914. Dr Openshaw was well known as a Freemason and an ardent supporter of Rugby football. The Lodge deeply regrets to record the death of one of their founders, Lieut.-Col. E.H. Openshaw, who died in India, having led his Battalion in Mesopotamia."

 

​

Lodge of Agriculture

 

Edward was initiated into the Lodge of Agriculture on 17th June 1895. He became Worshipful Master of the lodge in 1903. Records also state that he was also a founding member of the Robert Thorne Lodge No 3663 in the Province of Bristol in 1913.

 

He was the son of Rev T.W. Openshaw, and husband to Edith M Openshaw of Cheddar, Somerset.

His son Edward Reginald Openshaw would be initiated into the Lodge of Agriculture in 1920, and he was also to become a joining member of Alfred & Guthrum Lodge No 4535 in 1947.

 

He entered overseas service in Mesopotamia on 21st February 1916 with the 1/4th Somerset Light Infantry, and held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

 

The battalion were in a training camp on the banks of the Euphrates near Nasiriyah, Iraq, when the regimental history records that “Lt Col E H Openshaw, Second in Command, died following heat failure from a heat stroke”.

​

(http://www.pglsomerset.org.uk/GreatWar.htm)