THE FIFTH MEMBER
FOUR SONS AND A SON-IN-LAW (Burnley Express9/10/1918)

The havoc of war has been severely felt by the Shears family of 7 Villiers-street, Burnley who, having lost four sons, on Saturday received official intimation that a son-in-law, Pte. James Stephen Hargreaves 25386 of the Loyal North Lancashires, was killed in action on September 18th. The unfortunate soldier who was 23 years of age, leaves a young widow and two children. Previous to enlistment he was a weaver at Messrs. Cowpe’s Spa Mill, Whittlefield. He was connected with St. Oswald’s Church, Burnley, where he is on the roll of honour. Of the Shears family, Pte. John Shears fell in October last; Pte. Victor made the supreme sacrifice at Loos on September 25th 1915, while serving with the 10th Scottish Rifles; and Pte. Edwin Shears, who was attached to the Royal Engineers, was killed in action on July 9th 1916. Another brother Phillip, who died at home after a lingering illness, had previously served for twelve years. The only surviving brother Pte. William Shears, is serving in France with the Lancashire Fusiliers.