Driver Michael Caine.

2059 Royal Field Artillery.

Died of illness 25th June 1916, aged 35.

Michael Cain was born at Burnley and was the husband of Annie Cain of 42 Red Lion Street, Burnley. He enlisted at Blackburn and served as Driver 2059 in the 3rd/1st East Lancashire Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery. He died at home after illness aged 35 on Sunday, 25th June 1916.

November 2001 Michael Cain – a white cross in memory placed for Remembrance Sunday outside the Thompson Centre.
He was also commemorated on the Pickup Croft Sunday School Memorial which was dedicated on 16th September 1922. Pickup Croft was a mission church of St Peter’s Parish and was also used as an Infant School.

In the 1891 census Michael and his two brothers, Tom 18 and John 14, were stated as lodgers with Patrick and Ann Mullin of 27 Mosley St, Burnley. Yet it also stated that they were sons, presumably of Ann who was possibly married a second time.

The Burnley Express dated July 5th 1916: DIED ON LEAVE. BURNLEY VETERAN’S FUNERAL.

“Driver Michael Cain was buried last Thursday at Burnley Cemetery. He died at home the previous Sunday whilst home on sick leave. Although he was with the Royal Field Artillery at Whitchurch at the time he fell ill about seven weeks ago, he had seen 2years 4 months service in the Boer war in the 3rd Battalion., East Lancashire Regiment and had also been in service with the local Territorials at the beginning of the present war so that he had given good service.
Driver Cain was 35 years of age. As stated he went through the Boer War. At that time he was in the 3rd East Lancashire Regiment and though not wounded in that campaign he was slightly injured through a fall from a horse. At that time he was about 19 years of age. Since then he has been a moulder at Proctor’s Mechanical Stoker Works, Hammerton Street and was a member of the Moulders’ Union and a Roman Catholic attending St. Mary’s Church.
When this war broke out Cain rejoined the Territorials in September 1914. He was in Egypt for nearly 9 months before being invalided with lung trouble just before the 1st/5th Bn East Lancs Regiment went to Gallipoli. The sand in Egypt had an irritating effect on him. He was soon better on arriving home and immediately re-enlisted in the R.F.A. having been in training at Whitchurch about a year. Some 7 weeks ago he was invalided home and subsequently died from a lung complaint a week last Sunday. He leaves a wife and 3 children..
At the funeral last Thursday, the coffin was covered with the Union Jack, and several soldiers attended, including two who had served with him in South Africa and Egypt. These along with four members of the Moulders Union acted as bearers, and the Roman Catholic Rector from Lowerhouse officiated at the graveside.

Michael left his effects to his widow Annie.

Michael lived at 42 Red Lion St., Burnley.

Michael was buried in Burnley Cemetery: Grave Ref: A.15747.