Evelyn Geoffrey Lord , World War One , WW1 Information on the graves located at St. Marks Church Worsley Manchester UK Evelyn Geoffrey Lord The National Archives files for Evelyn Geoffrey Lord can be accessed at this link - National Archives EVELYN GEOFFREY LORD 2nd Lieutenant Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) 37th Bn. d. 25 June 1918 Evelyn Geoffrey Lord was born in 1886 in Audenshaw. He was the son of Charles Lord, solicitor, and Evelyn (née Lord). By 1891, he was living living at Oak Lawn, Manchester Road, Audenshaw, aged 4, with his parents and sister, Dorothy, aged 2. Ten years later, in 1901, he was a boarder at Uppingham School, (admitted in September 1900), where he stayed until April 1905. At that time, his parents were at 10 Wilbraham Road, south Manchester. In 1911, he was a solicitor's articled clerk and was living at 1 Brighton Grove, Rusholme, a boarder at the home of Harry Whittaker. He married Marietta Adelaide Augusta Godbey in the first quarter of 1915 in Holborn. According to the National Probate Calendar, he lived at 14 Jubilee Place, Chelsea. He died at Worsley Hall Red Cross Hospital following an operation and was buried at St. Mark's on 28 June 1918, aged 34. This was probably because it was the most convenient place for burial following his treatment at The New Hall. Probate was granted on 16 September to Marietta Adelaide Augusta Lord (his widow). In reporting his death on the 29 June 1918 The Buxton Advertiser gave Geoffrey's parents' address as "Wood Edge, Buxton". By 1919, his sister, Dorothy, had also moved in with them following the death in 1917 of her husband, Lt. Col. Cyril Benton Johnson. Mrs. E. G. Lord applied for husband's medals on 3/11/21. Evelyn Geoffrey was mentioned in Despatches on 24 December 1917. Geoffrey was Gazetted on 25 October 1916 from Cadet to 2nd Lieutenant in The Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) (London Gazette , 21 November 1916). His Medal Index Card states that he entered into War service on 17th March 1917. The 37th Battalion was part of the 12th (Eastern) Division by the 4 February 1916, and Geoffrey would have joined the Battalion in time to take part in the Battle of Arras in April 1917 and looks like he was wounded as he was transferred to a field hospital on 6/4/17. Geoffrey's 37th Battalion moved into No 12 Battalion, Machine Gun Corps, on the 1 March 1918. A number of his comrades in the 37th were killed in action on dates coinciding with The Battle of the Avre, 4 April 1918, and The Battle of the Ancre, 5 April 1918 - the end of the 'Michael offensive'. It is possible he was wounded there. However he was sent home to the Worsley Hall Red Cross Hospital on 13th April 1918 due to gas poisoning. He died there on the 25th June 1918. More information on Evelyn Geoffrey Lord can be found at the Buxton War Memorials Site Researched and written by Paul R Speakman Back

Information on the graves located at St. Marks Church Worsley Manchester. Reginald West, World War Two Reginald West REGINALD WEST Fg.Off. RAF.VR d. 23 June 1944 aged 23 151264 REGINALD WEST was the son of William West and Blanche (née Holdsworth), of Worsley. His parents were married in the Bucklow area in the third quarter of 1919, possibly at St.Mary's, Ashton upon Mersey. Reginald was born on 28 December 1920. On 19 February 1943, he was commissioned into the RAFVR (General Duties Branch) on an emergency commission. On 23 June 1944, he was posted as a navigator/wireless operator to 236 Squadron, RAF. According to his will, proven on 1 November, his estate was granted to William West, commercial traveller, presumably his father. He lived at 147 Old Clough Lane and the burial records show that he died at Minster, near Manston, Kent. Reginald joined the Metro-Vickers Company as a Clerk in March 1939 and was employed in the Cost Department. He joined the RAF in October 1940 and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer and later promoted to the rank of Flying Officer (19 August 1943). He was killed whilst on air operations in June 1944. This may have been near Thanet, Kent. 236 Squadron had originally been formed in the First World War as an anti-submarine force, but was disbanded in May 1919. It reformed in October 1939 as a fighter squadron and moved to various bases until it relocated to RAF North Coates (Lincolnshire), six miles south-east of Cleethorpes, in September 1942. From there, it carried out anti-shipping patrols over the North Sea in the Bristol Beaufighter Mk.X. Researched and written by Paul R Speakman Back

Manchester Evening News February 1971 Manchester Evening News 1971 The below article is from the Manchester Evening News on 27th Feburary 1971. Home

Information on the graves located at St. Marks Church Worsley Manchester. John Griffiths, World War Two John Walter Ronald Griffiths JOHN WALTER RONALD GRIFFITHS F/Sgt.RAF d.11 September 1941 aged 20 650725 JOHN WALTER RONALD GRIFFITHS was the son of George Griffiths and of Eva Griffiths (née Upton), of Boothstown. His parents were married at Leigh in 1916 and John was born towards the end of 1920, the eldest of four children. At the start of World War II, he was posted to 102 squadron which was based at RAF Topcliffe in North Yorkshire, near to RAF Linton-on-Ouse. Topcliffe was opened in September 1940 as a bomber station within Bomber Command. From there, 102 Sqn flew the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley heavy bomber, a twin-engined aircraft which was at the forefront of the early bombing raids over Germany. On 15th August 1941, one of the Whitley bombers (serial number Z6746) overshot the runway at Topcliffe on return from operational duties to Hanover at 05.01hrs while landing in poor visibility. The undercarriage collapsed when the aircraft swung out of control and it sustained damage considered serious enough that it had to be written off. All five members of the crew escaped serious injury. It included Sgt. Griffiths who was a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner. A month later, on 11th September 1941, another Whitley bomber Mark V (serial number Z6870) crashed at 22.50hrs within Topcliffe airfield boundary while the crew were practicing overshooting during a dual-instruction part of a night flying exercise. Three of the crew were killed and two others injured. Whitley Z6870 was taken by 102 Squadron at Topcliffe in July 1941 and remained with them until the accident on 11th September 1941. The aircraft was written off by the Air Ministry as suitable only for scrap as a result of a flying accident (officially Cat.E2/FA). The names of the crew were: Pilot - S/Ldr. Joseph Damien Reardon DFC RAF (43042), aged 26, of Prince Edward Island, Canada. Pilot - Sgt. Harold Edwin Moore RCAF (R/70734), aged 23, of Lawson, Saskatchewan, Canada. Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt. John Walter Ronald Griffiths RAF (650725), aged 20, of Boothstown. Two other crew members, whose names are unknown, were injured. Researched and written by Paul R Speakman Back

Ross Barnes, Riffles Brigade, World War One , WW1 Information on the graves located at St. Marks Church Worsley Manchester UK Ross Barnes ROSS BARNES Rifleman Rifle Brigade 9th Bn. d. 13 October 1916 aged 20 S/7858 Click here for the 9th Rifle Brigade roll of honour (somme-roll-of-honour.com) Ross Barnes was the son of Frederick William and Sarah Ellen (née Hall) Barnes, of 7 Brampton Street, Atherton. In 1911, he was living with his family at 70 Chaddock Lane, Boothstown. His father was a miner and Ross was the seventh born of nine children (5 of which served in WW1). Ross Barnes attested on the 7 January 1915 in Atherton, he was aged 19 and was living at the Volunteer Inn, High Street, Atherton. He was working as a collier. Indeed, in 1911 he was a colliery labourer working underground. He was posted to France on 6 July 1915. He was seriously wounded on 15 September 1916, with gunshot wounds to the chest and head during the Battle of Flers–Courcelette (Somme). His Battalion was part of the 42 brigade which were ordered to attack Flers on the 15th September. "The 42nd Brigade moved forward by compass past Delville Wood, deployed 400 yd (370 m) short of the Switch Line and attacked the third objective thirty minutes late; the right hand battalion was stopped just short and the left hand battalion was also caught by machine-gun fire and forced under cover. The two supporting battalions got further forward and found that the neighbouring divisions had not, enfilade fire meeting every movement " He was sent to the 1st Canadian General Hospital, Etaples, and from there he was transferred to England on 27 September 1916. He died at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, near Southampton, on 13 October 1916 of wounds received and his death was registered at South Stoneham, Hampshire. 472 servicemen died that same day in various locations. A War Gratuity of £8 was paid three years later to his mother. This was money owed to 872,395 soldiers who died while serving in the First World War as well as the latter stages of the Boer War. It was usually paid to their mothers, though wives were also listed. "Rifleman Ross Barnes, of the Lewis Gun Section, who before the war lived at the Volunteer Inn, died in Netley Hospital last week, and was accorded a military funeral last Wednesday. He was wounded first in the breast, the bullet penetrating his body and coming out at his back. He dropped to the ground, and was unable to move, as he was very weak owing to loss of blood. Whilst in this condition he was again wounded very severely in the head. he endeavoured to move, but had to stay where he was. Later he was found by two men, who took him to the base. From here, he was sent to Netley Hospital, Southampton, where he was operated on three times. Rifleman Barnes was 19 years of age. Before the war he worked at the Pretoria Pit. The remains of Pte. Barnes were interred in Worsley Parish Churchyard on Wednesday afternoon, with full military honours. A detachment of the guard at the Leigh Prisoners of War Camp, under Sgt. J. Glover, and accompanied by Corpl. Baker, Corpl. Jobson and Lance-Corpls. Wilding and Slack, paraded at the deceased's residence, along with the Royal Defence Corps, Leigh, who attended by permission of Capt. Tilly, various Volunteer Defence Corps, and local soldiers. The soldiers and volunteers marched with the cortege to Tyldesley New Road, and afterwards continued the procession at Mosley Common, where they were joined by the Boothstown Boy Scouts,, under Scoutmaster W. H. Barnes, and members of the Boothstown Wesleyan Girls' Society. The blinds at all the residences at Boothstown, where deceased was well known, were drawn as a tribute of respect, and a large number of friends and sympathisers gathered at Worsley Parish Church, amongst those present at the graveside being Messrs. W. M. Edge, J. Hurst (Swinton), T. Wallwork, C. Atkinson (Little Hulton), D. C. Potter, S. Hall, J. Hall, A. Mann, J. Edge and Mr. Greenall, junr. The coffin, which was draped with the Union Jack, was borne to the grave by six soldiers on leave, and after the service which was conducted by the Rev. P. Burnett of Boothstown, three volleys were fired, and the 'Last Post' sounded. Wreaths were placed on the grave from - Father, mother and family, his uncle and aunts, Saunders, Potter and Barber, Mr. and Mrs. T. Barnes, Ted and Polly, neighbours of High Street, and Bolton Old Road, members of the Volunteer Inn Club, officers and teachers of the Atherton Wesleyan Sunday School; a few friends of the kitchen; Mrs. Dugdale and family; Fred and Martha; Sam and Dan; Mr. and Mrs. Harris and family; Mr. and Mrs. Roberts and Bessie; Mr. and Mrs. Greenhalgh and family; his nephew Freddy, Mr. and Mrs. E. Morris and family, Mr. and Mrs. F Grundy, Mr. and Mrs. Barker, Walter and Eunas, Mrs. Liptrot and family, Boothstown Senior Girls' Club, Mrs. E. Barnes and family. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr. Seager of Atherton." (Local newspaper) Researched and written by Paul R Speakman Back

Information on the graves located at St. Marks Church Worsley Manchester. Kenneth Hickling, World War Two Kenneth R Hic kling KENNETH RUSHTON HICKLING LAC RAF.VR d. 8 October 1942 aged 22 657400 Baptism: 17 Jul 1915 St Leonard, Padiham, Lancashire, England Sydney Hickling - [Child] of William Towell Hickling & Rose Born: 22 May 1915 Abode: 6 King's Avenue, Haslingden Occupation: Assistant Works Manager Marriage: 28 Jul 1914 St Leonard, Padiham, Lancashire, England William Towell Hickling - 26, Secretary, Bachelor, 2 Park Road, Padiham Rose Rushton - 24, Spinster, 5 Blackburn Road, Padiham Groom's Father: William Henry Hickling, Retired Police Sergeant KENNETH RUSHTON HICKLING joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve as a Cadet Officer. He had lived at Hazelhurst Cottage, 2 Hazelhurst Road, Worsley, and had been a pupil of Eccles Grammar School. He was the son of William Towell Hickling and Rose (née Rushton) Hickling, of Worsley. Kenneth had been born in Blackpool in the first quarter of 1920. His parents were married on 28 July 1914 at St.Leonard's, Padiham. Kenneth had an older brother, Sydney, born the 22 May 1917, also in Padiham. It appears that he played Lacrosse for Worsley. In his will, administered on 20 January 1943, he left his estate to his father, a dyer. His body was interred at St.Mark's on 13 October 1942. LAC Hickling died at RAF Hospital Rauceby, a hospital housing a crash and burns unit, and specialising in reconstructive plastic surgery, under the wing of RAF Cranwell. His death was registered at Sleaford, Lincolnshire. He is buried in the churchyard in a family grave. Researched and written by Paul R Speakman Back

Information on the graves located at St. Marks Church Worsley Manchester. Geoffrey Topham, World War Two Geoffrey Topham GEOFFREY TOPHAM Cpl RAF d.3/12/1941 aged 20 72127 GEOFFREY TOPHAM was the son of Harold Corless Topham and Winifred (née Hyde), of Chorlton- cum-Hardy, Manchester. His birth was registered in Barton district in early 1921. The circumstances of his death are difficult to verify, but it is possible that he may have been flying a Beaufighter I - T4703 - of No.1 OADU (Overseas Aircraft Delivery Unit). This aircraft had been reported as a loss for this day, having collided with Beaufighter T4715 on take-off at RAF Portreath, 27 OTU. However, his death was registered at Newcastle under Lyme and this makes the above scenario unlikely. Researched and written by Paul R Speakman Back

Information on the graves located at St. Marks Church Worsley Manchester. Norman Gorick, World War Two Norman Gorick NORMAN GORICK Fg.Off. RAF.VR d. 31 January 1943 aged 21 124505 RAF Dishforth opened in September 1936 and at the start of World War 2 it became part of 4 Group, Bomber Command. The base was primarily used for recruit training. At 0212 hrs. on 31 January 1943, a Vickers Wellington Mark X, serial number HE173, took off from Dishforth on a night training exercise. At that period, Dishforth was home to Royal Canadian Air Force squadrons, a part of RAF Bomber Command. There was a crew of four on the Wellington - pilot F/O Norman Gorick, aged 21; navigator F/O George Wood (26), RCAF, of Canada, Fl/Sgt. William Mossop, aged 24, air gunner who was also the wireless operator; and Sgt. J. Welsh, an air gunner. Within one minute of take-off, the aircraft caught fire and crashed just one mile to the NW of the airfield, near Lingham Lane Farm. The only survivor was Sgt. J. Welsh, who was the rear gunner. This accident was the first loss of an aircraft from 428 squadron since its formation, 428 squadron had been formed on 7 November 1942 and later acquired the nickname the "Ghost" squadron, since none of the original squadron members survived. NORMAN GORICK was the son of William and Edith Rachel Gorick, of 449 Worsley Road, Winton. He had attended Eccles Grammar School as a pupil, and was a keen sportsman, playing football for the school team and cricket at Winton Cricket Club. After leaving school he started work with the Prudential Assurance Co. Ltd. At the outbreak of the war, he joined the Home Guard and was in No.5 Platoon of "A" Company of the 42nd Lancaster Battalion. Soon after, in June 1941, he enlisted in the RAF.VR. He went to California, USA, to train as a pilot. Whilst at the flying school, he was awarded the Gold Star Merit Award and was awarded his wings in April 1942. He received his commission as a Pilot Officer in the RAF.VR on 1 May 1942. He returned to the UK in June 1942 and it is reported that he began operational duties immediately. On 1 November 1942, he was promoted to Flying Officer. Norman Gorick is commemorated on the Worsley Methodist Church War Memorial, a church he had attended. When that church closed in 2011, the memorial board was transferred to the parish Church of St.Mark, Worsley, where it is now affixed to the inside of the south wall. Researched and written by Paul R Speakman Back

Information on the graves located at St. Marks Church Worsley Manchester. John Rowson, World War Two John Rowson JOHN ROWSON Pte. RAOC d.3/6/1941 aged 20 925722 JOHN ROWSON was a member of the 4th Div Workshops, Royal Army Ordnance Corps. He was the son of Peter and Margaret (née Knight) Rowson of Walkden. They had married at St.Mark's on 21 April 1919. The Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC) was a corps of the British Army. It dealt only with the supply and maintenance of weaponry, munitions and other military equipment. Baptism: 22 Dec 1920 St Mark, Worsley, Lancs. John Rowson - [Child] of Peter Rowson & Margaret Born: 5 Nov 1920 Abode: 244 Lumber Lane Worsley Occupation: Colliery Worker Researched and written by Paul R Speakman Back

Information on the World War One graves located at St. Marks Church Worsley Manchester , WW1, Author Paul Speakman, Benjamin GRATRIX, Harry SHELDON, Robert AMBLER, William PARKER, Herbert TOFT, William GOODALL, Fred W SLINGER, Evelyn Geoffrey LORD, Herbert MOORES, Thomas YATES, Ross BARNES, Arthur RATCLIFFE World War One Graves The below are casualties of World War One buried at St Mark's. Robert Ambler Evelyn Geoffrey Lord Fred Wilby Slinger Ross Barnes Herbert Moores Herbert Toft William Goodall William Parker Thomas Yates Benjamin Gratrix Harry Sheldon Arthur Ratcliffe Home

Herbert Moores , World War One , WW1 Information on the graves located at St. Marks Church Worsley Manchester UK Herbert Moores HERBERT MOORES Sgt. 18th Bn Manchester Regiment d. 18 July 1916 aged 32 Herbert Moores attested (ie. declared himself willing to serve) on 4th September 1914, aged 30, just five weeks after the outbreak of war. He was appointed Lance Corporal on 5th November 1914 and Corporal on 5th June 1915. Posted to France on 8th August 1915, he was later promoted to Lance Sergeant on 3rd December 1915 and Sergeant on 8 March 1916. Herbert was involved in the Battle of the Somme and he was wounded on 10th July 1916 in the attack on Trones Wood . He was transported back to England three days later on the 13th July on the S. S. Asturias. He died from a gunshot wound to his back at the 1st Western General Hospital, Liverpool. His effects were recorded as 2 one pound notes 2 fifty franc notes 2 twenty franc notes 3 five franc notes 1 note book 6 photos 1 steel mirror in case 4 communion cards private papers 1 note case. Herbert was born in Swinton to James and Jane Moores on 5 April 1884 and was baptised at Holy Rood on 1 June by G. F. Dearden. In 1911, he was living as a single man, aged 26, with his parents at Hazlehurst Cottage, Worsley. His occupation was listed as Municipal Clerk at Manchester Council. Ten years earlier, in 1901, he was 16 and was a Corporation Clerk, living then at 2 Hazlehurst Road with his family. His father James had married Jane Cordwell, 25, a Mill Hand, of King St., Irlams o'th' Height on 17 June 1880 at St. John the Evangelist, Pendlebury. Sergeant Herbert Moores, of Hazelhurst Cottage, Moorside, and one of the City "Pals", has died in hospital at Fazackerley, near Liverpool, from wounds he received during the second part of the great advance. The actual day on which he was wounded is not yet known, but it was between the 7th and 12th inst. He arrived at Liverpool on Saturday evening and the members of his family have been to see him. One of his brothers was present when he died on Tuesday evening. Sergeant Moores was in the desperate struggle for Trones Wood, and was hit, it is thought, by a sniper. One of this deadly class of shots had killed four of their men, and Sgt. Moores had moved to the flank to try and locate them, but he was immediately hit and fell into a shell hole. On another occasion he informed his relatives, he was with an officer and 20 men entrenching in the wood when shells fell like snowflakes and only eight of the party came through safely. Before being brought to England he underwent an operation in one of the field hospitals. He had several wounds and a second operation would have been performed at Fazackerley , but he was too weak. Sgt. Moores enlisted in the 3rd City Pals Battalion (Manchester Regiment) in August 1914, and went out to France last November. He was very well-known in Moorside. He was a prominent member of the Holy Rood Church choir, and also a member of the Conservative Club. A popular member of the Holy Rood Cricket club, he had for several seasons done good sevice as a fast bowler. Before enlisting, he was on the Town Clerk's staff at the Manchester Town Hall. His body will be brought home for interment. The funeral, which is expected to be of a military character, will take place on Saturday afternoon at Worsley Church, after a special service at Holy Rood Church. (Local newspaper) Information regarding his regiments involvement at the Battle of the Somme can be found here Researched and written by Paul R Speakman Back

William Parker , World War One , WW1 Information on the graves located at St. Marks Church Worsley Manchester UK William Parker WILLIAM PARKER Gunner Royal Marine Artillery 8th Bn d. 14th May 1921 aged 24 RMA/14560 In March 2016, the church received an enquiry from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (C.W.G.C.), asking for confirmation and verification of the burial of William Parker in the churchyard. This we were happy to provide and therefore his name has been added to their roll of casualties. His grave number is NP 40. Prior to this, his name was remembered at the Brookwood Memorial. THE BROOKWOOD 1914-1918 MEMORIAL is a memorial to the missing and commemorates casualties with no known grave. The majority of the casualties commemorated by this memorial are servicemen and women from the land forces of the United Kingdom, who subsequently died in the care of their families. They were not commemorated by the Commission at the time but, through the efforts of relatives and research groups, including the “In From The Cold” Project, these casualties have since been found. There are still many cases to be resolved and the memorial therefore allows for further names to be added. Unusually and because of the varied circumstances surrounding many of these casualties, investigative work continues and this may lead to the identification of their burial locations. Whenever a casualty’s grave is located and verified, commemoration will move to the burial site and thus some of the entries on the memorial will no longer be required. As a result and when memorial panels are replaced, these entries will be removed. In addition, the Brookwood 1914-18 Memorial commemorates some land and air forces casualties who were lost at sea. These casualties would normally be commemorated on the Hollybrook Memorial in Southampton, but the memorial panels there are now full and so their commemoration has been added to this memorial. [by courtesy of www.cwgc.org ] William Parker was born on 17 January 1897. In the 1911 census, William Parker (aged 13) was living with his parents, William and Alice, and siblings Mary (17), Alice (14) and Richard (6), at 185 Worsley Road, Winton. William was a student at school and his father was a cashier on a steam ship. They had been at the same address ten years earlier, in the 1901 census. A timeline of his service record shows: 1915 Mar 8. Enlisted 1915 Sep 13. To Gunner 2nd Class 1915 Sep 14. To Gunner 1916 Jan 28 To HMS Malaya 1920 Mar 12. Back to Base 1920 Jun 2. Post to 8 RM for service in Ireland 1921 May 14 died. 2 Royal marine artillery gunners abducted , shot dead and dumped in a local quarry. His father was William Parker of Mulquack Terrace, 285 Worsley Rd, Swinton, Manchester In May 1921, five men of the Royal Marines were killed by 'Irish rebels' in Ireland. It may surprise some to learn that all five of these men are entitled to be commemorated by the CWGC. Any man who died in military service from 4/8/1914 until 31/8/1921 qualifies for commemoration, as the final closure date for WW1 casualties was not until 31 August 1921 (the date the war was officially deemed to be ended by the signing of the peace treaties after the Armistice of 11 November 1918). THE MIDLETON MURDERS On May 14, at 8pm, two marines named Bernard Francis and William Parker were shot dead in the same neighbourhood while walking between Ballymaccura and East ferry. [Northern Whig, Antrim- 26 May 1921: in Midleton, County Cork] MURDER OF MEN FROM EASTNEY Two gunners in the Royal Marines Artillery stationed at East Ferry, near Midleton, Cork, were shot dead on Saturday night near Ballymakerry. This is believed to be their first attack against members of the RMA. The deceased men are 14710 Gunner Bernard Francis (B. Coy.) and 14560 Gunner William Parker (H. Coy.). They belonged to a battalion which was sent from Portsmouth to Ireland in June last for protective purposes. [Portsmouth Evening News: 16 May 1921] His name was inscribed on a memorial tablet in St. Michael and All Angels, Deal, Kent (a former church, once the garrison church to the Royal Marines Barracks), together with the names of 13 others who died on service in Northern Ireland between 1920 and 1922. Researched and written by Paul R Speakman Back