Arthur Ratcliffe , World War One , WW1 Information on the graves located at St. Marks Church Worsley Manchester UK Arthur Ratcliffe 22120 Private Arthur Ratcliffe 2nd and 4th Bn Grenadier Guards, Died 11/04/18 Arthur Ratcliffe was born on 23 November 1895 and baptised on 26 February 1896 at St. Mark’s Church, Worsley. His mother was Mary Elizabeth (née Williams) and his father Albert Edward, and they lived at 42 Leigh Road, Boothstown. In 1901, Arthur, who was now 5, had a 3 year old sister, Rachel, and the family were still living at 42 Leigh Road. Boothstown. Another brother John had been born in 1900 and baptised on the 20th September 1900 but John sadly died that year (Q3). Their father was a Coal Miner (Hewer) and their mother worked as a Cotton Weaver. Arthur's father died in 1908 and the family went to live with his grandfather William Williams at 52 Vicars Hall Lane, Boothstown. Arthur's mother kept house for his grandfather whilst also working as a weaver in a cotton mill. Rachel aged thirteen also worked as a weaver whilst Arthur at the age of fifteen was working as a labourer underground at a colliery. Arthur Ratcliffe enlisted in to the Grenadier Guards on 15 January 1915 at Atherton. His address at the time was 52 Vicars Hall Lane, Boothstown, Manchester, his age was given as 19 years and 53 days and his trade was Collier. His next of kin was his mother Elizabeth, and he was 5’ 10 ¾” tall. He joined Caterham Guards Depot on 19th January 1915 and, after training, would have joined the 5th Reserve Battalion at Chelsea Barracks before being posted to the 4th Bn. and deployed to France on 6th November 1915. Over the next couple of years he was often in hospital returning to England for treatment. He suffered from abrasions to the head in February 1916 and was sent back to England to recover. He was issued with a new set of upper dentures at this time. Arthur returned to France in August 1916 before succumbing to trench foot in December 1916 which caused him pain, tenderness, swelling and numbness. He returned to England aboard the hospital ship 'St George' on the 23rd December 1916 and remained in hospital until 10th March 1917. In an undated pencil written letter sent from the front line back to his Mother, it says: "Dear Mother, I am sending the birthday cards back & also a piece of the cake & I wish you to take care of the same till we meet again. The card that Grace sent me, please hand over to her also. It is my wish you should do this, Dear Mother; & then, at the time when we meet again, it will help us all to recall these times. I am very glad to say that the cake kept me a treat & was not broken. We have just finished the cake off & they all wish me to tell you the cake was fine & send their very best respects. I am sorry to say that I was not fortunate enough to get anything out of the cake, for one Sergeant got the baby & is just sending it home; & another Sergeant got the button, & a young chap got the threepenny bit opposite me, & another fellow the ring. I will close now in haste. With best of love. From your loving son Arthur XXXXXXXXXXXX" In June 1917 he was once again returned to the front. On the 9th October 1917 at Langemark he was again wounded, but this time seriously. He was blown up by a shell when advancing with his Battalion. Running after his Battalion to try and catch up, he then suffered a gunshot wound to his leg. He spent four days in the Base hospital, three weeks convalescing at Camp No 5 at Cayeaux, & four weeks in hospital at Le Havre. He then remained on base at Le Havre for a while. During all this time he suffered from breathlessness on exertion and was diagnosed with heart problems caused by being gassed. Deemed physically unfit, Arthur was sent home on the 28th January 1918 to be cared for in a hospital in England. Private Ratcliffe was discharged “no longer physically fit for War Service” on 4 April 1918, he had served 3 years and 80 days. Arthur had seen action at the Battle of the Somme, the 3rd Battle of Ypres, Passchendaele, and the Battle of Cambrai. For his war service, Arthur was awarded the 1914/15 star and the British War & Victory Medal. He was also awarded Silver War Badge number 3451713 having been discharged due to wounds. Arthur Died at home on 11th April 1918. He was buried at St. Mark's Church, Worsley on the 15 April 1918, in grave number W2192 at a cost of £1. 8s and 6d. The payment was received by Frank Derbyshire, the clerk. His documents were marked 'died after discharge' and a war pension was paid to his sister Rachel. The circumstances of his death only a week after being discharged are unclear. His discharge documents from the 5th (Res) Battalion Grenadier Guards dated for the 4 April 1918 in London say that he had a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair and that he was a fruiterer. His military character was Very Good and he was described as being “A clean sober and hard-working man”. A newspaper article with a photo of Arthur reads: Boothstown Local Guardsman’s Funeral "The death took place at 52 Vicars Hall Lane yesterday week of Arthur Ratcliffe (22) late of the Grenadier Guards, who was discharged from the Army about a month ago after being gassed. Deceased enlisted in January 1915 and had been to France three times, having during that time been wounded, invalided home with sickness and gassed. The funeral took place at Worsley Parish Church yard on Monday with Military Honours. Among those who followed the remains to the grave being a Sergeant, Firing Party and bugler from Leigh Prisoner of War Camp, Boothstown Boy Scouts, under Scoutmaster Barnes and the Sons of the Temperance who were represented by Mr. R. Greenhalgh (Grand Scribe) and other officials. The Rev. Percy Burnett conducted the Funeral Service and at the close the bugler sounde d the “Last Post”. Mr. J. Edge made the arrangements for the Military Funeral. Rest In Peace". By 1921, Arthur's grandfather had passed away. His mother remained living at 52 Vicars Hall Lane along with her son Fred, daughter Rachel and two boarders. Rachel still worked as a cotton weaver whilst Fred worked as a labourer below ground in the colliery. One of the boarders was William Ratcliffe, Arthur's paternal grandfather. Arthur was awarded a Silver war badge, the 1914-15 Star, and the British War and Victory Medal. His medals were auctioned in July 2019 as well as his honourable discharge certificate; a letter written from the front to his mother; and a newspaper cutting regarding his funeral, containing a photograph of Arthur. They were sold for just £130. Details can be found here Link After landscaping work in the graveyard in the mid 1970's, Arthurs resting place became unmarked. On the 26th July 2023 the Commonwealth War Graves Commission installed a new Headstone for Pt Arthur Ratcliffe. With the help of the church graveyard plans, they were able to install it exactly where he was laid to rest. [This biography was submitted to the church by an anonymous donor in recog nition of the bravery and valour of ARTHUR RATCLIFFE, whose body was laid to rest in the church yard ] Back

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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

Thomas Yates , World War One , WW1 Information on the graves located at St. Marks Church Worsley Manchester UK Thomas Yates THOMAS YATES Gunner Royal Field Artillery 'A' Battery, 64th Brigade d. 23 January 1919 aged 26 25058 Thomas was the son of James and Mary Alice Yates, born on 15 November 1892 and baptised at St. Mark's by A. W. McLaren on 15 December 1892. His father was a blacksmith and their abode was Berry Fields. In the 1911 census, they lived quite simply at 237 Kempnough. James was still a blacksmith and Thomas, now 18, was a gardener. He had 2 sisters and 1 brother. Thomas was buried in the churchyard on 27 January 1919 by the Rev. H. W. Thorne. His address was 249 Kempnough. He had fought somewhere in France and was granted the 1915 Trio of medals. WORSLEY GUNNER'S DEATH The funeral took place at the Worsley Parish Church, on Monday, of ex-Gunner Thomas Yates, who, after serving three years and eight months with the R.F.A. died at his home yesterday week. Deceased was the youngest son of Mr. James Yates, 249 kempnough, Worsley, and enlisted on Sept. 3rd 1914. For over two years he was on active service in France, and prior to receiving his discharge in May of last year, was in hospital for 11 months, having been badly wounded in the left leg. Since leaving the Army he had worked for the London and North Western Railway Co. On various occasions he had been under medical treatment, and since last October had been an outpatient at the Manchester Infirmary. He was taken ill last Monday week, and on the Wednesday morning was removed by ambulance to the Infirmary. He returned home at night and it was seen that his condition was worse. He lost consciousness on the Thursday morning and died in the afternoon. Ex-Gunner Yates was 26 years of age and well known in Worsley. He was associated with the Sunday School, a former member of the church choir, and a bellringer at the church. Numerous letters of sympathy have been received by the family and many wreaths were sent by friends. His elder brother, William Yates, has been in Salonika for two years with the R.A.M.C. and is expected home shortly. The two brothers last met in November, 1914. [Local newspaper] Beneath his name on the family headstone is the inscription HE HAS FOUGHT THE GOOD F IGHT. Researched and written by Paul R Speakman Back

Harry Sheldon , World War One , WW1 Information on the graves located at St. Marks Church Worsley Manchester UK Harry Sheldon HARRY SHELDON Corporal Army Service Corps, 1st Army Anti-Aircraft Workshops d. 17 October 1918 age 30 M2/019643 Harry Sheldon was born on the 11th February 1888 and was baptised at St. Stephen's, Hulme, on the 4 March 1888, the son of John James Sheldon (a shipwright) and his wife, Lucy (née Kelly). They were living at 6 Park View, Hulme. By the time he was 13, in 1901, the family had moved to 9 Catherine Street, Winton. Harry had 4 brothers and 2 sisters. By 1911, he and the family were living at 3 Catherine Street, Winton. He was a blacksmith. He married Gertrude Lomax in the fourth quarter of 1918. A TRAGIC HOMECOMING The Winton soldier who died last week within a week of his wedding was Corpl. Harry Sheldon, and not Pte. J. Sheldon, as reported in our last issue. Deceased, who enlisted in the M. T. Section of the A. S. C. in November 1914, had been in France for 3 years and 9 months, and on October 6th came to his home, 3 Catherine Street, Winton. He was married on October 12th, and died on the 17th from pneumonia. The funeral took place on Tuesday of last week in the churchyard at Worsley, in which village he was born and lived for many years, attending the Church Schools as a boy. Deceased was 30 years of age, and before enlisting worked for the Manchester Ship Canal Company at Mode Wheel. His brother, Pte. J. Sheldon, also enlisted in the early days of the war, and has been invalided and discharged. The family are well-known in Worsley and the Eccles district, and deep sympathy is felt for them and for Sheldon's young widow, whose father died on the day her husband was buried. [Local newspaper] Harry Sheldon was buried in the churchyard on 22 October 1918. His grave number is A 335. His abode at the time of his death was Alfred Street Military Hospital, Harpurhey. The officiating minister was Frank Summers, Curate at St. James's, Hr. Broughton. The cause of death is not known but may have been because of illness or war related wounds in the UK. Researched and written by Paul R Speakman Back

Information on the graves located at St. Marks Church Worsley Manchester. Brian Ainsbury, World War Two Brian Ainsbury There is a second civilian burial recorded at the church, of a young boy who was also tragically killed by enemy action during World War II. A V1 'doodlebug' attack on Christmas Eve 1944, hit and destroyed two houses and damaged several others about a third of the way up the right hand side of Woodstock Drive in Worsley. This was not very far from the site of 'The Cottage', where the McCrea family had been killed four years earlier. Number 20 Woodstock Drive was the home of Brian Walter Ainsbury, who died on 24 December 1944, aged 5 according to official records. He was buried in the churchyard on 28 December 1944, where his age was recorded as 4½ years, a more accurate record. Brian was the son of Joseph Hearnshaw and Hilda (née Shaw) Ainsbury. The Ainsburys had two other children: David A., born in the second quarter of 1942 and Carole B., born in the first quarter of 1948. Joseph and Hilda were married locally in the third quarter of 1937. The below RAF aerial photograph of Worsley taken in August 1945 shows the damage caused on Woodstock Drive by the V1 Rocket attack 8 months earlier. Photograph courtesy of Historic England More information on the V1 attack on the 24th December 1944 can be found here Researched and written by Paul R Speakman Back

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

Robert Ambler , World War One , WW1 Information on the graves located at St. Marks Church Worsley Manchester UK Robert Ambler The National Archives files for Robert Ambler can be accessed at this link - National Archives ROBERT AMBLER 2nd Lieutenant King's (Liverpool Regt.) 13th Bn. d. 24 November 1918 aged 34 Baptised at St. Mary, Eccles, on 7 December 1884, he was the eldest child of John and Sarah (née Walters) Ambler. John was a photographer, though at the time of his marriage in January 1884 he was listed as an artist. Robert's address in the parish burial records was 44 Wellington Road, Eccles, the family abode. Certainly he was living there in 1901, aged 16, and he was a bank clerk. Then, in 1911, he was living as a boarder at an address in Clifton, Bristol, now aged 26, and still a bank clerk. It was announced in the newspapers that 'On Wednesday afternoon the interment took place at Worsley Churchyard of Mr. Robert Ambler, of Eccles. He contracted illness whilst on active service as a second lieutenant in the Liverpool Regiment, and died on Sunday last.' The south porch of Eccles Parish Church has become a memorial to all those who died for their country in World War 1. It was rebuilt under a faculty dated 16 December 1920 and the names of those who died were inscribed on tablets. The porch was opened and dedicated as a memorial to those who died during the Great War by the Revd. Canon John C. Hill, Rector of Bury, on Saturday, 1 October 1921. The name of Robert Ambler is amongst them. Researche d and written by Paul R Speakman Back

Information on the graves located at St. Marks Church Worsley Manchester. John Patrick, World War Two John B Patrick JOHN BUSBY PATRICK LAC RAF.VR d.28/1/1943 aged 29 1081463 Curiously, the gravestone in the churchyard gives his name as John Busby Patrick, although the burial records give his name as John Bushby Patrick It has so far proven very difficult to track down any meaningful information about this serviceman, either in his personal life or during the Second World War. Most servicemen's records are still held by the Ministry of Defence, before their release to the National Archives. Sadly, the CWGC records give no information about his parents, so the following details can only be conjecture. In the church's burial records, his home address was given as Atherton House, Appley Bridge, near Wigan. Interestingly, on 18 August 1943, a Lillian Patrick, aged 80, was buried in the churchyard. Her abode was also given as Atherton House. According to her will, she died a spinster. In the 1881 census, she was living at Grange Farm, Boothstown, with her family, which included William Johnston Patrick, her brother. He too was buried in the churchyard, on 6 March 1945, aged 69. William married Annie Tait Coulter in 1905 and she too is buried at St.Mark's (2 August 1942). Her abode at that time was Atherton House!! The supposition has to be that Lillian was a great-aunt to John Buckley, and that she was living with her brother and his family at Atherton House. The presumption has to be that William J. and Annie Tait could well have been the parents of John Buckley. And yet, curiously, there is no birth record for him! There is a death record for a John B. Patrick, who was 29, for the first quarter (Jan - Mar) of 1943. Both the age and date are consistent. Furthermore, the death was registered at Aylesbury, not far from RAF Halton, where the Princess Mary's Hospital was based. The hospital housed a Plastic Surgery and Burns Centre during the war and great demands upon the unit meant a huge increase in the number of beds. By the end of the war, more than 20,000 casualties had been treated there. John Buckley Patrick's name can be found on the website internationalbombercommandcentre.com as a member of 26 OTU Squadron. His date of death, age, service number and the graveyard at St.Mark's are all given. No. 26 OTU was formed in January 1942 at RAF Wing as part of No. 7 Group RAF Bomber Command to train night bomber crews using the Vickers Wellington . It was disbanded in March 1946. RAF Wing was situated to the west of the village of Wing, near Aylesbury, Bucks. The marriage certificate confirms that he married Florence Hughes at Leigh register office on 15 April 1933. It also shows that his middle name was Bushby, and that he was a general dealer, aged 19. Florence was 21. John's home address was Rixton Old Hall, Rixton with Glazebrook, and his father was William Johnson Patrick. He was buried here on 1 February 1943, and in the bu rial register his abode was given as Aylesbury, and then Atherton House, Appley Bridge, near Wigan. The reference to Aylesbury is consistent with the details above. 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. William Dale, World War Two WILLIAM GORDON DALE WILLIAM GORDON DALE Sgt. RAF.VR d. 15 October 1942 aged 20 1124729 WILLIAM GORDON DALE was the only son of Charles Richard Dale (33), an Accounts Clerk, who married Lucy Sykes (28) at St.Paul's, Walkden, on 15 November 1919. William Gordon was born on 4 June 1922 and was baptised at the same church on 9 July 1922. The family was living at that time at 41 Memorial Road, Walkden. William Gordon Dale was the Wireless Operator/Air Gunner on an Avro Anson Mk 1 (serial number L7968) which was returning to Cranage, mistaking a navigation beacon. Instead of flying towards the airfield, the aircraft flew away from it towards high ground around Buxton. Before they were able to correct this error, the aircraft struck the hillside and crashed at Moss House Farm, Moss Ridge, Long Hill, NW of Buxton, Derbyshire. Sadly, if the aircraft had been a little higher it would have cleared the hill. The aircraft was officially written off as damaged beyond repair. There was a crew of four on board. They were: Pilot: Sgt 1312846 Paul Joseph Woodcock, 20 Pilot-UT: Sgt R/121913 James Munro Matheson, 22 RCAF Pilot-UT: Sgt R/113428 Richard James Reay 20, RCAF WOp/AG: Sgt 1124729 William Gordon Dale, 20 The two Canadians on the aircraft were qualified pilots, but were onboard as navigators under-training. RAF Cranage was situated just to the north of Middlewich, Cheshire, and was opened in August 1939. The first flying unit was No. 2 School of Air Navigation RAF, which was formed on 21 October 1940. It operated the Avro Anson for training navigators. The aim of the navigation school (renamed the Central Navigation School in 1942) was to raise the standard of practical air navigation and to train navigation specialists. By the end of the war, accuracy had improved five-fold. The airfield remained operational only for the duration of the war. Researched and written by Paul R Speakman Back

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