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. James Allen, World War Two JAMES ERIC ALLEN JAMES ERIC ALLEN Fg.Off. RAF.VR d. 7 December 1941 aged 28 106109 JAMES ERIC ALLEN was the son of William Henry and Sarah Agnes Allen (née Aston), his second wife, of Monton Green. He was born on 14 March 1913As a school boy, he attended Eccles Grammar School. He married Vera Margaret Gaskell in the early part of 1940 (Barton district). On 14 April 1941, R.A.F. Wellesbourne Mountford opened, 4 miles east of Stratford-upon-Avon, which became home to No. 22 Operational Training Unit RAF , flying Vickers Wellingtons and Avro Ansons for RAF Bomber Command . It was part of R.A.F. No.6 Group Bomber Command and remained an O.T.U. over the next four years, its purpose being to train British and Commonwealth aircrews, (pilots, navigators, bomb aimers, wireless operators and air gunners) day and night, and have them ready to move on to operational squadrons. As 22 O.T.U. grew in size, sadly the loss of aircraft and personnel rose accordingly. In total, some 90 aircraft were destroyed, with 80 airmen injured and 299 killed. Of these, 244 were Canadians. James Eric Allen came to Wellesbourne as a member of No.12 course, training to be a pilot on Wellingtons. Each course taught the basic skills over an eight-week period. Because of the intensity of the course, accidents started to occur more frequently. One such accident, typical of dozens that were to befall Wellesbourne, occurred on 7th December 1941. It was a Sunday evening and the Midlands was suddenly engulfed in severe snowstorms. Two aircraft were carrying out circuits and landings. At 1830 hours, Wellington T2566 of 'B’ Flight was on finals, approaching runway 24 when the pupil pilot, P/O J. Lynas, aged nineteen, completely lost visual sight of the runway lights. He dramatically lost height and hit a row of trees in line with the flarepath. The aircraft burnt out in the ensuing crash by Heath Spinney on the Newbold road, killing P/O Lynas, P/Instructor Turner and WO/AG Sgt. Chancellor, and badly burning P/O Jackson and AG Sgt. Lane. Five minutes later, Wellington X9625 of 'A’ Flight was unable to line up with the runway due to the snow and, in trying to overshoot, caught the trees on Loxley Hill, finally crashing into the top of Red Hill, near Woodfield farm, quite close to the station wireless building. All four of the crew initially survived the crash, but sadly P/O J. E. Allen and W/O A. D. Cuthbert RCAF died later of their injuries. The other crew members were Sgt. J. H. Cox and AG Sgt. Allen. The death of James Eric was recorded in Stratford-upon-Avon in December 1941. His will, which was proved on 2 February 1942, shows that he lived at 'Berwyn', 1 Larch Avenue, Swinton. He had died on 7 December 1941 at Ettingley Farm, Loxley, Warwickshire. His estate was left to his wife, Vera Margaret. His name appears on the War Memorial Board from Eccles Grammar School which was re-dedicated in its new home in St. Paul's Church, Monton, at 10.45 on Remembrance Sunday, 13th November 2005 Researched and written by Paul R Speakman Back

St Marks Church, Worsley, Salford, Greater Manchester. Church of England Links Below are a list of links that may be of interest St Mark's Church Worsley Sir George Gilbert Scott Worsley Civic Trust Boothstown Village Website Salford Local History Forum Lt Thomas Crompton RHS Gardens Bridgewater The Bridgewater Canal Eccles and District History Society Manchester & Lancashire Family History Society Commonwealth War Graves Commission Historic England Home

Benjamin Gratrix , World War One , WW1 Information on the graves located at St. Marks Church Worsley Manchester UK Benjamin Gratrix BENJAMIN GRATRIX Private The Loyal N. Lancashire Regt. 6th Bn. d. 12 June 1920 aged 38 13775 Benjamin Gratrix was the son of George and Alice Gratrix. In 1891, he was aged 9 and living with his parents at 15 Edge Fold as a scholar. In 1901, he was aged 19 and still living with his parents, now at 10 Edge Fold. His occupation was waggoner in a coal mine. Benjamin was baptised at St. Mark's on 31 August 1882 by William H. Baynes. His parents were married also at St. Mark's on 31 December 1870 by St. Vincent Beechey. In 1911, he was a boarder at the home of Elizabeth Pickup at 74 Harriett Street, Walkden, and was 28 years of age. It is known that Benjamin served in the Balkans and that he was entitled to the 1915 trio of medals, the 1914-15 Star; the British War Medal; the Victory Medal Researched and written by Paul R Speakman Back

Information on the World War Two graves located at St. Marks Church Worsley Manchester , WW2 , Author Paul Speakman, James HOWELL, John P McDOUGALL, James E ALLEN, Keith B FILES, Norman GORICK, Norman G JENKINS, Leonard HARDMAN, Albert E FROST, Thomas FAULKNER, Kenneth R HICKLING, James KEE, John W R GRIFFITHS, Norman A LINGARD, Reginald WEST, Geoffrey TOPHAM, John Busby PATRICK, William G DALE, John ROWSON World War Two Graves The below are casualties of World War Two buried at St Mark's. James Eric Allen Albert Edward Frost James Howell John Paul McDougall John Busby Patrick William Gordon Dale Thomas Faulkner Keith Barnet Files Norman Gorick N G Jenkins J W R Griffiths James Kee Leonard Hardman Norman Arthur Lingard John Rowson Kenneth Rushton Hickling Geoffrey Topham Reginald West The McCrea Family (Civilian) Brian Ainsbury (Civilian) Home

Wiliam Goodall, World War One , WW1 Information on the graves located at St. Marks Church Worsley Manchester UK William Goodall WILLIAM GOODALL Private Training Reserve d. 7 July 1917 aged 29 TR/3/30329 William Goodall was attached to the Manchester Regiment, in the 26th reserve Battalion. He died at the Military Hospital, Studley Roger, and the parish burial records show that he was buried here on 12 July 1917. He was the son of Ruth Goodall (later a widow) and Henry Goodall and was born in early 1888. In 1901, he lived at 213 Whit Lane, Pendleton. William worked in a bleach works. By 1911, he was working as a jewellery shop assistant and lived at 2 George Street, Pendleton. The National Probate Calendar for William Eastham Goodall, dated 16 October 1917, states that he lived at 15 Blantyre Street, Worsley Road, Winton, and that he died at the Military Hospital Ripon Administration. He was a Private in H. M. Army. William had married Margaret Jane Calderbank Hoyle at St. Mark's on 1 June 1914. Eventually, she remarried, (in late 1924) to William Haywood Drinkwater of Pendleton. She died on 5 April 1935 and he in turn died in March 1951. Researched and written by Paul R Speakman Back

Herbert Toft, St Mark's Church Worsley, Manchester, National Archives Lieutenant Herbert Toft National Archives Files 1/1 Back

Burials A-D St Marks Church, Worsley, Manchester. Civilian, Private Graves, Author Paul Speakman Private Graves A-D AGNEW Family ARMITAGE Mary ATHERTON William BALDWIN John BASSON Ronald ALDRED Edward ASHURST Thomas BECKTON Sarah BARNES Mary Ann BATLEY William ALLCOCK Thomas ATHERTON James BAIRSTOW Greenwood BARTON Henry de BATHE Cicely BAXTER George BENSON Henry BEECHEY Rev. St. Vincent BERRY Ellen BELL Robert BERRY John BERRY William (Swinton) BIRCH George BLACKLOCK Henry BOSCHETTI John BERRY William (Worsley) BIRKBY John BLACKLOCK William BOWERS James BINDLOSS William BIRLEY Hugh Rev. BLAIR Gordon BRADSHAW Thomas BRIGGS Thomas CHADWICK Thomas CHEETHAM Thomas CLARIDGE Thomas COOK Thomas DAWSON Geoffrey DERBYSHIRE Family DOWNES John BROCKBANK Thomas CHAPLIN George CHERRY William CLARKE Asenath CORBETT Charles DARBYSHIRE Ellen DORNING Daniel BROCKBANK Thomas Holland CHATWOOD Samuel CLARIDGE John CLARKE William COULES Reginald DERBYSHIRE Heber DORNING Elias Home

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. 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

Outside St Marks Church, Worsley, Salford, Greater Manchester. Church of England Outside St Mark's Church Worsley Click on image to expand Home

Burials I-P St Marks Church, Worsley, Manchester. Civilian, Private Graves, Author Paul Speakman Private Graves I-P JOHNSON Thomas KNOTT James KEEVNEY Peter LAMBE John KERR Margaret LANSDALE Robert LAWTON John LEIGH William LLOYD Lucy MABERLY Charles MARTIN William LAYCOCK John LEVERSON-GOWER Francis LOFTHOUSE Zuleika MAKIN John McCAIRN Elizabeth LEATHERBARROW Enoch LLOYD Abraham LOWE Hannah MARSHALL Rev. Peter McCREA Edward MIDDLETON THOMAS MILNER Cpl James MIDGLEY Thomas MOORE Mary MIDWOOD Norah MOORE Thomas MORRIS William MURRAY Ebie NIGHTINGALE Peter OMMANNEY Annie PHILLIPS George MOUNTCASTLE William MURRAY John Rigby NODEN Emily PARTINGTON James PRICE Thomas MULLINEUX James NEILD Henry NORRIS Ellen PEARCE James PROUD Robert Home