Information on the graves located at St. Marks Church Worsley Manchester. Jogn McDougall, World War Two John Paul McDougall JOHN PAUL McDOUGALL F/Sgt. RAF.VR d. 30 May 1944 aged 20 1795225 JOHN PAUL McDOUGALL was the eldest son of Capt. J. P. McDougall and Ethel May (née Cowburn), of Inglewood, 8 Egerton Road, Monton, (married in Barton district, first quarter of 1923). As a young boy, he attended Monton Green Council School, from where he won a scholarship to Manchester Grammar School. There he played for both the school's football and cricket first teams, and also became a member of Monton Cricket Club. He joined the RAF in October 1941 and under the University short course scheme attended Belfast University. He was a member of No. 13 OTU (Operational Training Unit), formed in April 1940 as part of No. 6 Group RAF Bomber Command at RAF Bicester , originally to train aircrew for the Bristol Blenheim light day bomber. He died while on active service. Trained as a navigator, he had completed his training in Rhodesia. He was onboard a de Havilland Mosquito Mk.IV, reg. HX984, when an engine cut forced it to crashland at Ford Hall, Birkenhead, Wirral on 30 May 1944. The aircraft was heard broadcasting a mayday by ground stations at Valley and Woodvale. This is the entry from Valley's ORB: May 30th 1944, “During the afternoon a Mosquito from Bicester was heard calling “Mayday” on Command Guard. Unfortunately it was impossible to get a bearing on the aircraft and despite the assistance of Woodvale the aircraft crashed near Birkenhead, one of the crew being killed and the other injured.” The crew was F/O (160640) Frank Edwin LEES (pilot) RAFVR, injured, and F/Sgt (1795225 ) John Paul McDOUGALL (nav.) RAFVR, killed. His name is recorded in the Roll of Honour of the Scouts, having been a member of the 1st Manchester Grammar School Scout group. His name is on the Memorial Board at the Monton Methodist Church. In his will, he left his effects to his father. 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

Robert Ambler, St Mark's Church Worsley, Manchester, National Archives 2nd Lieutenant Robert Ambler National Archives Files 1/1 Back

Herbert Toft , World War One , WW1 Information on the graves located at St. Marks Church Worsley Manchester UK Herbert Toft The National Archives files for Herbert Toft can be accessed at this link - National Archives HERBERT TOFT Lt. 7th East Lancs. Regiment 16906; 3rd Royal Warwicks Regiment and later 821 Sq. RAF d. 12 October 1918 aged 22 Much of what is known about Herbert Toft comes from three newspaper reports about him published before and after his death. MONTON OFFICER ACCIDENTALLY KILLED The death has taken place at Lincoln, as the result of a flying accident, of Lieut. Herbert Toft, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, attached to the Royal Air Force, and second son of Mr. and Mrs. William Toft, 16 Pine Grove, Monton. Lieut. Toft, who was a flying instructor, was in the air as pilot with a pupil on Saturday, when something went wrong with the plane, and the machine nose-dived to earth. He was killed instantly, although his companion escaped almost uninjured. The sad end has created deep regret among a large circle of friends. Lieut. Toft was only 22 years of age, having joined the army in November 1914, before he had reached the military age. He enlisted in the East Lancashire Regiment as a private, and in May of the following year crossed to France. He was given his commission abroad in November 1916, being gazetted to the Royal Warwicks. He took part in much of the fighting last year, and on May 4th was wounded at Bullecourt, his services on that day being recognised by mention in Sir Douglas Haig's despatches. On recovering in this country from the wounds he became attached to the Royal Air Force, and in June last year was given his wings. His progress in the new branch of warfare he had entered upon gained for him the appointment of instructor, which, as stated, has ended in his untimely death. He was educated at the Monton Day School, under Mr. Tyson, and before the war was an engineering apprentice at Messrs. Nasmyth, Wilson and Co., Patricroft. He was a playing member of Monton Lacrosse Club, and a patrol leader in the 2nd Worsley troop of Boy Scouts. The funeral took place on Wednesday afternoon at Worsley Church, a service having previously been held at the Baptist Church, Parrin lane. Several of his fellow officers from Lincoln were present, and a firing party from Heaton Park attended and paid the last military salute. The Boy Scouts were also represented. Lieut. Toft's elder brother, Lieut. Walter Toft is in the Manchester regiment. He enlisted as a private in the Royal Scots in 1914. [Local newspaper] A second article speaks with pride of the commissions given to the two local brothers. MONTON BROTHER OFFICERS Two Monton brothers who enlisted in the Army as privates have recently been granted commissions. They are Walter and Herbert Toft, sons of Mr. and Mrs. W. Toft, 16 Pine Grove, Monton. Both enlisted in November 1914. Walter joined the Royal Scots, and after six month's training in Edinburgh, he went with his regiment to the Dardanelles. He landed in Gallipoli in June 1915, and then took part in several stiff engagements with the Turks. After the evacuation of Gallipoli he went to Egypt and returned to England in August 1916, and after passing through the Cadet School at Newmarket, was gazetted second-lieutenant in the Manchester Territorial Reserve Battalion, and is now with that regiment somewhere in France. Herbert enlisted in the East Lancashire Regiment early in November 1914, and after six months' training on Salisbury Plain, went out to France. Like his brother, he has seen much fighting in different parts of the line. He had not been in France very long before he was raised to the rank of sergeant, though at the time only 19 years of age. He received his commission in November 1916, and was gazetted second-lieutenant in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, and is now in France. Both are members of the Monton Lacrosse Club, and were keen on the Boy Scout movement in their boyhood. [Local newspaper] In the 1901 census, Herbert (aged 3) was living at 90 Parrin Lane, Monton, with his family. His father was William (37), a Tobacconist and Fancy Goods Importer. His wife was Annie (40) and they had two other sons, Walter (6) and William Jnr. (3). By 1911, the family had moved to 16 Pine Grove, Monton. His father was now 48 and his mother 54. The eldest son, Walter, was 16 and at school, and Herbert was 14, an office boy in a Shipping House. William and Annie married in the last quarter of 1893, her maiden name being Dowler. In his will, Herbert was of 16 Pine Grove, Monton. He officially died at Scampton, Lincs., on 12 October 1918 - a 1st Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force. He left his effects of just over £167 to his father William, a commercial traveller. Probate was granted on 6 November. On 13 April 1918, he had been transferred to the newly formed (on 1 April 1918) Royal Air Force, 821st Squadron, 23rd Wing. He may have been born on 22 May 1896 in the Barton District. Although his family had been non-conformist, he was buried in St.Mark's Churchyard. The funeral service had been held at Winton Baptist Church, on Parrin Lane, at 2.30pm. The official church entry reads: Burial: 16 Oct 1918 St Mark, Worsley, Lancashire, England Herbert Toft - Age: 22 years Abode: Northern General Hospital, Lincoln Grave: 22 N.P. Notes: Under Burial Laws Amendment Act Buried by: S.J. Wilson To summarise the information above, Herbert first joined the 7th East Lancashire Regiment with the number 16906. After training, he was posted to France with his regiment, landing there on 18th July 1915. He quickly rose to the rank of acting Sergeant before being commissioned as a Second Lieutenant to the 3rd Royal Warwickshire Regiment on 11 November 1916. On 13 April 1918, he was transferred to the newly formed Royal Air Force, but sadly died on 12 October 1918 as a result of a flying accident whilst flying with a pupil. Researched and written by Paul R Speakman Back

Information on the graves located at St. Marks Church Worsley Manchester. Norman Lingard, World War Two Norman Arthur Lingard NORMAN ARTHUR LINGARD Sgt. RAF.VR d. 28 March 1942 aged 27 1059599 NORMAN ARTHUR LINGARD was born in the first quarter of 1915. He was the son of Arthur and Betsy Lingard (née Beckett), of Worsley, who married in the middle of 1912. A memorial in the United Reformed Church on Worsley Road bears his name, together with five others who died in World War II. He was buried at St.Mark's on 1 April 1942. Norman Arthur Lingard was flying a Lancaster (serial number R5501, coded EM-G) when it collided with a Miles Master (DK973) during a daylight cross-country exercise. Both aircraft crashed at 1320 hrs on Canwick Hill, just to the east of Bracebridge Heath, 2 miles South of Lincoln. The crew of four, all members of 207 Squadron, were all killed: Sgt. N. A. Lingard; Sgt. D. A. Wood; Sgt. R. W. Cox; and Sgt. T. C. Massey. The pilot of the Miles Master, Lt. J. D. Linaker was also killed. The following account of the incident is recorded in chapter 5 of the book On the Wings of the Morning by Vincent Holyoak. This is a copy of the relevant chapter. For six weeks that it was stood down, 207 was busily engaged in converting on to the Lancaster. By the end of April, it could boast sixteen of the new type on strength with as many trained crews. In the meantime, the seemingly interminable circuits, night landings and cross-countries were not without their drama, with two aircraft being destroyed. The first and most tragic loss was that of 27-year-old Mancunian Sergeant Norman Lingard and his crew in Lancaster R5501 EM-G. Just after lunch on March 28, they were engaged in a daylight cross-country exercise south of Lincoln when Cranwell based Miles Master DK793 flown by a pupil pilot, Lieutenant Linaker, began to carry out a series of unauthorized feint attacks. Unauthorized aerobatics of any kind were expressly forbidden. Many a trainee had been killed showing off, and on one pass witnesses on the ground saw the Master slice into R5501’s tail section, both aircraft spinning out of control to crash on the Bracebridge Road. Lingard and fellow Sergeants Wood, Cox and Massey, along with the Master pilot were all killed instantly. Norman Lingard had already survived many operations as a second pilot and to die in such a way was particularly sad. 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

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

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 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

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Information on the graves located at St. Marks Church Worsley Manchester. Thoams Faulkner, World War Two THOMAS FAULKNER THOMAS FAULKNER Capt. East Lancs. Rgt. d.8/10/1943 aged 50 92661 THOMAS FAULKNER was the son of John and Priscilla (née Gorton) Faulkner. He was baptised at Stowell Memorial, Salford, on 16 November 1892 and his parents at that time were living at 18 Lord Byron Street, Weaste. They had been married at St. Mary's, Eccles, on 29 September 1886. Thomas was the husband of Marjorie Faulkner, of Worsley, and was living at 12 Pine Grove, Worsley. His father was living at 3 Grange Avenue, Monton, when he died on 27 June 1934. His effects were left to his widow, Priscilla. Marjorie was Marjorie Fisher, and they married in the 1/4 qtr. 1917 at West Derby. Thomas had 2 sons - John, born in 1923 at Barton; and Robert D. born 1925 at Barton. (Robert) Derek became a highly respected member of the parish church. Thomas died at the Moston Hall Military Hospital, Chester. In his will, he left his estate to his widow, Marjorie. He had enlisted into the Manchester Regiment RA and on his death he was in the infantry branch of the East Lancs. Regt. His name appears in the UK Army Roll of Honour, which is a listing of British Army casualties from World War II. 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