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

James Kee JAMES KEE Fg.Off. RAF d. 28 October 1941 aged 24 42713 Robert Kee was Vicar of St.John's, Mosley Common, from 1936 to 1962, and he officiated at several events at St.Mark's during the war years. JAMES KEE was his only son and was born to Janet on 21 July 1917 in Belfast, Co. Antrim, Ireland. After school, he went to Cambridge University where he was admitted as Pensioner at Trinity College on 1 October. There he gained his B.A. Hons. in 1939. Robert (born 1885) died in 1962 and his wife Janet died in 1968. Both are buried in the graveyard at St. Mark's, together with their son, James, in whose memory a special Commonwealth Graves headstone stands before the family monument. On 18 September 1939, he received his commission into the RAF (General Duties Branch) and joined 101 Squadron on a short service commission as a pilot. On 20 April 1941, he was promoted to Flying Officer. 101 sqn., (originally disbanded in 1919), was reformed in 1938 at RAF Bircham Newton (Norfolk) as a bomber squadron, flying the Bristol Blenheim. In 1941, the squadron was equipped with the Vickers Wellington, and the following year with the Avro Lancaste219 Squadron was reformed at RAF Catterick in October 1939 and soon became a night fighter unit when it became fully operational. By October 1940, it relocated to RAF Redhill (Surrey), and from there to RAF Tangmere, and converted to the Bristol Beaufighter. By this time James Kee had been redeployed to the squadron and the Beaufighter, which was used initially as a night fighter and in a ground attack role. It had a crew of two - pilot, and a navigator/radio operator.On 28 October 1941, James Kee and T. G. F. Dixon took off in their Beaufighter, possibly from Tangmere, on a dusk patrol. Soon after take-off, the plane crashed about four miles west of Merston (Sussex) in the evening. Both F/O J. Kee and Sgt. T.G.F. Dixon were killed. Researched and written by Paul R Speakman Back

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

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

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

Books on St Mark's Church and the surrounding area Timeline of St Mark's Church 1846 -1946 Read More Ellesmere in America Read More The Queen Cometh Read More World War 1 Graves Read More Worsley Worthies Vol 1 Read More Why St Mark's ? Read More The Lives of the First Seven Incumbents Read More Lord Egerton's Dream Read More English Country Churches Read More World War 2 Graves Read More Worsley Worthies Vol 2 Read More Home

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 MILNER Cpl James MIDGLEY Thomas MULLINEUX James MIDWOOD Norah MIDDLETON THOMAS MOORE Mary MOORE Thomas MURRAY Ebie NIGHTINGALE Peter OMMANNEY Annie PHILLIPS George MORRIS William MURRAY John Rigby NODEN Emily PARTINGTON James PROUD Robert MOUNTCASTLE William NEILD Henry NORRIS Ellen PEARCE James Home

Home

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 Home

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

People connected to St Mark's Church 1st Earl of Ellesmere Rev William H Baynes Bio Rev T H Davies Bio Rev W G Harland Bio Rev H D Knatchbull Bio Rev Thomas A Morley Bio Rev A W Sillitoe Bio Rev John H Watmough Bio 2nd Earl of Ellesmere Rev J B Cater Bio Rev G C Dickinson Bio Rev H R Hopwood Bio Rev Charles Lowe Bio Joan Pomfret Bio Rev H J Smale Bio Rev F J Wrottesley Bio 3rd Earl of Ellesmere R. Froude Coules Bio Rev Robert Harland Bio Rev B W Johnstone Bio Rev A W McLaren Bio Frederick James SHIELDS Rev Charles Spencer Bio Home

Private Graves E-H EDEN Thomas EGERTON Granville EGERTON George ELLIS Family. EGERTON Arthur EGERTON Adml. Francis EILBECK Henry EVANS Joseph EGERTON Algernon EGERTON Francis ELLIS Pte.Thomas EVERARD Ernest FILDES Samuel FRUEN Philip GLASS Percy GRADISKY Charles GRUNDY Alice FORRESTER Richard FRITH John Douglas GOODBRAND Walter GREVILLE Harriet Catherine GRUNDY F. W. D. FOULKES Edward GASKELL John GORTON Richard GROVER Family GRUNDY Joshua GUEST Family HADFIELD Peter HAMPSON James GUEST Thomas HALLIWELL Albert HAMPSON William GUEST William HALLIWELL Simeon HARDMAN Walter HARGREAVES Frank HAZLEWOOD Edward HESFORD Isaac HARRIS Andrew HEATON Henry Capt. HIGGIN George HARRISON William HEBDEN Elizabeth HODGSON Mary HOLLAND James HOWORTH Margaret HURST Albert HURST Samuel (Linnyshaw) HUTCHINSON Richard HOWELL John HULSE Enoch HURST Lot HURST William HOWELL James HULSE Thomas HURST Samuel HUTCHINSON Ellen Home