Bosley Remembers
BOSLEY WAR MEMORIAL.
1914 – 1918.
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A booklet was produced detailing a Roll of Honour of parishioners from Bosley who fought in the Great War between 1914-1918. Mr H.A.G. Carlisle, whose grandfather fought and died in the Great War, produced this booklet and has kindly given the Parish Council permission to share it.
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TO THE GREATER GLORY OF GOD
AND THE MEMORY OF THE BRAVE MEN CONNECTED WITH BOSLEY WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR |
WILLIAM BARNES.
437863, Private, William Barnes, 51st Battalion, Canadian Infantry, Edmonton Regiment. Born 15 March 1894 at Bosley, the son of foreman corn miller, Henry and Mary, (nee, Armitt), Barnes, at Higher Works, Bosley. The William’s siblings were Annie, Ann, and James, Lilian and Harry. By 1911, William working as a farm servant, for Mr William Woolley, at Highfield, Bosley. William attested at Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, November 4 1915; he gave his occupation as farmer. His army medical record shows him to have been five feet five inches tall with a chest measurement of thirty one and half inches, he had brown eyes and dark brown hair his complexion was described as fresh and his religion was Church of England. He was drafted to England, where he died from injuries received in a motor accident at Farnham, Sunday, 14/05/1916, aged 22 years. Private, William Barnes is buried in the family grave at, St Mary the Virgin, Churchyard, Bosley, Cheshire. On his headstone the inscription says; “He Bravely Answered His Country’s Call, They Will Be Done”. |
Photo courtesy of Jean Carlisle.
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LEONARD BOON.
300906, Private, Leonard Boon, Staffordshire Yeomanry, former number 3717, Household Cavalry. Born in 1896 at Rushton Spencer, son of farmer, Moses and Frances, (nee, Taylor), Boon, of Cloudside. The 1901 census shows Frances to be a widow and her family at that time were, Gertrude, Alfred, Isaac, Leonard, Bertha and Percy. By 1911, Leonard was working as a farm labourer, at Pecks House Farm, Rushton Spencer, for Mr Gilbert Chappell. Leonard attested at Stafford, on completion of his training he was drafted with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force to the Egyptian theatre of war entering there 10/11/1915. Leonard was killed in action, at DAMASCUS, Monday, 21/10/1918, he was aged 22 years. His effects were left to brothers, William, Isaac and Alfred, and sisters, Mary Pimblott, Annie Heathcote and Bertha Hatton. Medals: 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. Private, Leonard Boon is buried at the Damascus Commonwealth War Cemetery, Syria. Commonwealth War Graves Commission Ref: - B. 45. |
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CHARLES BOWYER.
35115, Private, Charles Bowyer, 13th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment.
Born in 1893 at Macclesfield, son of general agricultural labourer, Charles and Margaret, (nee, McBride), Bowyer, of, Well Cottage, Bosley. A family of ten children, John, Ernest, William, James, Charles, Daniel, Mary Ann, Alice, Margaret and Ethel.
Charles attested 11/12/1915 at Macclesfield; his occupation at that time was domestic gardener, he was a lodger with Mr Richard Silverwood, at Styal, Handforth, Cheshire, in 1911. His army medical record shows him to have been five feet six inches tall weighed 143lbs with a chest measurement of thirty eight inches. After completing his training Charles was drafted with the British Expeditionary to France, 19/07/1916, where he joined the 1st Battalion Cheshire’s at Rouen. On the 27 July 1916, he was posted to the 13th Battalion, which was raised on 1 September 1914 at Port Sunlight. As part of the 25th Division, it left Aldershot for France on September the 25th, 1915. The 13th Battalion were involved with the preparations for the offensive at the battle of PILCKEM, 31 July to 2 August. The 74th Brigade was held ready for any work that might be required by the Chief Engineer. Charles was reported missing presumed killed in action, Sunday, 30/07/1916, aged 23 years. He died two months after his brother William died in Iraq.
35115, Private, Charles Bowyer, 13th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment.
Born in 1893 at Macclesfield, son of general agricultural labourer, Charles and Margaret, (nee, McBride), Bowyer, of, Well Cottage, Bosley. A family of ten children, John, Ernest, William, James, Charles, Daniel, Mary Ann, Alice, Margaret and Ethel.
Charles attested 11/12/1915 at Macclesfield; his occupation at that time was domestic gardener, he was a lodger with Mr Richard Silverwood, at Styal, Handforth, Cheshire, in 1911. His army medical record shows him to have been five feet six inches tall weighed 143lbs with a chest measurement of thirty eight inches. After completing his training Charles was drafted with the British Expeditionary to France, 19/07/1916, where he joined the 1st Battalion Cheshire’s at Rouen. On the 27 July 1916, he was posted to the 13th Battalion, which was raised on 1 September 1914 at Port Sunlight. As part of the 25th Division, it left Aldershot for France on September the 25th, 1915. The 13th Battalion were involved with the preparations for the offensive at the battle of PILCKEM, 31 July to 2 August. The 74th Brigade was held ready for any work that might be required by the Chief Engineer. Charles was reported missing presumed killed in action, Sunday, 30/07/1916, aged 23 years. He died two months after his brother William died in Iraq.
Medals: British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Private, Charles Bowyer has no known resting place and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
C.W.G.C. Ref: - Pier and Face 5A and 5B.
Private, Charles Bowyer has no known resting place and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
C.W.G.C. Ref: - Pier and Face 5A and 5B.
WILLIAM BOWYER.
18430, Private, William Bowyer, 8th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment.
Born in 1886 at Bosley son of general agricultural labourer, Charles and Margaret, (nee, McBride), Bowyer, living at 23, Exchange Street, Macclesfield in 1891, moving later, to Well Cottage, Bosley. A family of ten children, John, Ernest, William, James, Charles, Daniel, Mary Ann, Alice, Margaret and Ethel. In 1901 William was employed by farmer Isaac Shaw as a cattleman at Primrose Bank, Bosley.
William enlisted at Macclesfield, and was drafted to the Balkans Theatre of War 16/10/1915, the 8th Battalion reached Mesopotamia with the 13th Division on the 28th of February, 1916. They had already taken part in the evacuation at Suvla and Helles. They arrived at the time when hope of relieving the garrison besieged in Kut was almost gone. On the 17th and 18th April, the Battalion was in action at Bait Isa. They relieved forward Battalions of the 3rd Division early on the 18th April and were continuously engaged in strenuous trench warfare till the 19 May. On the 19 May, the Turks evacuated the Es Sinn position, but held on to the trenches covering Kut in the Hai bridge-head, on the south, and in Khadairi Bend, on the north. Further military operations were prevented by the heat. The troops were worn out with disease, dysentery, cholera and boils. William died, in the 8th British Field Ambulance, of Cholera, Tuesday, 09/05/1916, aged 30 years.
18430, Private, William Bowyer, 8th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment.
Born in 1886 at Bosley son of general agricultural labourer, Charles and Margaret, (nee, McBride), Bowyer, living at 23, Exchange Street, Macclesfield in 1891, moving later, to Well Cottage, Bosley. A family of ten children, John, Ernest, William, James, Charles, Daniel, Mary Ann, Alice, Margaret and Ethel. In 1901 William was employed by farmer Isaac Shaw as a cattleman at Primrose Bank, Bosley.
William enlisted at Macclesfield, and was drafted to the Balkans Theatre of War 16/10/1915, the 8th Battalion reached Mesopotamia with the 13th Division on the 28th of February, 1916. They had already taken part in the evacuation at Suvla and Helles. They arrived at the time when hope of relieving the garrison besieged in Kut was almost gone. On the 17th and 18th April, the Battalion was in action at Bait Isa. They relieved forward Battalions of the 3rd Division early on the 18th April and were continuously engaged in strenuous trench warfare till the 19 May. On the 19 May, the Turks evacuated the Es Sinn position, but held on to the trenches covering Kut in the Hai bridge-head, on the south, and in Khadairi Bend, on the north. Further military operations were prevented by the heat. The troops were worn out with disease, dysentery, cholera and boils. William died, in the 8th British Field Ambulance, of Cholera, Tuesday, 09/05/1916, aged 30 years.
Medals: 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Private, William Bowyer is buried at Amara War Cemetery, Iraq.
C.W.G.C. Ref: - XXI. F. 3.
Private, William Bowyer is buried at Amara War Cemetery, Iraq.
C.W.G.C. Ref: - XXI. F. 3.
GEORGE THOMAS BYRON.
3713, Private, George Thomas Byron, Staffordshire Yeomanry, also 300903, Household Cavalry and Cavalry of the Line.
Born in 1894 at Talk-o-the -Hill, Audley, Staffs, son of coalminer, Thomas and Hannah, (nee, Berrisford), Byron. The family lived at Rushton Spencer. 1901 census shows there to be three children, Charles, Ellen and George Thomas. C.W.G.C. gives his mother as being, Bethia Trueman, of Ditchway Farm, Rushton, Staffordshire. In 1911, George was working at Ravensclough, Rushton Spencer, for farmer, John Vernon.
George enlisted at Stafford, on completion of his training he was drafted with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force to Egypt. His records show he died, Wednesday, 23/10/1918, he was aged 23 years, at Beirut .
3713, Private, George Thomas Byron, Staffordshire Yeomanry, also 300903, Household Cavalry and Cavalry of the Line.
Born in 1894 at Talk-o-the -Hill, Audley, Staffs, son of coalminer, Thomas and Hannah, (nee, Berrisford), Byron. The family lived at Rushton Spencer. 1901 census shows there to be three children, Charles, Ellen and George Thomas. C.W.G.C. gives his mother as being, Bethia Trueman, of Ditchway Farm, Rushton, Staffordshire. In 1911, George was working at Ravensclough, Rushton Spencer, for farmer, John Vernon.
George enlisted at Stafford, on completion of his training he was drafted with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force to Egypt. His records show he died, Wednesday, 23/10/1918, he was aged 23 years, at Beirut .
Medals: British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Private, George Thomas Byron is buried at the Beirut War Cemetery,
Lebanese Republic. C.W.G.C. Ref: - 23.
Private, George Thomas Byron is buried at the Beirut War Cemetery,
Lebanese Republic. C.W.G.C. Ref: - 23.
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GEORGE HINKSMAN.
241726, L/Cpl, George Hinksman, 2/6th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment. Born in 1892 at Anderton, in Lancashire, son of gamekeeper, James and Sarah, (nee, Teague), Hinksman who moved to work at Bosley, and lived in the Keepers Cottage. George’s siblings were James, Edwin, Thomas William, John Charles and Percy. Mother, Sarah, died in 1895 and James married Lilian Carter two years later. In 1911, George was living and working, as a farm labourer, at Black Brook, Newcastle, Staffordshire, for Mr and Mrs William Hettle. He was drafted to the Western Front and was killed in action, Monday, 15/04/1918, he was aged 26 years. |
Ploegsteert Memorial, Hainaut, Belgium. Photo courtesy of C.W.G.C.
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Medals: British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Lance Corporal, George Hinksman has no known resting place and he is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Hainaut, Belgium. C.W.G.C. Ref: - Addenda Panel.
Lance Corporal, George Hinksman has no known resting place and he is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Hainaut, Belgium. C.W.G.C. Ref: - Addenda Panel.
ARTHUR HOLLAND.
Unable to identify or trace any military or civilian records.
Unable to identify or trace any military or civilian records.
J. HORDERN. M. M.
7311, Sergeant, Joseph Hordern, 1st Battalion, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry.
Born in 1878 at Macclesfield, son of James and Hannah, (nee, Goodfellow), Hordern, of, Bosley Works, Bosley. Joseph’s siblings were Edith, Harriet and Mary Annie. Joseph attested at Macclesfield, 15/06/1898, as an eighteen year old man, to join on a 4 year service term. His army medical record shows he was five feet nine inches tall weighed 132lbs with a 33 inch chest measurement. He first reported to Shrewsbury, and after training, was despatched to South Africa, serving in the troubles there, from 1899 to 1902. He was awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal with Clasps for Paardeberg, Dreifontein, Johannesberg and Cape Colony; this was followed with the King’s South Africa Medal with Clasps for South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902. On returning to England he completed further years with the K.S.L.I. to a total of 16 years.
He then returned for a spell of work at the Bosley Flour Mill, this was followed by employment by his brother-in-law, plasterer, Mr J. Mellor. He had married Catherine Hutchinson on 26 June 1906, at Macclesfield; they had two children, Nellie and James. Joseph’s reserve period had expired by six weeks, but he immediately re-joined his old regiment at the outbreak of war, and he entered France with the British Expeditionary Force 08/04/1915. He was awarded the Military Medal for Bravery in the Field, a citation which reads: “Your Commanding Officer and Brigade Commander said that you distinguished yourself on 21st and 22nd April 1916 near Ypres by gallant conduct, twice going back across the open, under heavy fire and through deep mud to bring support”.
7311, Sergeant, Joseph Hordern, 1st Battalion, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry.
Born in 1878 at Macclesfield, son of James and Hannah, (nee, Goodfellow), Hordern, of, Bosley Works, Bosley. Joseph’s siblings were Edith, Harriet and Mary Annie. Joseph attested at Macclesfield, 15/06/1898, as an eighteen year old man, to join on a 4 year service term. His army medical record shows he was five feet nine inches tall weighed 132lbs with a 33 inch chest measurement. He first reported to Shrewsbury, and after training, was despatched to South Africa, serving in the troubles there, from 1899 to 1902. He was awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal with Clasps for Paardeberg, Dreifontein, Johannesberg and Cape Colony; this was followed with the King’s South Africa Medal with Clasps for South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902. On returning to England he completed further years with the K.S.L.I. to a total of 16 years.
He then returned for a spell of work at the Bosley Flour Mill, this was followed by employment by his brother-in-law, plasterer, Mr J. Mellor. He had married Catherine Hutchinson on 26 June 1906, at Macclesfield; they had two children, Nellie and James. Joseph’s reserve period had expired by six weeks, but he immediately re-joined his old regiment at the outbreak of war, and he entered France with the British Expeditionary Force 08/04/1915. He was awarded the Military Medal for Bravery in the Field, a citation which reads: “Your Commanding Officer and Brigade Commander said that you distinguished yourself on 21st and 22nd April 1916 near Ypres by gallant conduct, twice going back across the open, under heavy fire and through deep mud to bring support”.
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His recommendation was signed by C. Ross, Major-General Commanding 6th Division British Army in France, May 9th 1916. Joseph was killed in action, Tuesday, 10/10/1916 by a shell fragment, whilst he was digging a trench, he was aged 38 years.
Medals: Military Medal, 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. These medals were sent to his widow who was living at 8, Fountain Street, Macclesfield. Sergeant, Joseph Hordern has no known resting place and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. C.W.G.C. Ref: - Pier and Face 12A and 12D. 
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FRANCIS LEONARD MEAKIN
37782, Private, Francis Leonard Meakin, Lincolnshire Regiment, later transferred to the 43rd Battalion, Labour Corps, number, 25513.
Born in 1892 at Biddulph, son of gas engine driver, James Arthur and Jane, (nee, Boon), Meakin, who later moved to Cloudside, Congleton. Francis had two brothers George Albert and James Arthur. In 1911 he was employed as a ‘postman’, however when he enlisted his occupation was grocer manager.
Francis enlisted, 02/03/1916, at Leek, Staffs, his army medical records show him to have been a man of five feet four inches tall weighed 99lbs with a chest measurement of thirty two and half inches, he had blue eyes and brown hair, his religion given as Wesleyan. He started off at the North Staffordshire Depot with a number of 36931, but was soon transferred to the Lincolnshire’s. After his training he was drafted with the British Expeditionary Force to France, 14/05/1917, embarking from Folkestone and landing at Boulogne. Francis was serving with the Labour Corp when he was killed in action, Friday, 31/08/1917, he was aged 24 years.
37782, Private, Francis Leonard Meakin, Lincolnshire Regiment, later transferred to the 43rd Battalion, Labour Corps, number, 25513.
Born in 1892 at Biddulph, son of gas engine driver, James Arthur and Jane, (nee, Boon), Meakin, who later moved to Cloudside, Congleton. Francis had two brothers George Albert and James Arthur. In 1911 he was employed as a ‘postman’, however when he enlisted his occupation was grocer manager.
Francis enlisted, 02/03/1916, at Leek, Staffs, his army medical records show him to have been a man of five feet four inches tall weighed 99lbs with a chest measurement of thirty two and half inches, he had blue eyes and brown hair, his religion given as Wesleyan. He started off at the North Staffordshire Depot with a number of 36931, but was soon transferred to the Lincolnshire’s. After his training he was drafted with the British Expeditionary Force to France, 14/05/1917, embarking from Folkestone and landing at Boulogne. Francis was serving with the Labour Corp when he was killed in action, Friday, 31/08/1917, he was aged 24 years.
Medals: British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Private, Francis Leonard Meakin is buried at Bleuet Farm Cemetery, West Vlaanderen, Belgium. C.W.G.C. Ref: - I. C. 41. Bleuet Farm Cemetery, West Vlaanderen, Belgium
Photo courtesy of C.W.G..C. |
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C. MOSS. M. C.
Captain, Charles Moss, 7th (T) Battalion, Cheshire Regiment.
Born in 1883 at Eccles, in Lancashire, son of Charles Moss. In 1891, he was living with his father on Prestbury Road, Macclesfield, working as a Traveller. He was a Director with the silk firm Messrs Joseph Dunkerley and Son Ltd, Oxford Road, Macclesfield.
On the declaration of war Charles joined the Lancashire Yeomanry as a Private; however he was soon selected for officer training. He joined the 7th Battalion Cheshire Regiment at Oswestry, and then moving onto Bedford, before they were drafted with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force to the Dardanelles, landing at Suvla Bay, 08/08/1915. In Gallipoli he suffered a serious gunshot wound to his right thigh and he was evacuated back to England aboard S.S. “Aquitania” for hospital treatment. Once he had recovered from his wound he spent some time at Oswestry, then he resumed active service abroad. Charles re-joined his regiment in Egypt. He was awarded the Military Cross for Bravery in the Field at Gaza 26/03/1917, his citation reads; ‘he led his company with exceptional gallantry to its objective, which he reached in an hour, although continuously under fire, over a distance of 5000 yards. He continued to lead his company against the enemy support trenches, inflicting many casualties’.
Charles was part of a mounted detachment which was engaged in an attack on a hill known as Khuweilfeh, some 11 miles from Beersheba.
The main assault was carried out by the 53rd Division. Charles was killed in action, Tuesday, 06/11/1917, he was aged 34 years.
Captain, Charles Moss, 7th (T) Battalion, Cheshire Regiment.
Born in 1883 at Eccles, in Lancashire, son of Charles Moss. In 1891, he was living with his father on Prestbury Road, Macclesfield, working as a Traveller. He was a Director with the silk firm Messrs Joseph Dunkerley and Son Ltd, Oxford Road, Macclesfield.
On the declaration of war Charles joined the Lancashire Yeomanry as a Private; however he was soon selected for officer training. He joined the 7th Battalion Cheshire Regiment at Oswestry, and then moving onto Bedford, before they were drafted with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force to the Dardanelles, landing at Suvla Bay, 08/08/1915. In Gallipoli he suffered a serious gunshot wound to his right thigh and he was evacuated back to England aboard S.S. “Aquitania” for hospital treatment. Once he had recovered from his wound he spent some time at Oswestry, then he resumed active service abroad. Charles re-joined his regiment in Egypt. He was awarded the Military Cross for Bravery in the Field at Gaza 26/03/1917, his citation reads; ‘he led his company with exceptional gallantry to its objective, which he reached in an hour, although continuously under fire, over a distance of 5000 yards. He continued to lead his company against the enemy support trenches, inflicting many casualties’.
Charles was part of a mounted detachment which was engaged in an attack on a hill known as Khuweilfeh, some 11 miles from Beersheba.
The main assault was carried out by the 53rd Division. Charles was killed in action, Tuesday, 06/11/1917, he was aged 34 years.
Medals: Military Cross, 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The Administration of Probate to his Will was left to his two sisters, Lillie Moss (Spinster) and Gertrude Thompstone (wife of John Richard Thompstone) Effects: £1087.12s 7d. His home address on his Will, was given as Upton Lodge, Macclesfield. Captain, Charles Moss is buried at Beersheba War Cemetery, Palestine/Israel. C.W.G.C. Ref: - E. 2. |
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H. NADEN
S/11620, Private, Abraham Henry Naden, 8th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders.
Born in 1892 at Bosley, son of farmer, Abraham and Sarah, (nee, Billinge), Naden, of Lower Golding, Dawson Farm, Bosley. This was a family of nine children, Frederick William, Sarah Minnie, Thomas Percy, , Mary Louisa, Francis Herbert, Annette Emily, Abraham Henry and Elizabeth. In the 1911 census he is shown as Henry Naden, working as a waggoner on Land Back Farm, Henbury, Macclesfield, for a Mr Henry Brown.
Henry enlisted at Manchester, and after completing his training was drafted with the British Expeditionary Force to France. He was killed in action on the Monday, 23 April 1917; he was 25 years of age.
Medals: British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Probate to his Will was with John Robert Burdin, wheelwright, and Henry Shuker, farmer.
Effects: £152.16s. 8d. In his Will, Henry left £5 to the Macclesfield Infirmary.
Private, Abraham Henry Naden is buried at Guemappe British Cemetery, Wancourt, Pas de Calais, France. C.W.G.C. Ref: - II. D. 4.
S/11620, Private, Abraham Henry Naden, 8th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders.
Born in 1892 at Bosley, son of farmer, Abraham and Sarah, (nee, Billinge), Naden, of Lower Golding, Dawson Farm, Bosley. This was a family of nine children, Frederick William, Sarah Minnie, Thomas Percy, , Mary Louisa, Francis Herbert, Annette Emily, Abraham Henry and Elizabeth. In the 1911 census he is shown as Henry Naden, working as a waggoner on Land Back Farm, Henbury, Macclesfield, for a Mr Henry Brown.
Henry enlisted at Manchester, and after completing his training was drafted with the British Expeditionary Force to France. He was killed in action on the Monday, 23 April 1917; he was 25 years of age.
Medals: British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Probate to his Will was with John Robert Burdin, wheelwright, and Henry Shuker, farmer.
Effects: £152.16s. 8d. In his Will, Henry left £5 to the Macclesfield Infirmary.
Private, Abraham Henry Naden is buried at Guemappe British Cemetery, Wancourt, Pas de Calais, France. C.W.G.C. Ref: - II. D. 4.
TOM PRITCHARD
40450, Private, Tom Pritchard, 8th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment, formerly, 188066, Royal Field Artillery.
Born in 1895 at Bosley, son of miller, Henry and Annie Heap, (nee, Osbourne), Pritchard, at Lower Works, Bosley. Tom had an elder sister, Agnes. In the 1911 census, Tom is shown to be working as a ‘checker in’ at the corn mill; however his occupation when he attested was as a service roller man at
the corn mill.
Tom attested, 09/12/1915, at Macclesfield, and was initially placed with the Royal Field Artillery, training at Preston and Rugeley, before being transferred on 07/01/1917 to the York and Lancaster Regiment. He was five feet nine inches tall weighed 128lbs and he had a thirty five inch chest measurement. He embarked from Folkestone, 07/01/1917, arriving the same day at Calais. His theatre of war was France; he died of gunshot wounds to the buttocks, in the General Hospital at Rouen, Saturday, 28/07/1917, aged 22 years.
40450, Private, Tom Pritchard, 8th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment, formerly, 188066, Royal Field Artillery.
Born in 1895 at Bosley, son of miller, Henry and Annie Heap, (nee, Osbourne), Pritchard, at Lower Works, Bosley. Tom had an elder sister, Agnes. In the 1911 census, Tom is shown to be working as a ‘checker in’ at the corn mill; however his occupation when he attested was as a service roller man at
the corn mill.
Tom attested, 09/12/1915, at Macclesfield, and was initially placed with the Royal Field Artillery, training at Preston and Rugeley, before being transferred on 07/01/1917 to the York and Lancaster Regiment. He was five feet nine inches tall weighed 128lbs and he had a thirty five inch chest measurement. He embarked from Folkestone, 07/01/1917, arriving the same day at Calais. His theatre of war was France; he died of gunshot wounds to the buttocks, in the General Hospital at Rouen, Saturday, 28/07/1917, aged 22 years.
Medals: British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Private, Tom Pritchard is buried at St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France. C.W.G.C. Ref: - P.II.E.10B.
Private, Tom Pritchard is buried at St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France. C.W.G.C. Ref: - P.II.E.10B.
Behind every headstone in a grave yard are many stories, most are forgotten and beyond recall. There is a headstone in Bosley Church yard, it is near to the path as you walk from the Church to the gate. " Asleep in Jesus M H Brassington Wesleyan Minister Queensland died 10th March 1894 in his 26th year". I have often wondered what his story was? None of the local Methodist families, who go back several generations seemed to know anything about him. I presumed he was a bachelor with a local connection who had died in his prime.
A few weeks ago we had a surprise email from his great grandson Mark who was researching his ancestors. M H Brassington certainly had a story! This is an abridged version of the story that Mark has sent.
Harry Brassington was the youngest of John and Betty Brassington's 11 children. They lived at No 40 Bosley Works. John worked for Frank Thompstone, when the "The Works" was a corn mill. The family were committed Wesleyan Methodists and regulars worshipers at the Chapel at Bosley Works. [The Chapel pre 1885 was across the road from the Dane, below the main mill] In the 1870s John Brassington took on the mill at Rushton, so was now a miller on his own account. Harry found his mission at Rushton chapel where Thomas, his elder brother and young Harry became enthusiastic preachers. In 1882 Thomas emigrated to Australia to become a minister and help spread the word in the new colony.
In the late 1880s Harry, aged just 20 decided to follow his brother to Australia, a decision that cannot have been taken lightly. It shows his deeply held faith and his determination to become a minister even if this takes him to the opposite end of the world.
When Harry arrived in Australia, Thomas, now aged 32, has been a Minister at Gympie, a miming "Gold rush town" in Queensland for six years, he had a reputation in the church as a passionate, evangelical preacher. Harry followed him to Gympie! History books tell us a gold rush town, was not a place for the faint hearted to preach the Gospel of Jesus!
For a young man of 20 from Rushton to be posted to a rough gold mining town was a challenge! Queensland Methodists were yet to set up formal training for ministers, so Harry was thrown in at the deep end with little knowledge of his role, his congregation or the environment.
But he must have risen to the task for the "Gympie Times" in the summer of 1891 records -- The Rev. M. H. Brassington delivered his farewell sermons on Sunday, in the morning at the Wesleyan Church "Surface Hill" and at the "Two-Mile" in the evening, the churches being well filled on both occasions. Mr. Brassington leaves Gympie on Saturday for his new sphere of labour, Charters Towers.
Charters Towers is another gold rush town, further north in Queensland where the colonialists were fewer and the temperatures are higher. It is here that the new Methodist Minister, no doubt nervous, meets the intimidating head teacher of the Girls School, Martha Hustwick. But an unlikely close relationship forms. Martha came to Australia with her consumptive sister Emily, hoping that the climate might cure her TB, but unfortunately Emily died and instead of returning to Durham, Martha finds work as a teacher and quickly rises to become Headteacher. Martha couldn't have failed to notice that Harry is also showing the dread symptoms of TB. The Methodist newspaper reported: The Rev. M. H. Brassington, of Charters' Towers, is seriously ill with an affection of the lungs. Yet in May 1893 Martha marries Harry. That they decide to marry is an extraordinary decision. Harry is ten years younger, no money, and suffering from TB. Martha will be well aware of the likely outcome of Harry’s illness, that her marriage will be short and that she will be left a widow.
She also knows the education department specifically forbids married women from teaching, so marrying Harry will also end her career. But they marry anyway, their feelings for each other must run deep.
Just two months after their wedding, in July 1893 Harry and Mattie board ship to come back home. Martha writes to her sister from on board the ship, telling her that she is pregnant, and of her hopes that a cure for TB might be found in England, and how glad she would be to get to London so that a Dr’s advice could be obtained. However, any hopes of a cure are dashed and the couple make their way to Rushton. In the four years while Harry has been away his father John has died, so Harry and Martha go to Fir Tree Farm, Rushton. Harry’s sister Elizabeth lives there with her husband John Bailey and a young family. Martha writes to her sister again: This fine country air and farmhouse life are doing him good. We have been here just a week & he seems a good deal better and says he feels stronger. I am enjoying the change too, you cannot imagine the positive pleasure it is to look out on a beautiful English landscape, & to walk in fields and lanes. I went to Chapel on Sunday afternoon & the walk there and back did me more good than any sermon I ever heard. However, a few weeks later Martha writes: Harry keeps much about the same, keeping his bed until afternoon & then getting up for a few hours’ change. Yesterday he was very bad all day with nervousness & exhaustion. . . He likes the blouse you made me, thinks it suits me & then says that “a good looking woman looks well in anything” — gross flattery is it not!
In February 1894 Harry’s daughter Hilda May is born. The celebrations that baby and mother survive the rigours of childbirth will be tempered by the fact that Harry must be very ill by now. Martha will be torn between nursing her baby daughter and nursing her dying husband. The inevitable conclusion to Harry’s long illness finally arrives on 10 March 1894 at Fir Tree Farm, Rushton. Less than a year after he married Martha and a month after his daughter Hilda is born, Harry dies aged just 25. Martha buries him in Bosley churchyard in the village where he was born and she returns to Durham where her family still live.
Harry has managed to pack a great amount of work into his brief life. He became a Methodist preacher in his teens, travelled across the world to an unknown continent, became a Methodist Minister in a "Gold Rush" town to spread the "Good news of the Gospel" in the John Wesley spirit. As a young, idealistic, earnest minister he worked to bring a moral and spiritual life to mining communities in Australia, surely one of the toughest audiences in the world.