ALBERT EDWARD SADLER
Albert Edward Sadler 1909-1982.
My dad was in the royal artillary, he was a gunner and served some time in india. Then he was captured by the japanese, he was a pow for 3 and a half years. Dad never talked about the war or being a pow, albeit he wouldnt have anything "made in japan "in the house, although when my kids were young he used to teach us to count and speak japanese. He did tell us that he was treated a little bit better than some as he was made a policeman over some of the men, but like many others he came home ill and scarred, he got emphasemia.
While in the camp at mauritania he made a small perspex heart and inside it he put a very small photo of him and his dad and I have this heart and will treasure it. we also have his medals, and I have the bibles they were given to go in the army and the ones given to him in india.
My dad was in the royal artillary, he was a gunner and served some time in india. Then he was captured by the japanese, he was a pow for 3 and a half years. Dad never talked about the war or being a pow, albeit he wouldnt have anything "made in japan "in the house, although when my kids were young he used to teach us to count and speak japanese. He did tell us that he was treated a little bit better than some as he was made a policeman over some of the men, but like many others he came home ill and scarred, he got emphasemia.
While in the camp at mauritania he made a small perspex heart and inside it he put a very small photo of him and his dad and I have this heart and will treasure it. we also have his medals, and I have the bibles they were given to go in the army and the ones given to him in india.
Albert's Certificate Of Service
My Dad Albert, Standing Far Left. Photograph Taken During His Time In The POW Camp
My Dad's War Medals
My dad made this when he was a prisoner of war in japan. Its made of perspex and has my dads photo on front and an old man on back who could have been his dad. He was a pow for over 3 years so the heart was made between1942-1945.
Albert's Army Testimonial
When he came home as the war ended his jobs were--lees tapestry as a driver--capenhurst--and a postman. My dad was a very kind and loving giving man, I could go on and on about him forever.
Submitted by his Daughter Joyce Jones
When he came home as the war ended his jobs were--lees tapestry as a driver--capenhurst--and a postman. My dad was a very kind and loving giving man, I could go on and on about him forever.
Submitted by his Daughter Joyce Jones
PATRICK SCANLON
I would like to mention my Father Patrick. I don't know anything about his life in the war only that he lied about his age and fought in Mesopotamia in 1914. He stayed in the army until he married.
He was a docker from Scotland Road and in WW2 he was a firewatcher.
All I have is one photograph of him in WW1 uniform.
No number or rank or any other information.
He was a nice quiet man and he died when I was young. I would like him to be remembered.
Submitted by his Daughter Patsy
He was a docker from Scotland Road and in WW2 he was a firewatcher.
All I have is one photograph of him in WW1 uniform.
No number or rank or any other information.
He was a nice quiet man and he died when I was young. I would like him to be remembered.
Submitted by his Daughter Patsy
JOSIE SCHICKER ( nee OWENS )
I now live in Calafornia USA, but I was brought up in Rose Place , Liverpool.
1939 I was five years old and my first recollection was leaving the Friary school with my brother Jackie and sister Mary and more kids from the school marching off to Lime St. station for Llanrwst in Denbighshire Wales . My brother was sent to a different home than my sister and I. we were billeted with a lady (Mrs Target) in a fancy house, I remember the white pebbled path leading up to the house. For some reason or another we did not stay there very long and I remember my ninnie McInerney coming to pick us up in a car.
Now my ninnie had friends who owned a greengrocer business and were rather affluent for that era, they were the Rimmers with their own trucks etc. so it was their car that took us back to Liverpool.
Now by this time my Dad is in the army and it was just him and I (he in his army uniform) going by train back to Llanrwst. I was so excited to be travellng with my Dad not knowing he was taking me to another home then going to leave me. I was taken to Mr and Mrs Berry, he was Hugh Berry esquire the local coal merchant and owned some houses besides his own in Llanrwst. All was well, we sat down to a nice tea and then came time for Dad to leave and I cried my eyes out.
I was later joined by Mary my sister so that made things a bit easier then my Mother and brother Austin and baby Eileen were also in Llanrwst in another home so even though the family was apart we stil could see each other.
Now I am settling down and in some ways was fortunate to be with such a nice well to do family and then not so fortunate as I was with them for many years, I think until 1947, but during all that time I was carted back and forth from Llanrwst to Liverpool to see my mother and family when school was out. My Mother ended up going back to Liverpool and took Mary with her as my Nin was still there by herself in Rose Place off Scotland Road.
I did not quite understand all that was going on and I do remember some of the bombing and going to the air raid shelter across from the house. Sykes bakery was across from our house and it was their shelters we would go in at the bottom of Rose Place, a cinema I think it was called the Adelphie and it got hit and people were killed.
My Mothers brother John was in the army he was home on leave and was seeing a girl (later she became his wife)now they were in a house up above some shops so they were standing on the outside landing when a bomb hit and blew them to the street. Luckily they both lived and I remember him having a cast on his leg, and she carried a bad scar on one of her legs up until she passed away a couple of years ago. The scar was from a piano leg that had crushed her leg in the blast from the bomb.
This one night we were all in the kitchen and the older people were praying and all the young ones would be huddled together. My Mother's younger brother (Joey McInerney) was on leave the same time as my Dad and this one night there was a big thud on our roof. My Dad and Uncle Joey went up stairs and climbed onto the roof and low and behold there was a parachute, they brought it down and scared my mother who wanted out of there. It was a German parachute and they took it to Rose Hill police station. To this day we never knew if a person landed or maybe some kind of bomb might have been attached to it.
To this day I cannot think of why I stayed in Wales for so long after the war and I had most of my education in Wales and spoke welsh fluently. During those years I was lucky to have my best girl friend also in Llanrwst, we had known each other since we were babies and remained friends all through the war years and our adult years until she passed away a few years ago. Her and I had a lot of memories from those years ,like the time I was going to the farm for a can of buttermilk and she was with me and I remember she had a cigarrete and was going to teach me how to smoke and when I took a puff the can of buttermilk went flying and was I ever scared to go back empty handed, but the farmer relented and gave me some more.
Down the lane from where I lived was a big field and they built barracks there for german pow's. We had to pass them on the way to school and they would be walking around behind barbed wire with big round patches sewn on the back of their clothes, I suppose to identify them as pow's. I think we were mezmerized by their presence. Now that I think back it was all so difficult to understand at such an early age.
During all this time I got news that Ninnie Owens had died after falling down the stairs in Kew Street, Liverpool, and of course was confused as to why I never got to go home. Another time my Dad was on leave from the army and rode a bike from Liverpool all the way to Llanrwst to see me.
On one of the times I got to go home for two weeks the war was over and it was VE day, everyone went to the pub and we were put to bed but after they left we all got up and went to Lime street were there was singing and dancing and all the yanks were there handing out gum. I still carry the scar on my knee from falling and we rushed back to get in bed so the knee was not washed and became infected so much for that.
Back to Llanrwst the day I was going back Auntie Nell Hogan and my little cousin Bernard took me to Lime Street station to make sure I got on the train, which I did but found out it was the wrong train and I was on my way to London instead of Llandudno Junction were I would change trains for Llanrwst. When I found out it was the wrong train the conductor made sure I was taken care of and finally I made it back to Wales.
On the fiftieth anniversary of world war 2 my hubby and I were over in England for a visit and my Brother Austin took us by ferry to Dunkirk, and we toured all the war memorials through northern
France, and into Belgium and Germany. In one of the cemetery's, I believe in France, we came across some graves from world war 1 and on my kitchen window is a stone I brought back from a grave of a young soldier from Boundary Street Liverpool, and when I dampen it the moss on it still turns green.
When I was talking to Austin he reminded that Your Nan and my Dad had relatives here I believe on Long Island near New York i think their name was Douse maybe spelt wrong, but I do know my brother John who used to sail for the Cunard Lines back and forth from Liverpool to New York went to visit them.
Submitted by Josie Schicker
1939 I was five years old and my first recollection was leaving the Friary school with my brother Jackie and sister Mary and more kids from the school marching off to Lime St. station for Llanrwst in Denbighshire Wales . My brother was sent to a different home than my sister and I. we were billeted with a lady (Mrs Target) in a fancy house, I remember the white pebbled path leading up to the house. For some reason or another we did not stay there very long and I remember my ninnie McInerney coming to pick us up in a car.
Now my ninnie had friends who owned a greengrocer business and were rather affluent for that era, they were the Rimmers with their own trucks etc. so it was their car that took us back to Liverpool.
Now by this time my Dad is in the army and it was just him and I (he in his army uniform) going by train back to Llanrwst. I was so excited to be travellng with my Dad not knowing he was taking me to another home then going to leave me. I was taken to Mr and Mrs Berry, he was Hugh Berry esquire the local coal merchant and owned some houses besides his own in Llanrwst. All was well, we sat down to a nice tea and then came time for Dad to leave and I cried my eyes out.
I was later joined by Mary my sister so that made things a bit easier then my Mother and brother Austin and baby Eileen were also in Llanrwst in another home so even though the family was apart we stil could see each other.
Now I am settling down and in some ways was fortunate to be with such a nice well to do family and then not so fortunate as I was with them for many years, I think until 1947, but during all that time I was carted back and forth from Llanrwst to Liverpool to see my mother and family when school was out. My Mother ended up going back to Liverpool and took Mary with her as my Nin was still there by herself in Rose Place off Scotland Road.
I did not quite understand all that was going on and I do remember some of the bombing and going to the air raid shelter across from the house. Sykes bakery was across from our house and it was their shelters we would go in at the bottom of Rose Place, a cinema I think it was called the Adelphie and it got hit and people were killed.
My Mothers brother John was in the army he was home on leave and was seeing a girl (later she became his wife)now they were in a house up above some shops so they were standing on the outside landing when a bomb hit and blew them to the street. Luckily they both lived and I remember him having a cast on his leg, and she carried a bad scar on one of her legs up until she passed away a couple of years ago. The scar was from a piano leg that had crushed her leg in the blast from the bomb.
This one night we were all in the kitchen and the older people were praying and all the young ones would be huddled together. My Mother's younger brother (Joey McInerney) was on leave the same time as my Dad and this one night there was a big thud on our roof. My Dad and Uncle Joey went up stairs and climbed onto the roof and low and behold there was a parachute, they brought it down and scared my mother who wanted out of there. It was a German parachute and they took it to Rose Hill police station. To this day we never knew if a person landed or maybe some kind of bomb might have been attached to it.
To this day I cannot think of why I stayed in Wales for so long after the war and I had most of my education in Wales and spoke welsh fluently. During those years I was lucky to have my best girl friend also in Llanrwst, we had known each other since we were babies and remained friends all through the war years and our adult years until she passed away a few years ago. Her and I had a lot of memories from those years ,like the time I was going to the farm for a can of buttermilk and she was with me and I remember she had a cigarrete and was going to teach me how to smoke and when I took a puff the can of buttermilk went flying and was I ever scared to go back empty handed, but the farmer relented and gave me some more.
Down the lane from where I lived was a big field and they built barracks there for german pow's. We had to pass them on the way to school and they would be walking around behind barbed wire with big round patches sewn on the back of their clothes, I suppose to identify them as pow's. I think we were mezmerized by their presence. Now that I think back it was all so difficult to understand at such an early age.
During all this time I got news that Ninnie Owens had died after falling down the stairs in Kew Street, Liverpool, and of course was confused as to why I never got to go home. Another time my Dad was on leave from the army and rode a bike from Liverpool all the way to Llanrwst to see me.
On one of the times I got to go home for two weeks the war was over and it was VE day, everyone went to the pub and we were put to bed but after they left we all got up and went to Lime street were there was singing and dancing and all the yanks were there handing out gum. I still carry the scar on my knee from falling and we rushed back to get in bed so the knee was not washed and became infected so much for that.
Back to Llanrwst the day I was going back Auntie Nell Hogan and my little cousin Bernard took me to Lime Street station to make sure I got on the train, which I did but found out it was the wrong train and I was on my way to London instead of Llandudno Junction were I would change trains for Llanrwst. When I found out it was the wrong train the conductor made sure I was taken care of and finally I made it back to Wales.
On the fiftieth anniversary of world war 2 my hubby and I were over in England for a visit and my Brother Austin took us by ferry to Dunkirk, and we toured all the war memorials through northern
France, and into Belgium and Germany. In one of the cemetery's, I believe in France, we came across some graves from world war 1 and on my kitchen window is a stone I brought back from a grave of a young soldier from Boundary Street Liverpool, and when I dampen it the moss on it still turns green.
When I was talking to Austin he reminded that Your Nan and my Dad had relatives here I believe on Long Island near New York i think their name was Douse maybe spelt wrong, but I do know my brother John who used to sail for the Cunard Lines back and forth from Liverpool to New York went to visit them.
Submitted by Josie Schicker
JOHN SHIRLEY
My Great Grandma's sister Annie Flaherty married John Shirley in 1899 at St Silvesters. John enlisted with the 12th Kings Liverpool regiment on 15th October 1914 as private 12498. He was sent to France on 24 July 1915 and suffered terrible leg wounds during the battle of Passchendaele, leading to his discharge as ' No longer fit for service ' on 21st August 1917. He had also served in the Boer War.
John remained troubled by his leg injuries, spending his life walking with a terrible limp. On returning home to Liverpool he managed to continue with the family coal business that operated from Calvin Street off Scotland road. He graduated from horse and cart to motorised lorries before his death in 1948 when the business was taken over by his son Bernard.
Submitted by Anthony Hogan
John remained troubled by his leg injuries, spending his life walking with a terrible limp. On returning home to Liverpool he managed to continue with the family coal business that operated from Calvin Street off Scotland road. He graduated from horse and cart to motorised lorries before his death in 1948 when the business was taken over by his son Bernard.
Submitted by Anthony Hogan
GEORGE SKILANDIS
George served as Private George Smith 5391, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 1st Bn, and died of his wounds 26/05/1915, aged 21. He was the son of George and Magdelena (Mary) Skilandis of 118 Portland St. Both his parents where born in Russian-Poland.
George Skilandis served under the name "Smith" It was not unusual for men to serve under assumed names. Many men seem to have done so because they had foreign-sounding names. His mother must have returned the Final Verification Forms to CWGC because she gave her own name and address as next-of-kin. But for whatever reason, she didn't correct the false surname in the official records, but did when it came to the newspapers and the local memorial.
George's brother Anthony served as a greaser with the Merchant Navy during WW2, sadly he was killed on 7 February 1943, while serving aboard the S.S. Mary Slessor (Liverpool)
George is buried at Longuenesse (St.Omer) Souvenir Cemetery in France, and remembered on the war memorial at Our Lady of Reconciliatin church, Eldon street.
George Skilandis served under the name "Smith" It was not unusual for men to serve under assumed names. Many men seem to have done so because they had foreign-sounding names. His mother must have returned the Final Verification Forms to CWGC because she gave her own name and address as next-of-kin. But for whatever reason, she didn't correct the false surname in the official records, but did when it came to the newspapers and the local memorial.
George's brother Anthony served as a greaser with the Merchant Navy during WW2, sadly he was killed on 7 February 1943, while serving aboard the S.S. Mary Slessor (Liverpool)
George is buried at Longuenesse (St.Omer) Souvenir Cemetery in France, and remembered on the war memorial at Our Lady of Reconciliatin church, Eldon street.
ALFRED BERNARD SMITH
Alfred was born in Liverpool in Butte Street, in his grandmothers house, on 25th September 1922. Seven years later the family moved over the Mersey to the Wirral, living around the Moreton and Birkenhead areas, before returning to Liverpool and living at 108 Cambridge Road, Waterloo.
Alfred Volunteered for the Royal Air Force Regiment in 1941 with the service number 1457778. He served in Scotland, then to Cairo Egypt and finally to Nairobi in Kenya, before being discharged in 1946. He was a Leading Aircraftman ( LAC ) and wireless operator.
Alfred married Jean Irene Smith in Crosby on 28th February 1953, they had three children together, Twins Steven and Lorna, and another son Peter, the family eventually moved to Sandiway, Northwich, Cheshire. Alfred got a job at Imperial Chemical Industries ( I.C.I ) Northwich, he worked there for some years then became a van salesman for Robert’s Bakery, Northwich, before working as a milkman for Express Dairies Northwich. He retired from work at the age of 60.
In November 2012 Alfred passed away peacefully at the age of 90. He had celebrated his 90th Birthday just a few weeks earlier and would have celebrated 60 years of marriage to Irene in February 2013.
Alfred is the brother of Arnold George Smith who is listed below.
Alfred Volunteered for the Royal Air Force Regiment in 1941 with the service number 1457778. He served in Scotland, then to Cairo Egypt and finally to Nairobi in Kenya, before being discharged in 1946. He was a Leading Aircraftman ( LAC ) and wireless operator.
Alfred married Jean Irene Smith in Crosby on 28th February 1953, they had three children together, Twins Steven and Lorna, and another son Peter, the family eventually moved to Sandiway, Northwich, Cheshire. Alfred got a job at Imperial Chemical Industries ( I.C.I ) Northwich, he worked there for some years then became a van salesman for Robert’s Bakery, Northwich, before working as a milkman for Express Dairies Northwich. He retired from work at the age of 60.
In November 2012 Alfred passed away peacefully at the age of 90. He had celebrated his 90th Birthday just a few weeks earlier and would have celebrated 60 years of marriage to Irene in February 2013.
Alfred is the brother of Arnold George Smith who is listed below.
Alfred sending messages.
Rookies.
Alfred in Egypt.
Submitted by his wife Jean Smith ( nee Medland )
ARNOLD GEORGE SMITH
Arnold was born in Seaforth. He joined the RAF on the outbreak of war and was posted in Novermber 1940 as a Sergeant. DFM Gazetted 21st November 1941. Between 4-8th April 1942 he was promoted to Flight Sergeant and on 20th February 1942 he was Posted Out To 106 Squadron. He flew many missions, mainly over Germany. On 1st August 1942 he took off on the flight that would sadly claim his life.
Lancaster R5604 took off from RAF Coningsby at 0055 hours on the night of 31/1st August 1942, detailed to bomb Dusseldorf, Germany. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it failed to return to base. R5604 was one of 21 aircraft from the Squadron on the mission and was carrying an 8000lb bomb.
Crew :
RAF WO P E Merralls, DFC DFM Captain (Pilot)
RAAF 407711 Sgt H E Gaskell, (2nd Pilot)
RAF Sgt K J Cooper, (Observer)
RAF Flt Sgt A G Smith, DFM ( W/OP )
RAF Sgt E F Holme, (Wireless Air Gunner)
RAF Sgt B L Ellis-Buxton, (Air Gunner)
RAF Sgt L T Grimshaw, (Air Gunner)
The aircraft crashed at Lovenach, 9kms WNW of Cologne, Germany and all the crew
were killed. Five of the crew are buried in the Rheinberg War Cemetery, Locality Kiamp Lintfort, Nordrhein-Westfal, Germany. Rheinberg is 24kms north of Krefeld and 13kms south of Wesel. Flt Sgt Smith and Sgt Grimshaw have no known grave and their names are
commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing, Runnymede, Surrey, UK.
Arnold's information from the DFN register and below his campaign medals
Arnold is the Brother of Alfred Bernard Smith who is listed above.
Submitted byDavid Medland
SAMUEL SPEARS
Samuel Spears 547066 served with the RAF during WW2, his unit is not know, but he was serving in the far East. Samuel was taken prisoner and Held at Sumatra (Padang). Burma (Mergui, Tavoy Railway) Thailand. The chances are he was captured in Sumatra as most of the RAF were evacuated there from Malaya and Singapore and a number of ships evacuating them were sunk. A large number of POWs captured in Singapore and Malaya were shipped to Thailand and Burma to work on the 'Death Railway' from Thanbyuzayat in Burma to Ban Pong in Thailand. Less well known is the Mergui Road which Samuel would have work on, which was built across the narrow isthmus of Kra (the thin bit of land which links Thailand and Burma to the Malay penninsula). He suffered terribly in the camps, but he survived and made it back home to Liverpool, later getting married.
Submitted by his Great Niece Suzanne Hogan
Submitted by his Great Niece Suzanne Hogan
JAMES STAUNTON
Private James Staunton 359437, The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 1st/10th Bn. Killed in action 12/04/1918, aged 33. James was single and lived at 273, Athol St. The son of Mary he is remembered at the Remembered at Loos Memorial in France and on the war memorial at St Anthony's church, Scotland road.
ROBERT WILLIAM STEAD
A group of people who live all over the world and are members of the free family history site of RootsChat.com came together to bring this WW1 soldier back into the limelight !!
A silver identity tag was found some 25 years ago on a Great War battlefield near LA COUTURE, a village between ARMENTIERES and BETHUNE in France, together with some old coins and a button from a British army trench coat. The tag belonged to an officer of the Machine Gun Corps - 2nd Lieutenant ROBERT WILLIAM STEAD (1896-1926) from Liverpool. It had been Michel Knockaerts fervent wish that the tag be returned to Robert's family .... he wrote .....
”25 years ago, when I was General Secretary of the town hall of LA COUTURE, a village between ARMENTIERES and BETHUNE, just on the western front, I found, among old coins and a button of British trench coat, a piece of metal engraved in English. Since that day, I search in the British cemeteries of my sector the grave of the man (there are many of them near my home) In fact, with help of members of the forum and of a new friend from Minnesota one day I see I made a mistake, the man survived the conflict and returned back alive at home in Anfield Liverpool.
The memory of this man, that I do not know haunt my spirit, my best wish is to restore the wrist tag to his descendants, if they are still alive, that is very very important for me. Of course, no money in this history, just to be in peace with my soul, this medal is not mine, it must go back in his real place “
They weren't able to find relatives but they did find Roberts final resting place .... at St Peters Church Woolton Liverpool ... sadly the grave stone had fallen so they all "chipped in " to re-erect his gravestone so he was able to face the sun again !! Who knows what it was that endeared Robert to so many people ? - maybe it was because they could all relate to their own Grandfathers and Great Grandfathers .... but they knew they wanted to honour this brave soldier - in the eyes of the world he was an ordinary man .... but in their eyes he became a very extraordinary man and they seem to have become all the better for "knowing " him !!
Robert William STEAD (1896 West Derby -1926 Gateacre)
Robert William Stead was born March 22nd 1896 in West Derby Liverpool - the son of William Harley ( Master Mariner ) and Emily ( nee Richards ) Stead and lived at Watford Road Anfield Liverpool
He was 17 years and 5 months old when he attested to join the army for 4 years in Liverpool on 25 August 1913 He gave his address as Watford Road Anfield Liverpool the home of his father William Harley Stead who he gave as next of kin and later identified as a Master Mariner Robert who was a single man, identified his birthplace as Liverpool Lancashire - his current occupation as a bank clerk at Parr's Bank Liverpool and his religion as Church of England. He returned the next day, for a medical examination. This revealed that he stood 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighed 10st 9lbs and had a chest measurement of 35 inches. He was accepted into 6th Rifle battalion of the Kings Liverpool Regiment
Once in the Army - Robert William Stead became a number – 1466 to begin with - he faced a couple of months worth of drill square bashing and weapons training - in order to turn him from a bank clerk to soldier ....... Private Stead 's unit first entered the theatre of war in France in February 1915 and he was promoted to L/Cpl 28th August 1915. Yet Robert given his intelligence - was not the sort of man to remain an infantry soldier for long - in fact he was the perfect sort of person to become a member of the newly created Machine Gun Corps.
Robert William Stead # 22397 attested 20th February 1916 with 165 Brigade MGC and was promoted A/Cpl 29th March 1916 - he was sent to the Machine Gun training centre at Grantham back in England - here he familiarised himself with the workings and complexities of the Vickers .303 and heavy machine guns. He became a team player – each gun was ideally manned by a crew of eight - four men were involved in the actual firing and the other four responsible for sighting and the preparation and the bringing up of ammunition - crews in the field normally numbered six - simply because of the shortage of men.
The course only lasted approximately 6 weeks due to the intense demand for gunners. Thus Robert really only had basic training in the complexities of machine-gun warfare. ( The targets of every enemy weapon - members of the MGC were also called the Suicide Squad ) He rose through the ranks and was promoted to Second Lieutentant.
Robert was wounded in the chest and thigh in August 1916 while in Abbeville and was released from the Army 20th March 1919. Coming home after the war he married Elizabeth Neil Grant in 1921 at St Simon and St Judes Church Liverpool and they moved to Gateacre .... tragically they were only married 5 years as Robert William Stead died in 1926 in Gateacre of a cerebral hemorrhage.
A silver identity tag was found some 25 years ago on a Great War battlefield near LA COUTURE, a village between ARMENTIERES and BETHUNE in France, together with some old coins and a button from a British army trench coat. The tag belonged to an officer of the Machine Gun Corps - 2nd Lieutenant ROBERT WILLIAM STEAD (1896-1926) from Liverpool. It had been Michel Knockaerts fervent wish that the tag be returned to Robert's family .... he wrote .....
”25 years ago, when I was General Secretary of the town hall of LA COUTURE, a village between ARMENTIERES and BETHUNE, just on the western front, I found, among old coins and a button of British trench coat, a piece of metal engraved in English. Since that day, I search in the British cemeteries of my sector the grave of the man (there are many of them near my home) In fact, with help of members of the forum and of a new friend from Minnesota one day I see I made a mistake, the man survived the conflict and returned back alive at home in Anfield Liverpool.
The memory of this man, that I do not know haunt my spirit, my best wish is to restore the wrist tag to his descendants, if they are still alive, that is very very important for me. Of course, no money in this history, just to be in peace with my soul, this medal is not mine, it must go back in his real place “
They weren't able to find relatives but they did find Roberts final resting place .... at St Peters Church Woolton Liverpool ... sadly the grave stone had fallen so they all "chipped in " to re-erect his gravestone so he was able to face the sun again !! Who knows what it was that endeared Robert to so many people ? - maybe it was because they could all relate to their own Grandfathers and Great Grandfathers .... but they knew they wanted to honour this brave soldier - in the eyes of the world he was an ordinary man .... but in their eyes he became a very extraordinary man and they seem to have become all the better for "knowing " him !!
Robert William STEAD (1896 West Derby -1926 Gateacre)
Robert William Stead was born March 22nd 1896 in West Derby Liverpool - the son of William Harley ( Master Mariner ) and Emily ( nee Richards ) Stead and lived at Watford Road Anfield Liverpool
He was 17 years and 5 months old when he attested to join the army for 4 years in Liverpool on 25 August 1913 He gave his address as Watford Road Anfield Liverpool the home of his father William Harley Stead who he gave as next of kin and later identified as a Master Mariner Robert who was a single man, identified his birthplace as Liverpool Lancashire - his current occupation as a bank clerk at Parr's Bank Liverpool and his religion as Church of England. He returned the next day, for a medical examination. This revealed that he stood 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighed 10st 9lbs and had a chest measurement of 35 inches. He was accepted into 6th Rifle battalion of the Kings Liverpool Regiment
Once in the Army - Robert William Stead became a number – 1466 to begin with - he faced a couple of months worth of drill square bashing and weapons training - in order to turn him from a bank clerk to soldier ....... Private Stead 's unit first entered the theatre of war in France in February 1915 and he was promoted to L/Cpl 28th August 1915. Yet Robert given his intelligence - was not the sort of man to remain an infantry soldier for long - in fact he was the perfect sort of person to become a member of the newly created Machine Gun Corps.
Robert William Stead # 22397 attested 20th February 1916 with 165 Brigade MGC and was promoted A/Cpl 29th March 1916 - he was sent to the Machine Gun training centre at Grantham back in England - here he familiarised himself with the workings and complexities of the Vickers .303 and heavy machine guns. He became a team player – each gun was ideally manned by a crew of eight - four men were involved in the actual firing and the other four responsible for sighting and the preparation and the bringing up of ammunition - crews in the field normally numbered six - simply because of the shortage of men.
The course only lasted approximately 6 weeks due to the intense demand for gunners. Thus Robert really only had basic training in the complexities of machine-gun warfare. ( The targets of every enemy weapon - members of the MGC were also called the Suicide Squad ) He rose through the ranks and was promoted to Second Lieutentant.
Robert was wounded in the chest and thigh in August 1916 while in Abbeville and was released from the Army 20th March 1919. Coming home after the war he married Elizabeth Neil Grant in 1921 at St Simon and St Judes Church Liverpool and they moved to Gateacre .... tragically they were only married 5 years as Robert William Stead died in 1926 in Gateacre of a cerebral hemorrhage.
The silver identity tag that started this story
The story hits the Liverpool Echo
The inscription on Robert's headstone and below the new restored stone stands proud once more. A fitting tribute to a brave soldier who touched so many people. Once more he faces the sun
Submitted by Robert's many friends at Rootschat
EDWARD ALBERT STEEN
Private Edward Albert Steen 2585, South Lancashire Regiment, 2nd Bn. Edward was employed on the Liverpool docks and had seen previous service and action during the Boer war. On 17th November 1915 Edward was on Signalling duty in Belgium when the enemy launched a gas attack. Sadly he was overcome by the gas and this led to his death. He is buried at London Rifle Brigade Cemetery, Belgium, and remembered On the war memorial at St Anthony's church, Scotland road.
Edward was the son of Peter and Martha Steen ( both born in Norway ) and the husband of husband of Eminnia Maud Steen, of 104, Walter Rd., Liverpool.
Edward was the son of Peter and Martha Steen ( both born in Norway ) and the husband of husband of Eminnia Maud Steen, of 104, Walter Rd., Liverpool.
JOHN SWEENEY
Private John Sweeney 11966, The King's (Liverpool Regiment) "A" Coy.1st Bn. He took part in the attack at Nueve Chapelle on 10th March 1915 and went missing in action presumed dead, he was aged 23. Two of his brothers also served during the war.
John was the Son of Mrs. Sarah Sweeney, of 104, Hopwood St., Liverpool. He is remembered at Le Touret Memorial in France, and on the war memorial at St Anthony's church, Scotland road.
John was the Son of Mrs. Sarah Sweeney, of 104, Hopwood St., Liverpool. He is remembered at Le Touret Memorial in France, and on the war memorial at St Anthony's church, Scotland road.
RICHARD SUDWORTH
Richard ( Uncle Dick ) served in France and Burma during WW2. My dad recalled his uncle Richard ( uncle Dick ) coming back from the war and staying with him and his mum. Uncle Dick was one of my grandads best friends and was devastated by his death in WW2. Dick had carried a photo of my grandad in his Army pay book throughout the war. My dad says he slept on the couch and would wake up screaming and his Mam would go and comfort her brother. Dick was married to Annie Hughes and they lived in Hartley close. He once ran a rag and bone business with his horse and cart.
Submitted by his Great Nephew Anthony Hogan
Submitted by his Great Nephew Anthony Hogan
JOHN SUTTON
My Dad was born in the Hornby Street area in 1905. Known later in life as ' Big John' He Married Ellen Shannon in 1927. They lived mainly in the Silvester Street area during their married life together. Dad started his working life at Fairries which was then taken over by Tate&Lyle where he stayed until retirement.
I wonder if many families can relate to the following which happened to my father at the outbreak of the war in 1939.
Dad was over 35 yrs old when war broke out and, by then had five children.That put him out of the range of conscription which was introduced at the outbreak. Also he worked in the food industry (another 'excused' industry, as well as being a member of the A.F.S. (Auxilliary Fire Service) when he was off shift from his normal job which required 3 x shift working.
One day, in the post, he received an envelope containing a white feather.This, apparantly virtually accused him of cowardice! That day he immediately went to the Royal Navy recruitment office and joined the Royal Navy.
He served on minesweepers from 1940 until demob in 1945 during which time three of his vessels were torpedoded or hit mines on the Russian Convoy runs. He was awarded 'oak leaves' having been mention in despatches for bravery under fire and I still have a letter sent to him by one of his Skippers,who had spotted the Award in the 'Gazette'
I wonder if many families can relate to the following which happened to my father at the outbreak of the war in 1939.
Dad was over 35 yrs old when war broke out and, by then had five children.That put him out of the range of conscription which was introduced at the outbreak. Also he worked in the food industry (another 'excused' industry, as well as being a member of the A.F.S. (Auxilliary Fire Service) when he was off shift from his normal job which required 3 x shift working.
One day, in the post, he received an envelope containing a white feather.This, apparantly virtually accused him of cowardice! That day he immediately went to the Royal Navy recruitment office and joined the Royal Navy.
He served on minesweepers from 1940 until demob in 1945 during which time three of his vessels were torpedoded or hit mines on the Russian Convoy runs. He was awarded 'oak leaves' having been mention in despatches for bravery under fire and I still have a letter sent to him by one of his Skippers,who had spotted the Award in the 'Gazette'
My Dad circled during his service years
Dad always suspected someone he knew, who had sent the anonymous letter and, strangely enough, that 'gentleman' never served in the Services, claiming bad health!
From his exposure in the North Sea following those sinkings, Dad suffered from Bronchial Pneumonia throughout the rest of his life but not once did I ever hear him complain.
I'd be proud to be just half the man he was.
JOSEPH TAGUE
Visit to the grave of Private Joseph Tague, King's Liverpool Regiment. 1878-1916.
In 1984 I was a member of 307 ( City of Liverpool ) Field Ambulance RAMC (V). That year, Our Annualcamp was taking place in Grobbendonk , near the town of Herentals in Belgium. The only other time I had ever been to Belgium was travelling through from Ostend on our way to the 1977 European cup final. I knew my Great-Grandad was buried somewhere in Belgium because the family sometimes mentioned it.
I asked my Grandma, his daughter Florence Roberts if she had any information on my Great-Grandad Joseph Tague. She had some old papers in a box which included a letter of condolence to his wife from his employer, Liverpool Corporation, and a letter from the government giving the name of the cemetery he was buried in, Lijssenthoek.Joe joined the 1st/5th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment. One of the Liverpool Pals battalions. He left a wife and 7 children, an eight having died while still a baby.
The only information the family had about Joe was that he had been wounded in the neck while the battalion were in trenches in the Ypres Salient. A neighbour's son had seen Joe being carried up the line by stretcher bearers and written home to tell his mother. She then called round to see if Joe's wife Eliza had any further news. she didn't, but soon the telegram arrived informing her that Joe had died from his wounds.
Like many people who lived through those times, Eliza always referred to 'France' when she meant the area of North eastern France and North western Belgium. Few people ever referred to Belgium.
I made a note of the cemetery and took it to Belgium with me in case it was near Herentals and our camp. The first week passed as any other TA camp did whether on Salisbury plain or Catterick. Living in tents then spending four days on exercise with other TA and regular units. The following saturday, we left the tents for a permanent camp in Grobbendonk.
Already there were our friends from 308 ( City of London ) General haspital. Our chaplain asked if anyone was interested in a coach trip to visit the battlefields of Flanders. Suprisingly, only about 50 people were interested out of several hundred, the bars of the town being a bigger attraction for them.
We made an early start on the Sunday morning, the chaplain having found a retired Royal Corps of Transport Major who was an expert on the area to act as guide. The Major brought with him some tapes of interviews with veterans of WW1, and tapes of popular songs of the day. I asked him if he had heard of Lijssentoek. He had, and told me we would be passing very close to it and would make a stop.
After a trip along the motorway, the Major pointing out places where incidents of WW2 had taken place, we arrived in Flanders. We saw the WW1 memorial to the Rifle Brigade, which the Germans had shot at when they invaded again in 1940, the site of one of the tunnels the British had dug under the German trenches, some very substantial two storey German block houses made of concrete, and on to the cemetery near Ypres where Captain Noel Chavasse VC and Bar was buried.
I was very interested in seeing this paticular grave as Captain Chavasse ran for Sefton Harriers, the club I was a member of. His father had been the second Church of England Bishop of Liverpooland had christened some of Joe's children at St Luke's church, so there was a slight family link. As we were a medical unit and Captain Chavasse was an officer in the RAMC, we had a short service at the grave before getting back onboard the coach. We had only been travelling a few minutes when we stopped and the Major announced we were going to look for the grave of a relative of one of our party.
The other passengers seemed very interested, and everyone left the coach to see the grave of Joe Tague. Commonwealth War Graves have solid stome gate post and inside one of the posts is set a steel box containing a book with the details of each grave, the name, rank and number, name of wife and the address at the time of death og the man interred. How long these books would last back home is anyone's guess.
The Major took out the book and asked me if the named man was my Great-Grandad. Its quite a moving experience to see the details of a relative, even one who had died many years before, written down. There, in a place far away and from a different time was Joe's name, the name of his wife Eliza, and their address, 31 Blake Street, Liverpool. The house was destroyed by a land mine in December 1940, along with much of the family photographs and papers, so I would like to place on record my thanks to Anthony Hogan of Yo Liverpool for filling in several important gaps.
We soon found Joe's grave, which like every other grave was immaculately maintained. The King's ( Liverpool ) Regiment badge, his name, rank and serial number were unaffected by decades Belgian rain, and were very clear on the White headstone.
The Major told us that Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery had been attached to a field hostpital and that most of those buried there had died of wounds while being treated at the hospital. Not far from Joe's grave were a row of five German graves. The headstones of the German soldiers differed from those of Commenwealth troops in being square topped rather than having a slight arc.
The Major explained that in the Ypres Salient, the German's were able to fire on the allied armies from three sides, but as even the slightest hill gave a valuable view of enemy positions in the mainly flat Flanders countryside, the British were in no mood to relinquish the salient or the town which stood beside it.
I took some photograph's of Joe's grave to give my Granmother and several members of our party wanted photograph's of me standing behind his headstone to take back home to show their families. If only Joe had known that twenty four years after his death, his surviving son Edward and his son-in-law, Jack Roberts would be back in Belgium and France fighting over the same country against the same enemy.
We boarded the bus and the Major told us we still had plenty to see, which turned out to be correct! In the next few hours we visited Hill 62, the nearvy sanctuary wood, Maple Copse, Polygon wood, Kemmel, Hellfire corner, Ploegsteert wood ( nicknamed " Plug Street " ) the massive crater left by the mine at Hooge, the huge Tyne Cot Cemetery, and the nearby field where Canadian Lt Col. John McCrae and an unknown RAMC Captained who was dressing his wounds penned the Great war poem ' In Flanders Fields '
We visited the town of Poperinghe which is home to Talbot House, the house which Rev 'Tubby' Clayton opened as a place where soldiers could rest when out of the front line for a few days. The charity 'Toc-H' takes its name from Talbot House ( T H being 'Toc-H' in the phonetic alphabet of the day.
A visit to the Menin gate to the the thousands of names engraved there and to hear Last Post sounded by the Ypres Fire Brigade Buglers rounded off the day. All commenwealth countries are represented on the walls of that great memorial and it would do the members of certain political parties well to visit it and see the hundreds of names which are more familiar in the Sub Continent and Africa than the fields of Northen Europe.
For many in our group, the Menin gate would be the highlight of a very interesting and moving day, but for this paticular Scouser, nothing could beat seeing the last resting place of his Great-Grandad, Private Joseph Tague, a Liverpool Pal.
In 1984 I was a member of 307 ( City of Liverpool ) Field Ambulance RAMC (V). That year, Our Annualcamp was taking place in Grobbendonk , near the town of Herentals in Belgium. The only other time I had ever been to Belgium was travelling through from Ostend on our way to the 1977 European cup final. I knew my Great-Grandad was buried somewhere in Belgium because the family sometimes mentioned it.
I asked my Grandma, his daughter Florence Roberts if she had any information on my Great-Grandad Joseph Tague. She had some old papers in a box which included a letter of condolence to his wife from his employer, Liverpool Corporation, and a letter from the government giving the name of the cemetery he was buried in, Lijssenthoek.Joe joined the 1st/5th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment. One of the Liverpool Pals battalions. He left a wife and 7 children, an eight having died while still a baby.
The only information the family had about Joe was that he had been wounded in the neck while the battalion were in trenches in the Ypres Salient. A neighbour's son had seen Joe being carried up the line by stretcher bearers and written home to tell his mother. She then called round to see if Joe's wife Eliza had any further news. she didn't, but soon the telegram arrived informing her that Joe had died from his wounds.
Like many people who lived through those times, Eliza always referred to 'France' when she meant the area of North eastern France and North western Belgium. Few people ever referred to Belgium.
I made a note of the cemetery and took it to Belgium with me in case it was near Herentals and our camp. The first week passed as any other TA camp did whether on Salisbury plain or Catterick. Living in tents then spending four days on exercise with other TA and regular units. The following saturday, we left the tents for a permanent camp in Grobbendonk.
Already there were our friends from 308 ( City of London ) General haspital. Our chaplain asked if anyone was interested in a coach trip to visit the battlefields of Flanders. Suprisingly, only about 50 people were interested out of several hundred, the bars of the town being a bigger attraction for them.
We made an early start on the Sunday morning, the chaplain having found a retired Royal Corps of Transport Major who was an expert on the area to act as guide. The Major brought with him some tapes of interviews with veterans of WW1, and tapes of popular songs of the day. I asked him if he had heard of Lijssentoek. He had, and told me we would be passing very close to it and would make a stop.
After a trip along the motorway, the Major pointing out places where incidents of WW2 had taken place, we arrived in Flanders. We saw the WW1 memorial to the Rifle Brigade, which the Germans had shot at when they invaded again in 1940, the site of one of the tunnels the British had dug under the German trenches, some very substantial two storey German block houses made of concrete, and on to the cemetery near Ypres where Captain Noel Chavasse VC and Bar was buried.
I was very interested in seeing this paticular grave as Captain Chavasse ran for Sefton Harriers, the club I was a member of. His father had been the second Church of England Bishop of Liverpooland had christened some of Joe's children at St Luke's church, so there was a slight family link. As we were a medical unit and Captain Chavasse was an officer in the RAMC, we had a short service at the grave before getting back onboard the coach. We had only been travelling a few minutes when we stopped and the Major announced we were going to look for the grave of a relative of one of our party.
The other passengers seemed very interested, and everyone left the coach to see the grave of Joe Tague. Commonwealth War Graves have solid stome gate post and inside one of the posts is set a steel box containing a book with the details of each grave, the name, rank and number, name of wife and the address at the time of death og the man interred. How long these books would last back home is anyone's guess.
The Major took out the book and asked me if the named man was my Great-Grandad. Its quite a moving experience to see the details of a relative, even one who had died many years before, written down. There, in a place far away and from a different time was Joe's name, the name of his wife Eliza, and their address, 31 Blake Street, Liverpool. The house was destroyed by a land mine in December 1940, along with much of the family photographs and papers, so I would like to place on record my thanks to Anthony Hogan of Yo Liverpool for filling in several important gaps.
We soon found Joe's grave, which like every other grave was immaculately maintained. The King's ( Liverpool ) Regiment badge, his name, rank and serial number were unaffected by decades Belgian rain, and were very clear on the White headstone.
The Major told us that Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery had been attached to a field hostpital and that most of those buried there had died of wounds while being treated at the hospital. Not far from Joe's grave were a row of five German graves. The headstones of the German soldiers differed from those of Commenwealth troops in being square topped rather than having a slight arc.
The Major explained that in the Ypres Salient, the German's were able to fire on the allied armies from three sides, but as even the slightest hill gave a valuable view of enemy positions in the mainly flat Flanders countryside, the British were in no mood to relinquish the salient or the town which stood beside it.
I took some photograph's of Joe's grave to give my Granmother and several members of our party wanted photograph's of me standing behind his headstone to take back home to show their families. If only Joe had known that twenty four years after his death, his surviving son Edward and his son-in-law, Jack Roberts would be back in Belgium and France fighting over the same country against the same enemy.
We boarded the bus and the Major told us we still had plenty to see, which turned out to be correct! In the next few hours we visited Hill 62, the nearvy sanctuary wood, Maple Copse, Polygon wood, Kemmel, Hellfire corner, Ploegsteert wood ( nicknamed " Plug Street " ) the massive crater left by the mine at Hooge, the huge Tyne Cot Cemetery, and the nearby field where Canadian Lt Col. John McCrae and an unknown RAMC Captained who was dressing his wounds penned the Great war poem ' In Flanders Fields '
We visited the town of Poperinghe which is home to Talbot House, the house which Rev 'Tubby' Clayton opened as a place where soldiers could rest when out of the front line for a few days. The charity 'Toc-H' takes its name from Talbot House ( T H being 'Toc-H' in the phonetic alphabet of the day.
A visit to the Menin gate to the the thousands of names engraved there and to hear Last Post sounded by the Ypres Fire Brigade Buglers rounded off the day. All commenwealth countries are represented on the walls of that great memorial and it would do the members of certain political parties well to visit it and see the hundreds of names which are more familiar in the Sub Continent and Africa than the fields of Northen Europe.
For many in our group, the Menin gate would be the highlight of a very interesting and moving day, but for this paticular Scouser, nothing could beat seeing the last resting place of his Great-Grandad, Private Joseph Tague, a Liverpool Pal.
Joseph's Grave At Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery
Submitted By His Great Grandson Ronnie Williams
Submitted By His Great Grandson Ronnie Williams
ETHEL TASKER
This is a rather sad tale, My Sister Ethel met a young Canadian soldier Rodolph C Legroulx in 1943. They married at the church of St Frances De Sales Hale Rd Walton Liverpool. He and the best man George Pollard who you can see behind with the bridesmaid Served with the Stormont Dundas & Glengarry Highlanders ( Nick Name The Glens ). Sadly both men where Killed in action June and July 1944 in the battle for Caen.
Actually the best man was murdered along with others by the Hitler Youth Division, he bought me my first beer.
Ethel was stationed in Burscough as part of an AA battery crew. The Girls on the steps of the church on the photo where from her battery. I suspect that Burscough on the outskirts of Liverpool where among the last AA defences before the bombers reached the city, she remarked that during the whole time they only ever brought down one plane, ( I guess those girls scared the rest of them though)
Actually the best man was murdered along with others by the Hitler Youth Division, he bought me my first beer.
Ethel was stationed in Burscough as part of an AA battery crew. The Girls on the steps of the church on the photo where from her battery. I suspect that Burscough on the outskirts of Liverpool where among the last AA defences before the bombers reached the city, she remarked that during the whole time they only ever brought down one plane, ( I guess those girls scared the rest of them though)
The plaque listing George Pollard
It Reads
" On the night of 7-8 June 1944 Eighteen Canadian soldiers where murdered in this gardenWhile being held here as prisoners of war.
Two more prisoners died here or nearby on 17 June 1944.
They are gone but not forgotten. "
You can read about the terrible event that led to George's death by using this link http://www.strijdbewijs.nl/normandie3/abbey.htm
Submitted by Ethel's brother Les Tasker.
It Reads
" On the night of 7-8 June 1944 Eighteen Canadian soldiers where murdered in this gardenWhile being held here as prisoners of war.
Two more prisoners died here or nearby on 17 June 1944.
They are gone but not forgotten. "
You can read about the terrible event that led to George's death by using this link http://www.strijdbewijs.nl/normandie3/abbey.htm
Submitted by Ethel's brother Les Tasker.
WILLIAM J TASKER
The Photo was taken 1941 as it was belived to be the last time we would be together for a very long time, My name is Les Tasker, Im the youngest of the family, also pictured are my parents, brothers and sister. Thats me the one in short pants, I was just 11yrs old at the time. I remained in Dyson St Walton for the whole of the war , I remember some of the early air raids and the Blitz.
There was also an AA battery stationed in Walton Park which had mobile guns, they put one at the top of Dyson st in the evenings when a raid was due as the railway was a prime target. This is the story of the first air raid that I witnessed before the may blitz, My Dad and brother had gone to the evening first house at the Coliseum, on City Rd It was still daylight , when the sirens went. We had a brick shelter in the back yard the door was in the entry, so Mum myself and another elder brother went to it, but stopped to look up, there was one lone plane the ack ack was popping away at it, never thought about the shrapnel coming down, any way it was then we heard the screamers , and we just dived in the shelter. I think the railway was their target. One bomb landed at the top of Luxmore rd and city rd ,that was about 100 or so yds from us the rest stradled the streets right up to Claudia st.Dad and Norm came out of the colly as we called it covered in dust, Norm who is 2 yrs older than me got a wack over the head from my dad , as the sweet shop on city rd had littered the road with mars bars and he tried to pick one up.
There’s one thing I would like to mention, On TV they had the anniversary of the start of the war, and you would get the impression that every child was packed up as an evacuee and sent of to the country, Not so, there where lots of children still in the Cities. Some of you may know Walton Hall Park to me it seemed like three separate fields, in the first field the one that comes out onto Queens Drive, I know that this was built on an old rubbish dump. One day after one of the raids my brother and I where in the park by the lake, and as kids do we where throwing pebbles to see how many time they would skim across the water , all of a sudden we heard the parky,s whistle, in them days the park keeper was some one to be scared of, So thinking he was after us we legged it. Now he was on his bike and coming up the main path, Waving his hand and blowing his whistle, so we cut across the field. We where about a hundred yards or so from the entrance when we saw the crater it was quite large you could see the old cans and bottles among the rubbish, but stuck in the middle about 8 or 10 foot down was a great big bomb and you could see the fin. We realized that he was trying to warn us, but we legged it out of the gate anyway as fast as we could. I wonder if its still there as in that position it would a very low priority.
There was also an AA battery stationed in Walton Park which had mobile guns, they put one at the top of Dyson st in the evenings when a raid was due as the railway was a prime target. This is the story of the first air raid that I witnessed before the may blitz, My Dad and brother had gone to the evening first house at the Coliseum, on City Rd It was still daylight , when the sirens went. We had a brick shelter in the back yard the door was in the entry, so Mum myself and another elder brother went to it, but stopped to look up, there was one lone plane the ack ack was popping away at it, never thought about the shrapnel coming down, any way it was then we heard the screamers , and we just dived in the shelter. I think the railway was their target. One bomb landed at the top of Luxmore rd and city rd ,that was about 100 or so yds from us the rest stradled the streets right up to Claudia st.Dad and Norm came out of the colly as we called it covered in dust, Norm who is 2 yrs older than me got a wack over the head from my dad , as the sweet shop on city rd had littered the road with mars bars and he tried to pick one up.
There’s one thing I would like to mention, On TV they had the anniversary of the start of the war, and you would get the impression that every child was packed up as an evacuee and sent of to the country, Not so, there where lots of children still in the Cities. Some of you may know Walton Hall Park to me it seemed like three separate fields, in the first field the one that comes out onto Queens Drive, I know that this was built on an old rubbish dump. One day after one of the raids my brother and I where in the park by the lake, and as kids do we where throwing pebbles to see how many time they would skim across the water , all of a sudden we heard the parky,s whistle, in them days the park keeper was some one to be scared of, So thinking he was after us we legged it. Now he was on his bike and coming up the main path, Waving his hand and blowing his whistle, so we cut across the field. We where about a hundred yards or so from the entrance when we saw the crater it was quite large you could see the old cans and bottles among the rubbish, but stuck in the middle about 8 or 10 foot down was a great big bomb and you could see the fin. We realized that he was trying to warn us, but we legged it out of the gate anyway as fast as we could. I wonder if its still there as in that position it would a very low priority.
The photo is of my Brother Norm my Dad and myself Dyson St c1938
This story is from one night during the height of the May blitz 1941. For those of you who know the area my school was Arnot Street, a Victorian building it ran the whole length of the street, there where three entrances, infants, Juniors, & Seniors, but they added another one, It’s bricked up now but the image still remains. It was for the AFS to get there car’s and pumps in & out , also a Home Guard post , there was quite a few close explosions on this particular raid, for those of you who wonder what I mean by close, we would be in the shelter you could hear the screamers and then the bangs the door would rattle the shelter would shake and the comment was ooh that was close.
It would be dawn before we could emerge , day light came had some brecky and then out to see what had gone locally. The two streets Arnot and Index where reduced to rubble by a land mine, it had been witnessed by the home guard who saw the parachute, they thought at first it was a crew member but soon dived for cover. I went up to my class room all the windows had gone the desk’s where piled up on the far side of the room. I had a few school mates who lived in those streets and don’t know what became of them. At the bottom of the street was the school caretakers house I still remember his name to this day Mr Morris, out side his front wall where stacked up coffins two deep and about six high, I thought they where plywood , but I was later told they where compressed cardboard.
The shops on County Rd between the two streets had also gone, I remember the shop on the corner of Arnot St was Bata Shoes and the other corner I think was Sloan’s Fruit & Veg shop. The buildings on County Road where three stories high and just the front façade was still standing and it remained like that for some time. One day a convoy of American troops came past they must have thought it was a bit dangerous , shortly afterwards it was demolished.
The day of that raid was the end of my schooling for a while, I had lessons in private houses but it was not the same, the bombed site had a huge EWS tank built on it, the two half streets where never rebuilt. Several different buildings where built there and later pulled down, I believe its now a super market.
It would be dawn before we could emerge , day light came had some brecky and then out to see what had gone locally. The two streets Arnot and Index where reduced to rubble by a land mine, it had been witnessed by the home guard who saw the parachute, they thought at first it was a crew member but soon dived for cover. I went up to my class room all the windows had gone the desk’s where piled up on the far side of the room. I had a few school mates who lived in those streets and don’t know what became of them. At the bottom of the street was the school caretakers house I still remember his name to this day Mr Morris, out side his front wall where stacked up coffins two deep and about six high, I thought they where plywood , but I was later told they where compressed cardboard.
The shops on County Rd between the two streets had also gone, I remember the shop on the corner of Arnot St was Bata Shoes and the other corner I think was Sloan’s Fruit & Veg shop. The buildings on County Road where three stories high and just the front façade was still standing and it remained like that for some time. One day a convoy of American troops came past they must have thought it was a bit dangerous , shortly afterwards it was demolished.
The day of that raid was the end of my schooling for a while, I had lessons in private houses but it was not the same, the bombed site had a huge EWS tank built on it, the two half streets where never rebuilt. Several different buildings where built there and later pulled down, I believe its now a super market.
My Dad William J Tasker during WW1
My Mum She worked in Napiers on the East Lancs it was I believe making marine engines, The brick work on the right of the photo is the end of the shelter where I spent so much time.
There where many spy stories going round at that time lots of them where in the imagination, but here is a real one , My father who was in the Home Guard told us the tale when he got home the following morning after a raid, Somebody spotted a light flashing over the roof of a house during the raid, Now I’m not sure if he said Mandeville St or Hampden St, both streets of County Rd very close to the railway, This line ran from the dock area and up to Edge Hill Marshalling yards in fact I think it was one of the few main arteries for materials from the docks that was still open, The police and Home Guard, my dad was one of them found the house and they arrested a man who according to gossip was a kind of agent, as far as I was told he had got up into the loft took a couple of bricks out of the chimney breast and was signalling with a torch up the chimney can’t give any more on that as we don’t know what happened afterwards, I doubt that any report would have been made on the incident .
This is a well recorded incident, for those of you who don’t know about it I shall recall it, As I mentioned earlier the street we lived in backed on to the railway, one night during the blitz Jerry managed to get one of the trains some of the carriages where on fire, the crew who must have known it was carrying ammunition regardless of there own safety, managed to get the train on to a less densely populated area and managed to isolate the burning carriages, they where commended for their action, I’m not sure if they got a medal for it, But the part that not been recorded was the next morning I went up to City Rd and it was like it had been snowing the road was white covered in what I presume was flakes of cotton ,still don’t know what caused it or what it was.
My Dad William c1900 K L R T/A or Cadet
My Grandad John Thomas Drinkwater pictured in WW1 uniform. He also served during the Boer war.
I think people to day would be surprised at the things we got up to after a raid, dash out and search for shrapnel and incendiary fins, first place I used to look was on top of the shelter, found some cracking pieces mostly from aa shells. we never seem to hear the term today, but they used to talk about oil bombs, Whether it was a joke I don’t know? I found a very thin part of a casing and was told it was from an oil bomb.
The raids eased off after the May Blitz, Enter the young entrepreneur’s now in those days we had gangs but not as they are portrayed to-day, I was the youngest member the only reason they let me stay was because I tagged on to my older brother.
We had an old steery i/e literally an old plank with four pram wheels on it, those of you old enough will know what I mean, In the black out it was quite difficult to find your way around after dark, The Ministry of Information was full of suggestions at that time, one of these was to paint things white as an aid to moving about during the black out. Solution / someone borrow their mums galvanized bucket, ands dads flat paint brushes get some lime, nip down to Appleton’s Chandlers for a penny blue, and off we go knocking at doors and offering to whiten the kerb stones in front of the house, not sure now of the price but I think it was six pence a go, then pray it would not rain to hard for a while, this kept us going for quite some time.
Towards the end of 1941 there where not many of the old gang left as they had left school and had there own jobs. 14yrs was the age in those days pretty soon I was left on my own, brother Norm was 14 in Jan 1942 he got a job with my Dad who was a Joiner for a building contractor working on war damage but it was not to last very long, Ministry of Labour more or less closed the firm down, sent all the older tradesmen down south to work on Army camps, Dad was over the age so he was left, Norm was directed to Bibbys cattle food factory near the docks, cleaning out the silos, It was shift work 6-2 2-10 & 10-6 can you imagine that to day for a 15yr old, He volunteered for the RAF at 17 Stan Tyms who was the eldest of the bunch was now in the Royal Navy serving with DEMS ( defensibly equipped merchant ships ), Stan Hill the lad next door also served Royal Navy.
I shall jump a few years now to 1943, The photo below was taken Oct 1943, if you look closely you can see some bomb damage on the wall of the church, Now I am the good looking smart one on the right now in my long pants I would be 14yrs in November, Brothers Bill & Jack where in the Middle East and would make their way home via Italy, Brother Ern who was in the RASC who was to go to France & Germany Brother Arthur was in the Irish Guards and was stationed down south training young officers, Sister Ethel was in the ATS, the little boy in the velvet suit is my nephew who is now 68 and helps me keep this computer going.
Submitted by Les Tasker
WILLIAM JAMES TAUBMAN
William James Taubman is my grandfather. Little has been known of him as his death was premature in 1932. A little research has helped find a bit out about him. Born in 1887 and had a brother John Edward and sister Ada Ann. He married Alice Nash and they had 7 children, one dying aged 1 year and also named William James.
I believe he joined up for the effort for WW1 and was injured during a gas attack and also earned a decoration for his services. In 1917 he served aboard many ships crossing the Atlantic as a ships fireman and also a greaser. He left in 1924 and I believe was in ill health due to his injuries from WW1 and also working below decks on the ships he sailed on didn't help his damaged lungs.
He died in 1932 aged 44 years leaving a wife and 6 young children from 15 years old to 18 months old. My father was the youngest at 18 months and had no memory of him at all so he was never spoken about. All his children have now passed on and I have asked cousins if their mums or dads told any stories of him. I got told a few tales and research has helped build a picture of a man that for many years has been forgotten. I have also found where he is buried so any family member wishing to pay respects, can now do so. I don't think any of his children knew where he was laid to rest which I find sad. All one had was his photo.
At the time of his death, his address was 49 Prince Edwin Lane in Everton. I also know that he had lived in Juvenal St L3 and Reading St L5 in his younger years.
Submitted by his Grandson Dave Taubman
GEORGE TEDFORD
Private George Tedford 36102, Lancashire Fusiliers, 1st/5th Bn. George had worked for Crosfield's Climax Works on Vauxhall road before the war began. He was the Son of Robert and Margaret Tedford with whom he lived at 25 Tenterden St. George was just 19 years old when he was killed in action on 7th September 1917. He is buried at Mendinghem Military Cemetery in Belgium, and remembered on the war memorial at St Anthony's church, Scotland road.
JOHN THOMAS
Private John Thomas 2462, Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 9th Bn. died 29/10/1917, aged 28. John is buried at Belgian Battery Corner Cemetery in Belgium, and remembered on the war memorial at Our Lady of Reconciliation church, Eldon street.
John Thomas enlisted with the Australian army on 5 August 1915 at Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He gave his next of kin as his Mother, Mrs m Thomas, of 17 Vescock Street, off Hornby Road, Liverpool, England. His age at the time of enlistment is given as 25 years and 6 months, and his occupation as Seaman. John was 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighed 139 pounds, with a 351/2 inch chest measurement. His complexion was noted as fresh, his eyes Blue, and his hair Brown.
After training, John was shipped to Zeitoun, Egypt, arriving on 27 February 1916, before joining his battalion the following day in Habeita, Egypt. He then embarks from Alexandria aboard the "Saxonia" on 27 March 1916, and arrives in Marseilles on 3 April 1916, to join up with the BEF. Whilst in France, HJohn is wounded in action on 23 July 1916, and on 25 July he is admitted to hospital in Camiers with Shell shock, and discharged on 4 August 1916. John is then transfered between different units around Cameirs and Etaples, before joining up with the 9th battalion on 3 December 1916.
On 10 July 1917, John is given two weeks leave in England, enough time to make it to Liverpool to visit his mother. Returning to his battalion he is wounded in action for the second occassion on 2 October 1917 in Belgium. He rejoins his battalion on 10 October 1917, and again goes into action. Sadly on 29 October 1917, John Thomas is killed in action in Belgium.
John Thomas enlisted with the Australian army on 5 August 1915 at Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He gave his next of kin as his Mother, Mrs m Thomas, of 17 Vescock Street, off Hornby Road, Liverpool, England. His age at the time of enlistment is given as 25 years and 6 months, and his occupation as Seaman. John was 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighed 139 pounds, with a 351/2 inch chest measurement. His complexion was noted as fresh, his eyes Blue, and his hair Brown.
After training, John was shipped to Zeitoun, Egypt, arriving on 27 February 1916, before joining his battalion the following day in Habeita, Egypt. He then embarks from Alexandria aboard the "Saxonia" on 27 March 1916, and arrives in Marseilles on 3 April 1916, to join up with the BEF. Whilst in France, HJohn is wounded in action on 23 July 1916, and on 25 July he is admitted to hospital in Camiers with Shell shock, and discharged on 4 August 1916. John is then transfered between different units around Cameirs and Etaples, before joining up with the 9th battalion on 3 December 1916.
On 10 July 1917, John is given two weeks leave in England, enough time to make it to Liverpool to visit his mother. Returning to his battalion he is wounded in action for the second occassion on 2 October 1917 in Belgium. He rejoins his battalion on 10 October 1917, and again goes into action. Sadly on 29 October 1917, John Thomas is killed in action in Belgium.
MARY ELIZABETH THOMAS ( NEE THORNTON )
As a teenager, my Mum's best friend was a girl named Mary Thornton. She died in an explosion in a munitions factory during WW2 on 26th November 1942. My sister was named for her. She had died before my sister was born. The surprise for me was how soon the birth was after Mary's death. My sister was born on the 9th December 1942.
She was the same age as Mum, so probably born c1909. The civilian casualties on CWGC only cover deaths "as a result of enemy action". I think the munitions factory may have been in Kirby. I sent for her death certificate and this is the information it contained.Mary Elizabeth Thomas lived at 33 Phythian St. (I think that's Low Hill). Her husband was Albert Ernest, a "Motor Lorry Driver".( I can't trace any children ) Occupation - Munition worker. She died, aged 33, on 26th November 1942 at the Royal Southern Hospital, Fazackerly. Cause of Death - " Shock following extensive burns accidentally caused by the igniting of explosives on which she was working at a factory on the 26th ultimo"
Informants Details - Certificate received from G C Mort Coroner for Liverpool. Inquest held 4th December 1942. Death Registered 5th December. So the factory isn't named and, of course, there is no info about any other deaths that may have occurred in the same accident. I have managed to find one lady from Old Swan who died on the same day, and from the same cause. So I assume there would have been other deaths that day also.
Submitted by Val G
WILLIAM TIDY
I have one story which you may be interested in. It involves two ARP wardens, namely George Gibbons and William Tidy. During the May Blitz the area on Netherfield Road next to the 'Pop' cinema/theatre was hit by a land mine. In fact the land mine landed on top of the ARP Shelter, leaving a crater. The top of the shelter a concrete slab was found the following day half way down the opposite street. Nothing was found of at least the two aged ARP Wardens.
I find this chillingly interesting as both were related to me after the event. George was the brother of my grandmother on my fathers side of the family. And William was married to the sister of my grandmother on my mothers side of the family. Both sets of families talked of a death of a relative but not until I started checking my family tree did the truth come out that both died on the same night. Because neither body was found there is no death certificate. I do not know if anyone else died in this incident.
There is also a local tale of a wedding reception in Boyd Street Everton which received a direct hit by a landmine. All who attended were killed. My grandmother had an invite but did not go to the evening 'do'. I believe pieces of bodies littered the roofs of the surrounding houses. Very sad. Cresswell Mount Flats on Northumberland Terrace were built on this site. This has since been demolished and is part of Everton Park.
Submitted by Steve Noonan
ALFRED TURNER
Alfred Turner was born in Liverpool in 1900 to Alfred and Mary Ann ( nee Tomlinson ) Turner, who had married in Toxteth Park in 1899. His father Alfred was born in Liverpool and ran a number of coffe shops in Liverpool, his mother Mary Ann was born in Kendal to a Scottish family, she also helped run the coffee shops. In 1911 the family was living at 16 Stanhope street in Liverpool.
When the war broke out in 1914 it had a big affect on young Alfred, he wanted to join up and serve and not miss out on this exciting episode. He was of course to too young to join, but like other young lads he was determined. We now know that many under aged boys managed to fool the recruiting officers or get them to turn a blind eye so that they could serve in the great exciting war, we also know that their experiences turned out to be something that they could never expect or imagine.
Alfred Turner managed to get himself signed up, the family are unsure of his regiment or even if he used a false name, but they do know that in 1916 he was acting as a stretcher bearer during one of the most horrific battles of all time, Alfred, not yet 16, was serving on the Somme. His father found out his son was serving abroad and contacted the Army, he managed to get him located and then returned home, thankfully in one piece. Alfred's war was over.
When the war broke out in 1914 it had a big affect on young Alfred, he wanted to join up and serve and not miss out on this exciting episode. He was of course to too young to join, but like other young lads he was determined. We now know that many under aged boys managed to fool the recruiting officers or get them to turn a blind eye so that they could serve in the great exciting war, we also know that their experiences turned out to be something that they could never expect or imagine.
Alfred Turner managed to get himself signed up, the family are unsure of his regiment or even if he used a false name, but they do know that in 1916 he was acting as a stretcher bearer during one of the most horrific battles of all time, Alfred, not yet 16, was serving on the Somme. His father found out his son was serving abroad and contacted the Army, he managed to get him located and then returned home, thankfully in one piece. Alfred's war was over.
Alfred Turner in uniform. I at first though he may be wearing an artillery uniform, the badge does look like that of the artillery along with the sash on his left shoulder. The riding crop could signal a horse artillery unit, but where are his riding boots? it is more likely that the crop was a gimmick given by the photographer for Alfred to hold. Another person has suggested that Alfred could be wearing a territorial uniform in the photograph.
The surviving serving records return too many Alfred Turner's to be certain that any could be him. Did he use an assumed name? without any concrete evidencewe can not tell who Alfred served with. We know he did serve and that his father brought him home. We know he was carrying stretchers during the battle of the Somme, was he a medic in the RAMC? or did he join a regular regiment and once out in France they discovered or suspected his true age, did they then put him on stretcher bearing duties to keep him out of the attacks? this is all suggestion and without proof we know nothing.
Alfred returned home from France and probably spent time working in the family coffee house business. He married Margaret Makeating in Liverpool in 1931 and was employed by the transport department, driving the old open top buses before going on to trams. Alfred passed away in 1970.
Submitted by his son Colin and grandsons Niel and Mark
The surviving serving records return too many Alfred Turner's to be certain that any could be him. Did he use an assumed name? without any concrete evidencewe can not tell who Alfred served with. We know he did serve and that his father brought him home. We know he was carrying stretchers during the battle of the Somme, was he a medic in the RAMC? or did he join a regular regiment and once out in France they discovered or suspected his true age, did they then put him on stretcher bearing duties to keep him out of the attacks? this is all suggestion and without proof we know nothing.
Alfred returned home from France and probably spent time working in the family coffee house business. He married Margaret Makeating in Liverpool in 1931 and was employed by the transport department, driving the old open top buses before going on to trams. Alfred passed away in 1970.
Submitted by his son Colin and grandsons Niel and Mark