St Marks, Worsley

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Name: McCREA, EDWARD D'ARCY
Initials: E D
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Civilian
Regiment/Service: Civilian War Dead
Age: 45
Date of Death: 22/12/1940
Additional information: M.D., M.Ch., F.R.C.S., of The Cottage, Barton Road. Son of John Harris McCrea, and Jeanette McCrea, of Stillorgan, County Dublin, Irish Republic; husband of Edith Florence Willock McCrea. Died at The Cottage, Barton Road.
Casualty Type: Civilian War Dead
Reporting Authority: WORSLEY, URBAN DISTRICT

Name: McCREA, EDITH FLORENCE WILLOCK
Initials: E F W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Civilian
Regiment/Service: Civilian War Dead
Age: 44
Date of Death: 22/12/1940
Additional information: B.A., M.B., B.Ch., F.R.C.S.; D.P.H., of The Cottage, Barton Road. Daughter of the late William Alexander and Edith Lucy Willcock, of Ottery St. Mary, Devon; wife of Dr. Edward D'Arcy McCrea. Died at The Cottage, Barton Road.
Casualty Type: Civilian War Dead
Reporting Authority: WORSLEY, URBAN DISTRICT

Name: McCREA, PATRICK PHILLIP WILLOCK
Initials: P P W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Civilian
Regiment/Service: Civilian War Dead
Age: 12
Date of Death: 22/12/1940
Additional information: of The Cottage, Barton Road. Son of Dr. Edward D'Arcy McCrea and Edith Florence Willock McCrea. Died at The Cottage, Barton Road.
Casualty Type: Civilian War Dead
Reporting Authority: WORSLEY, URBAN DISTRICT

Name: McCREA, MARJORIE GILLIAN WILLOCK
Initials: M G W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Civilian
Regiment/Service: Civilian War Dead
Age: 9
Date of Death: 22/12/1940
Additional information: of The Cottage, Barton Road. Daughter of Dr. Edward D'Arcy McCrea and Edith Florence Willock McCrea. Died at The Cottage, Barton Road.
Casualty Type: Civilian War Dead
Reporting Authority: WORSLEY, URBAN DISTRICT

The days leading up to Christmas 1940 had seen Manchester and its surrounding areas targeted by the Luftwaffe. In Salford it is believed that the blitz caused 215 deaths and left 910 injured, over 8000 properties were damaged.

I had previously posted this picture on the Salford Forums; here are a few of the interesting messages posted:

Posted by Julie

Edward McCrea was born in Ireland in the 1890s and trained in Dublin. He was assistant surgeon at Sir Patrick Dun's Hospital in Dublin, but had to leave Ireland due to the political situation. McCrea came to the Salford Royal Hospital in 1922 as registrar in urological surgery and in 1934 became full surgeon to the Hospital. He was also honorary consulting surgeon to Eccles and Patricroft Hospital. McCrea was a well known surgeon, and built up a large and successful practice in Victoria Park, Manchester. He backed up his clinical practice with academic investigations, and was demonstrator in physiology at the University of Manchester. McCrea was also one of the leading lawn tennis players of the world. McCrea was killed in air raids, along with his wife, Edith Florence Willcock McCrea (see above) and two children, in December 1940.

Posted by Mark

With regard to the interest in the death by enemy action of the Drs McCrea and their children. Their home known as 'The Cottage' on Barton Road was in fact a large house in substantial grounds with a large orchard. It was hit by a parachute mine and completely demolished. Numerous other people died in the house at the time of the bombing as there was a house party taking place. Nobody survived. Some years later whilst walking through fallen leaves on the site my foot caught on a solid object. This turned out to be the upper lens assembly of a brass microscope which had Dr McCrea's name engraved on it. This went into the St Mark's School museum at Worsley and then on to the then Eccles Museum at Monks Hall. For the Google Earthers among us the co-ordinates for where 'The Cottage' stood are:53 deg 29'46.81" N, 2 deg 22'39.39" W

Site of 'The Cottage' remained derelict until mid fifties.
Site then acquired as a storage depot by North West Water and fenced off.
Ground on which 'The Cottage' stood redeveloped late 1900's as a retirement home complex.
This remains to present day.

The parachute bomb was possibly released high above Trafford Park which is between two and four miles away from Worsley and was blown off target over Worsley. Worsley had no war time targets and the parachute mine was an extremely powerful bomb designed to explode above the ground so as to maximise blast damage at ground level (ie a factory flattener).

Another overshoot from Trafford Park was a V1 (doodlebug) in 1944 which hit and destroyed a house about a third the way up the right hand side of Woodstock Drive in Worsley. Not very far from the site of 'The Cottage'.

Posted by Ian

Hi, I have just been reading the accounts below concerning the McCrea family. The gravestone is in St. Mark's Churchyard, Worsley, opposite the John Gilbert public house, as well as the parents there were the two children and a maid who were killed. My father and grandfather were standing outside their house at 43 Barton Road looking at the searchlights when they were both blown off their feet and up towards the Bridgewater Hotel, they ran round the corner and found that the house had been totally destroyed and was in flames and belongings were hanging from the branches of the trees. I have two photographs of the house prior to the it's destruction.

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Name: GRIFFITHS, JOHN WALTER RONALD
Initials: J W R
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Flight Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force
Unit Text: 102 Sqdn.
Age: 20
Date of Death: 11/09/1941
Service No: 650725
Additional information: Son of George Griffiths and of Eva Griffiths (nee Upton), of Boothstown, Manchester.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 846.
Cemetery: WORSLEY (ST. MARK) CHURCHYARD

F/Sgt Griffiths was killed on 11th September 1941 in Whitley Z6870 which crashed at Topcliffe on a training flight. The aircraft crashed within Topcliffe airfield boundary after the crew were practicing overshooting during a dual-instruction part of a night flying exercise at 22.50hrs.

www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk/

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Name: TOPHAM, GEOFFREY
Initials: G
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Corporal
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force
Age: 20
Date of Death: 03/12/1941
Service No: 572127
Additional information: Son of Winifred Topham, of Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Special Memorial.
Cemetery: WORSLEY (ST. MARK) CHURCHYARD

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Name: WEST, REGINALD
Initials: R
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Flying Officer (Nav./W.Op.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 236 Sqdn.
Age: 23
Date of Death: 23/06/1944
Service No: 151264
Additional information: Son of William and Blanche West, of Worsley.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 1021.
Cemetery: WORSLEY (ST. MARK) CHURCHYARD

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Name: LINGARD, NORMAN ARTHUR
Initials: N A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 207 Sqdn.
Age: 27
Date of Death: 28/03/1942
Service No: 1059599
Additional information: Son of Arthur and Betsy Lingard, of Worsley.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 893.
Cemetery: WORSLEY (ST. MARK) CHURCHYARD


Norman was flying a Lancaster (R5501 EM-G) when it collided with Miles Master (DK973) during daylight cross-country exercise. Crashed 1320 hrs on Canwick Hill, 2 miles South of Lincoln.

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Colonel Richard Kennedy Birley C.B V.D D.L
Born March 16th 1845
Died December 13th 1914

Richard married Jane Garden Blaikie on the 15th September 1870.
They had three children:
Sybil Garden Birley
Major Richard Archibald Birley DSO
Lieut. Stephen Harvey Yvon Birley

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Name: BROWN, RICHARD
Initials: R
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: South Lancashire Regiment
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Age: 24
Date of Death: 03/10/1916
Service No: 27944
Additional information: Husband of Lily Eleanor Brown, of 96, Parrin Lane, Monton, Eccles, Manchester.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 7 A and 7 B.
Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Birth Place: Market Weighton, Yorks
Residence: Hadfield, Derbys
Death Location: France & Flanders
Enlistment Location: Glossop, Derbys
Type of Casualty: Killed in action

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Name: BARNES, ROSS
Initials: R
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Rifleman
Regiment/Service: Rifle Brigade
Unit Text: 9th Bn.
Age: 20
Date of Death: 13/10/1916
Service No: S/7858
Additional information: Son of Frederick William and Sarah Ellen Barnes, of 7, Brampton St., Atherton, Manchester.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 5. 2523.
Cemetery: WORSLEY (ST. MARK) CHURCHYARD
Birth Place: Boothstown, Lancs
Residence: Atherton
Enlistment Location: Atherton
Type of Casualty: Died of wounds
Theatre of War: Home



Ross Barnes attested on the 7th January 1915 aged 19 he was living at the Volunteer Inn, High Street, Atherton and had worked as a collier.
To France 06/07/1915
Wounded 15/09/1916 (GSW to chest and head) sent to 1st Canadian General Hospital and then back to England on the 27/09/1916.Died of wounds on the 13th October 1916 at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley.
Parents - Frederick and Sarah Ellen
Siblings - William, Alfred and Annie

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Name: PATRICK, JOHN BUCKLEY
Initials: J B
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Leading Aircraftman
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Date of Death: 28/01/1943
Service No: 1081463
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 2485.
Cemetery: WORSLEY (ST. MARK) CHURCHYARD

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Name: DALE, WILLIAM GORDON
Initials: W G
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Age: 20
Date of Death: 15/10/1942
Service No: 1124729
Additional information: Son of Charles Richard and Lucy Dale, of Walkden.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 1908.
Cemetery: WORSLEY (ST. MARK) CHURCHYARD

William Gordon Dale was the wireless operator/air gunner on a Avro Anson mk 1 (L7968) which was returning to Cranage mistaking a navigation beacons so instead of flying towards the airfield flew away from it towards high ground around Buxton. Before they were able to correct this error the aircraft struck the hillside.

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Name: ROWSON, JOHN
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Royal Army Ordnance Corps
Unit Text: 4 Div. Workshops
Age: 20
Date of Death: 03/06/1941
Service No: 925722
Additional information: Son of Peter Rowson, and of Margaret Rowson, of Walkden.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 1464.
Cemetery: WORSLEY (ST. MARK) CHURCHYARD
Birth Place: Manchester
Residence: Manchester

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Name: HARRISON, DENNIS HIGHAM
Initials: D H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 218 Sqdn.
Age: 29
Date of Death: 21/06/1941
Service No: 975057
Additional information: Son of John and Elsie Harrison, of Eccles, Lancashire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 44.
Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

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Please find William's service sheet attached.

Jan 27, 2012 20:36:20 GMT shred said:

Name: PARKER, WILLIAM
Initials: W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Gunner
Regiment/Service: Royal Marine Artillery
Date of Death: 14/05/1921
Service No: RMA/14560
N.B.: PLEASE NOTE This casualty has been accepted for commemoration by the Commission. However, it will not be possible to add his name to this Memorial immediately. Please contact the Commission before planning a visit, for more information.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Addenda Panel.
Memorial: BROOKWOOD (UNITED KINGDOM 1914-1918) MEMORIAL

1911 census: 185 Warley Rd, Winton. William is still in school.
Father - William
Mother - Alice
Siblings - Mary, Alice and Richard

IRA volunteers, led by Paddy Daly and Emmet Dalton seized an armoured car on the North Circular Road in Dublin, killing two British Royal Marines. The car was then used to gain entrance to Mountjoy Prison in an effort to free IRA prisoner Sean MacEoin. However, the plot was discovered and the IRA volunteers in the car had to shoot their way out of the prison. The car was later abandoned in Clontarf.

Attachments:

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Jan 27, 2012 23:44:53 GMT shred said:

Name: FRITH, JOHN DOUGLAS
Initials: J D
Nationality: Australian
Rank: Corporal
Regiment/Service: Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
Unit Text: 4th Bn
Date of Death: 05/05/1917
Service No: 3096
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Memorial: VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MEMORIAL

Son of Edward and Marion Helen Frith of Boundary Cottage, Worsley.

John had worked as a stone cutter before he attested on the 20th September 1915 aged 30.

A brief synopsis of John's service is attached.



Part of an e-mail sent to us by the niece of (John) Douglas Frith:

I was surprised to see so many references to my uncle on the internet - not all of them accurate - not even his military record. John Douglas Frith was my mother's eldest brother. He was always known as Doug - never John. He was born December 1884 at his father's farm, the Hollins, Antrobus, Cheshire. His parents were Edward Frith and Marion Helen Frith (nee Douglas). He attended school in Worsley near Manchester. He served with the Anzacs in the Great War and was killed in battle at Bullecourt, France - May 5, 1917. Three of his brothers also served in the war and survived. They were Joseph, Edward and Robert.

Doug's niece has given us permission to show this letter that he wrote in France on the 25th of October 1916:

My Dear Mother,

A few lines to let you know that I am in the best of health. And I hope this will find you all the same at home. We are waiting for the weather at present to clear up & we are ready to jump over the parapet & have another do at them. So if you don't hear anything for a while you must not worry And if anything does happen to me I leave everything to you you can keep the ring for yourself & give Bob my watch and chain Mrs Allmark will pass you my money on if anything does happen to me. We are up to the knees in mud at present. I like my chance again so you don't want to worry. Will let you know as soon as we are out again.
Ta-Ta for a while
Love to all at home your affectionate
son Dug,



Many thanks to Helen.


The following article was published in the Eccles Journal.


Worsley Family’s Double Bereavement

Sorrowful news has been received by Mrs Frith, of Boundary Cottage, Worsley Rd, respecting her son, “Doug” as he was familiarly known in Winton and Worsley, and of his Australian chum, Percy Gibson. Gibson was recently on a visit to the house, during his detention with wounds in hospital at Newton. Whilst here he formed an attachment with his friend’s sister, and before he returned to the front they became engaged. It now transpires that Gibson was killed on May 5th and Frith on the following day, the death of his comrade having greatly depressed him. Frith was the eldest of three soldier-sons of Mrs Frith formerly of Grange Farm, Worsley, and Parrin Lane, Winton, being 33 years of age. He and his brothers attended Worsley School, and although in recent years all the brothers made their homes in the colonies, they retained the greatest affection for Worsley and the Motherland. John Douglas emigrated to Canada some six years ago with Mr Drinkle, monumental mason, by whom he was employed. He did very well there, but had a liking for travel, and visited various parts of the United States, made a trip to the Hay?s Islands, and just before the war proceeded to Sydney with the intention of settling down in Australia. When war broke out he gave up this idea in face of the danger threatening the old country and enlisted in Sydney with his friend Gibson. He underwent his training in Egypt and landed in France in March of 1916. From that date to the time of their deaths the two chums shared in some of the hardest fighting in which the Australian force has been engaged on the Western front. Firth was one of 11 men of a company who returned from one memorable encounter with the Germans before ?Porteres?, but up to receiving his fatal wound he had not received a scratch. Writing to his mother, the bearer of the sad news states that Frith was killed on the eve of of leaving for England to train for a commission – Frith’s youngest soldier-brother Edward Southern Frith is a driver in the Transport of the Canadian Army having enlisted in May 1915, in the Western Scotia Regiment in British Columbia. He is an old Patricroft Territorial and is at present sick in hospital in France. Another brother Joseph Frith is in the Canadian Army Service Corps, and landed in the country on May 14th. Since the war broke out he had been working on munitions at a factory in the Dominion. Before going to Canada he was employed at Messer’s Nasmyth Wilson and Co’s foundry – Gibson is the third brother in his family killed in the war, and a fourth is missing. His home was at ? Australia.

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Helen has kindly sent some more details with regards to the Frith, Gibson and Drinkle families.

Percy Gibson was someone I remember my family speaking of, but I don't know which Frith sister he was engaged to. Doug did come to Canada with the Drinkles - (William, Edith, Letitia, and William Francis) - March 30, 1911 on the 'Corsican' - Liverpool to Halifax NS. I can remember Mr. Drinkle coming to our house for a visit when I was a small child. His son, William Francis Drinkle joined the Canadian Army. He died in France September 27, 1918. age 21, and was buried at Haynecourt British Cemetery. Perhaps he would qualify to be included in your project. His sister, Letitia, was married May 9, 1917 to a Jerome Charles Christie.

The Drinkles lived at Weaste Cottage, Richmond Road in Victoria. Uncle Doug was on holiday in Australia when he joined up.
His address in Australia was Weaste Villa, Harrow Road, Auburn, new South Wales.

Because Doug had loved Victoria so much my grandparents moved the whole family here. They lived in a large house called The Chimneys. Gradually they all married. My mother, Louisa, and my Aunts Jessie and Margaret stayed in Victoria. My Aunt Marion and Uncles Joe, Ted and Bob
moved to California - My Aunt Kathleen ended up in Victoria after many years travelling as an army wife. Grandfather died in 1929. Grandmother lived with us for many years.

Cheers
Helen

The Drinkle family are shown as living at 1 Constance St, Weaste in 1901.

The CWGC entry for William Francis Drinkle:
DRINKLE, W F

Rank: Sergeant
Service No: 18061
Date of Death: 27/09/1918
Age: 21
Regiment/Service: Canadian Infantry 7th Bn.
Awards: M M
Grave Reference I. C. 25.
Cemetery HAYNECOURT BRITISH CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of William F. Drinkle, of 231, Richmond Rd., Victoria, British Columbia.