HARRY CLYDE ROWLAND
This biography was written by Victoria Doran
Harry Rowland was a young man from a long established local family who enlisted early in September 1914 and fought in several of the main battles of the Western Front during well over 3 years in the army.
Rowland family grave at St Bridget, West Kirby Continue reading “Harry Clyde Rowland”
WILFRED ERNEST SHONE
This biography was written by Victoria Doran.
Ernest Shone was from an agricultural background and worked on the land until he was conscripted.
Newton Methodist Commemorative Window (now in West Kirby Methodist Church) Continue reading “Wilfred Ernest Shone”
JOHN EDWARD PORTER
This biography was written by Victoria Doran.
John Edward Porter was a young man with a very promising future ahead of him. He gave up studying engineering at Cambridge University to join up, giving his life on the Somme.
Porter family grave in St Bridget Churchyard
This biography was written by Victoria Doran.
William Leech was one of several members of the Church Lads Brigade who served in the War. He came from a family steeped in domestic service and duty.
The following biography was written by Victoria Doran.
James Dangerfield
James Dangerfield was born on 20 Jan 1892 in Date Street, Liverpool the son of Daniel Dangerfield (1859-1922) and Jane Butterworth (1861-1896). The family were working class, his father being a plasterer by trade, and were beset by repeated tragedies, so James had an unsettled childhood. Continue reading “James Dangerfield”
The following two biographies were written by Carol Hunter.
The Lesters from Huyton to Irby
Edwin and Frank Lester were brothers born in Huyton, Lancashire. Their father John was baptized at St. Mary’s in Prescot on 13th March 1868 and grew up in Whiston then Huyton with his parents George Lester (watchmaker then coal yard labourer) and Elizabeth Davies, and at least nine siblings. In 1891 he was still living at home at Richardson’s Lane, Huyton and was described as a stoker, probably at the local pit, where his younger brother Robert was working as a coal miner. John married Ellen Heyes, from Aughton near Ormskirk, in 1892 at Prescot Register Office. Ellen was baptized on 19th June 1870 at St Peter and Paul in Ormskirk, and was the 2nd of 3 children born to Henry (labourer at waterworks) and Lucy Core. Continue reading “Edwin and Frank Lester”
George William Linekar
George was born in 1881 in Hoylake, the youngest of nine children of Miles (1837-1918) and Jane Linekar (neé Barlow 1838-1890). His siblings were Anne Jane (1861); Eliza (1863); Mary Ellen (1865); Sarah Emily (1867) Rebekah (1870); Miles Joseph Barlow (1872); Frederick Arthur (1877) and Harriet (1879). Miles Linekar’s parents were Thomas (1797-1880 and Nancy Linekar (nee Bird 1798-1864). Jane Barlow’s parents were Joseph (1809-1864) and Jane Barlow (neé Beck (1814-1888). All were long standing families in the Hoylake and Meols areas, although the Becks had originated in Kendal, Westmorland a generation earlier.
George’s grandfather Thomas Linekar had a brother Robert who was an ancestor of both Francis Rubenstein Linekar and his cousin Francis Lancelot Farnall, both of whom were also killed during the Great War and who are mentioned in this post.
In 1891 the family were living at Thomas Road, Little Meols. Thomas Road now forms part of the lower end of Cable Road, Hoylake. Miles Linekar was a joiner aged 53 and was a widower, his wife, Jane, having died the previous year. His children still at home were Anne age 29; Rebekah age 21; Miles (junior) age 18 who was also a joiner; Harriet age 14 and George age 9 who was still in school. The family remained at that address until at least 1911, but by 1901 it was known as 11 Cable Road, Hoylake. Miles was still the head of the household in 1901 but by 1911, his daughter Anne was head. In both the 1901 and 1911 Census George was shown as also being a joiner.
Sadly no service records remain for George, but he enlisted at Birkenhead into the Royal Engineers in 1915. After initial training, he was involved in the east coast defences until January 1917 when he transferred to the 1st/9th King’s (Liverpool Regiment) which came under the orders of the 165th Brigade of the 55th West Lancashire Division, and was posted to France.
The first half of 1917 was relatively quiet, however, late July saw increased action when the Division was involved in the Battle of Pilckem Ridge in the Salient which was part of the third Battle of Ypres. George escaped this battle unscathed but the Division saw some heavy losses with 168 officers and 3,384 men being either killed, wounded or missing.
Between the 20th and 23rd September, they was involved in the battle of Menin Road Ridge which again saw heavy losses with 127 officers and 2,603 men, but were successful in the fight for Gallipoli, Schuler Farm and the Hanebeek.
As part of a phase of the Cambrai Operations, the Division were involved in the tank attack and the German counter attack of 30th November 1917 saw the front line defences crumble allowing the enemy to have a rapid advance. Sadly, George fell in this attack.
The Monumental Inscriptions for Holy Trinity churchyard has the following entry for what must be a worn headstone:
UNKNOWN – Ornate Curved Sandstone Headstone
In loving memory of/Jane————–/who died—————-/also Miles, her husband/who died
20th July——-aged 39 [sic] years/and their child/Sarah Emily/who died 14th Jan 1870 age 2½ years/and Fredrick Arthur/who died 7th April 1881 aged 3½ years/and/George William 1/9th KLR/killed in action in France/2nd Dec 1917,aged 36 years/
“thy will be done”
Notes
Birth: 1881 in Hoylake
Death: 2nd December 1917 killed in action age 36
Address: Thomas Road, Little Meols (91); 11 Cable Road, Hoylake (01-11)
Occupation: House Joiner
Unit: 1st/9th Bn. King’s (Liverpool Regiment), formerly Royal Engineers
Number and Rank: Private 350060, formerly 1012
Medals: British, Victory
Commemorated and Buried: GH, H, France: Somme, Villers-Faucon Communal Cemetery 1 C 7
Sources: CWGC, SDGW, MC, BN, DA, Census: 91, 01, 11
An Imperishable Record 