Aintree & Melling's Great War (1914-1918)

Aintree & Melling’s

Great War 1914 - 1918

Pen portraits of a community’s fallen heroes Bill Borland & Peter Gill

‘They shall grow not old…we will remember them’ In this 100th anniversary Great War booklet we have turned the spotlight on the men from our community of Aintree and Melling in Merseyside who gave their lives for their country.

Among them were farm workers, labourers, potters - mostly young men from ÂordinaryÊ backgrounds who made an extraordinary sacrifice.

At the outbreak of the war, Aintree and Melling were relatively sparsely populated rural communities linked by the LeedsLiverpool canal.

By studying public records, many available online, we have been able to write pen portraits. In a few cases, a servicemanÊs specific link to Aintree or Melling is unclear, apart from the fact that their name is recorded on a local memorial.

Sources: Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy. Sources include Commonwealth War Graves Commission; Royal British Legion - Every Man Remembered; Merseyside Roll of Honour; Trinity Mirror Data Unit; Imperial War Museums; National Archives of Australia; Archives New Zealand; Lancashire Online Parish Clerk Project; Oxenholme Past Present; Liverpool John Moores UniversityÊs WW1 Merseyside at War project and Sefton Libraries.

Funding: As well as the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, the WW1 Aintree and Melling project has gratefully received funding from Aintree Village Parish Council, Melling Parish Council, Aintree Ratepayers Association and the Blue Anchor.

Special thanks to Reverend Geoffrey Bentley, Joan Harkins, Councillor Fred Forrest, and Simon and Molly Rennie.

Roll of honour Our research team identified 81 servicemen from Aintree and Melling whose deaths are attributed to the Great War - including many commemorated on brass memorials at St Giles with St Peter Church, Aintree, and St ThomasÊ Church, Melling.

St Giles Church, Aintree Claude Bicker - age 22 William Bridgewater - age 17 James Brindle - age unknown James Brown - age 21 John Brown - age unknown Joseph Brown - age 27 Albert Burgess - age 19 Daniel Burgess - age 18 George Burton - age 28 Henry Carbines - age unknown James Cartwright - age 28 William Cowan - age 23 James Coward - age unknown William Denton - age 24 Thomas Edwards - age 20 James Farrington - age 22 George Fletcher - age unknown Thomas Gore - age 29 William Green - age 21 William Griffiths - age unknown Joseph Heap - age unknown George Hignett - age 29 Francis Howlett - age 23 Frederick James - age 24

Harold Jones - age 19 John Jones - age 20 Robert Jump - age 27 Frederick Kershaw - age unknown Richard Kirby - age 19 Edward Ledson - age 18 Leslie Lloyd - age 19 Frank Martin - age 22 James Martin - age unknown Robert McKenzie - age 29 Samuel McKenzie - age 29 Joseph Orr - age 20 Robert Orr - age 26 George Paddock - age 22 James Pilkington - age 18 Arthur Pilling - age unknown Joseph Robinson - age unknown Ernest Schollar - age 26 Roger Scragg - age 28 Philip Shaw - age 27 Charles Silvester - age 28 John Skelland - age 35 Herbert Smith - age 24 John Stockdale - age 36 Joseph Sullivan - age unknown Alfred Tattersall - age 29 Douglas Tweddle - age 25 Henry Tyrer - age unknown Richard Welch - age unknown William Wilson - age 19 Thomas Yarker - age 34

St Thomas’ Church, Melling Frederick Asquith Sr - age 57 Frederick Asquith Jr - age 22 Thomas Ball - age 26 Joseph Blundell - age 32 Joshua Blundell - age 22 William Blundell - age 33 Thomas Ellis - age 20 John Glover - age 19 Alfred Grensted - age 29 Albert Haskayne - age 26 William Haskayne - age 19 Robert Kelly - age 32 John Kirby - age 21 William Lockett - age 21 Henry Mattocks - age 21 Michael May - age 42 Frederick Rothwell - age 26 Peter Sharrock - age 26 Owen Silcock - age 19 Norman Strickland - age 40 John Vaughan - age 23 John Woods - age 19

Others Thomas Clark - age 24 James Edwards - age 22 Charles Haskayne - age 36 Peter Owen - age 38

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Aintree and Melling’s Great War 1914 - 1918

The Fallen

Portraits of Aintree and Melling’s men who gave their lives St Giles Church, Aintree

Claude Bicker

Age: 22 Died: 1st June 1917 Claude lived with his parents George and Nellie Bicker and his two sisters and brother at 22 Cornett Road, Aintree.

Claude was the eldest of the four children.

He worked as a booksellerÊs assistant, and enlisted in the Army on 11th January 1915 with The KingÊs (Liverpool Regiment). In July 1916, ClaudeÊs battalion left Formby and sailed to France from Folkestone. Claude was killed at West-Vlaanderen, Belgium, and is commemorated at St Quentin Cabaret Military Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium. A portrait of Private Bicker is featured on the cover of this booklet.

James Brindle

Age: Unknown Died: 22nd January 1916 Son of Henry and Annie Brindle of Liverpool, James was a rifleman with the Kings Royal Rifle Corps 1st Battalion. He was killed at Pas de Calais, France. James is buried at Browns Road Military Cemetery, Festubert, France. His brother John Brindle also fell in the Great War.

James Brown

Age: 21 Died: 20th September 1917 Son of James and Eleanor Brown of 4 Ealing Road, Aintree. Private Brown served with the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) and is commemorated at Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.

His brother Joseph Brown also fell.

William Bridgewater

John Brown

Age: 17 Died: 20th January 1917

Age: Unknown Died: 8th October 1918

Son of Walter and Elizabeth Bridgewater of 2 Ascroft Road, Aintree. He was working as a steward on board the SS Bulgarian, when the ship was torpedoed by a German submarine off southern Ireland, en route to Garston docks, Liverpool, killing 23 crew members.

He is commemorated at Tower Hill Memorial, London.

Served with The KingÊs (Liverpool Regiment) 23rd Battalion and is commemorated at Vis-en-Artois Memorial, France.

418,000 Number of British soldiers killed in the Battle of the Somme (July to November 1916)

Joseph Brown

Age: 27 Died: 23rd December 1917 Corporal Joseph Brown served with the East Yorkshire Regiment. His is buried at Liverpool (Kirkdale) Cemetery.

Joseph was the brother of James Brown (see above) who died two months earlier.

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Albert Burgess

James Cartwright

Age: 19 Died: 29th May 1918

Age: 28 Died: 26th June 1918

Son of Samuel and Alice Burgess of 21 Cambridge Road, Aintree. Attended Longmoor Lane Council School, Fazakerley. Private Burgess of the Durham Light Infantry. died at Marne, France. He is buried at Hermonville Military Cemetery, France. His brother Daniel also fell (see below).

Son of Elizabeth Cartwright of 13 Cambridge Road, Aintree. He served as an able seaman on HMS Vancouver. He died from injuries suffered during a collision at sea with HMS Wessex and is buried at the Lyness Royal Naval Cemetery, Orkney Islands, Scotland.

Daniel Burgess Age: 18 Died: 31st May 1915 Private Burgess died from wounds and the effects of poisonous gas. He is buried at Liverpool (Kirkdale) Cemetery. Fifty riflemen from The KingÊs (Liverpool Regiment) attended the funeral. His brother Albert also fell (see above).

George Burton Age: 28 Died: 20th November 1917 George and his wife Alice lived at 9 Sydney Street, Aintree. He served as a sergeant with The King's (Liverpool) Regiment. He was killed at Somme and is commemorated at Thiepval Memorial.

Henry Carbines Age: Unknown Died: 27th March 1918 Son of John and Annie McArthur. He attended Longmoor Lane Council School, Fazakerley. The family lived at 1 Melling Road, Aintree. George, a member of the Royal Flying Corps, is commemorated at the Arras Flying Services Memorial, Pasde-Calais, France.

William Cowan Age: 23 Died: 23rd March 1918 Military records show his next of kin was his sister Hannah Cowan of 28 Poulter Road, Aintree. Served as a sapper with the Royal Engineers and Northumberland Fusiliers. William is buried at Ontario Cemetery, Sains-Les-Marquion, France.

James Coward Age: Unknown Died: 26th July 1917 Rifleman James Henry Coward of The KingÊs (Liverpool Regiment) is buried at the Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentières, near Lille, France.

William Denton Age: 24 Died: 25th April 1917 Son of Joseph Denton and Elizabeth (nee Appleton). The family lived at 23 Kingswood Avenue, Aintree. Joseph attended Longmoor Lane Council School, Fazakerley. Private Denton served with The KingÊs (Liverpool Regiment). He is buried at Cherisy Road East Cemetery, Heninel, Pas de Calais, France.

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Aintree and Melling’s Great War 1914 - 1918

Thomas Edwards

William Griffiths

Age: 20 Died: 3rd June 1916

Age: Unknown Died: 26th September 1916

Son of Thomas Edwards and Margaret (nee McCaughran) of 24 Moffatt Road, Aintree. Thomas was living at 10 Bakewell Grove, Aintree, and employed as a Âcore makerÊ when he joined the South Lancashire Regiment at Liverpool on the 8th September 1914. He is buried at Lonsdale Cemetery, Authuille, France.

Private William Griffiths of The KingÊs (Liverpool Regiment) is commemorated at Thiepval Memorial, France. He was killed at the Battle of the Somme.

James Farrington

Gunner Heap of the Royal Marine Artillery Howitzer Brigade was the son of Ellen Heap of 55 Eastbourne Road, Aintree. He is buried in Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Belgium.

Age: 22 Died: 8th October 1916 Son of James and Mary Farrington of Aintree, and husband of Gertrude (nee.

Corless). Private Farrington of The KingÊs (Liverpool Regiment), is buried at Sever Cemetery, Rouen, France.

George Fletcher Age: Unknown Died: Unknown No records found.

Thomas Gore

Joseph Heap Age: Unknown Died: 7th October 1917

George Hignett Age: 29 Died: 11th April 1917 Aintree-born George was the son of Thomas and Alice Hignett, and was married to Sylvia, originally from Onchan Head, Isle of Man. He served as a lance corporal with the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) 8th Battalion. Lance Corporal Hignett is buried at Aubigny Communal Cemetery, France.

Age: 29 Died: 7th October 1918 Son of James and Jane Gore, Thomas was a coal carter and lived with brother Frederick at 6 Weightman Grove, Orrell Park. Served with The KingÊs (Liverpool Regiment). He is buried at Roclincourt Military Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France.

William Green Age: 21 Died: 17th May 1915 Son of William and Harriet Green of Aintree Village, Liverpool. Private Green of The KingÊs (Liverpool Regiment). He is buried at Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.

10,837 Number of staff at the national munitions factory in Aintree. The workforce was around 95% women. They would travel from across Liverpool, Wirral and Lancashire to help the war effort. The factory, near Aintree railway station, filled large artillery shells with TNT. The explosives caused yellowing of the skin, giving workers the nickname ÂCanaries.' Aintree also had a national aircraft factory building RAF bi-planes.

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Francis Howlett

Robert Jump

Son of John and Catherine Howlett of 4 Firdale Road, Walton. He was a second mate on SS Beacon Light sailing from Liverpool with fuel oil when the ship was torpedoed off Lewis, Scotland, by a German submarine, killing 33 crew. He is commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

Son of Mary Jump of 4 Sydney Street, Aintree, and the late George Jump.

Robert was a gunner with the Royal Garrison Artillery. He is buried at Fouquieres Churchyard Extension, Pasde-Calais, France.

Frederick James

Age: Unknown Died: 18th April 1918

Age: 23 Died: 19th February 1918

Age: 24 Died: 20th May 1917 Son of Frederick and Catherine James of 6 Coerton Road, Aintree. Second Lieutenant James of The KingĂŠs (Liverpool Regiment) is buried at HeninelCroisilles Road Cemetery, France.

Harold Jones

Age: 19 Died: 2nd June 1918 Son of Alfred and Margaret Jones of 258 Longmoor Lane, Walton. Private Jones of The KingĂŠs (Liverpool Regiment) is buried at the Couin New British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.

John Jones

Age: 20 Died: 18th February 1919 Private John Sutton Jones was the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Jones of 19 Eastbourne Road, Aintree. John, a training reserve, died of disease and is buried at Doullens Communal Cemetery, Somme, France.

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Age: 27 Died: 23rd April 1918

Frederick Kershaw

Served with the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. Corporal Frederick William Kershaw is commemorated at the Loos Memorial, Pas-de-Calais, France.

Frederick was married to Isabel and they had two young children Frederick, born 1913, and Margaret, born 1915. His brother John Gordon Kershaw also fell.

Richard Kirby

Age: 19 Died: 14th November 1916 Son of Myles and Ellen Kirby (nee Quick) of Aintree Lane, Aintree. Gunner Kirby of the the Royal Garrison Artillery died at the Somme and is buried at Bernafay Wood British Cemetery, Montauban, France.

Edward Ledson

Age: 18 Died: 24th April 1918 Son of Henry Ledson and Catherine (nee Smith) Edward lived at 21 Rugby Road, Aintree. He enlisted at Waterloo, Liverpool, serving with the Royal Fusiliers and South Lancashire Regiment. Private Ledson is commemorated at Pozieres Memorial, France.

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Aintree and Melling’s Great War 1914 - 1918

Leslie Lloyd

Age: 19 Died: 1st June 1918 Son of Edward and Alice Lloyd of 4 Heswall Road, Aintree. Private Lloyd of the Machine Gun Corps is buried at Wailly Orchard Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France.

Frank Martin

Age: 22 Died: 16th May 1915 Son of George and Margaret Martin of 39 Greenwich Road, Aintree. Private Martin of The KingÊs (Liverpool Regiment) is commemorated at Le Touret Memorial, Pas-de-Calais, France.

James Martin

Age: Unknown Died: 10th March 1915 James was married to Elizabeth Martin. He served as a rifleman in The KingÊs (Liverpool Regiment) and is commemorated at Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy, France. As reported in the Evening Express, his captain wrote to Private MartinÊs widow saying: „It will be consolation for you to know that he died doing his duty for his King and country in the most noble way possible.‰

Robert McKenzie

killed on active service (see below).

Lieutenant Robert McNeil Crawford McKenzie is commemorated at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, near Ypres, Belgium. The family business was Liverpool-based EM Crawford, umbrellas and sticks manufacturers.

Samuel McKenzie

Age: 29 Died: 21st August 1916 Like his brother Robert (see above) Samuel Aubrey McKenzie was living in Australia when he enlisted in 1914. He served as a second lieutenant in the Australian Infantry. Samuel is buried at Pozieres British Cemetery, France.

Joseph Orr

Age: 20 Died: 11th May 1917 Son of Joseph and Mary Orr and brother of Robert (see below), of 8 Earl Street, Aintree. Private Orr served with The KingÊs (Liverpool Regiment) and is buried at Karasouli Military Cemetery, Greece.

Robert Orr

Age: 26 Died: 25th September 1916 Brother of Joseph (see above). Sergeant Orr served with The KingÊs (Liverpool Regiment) and is commemorated at Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

Age: 29 Died: 21st September 1917 Son of Robert and Margaret McKenzie of 12 Coerton Road, Aintree. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Forces on the outbreak of the war while living in Australia. His older brother Samuel was

13,726 Number of Great War deaths in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission database attributed to the Liverpool area including Aintree and Melling

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George Paddock

Ernest Schollar

Son of George and Isabella Paddock of 17 Moffatt Road, Aintree. George, formerly employed at HartleyÊs jam works, Aintree, was a driver with the Royal Field Artillery.

He is commemorated at the Ploegsteert Memorial, Hainaut, Belgium.

Son of Ernest William and Minnie Louisa.

At the time of the 1911 census the Schollar family were living at 1 Park Vale Road, Aintree. Ernest enlisted to the Australian Infantry Army on New YearÊs Eve in 1915 while working as a farm labourer in Brisbane. He is buried at Veillers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Somme, France.

Age: 22 Died: 9th April 1918

James Pilkington

Age: 18 Died: 12th April 1918 Born in Aintree in 1900, James was the son of William and Mary Pilkington (nee Halewood) of 8 Sandy Lane, Aintree.

Private Pilkington served with the East Lancashire Cheshire and Manchester Regiments. He is commemorated at the Ploegsteert Memorial, Hainaut, Belgium.

Arthur Pilling

Age: Unknown Died: 1st August 1917 Son of James and Mary Pilling of 17 Barnston Road, Aintree. Private Pilling served with the Machine Gun Corps. He is commemorated at the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.

Joseph Robinson

Age: Unknown Died: 24th August 1917 Joseph married May Travis at St PeterÊs Church, Aintree, on 10th September 1915. They lived at 42 Caldy Road, Aintree. Joseph, a second mate, drowned when the Admiralty cargo ship the SS Mountpark, carrying coal, was in a collision in the Bristol Channel. He is buried at Monknash Church, Marcross, Monmouthshire, south Wales.

Age: 26 Died: 3rd May 1917

Roger Scragg

Age: 28 Died: 20th September 1917 Born in Walton in 1889 Roger was the son of Arthur Scragg and Lucy (nee Price). At the time of the 1911 census the Scragg family were living at 45 Gladstone Road, Walton. Roger married Sally Smith at St Luke The Evangelist C of E Church, Walton, in 1911. He served with The KingÊs (Liverpool Regiment). Private Scragg is buried at Wieltje Farm Cemetery, Belgium.

Phillip Shaw

Age: 27 Died: 25th August 1919 Husband of Anetta Shaw of 22 Rugby Road, Aintree. He served as a company sergeant major with the Royal Engineers and is buried at Liverpool (Kirkdale) Cemetery.

Charles Silvester

Age: 28 Died: 12th October 1916 Son of Elizabeth Silvester of 13 Oxford Road, Aintree. Served as a private with The KingÊs (Liverpool Regiment) and is buried at Warlencourt British Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France.

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Aintree and Melling’s Great War 1914 - 1918

John Skelland

Tattersall of The KingÊs (Liverpool Regiment) is buried at Serre Road Cemetery No.2, Somme, France.

Son of James Edward and Ellen Skelland.

John was married to Jane and they lived at 20 Moffat Road, Aintree. He served with the Manchester Regiment and is buried at Savy British Cemetery, France.

Douglas Tweddle

Age: 35 Died: 22nd March 1918

Herbert Smith

Age: 24 Died: 31st July 1917 Private Herbert Henry Smith of The KingÊs (Liverpool Regiment) was the son of Annie Smith of 1a Ealing Road, Aintree. He is commemorated at the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.

John Stockdale

Age: 36 Died: 4th November 1917 Son of Mary and John, his family lived at 3 Melling Road, Aintree. Gunner Stockdale of the Royal Field Artillery 118th Anti-Aircraft Section is buried at Baghdad (North Gate) Cemetery, Iraq.

Joseph Sullivan

Age: Unknown Died: 20th January 1918 Son of Jerome and Agnes of 83 Greenwich Road, Aintree. Served on board HMS Louvain which was sunk by a German submarine in the Aegean Sea, off Turkey, killing 224 crew. Ordinary Seaman Sullivan is commemorated at Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

Alfred Tattersall

Age: 29 Died: 13/15th November 1916 Married to Mary, the couple lived at 36 Kingswood Avenue, Aintree. Private

Age: 25 Died: 27th May 1917 Born in Oxenholme, Cumbria, Douglas Swan Tweddle was one of 11 children to James Swan Tweddle and Rhoda (nee Snaith). Railway worker Douglas married Florence Cole at St PeterÊs Church, Aintree, in 1916. They lived in Coerton Road, Aintree. Private Tweddle served with the Manchester Regiment and is buried at Achiet-le-Grand Communal Cemetery, France.

Henry Tyrer

Age: Unknown Died: 31st July 1917 Corporal Tyrer of The KingÊs (Liverpool Regiment is commemorated at the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.

Richard Welch

Age: Unknown Died: 3rd May 1917 Private Welch served with the Manchester Regiment and is commemorated at Villers-Faucon Communal Cemetery, Somme, France.

William Wilson

Age: 19 Died: 31st July 1917 Son of Margaret Wilson of 38 Whitham Avenue, Great Crosby. Private William Bennett Wilson served with The KingÊs (Liverpool Regiment) and the Machine Gun Corps. He is buried at Wieltje Farm Cemetery, Belgium.

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Thomas Yarker

Age: 34 Died: 26th October 1918 Two days after Christmas in 1917, Private Thomas Birkett Yarker, who lived at 15 Poulter Road, Aintree, set off for France to fight in the Great War. His wife and five-year-old daughter Doris waved goodbye to him at Lime Street Station, Liverpool. From that date he kept a small Boots pocket diary telling the story of his movements and experiences on the Western Front until he was sadly killed in action in October 1918 just three weeks before the Armistice was signed. Pages for 24th to 30th October were torn from his diary, probably by the person certifying his death. The diary was returned to his wife and it was passed on to his daughter Doris who bequeathed it to local historian Simon Rennie. Simon visited Private YarkerÊs grave in France (photo of headstone above) and followed his footsteps as described in the diary. He videoed this experience and shared it with Doris, who sadly died in 2013, aged 100.

A flickable, digitised copy of Private YarkerÊs diary is featured on the WW1 Aintree and Melling website.

Christmas tins In 1914 British soldiers received a gift from Princess Mary, daughter of King George and Queen Mary. It was a brass tin of pencils and either tobacco or sweets. The embossed tins were paid for by public donations. A card from Princess Mary read: ÂBest wishes for a Happy Christmas and a Victorious New YearÊ

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St Thomas’ Church, Melling

Frederick Asquith Sr Age: 57 Died: 22nd May 1918

Born in Beverley, Yorkshire, in 1859, Frederick was an errand boy in his youth before going to sea. His family moved to Liverpool in the early 1900s. Records show the family lived at 37 Elmdale Road, Walton, and 42 Olney Street, Walton.

Frederick and his wife Ada had ten children, including four who died young.

One of his sons Frederick Asquith junior also pursued a seafaring career. Father and son - both named Frederick William Asquith - died when their ship, S.S. Cliffburn, sank in the Irish Sea on the 22nd May 1918. Frederick Sr was the chief engineer. Neither men were eligible for commemoration by the CWGC as they did not die as the direct result of enemy action. They are commemorated on the St ThomasÊ Church memorial but their exact link to Melling is not yet established.

Frederick Asquith Jr Age: 22 Died: 22nd May 1918

Frederick died alongside his father while they were serving aboard the S.S..

Cliffburn (see above). He was the shipÊs second engineer.

Thomas Ball

Age: 26 Died: 25th December 1917 Thomas and his parents James and Ann lived in Bank Lane, Melling, before moving to St Helens. He was one of at least six children. Company Sergeant Ball served with the South Lancashire Regiment in France in 1917.

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Aintree and Melling’s Great War 1914 - 1918

He was killed during heavy German artillery at Armentières, France, on Christmas Day 1917, and is buried in nearby Bluet Farm Cemetery West Vlaanderen, Belgium.

Joseph Blundell

Age: 32 Died: 15th November 1916 Joseph was one of three brothers killed (see below) - the sons of William and Jane Blundell of Town Meadow Cottage, Melling. Joseph served as a private in The KingÊs (Liverpool Regiment). He is among 72,247 soldiers commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing at Thiepval, Somme, France.

Joshua Blundell

Age: 22 Died: 10th July 1916 Joshua was a member of the 8th battalion of the Prince of Wales Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment). He was killed in the Battle of the Somme. Army records reveal that his prayer book, photographs and postcards were sent home from the front line to his father, although JoshuaÊs remains were never found. Along with his brother Joseph (see above) he is commemorated at Thiepval.

William Blundell

Age: 33 Died: 10th January 1918 William enlisted at Seaforth and served with The KingÊs (Liverpool Regiment).

Private Blundell is buried at Cite Bonjean Cemetery, Armentières, Belgium. His brothers Joseph and Joshua were also killed in the Great War (see above).

Thomas Ellis

Age: 20 Died: 23rd April 1917 Son of John and Eliza Ellis of Rock Lane Melling. Private Ellis served with The KingÊs (Liverpool Regiment) and is buried in Bucquoy Road Military Cemetery, Arras, France.

John Glover

Age: 19 Died: 28th November 1917 Born in Melling, the son of Richard and Clara Glover. Private Glover served with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers at the Battle of Passchendaele, Ypres, Belgium. He is commemorated at Tyne Cot Memorial.

Alfred Grensted

Age: 29 Died: 15th September 1916 Son of Reverend Canon Grensted, Vicar of Melling. Private Grensted was killed in action instantaneously by a piece of shrapnel. The ex Merchant Taylors' School, Crosby, pupil worked at the Bank of Liverpool. He is buried at the Guards Cemetery, Lesboeufs, France.

Albert Haskayne

Age: 26 Died: 19th August 1916 Albert Haskayne was one of three brothers from Melling who died in the Great War (see William Haskayne and Charles Haskayne). He was the son of Charles and Mary of Brewery Lane Cottages, Melling. Sergeant Haskayne of The KingÊs (Liverpool Regiment) died during the Battle of the Somme. He is commemorated at the London Cemetery and Extension, Longueval, France.

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William Haskayne

Henry Mattocks

William was the youngest of the 11 children. He served as a private with the Lancashire Fusiliers and was killed a week before the Great War ended. He is buried at Ors Communal Cemetery, France.

Henry of Waddicar Lane, Melling, worked at Melling Potteries and was a member of Melling Brass Band. He served with the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) and was killed instantly by a bullet in the head.

Corporal Mattocks is commemorated at Loos Memorial, Pas-de-Calais, France.

Age: 19 Died: 4th November 1918

Robert Kelly

Age: 32 Died: 11th August 1918 Robert and his wife Martha of Prescot Road, Melling, had two daughters, Isabel and Martha. Gunner Kelly of the Tank Corps is buried at Heath Cemetery, Harbonnieres, France.

John Kirby

Age: 21 Died: 3rd July 1916 Lived in Rock Lane, Melling, and enlisted to The KingÊs (Liverpool Regiment).

Lance Corporal Kirby was killed near Montauban on the third day of the Battle of the Somme. He is commemorated at Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

William Lockett

Age: 21 Died: 20th September 1917 William of Melling Mount, Melling, served with The KingÊs (Liverpool Regiment) and died at Passchendaele. Five months before his death, he was fined 21 shillings for playing pitch and toss outside the Pear Tree pub, Melling, during home leave. He is commemorated at Tyne Cot, Belgium.

Age: 21 Died: 13th October 1915

Michael May

Age: 42 Died: 31st July 1917 Irish born Michael May was married to Ann and they lived in Waddicar Lane, Melling. He worked for a local pottery business. He served with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and The KingÊs (Liverpool Regiment). Private May is buried in Wytschaete Military Cemetery, Belgium.

Frederick Rothwell

Age: 26 Died: 26th December 1916 Married Anne (nee Rushton) at Southport in 1913 and they lived in Prescot Road, Melling. Before the war he worked as a farm labourer. Private Rothwell served with The KingÊs (Royal Lancaster Regiment). He died on Boxing Day 1916 and is buried in the Duisans British Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France.

Peter Sharrock

Age: 26 Died: 26th August 1918 Born in Netherton in 1893, Peter was the son of Jeffrey Sharrock and Hannah Cookson, who ran the Horse and Jockey, Melling. Private Sharrock served with The KingÊs Own Scottish Borderers and is commemorated at the Vis-en-Artois British Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France.

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Aintree and Melling’s Great War 1914 - 1918

Owen Silcock

Age: 19 Died: 1st June 1916 Son of Mark and Susannah Silcock of TaylorÊs Cottages, Angers Lane, Melling.

Owen, a stoker on board HMS Tipperary, was among 184 crew lost when the Royal Navy ship sank at the Battle of Jutland, North Sea. His name is recorded on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

Norman Strickland Age: 40 Died: 2nd August 1917

Son of Christopher and Louisa Strickland of Melling, Norman was a motor mechanic prior to enlistment. He served as a rifleman with The KingÊs (Liverpool Regiment). He is buried at Mendinghem Military Cemetery, Belgium.

John Vaughan

Age: 23 Died: 9th March 1920 Youngest of five children to Jesse and Robert Vaughan of Bedford Road, Melling. He joined the South Lancashire Regiment in 1915 and was discharged due to ill health in 1918. He died on March 9th 1920 and is buried at St ThomasÊs Church, Melling.

John Woods

Age: 19 Died: 22nd December 1916 John was the son of Alice (nee Tyrer) and John Woods of Kirby Cottages, Rock Lane, Melling. He joined the Training Reserve and Manchester Regiment but did not serve overseas so his family were not entitled to a war gratuity when he died of pneumonia at Prees Heath Camp Hospital, Whitchurch. He is buried at St ThomasÊs Church, Melling.

Others

Thomas Clark

Age: 24 Died: 22nd April 1916 Thomas was born in Melling, the son of Edward and Catherine. He worked in the thriving Melling pottery business. Thomas of the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) was killed in Iraq and is commemorated on the Basra Memorial.

James Edwards

Age: 22 Died: 22nd April 1916 Born in Melling but was living in Bristol.

He enlisted in Hereford and served with the KingÊs Shropshire Light Infantry.

Private Edwards is commemorated at the Ypres (Menin Gate), Belgium.

Charles Haskayne

Age: 36 Died: 17th February 1917 Private Haskayne served with The KingÊs (Liverpool Regiment) and is buried in Aveluy Communal Cemetery, Somme, France. Charles lived at Nook Cottage, TaylorÊs Lane, Maghull, where his widow Mary continued to live after the war. His brothers Albert and William are honoured at St Thomas' Church, Melling - see pages 12 & 13.

Peter Owen

Age: 38 Died: 20th March 1917 Born in Melling and his mother was inn keeper of the Pear Tree pub, Melling.

Peter was a stone mason. He served with The KingÊs (Liverpool Regiment). Private Owen is listed as died at sea and is buried in Plymouth (Efford) Cemetery.

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WW1 Aintree and Melling Schools and community working together The aim of the WW1 Aintree and Melling project was to share knowledge of the warĂŠs impact on the area, while remembering those who were killed.

Thanks to support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, schoolchildren learned about the Great War, working alongside history experts.

Schools taking part were Aintree Davenhill Primary School, Holy Rosary Catholic Primary School and Melling Primary School. Aintree Village Family Church was also a partner.

Youngsters took part in WW1 cookery, singing and drama workshops. They also attended digital research workshops with Sefton Libraries staff, and visited the two local church memorials.

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A mini museum featuring World War 1 memorabilia opened its doors to the public. People dropped in to share their own family stories of WW1 with youngsters from local schools.

One of the highlights of the project was a Remembrance Service at St Giles Church, Aintree, when pupils from local schools united with the local community to remember those who died in WW1.

A film about our project is featured on our website alongside stories and photos:

ww1aintreeandmelling.co.uk

Soldiers, probably from The KingĂŠs (Liverpool) Regiment, including Private Claude Bicker (back row left wearing a hat) who lived in Aintree and was killed in 1917. Private Bicker also appears on the cover

Aintree village, 1906