A place for PoW database amendments and additions

[Gary D.]

Thanks for adding my Grandad 7451 Leonard Dawson to the POW database. Just a couple of amendments. He was in E Company; home address was 173 Sanderson St, Newton Heath (on his attestation form); he was born in Rochdale on 11/9/1896. Died in Perth W.A. on 5/5/1955. Incredible investigation work you guys have done compiling the database-congratulations!

[charlie]

Thank you Gary and welcome to the forum.
The companies recorded in the database are those the soldier was serving with at the time of capture. E Company never went overseas as a company, the men would have been assigned to other companies for the battalions move to France.
Charlie

[Tim Bell]

Hi Gary,
173 Sanderson St was Leonard's father's address.  He lived at 20 Ancoats Grove, North Ancoats after he was transferred to Reserve in May 1919.  Leonard received a pension there for Dyspepsia (Indigestion) - 20% disablement.
I zoomed image is attached for your possible ID in XX Pln.  He looks a bit too old to me??  I can take a closer pick if needed.
Have a look at the Battalion History of 16th & 17th Bttns (similar actions)
http://www.themanchesters.org/16th%20batt.htm
http://www.themanchesters.org/17th%20batt.htm - very good on Guillemont assault, where Leaonard was captured.
Welcome to the forum.
Tim

[Gary D.]

Thanks Charlie-being ex infantry myself albeit the Australian Army we only had A-D companies overseas so I thought it was a bit odd. E Company I daresay would have been a training company in country prior to embarkation overseas?

[Gary D.]

Tim-thanks for the reply and the relevant information. My mother (who would have been the only one alive at the time of my asking) tentatively identified Len in the photo but was not 100% sure. I was only 6 when he died in 1955! Will check out the other photos as I have a couple of him taken in the 1950's.

[mack]

hiya gary
your grandmother alice was previously married to pte 19118 robert cochrane,they lived at 7 franchise st,ardwick when he enlisted in the liverpool regt,they had three children,stanley,reginald,cyril and winifred,cyril died of pneumonia on 23-12-1916

robert was captured on 30-11-1917 and died of spanish flu in schneidemuhl hospital on 9-12-18,schneidemuhl was the last place your grandfather was interned

your grandfather was repatriated on 1-12-1918
married alice on 7th may 1919
emigrated to australia,arrived freemantle on the SS orama 13-12-1927

it was reported that your grandfather had been wounded in the shoulder when he was captured

his father frederick was a sales rep for the kay street spinning company.

your grandfather and his two sons leonard jnr and terence and his step son stanley all served in the australian army in WW2
leonard dawson snr,army number W18461
leonard jnr army number WX22940
terence army number WX23292

mack

[mack]

Tim-thanks for the reply and the relevant information. My mother (who would have been the only one alive at the time of my asking) tentatively identified Len in the photo but was not 100% sure. I was only 6 when he died in 1955! Will check out the other photos as I have a couple of him taken in the 1950's.

gary
your mum could be right,leonard looked older than he actually was,dont you have the photo we sent you back in 2008 of your grandfather taken in 1915

mack

[Gary D.]

Mack-you are a font of knowledge! I knew most of the info in your prompt post except for a couple of snippets which are most appreciated. I did not receive the photo you mentioned of Grandad in 1915-any chance of resurrecting it and sending it on to me please?

[mack]

hiya gary
go in the photo and postcard section on the forum,then click on the 16th-24th battalion then click on the manchester evening news identified photo thread,his picture is in reply 27 http://themanchesters.org/forum/index.php?topic=7602.msg49541#msg49541

i forgot to add stanleys service number,WX11933,served in 28th battalion in the middle east from 1941-1945

mack

[Gary D.]

Terrific Mack-many thanks. Uncle Stan was a "Rat of Tobruk" with 2/28th Battalion AIF. Died 1986 aged 69.

[Tim Bell]

Hi Charlie,
I think the number of 17th Bttn John William Austin should be 43276 rather than 43273.
Cheers
Tim
ps The POW database is an excellent resource.  I'm looking at late 1918 deaths for 17th Bttn and they're all covered up to now.

[Tim Bell]

Hi Charlie,
9488 William Welton served with 17th Bttn - not 12th The ICRC card is not clear.  He died as POW on 20/10/1918. Here's what I have:-
WELTON WILLIAM 27 20/10/1918 Private Manchester Regiment 17th Bn. '9488' France JEUMONT COMMUNAL CEMETERY. Son of William & Mary Ann Welton. Engine Cleaner for Lancs & Yorks Railway in 1911. Husband of  Elizabeth Emma Welton of 53 Victoria Road, Gorton with daughter, Gladys. Father of child to Miss Martha Jane  Burke born 29/07/1916 of 40 Brick Street, Bradford. Fireman enlisted 17th Bn 26/02/1915. Trained XX Pln. France 08/11/1915. Captured C Coy 26/04/1918.
Tim

[charlie]

Thanks for the corrections Tim. I‘m glad to hear the database is proving useful it makes the contributors efforts worth while.
Charlie

[Tim Bell]

Pte 27251 Henry Schofield
The Red Cross records indicate Henry served with 12th Bn and died in POW Hosp 30/07/1918.
All other records show Henry as 17th Bn and I wonder if we may find his grave at Conche (with an acute).
Here's what I have
SCHOFIELD HENRY 24 22/03/1918 Private Manchester Regiment   17th Bn. United Kingdom '27251' France   POZIERES MEMORIAL. Son of George (Deceased) & Susannah Schofield of 405 Rochdale Road, Royton. Attested 11/12/1915. Mobilised 25th Bn 22/01/1916. France 22/07/1916 as 18th Bn.  Posted from IBD to 19th Bn 30/07/1916. GSW Arm and face 22/06/1917. Rejoined Bn 29/08/1917.  Posted sick again. Transferred to 17th Bn 06/02/1918. Missing XII Pln, C Coy, presumed dead.    

[Tim Bell]

Pte 31214 William Taylor
Another case of a man assumed dead who actually died as a POW.  If the date of death can be found we may be able to amend with CWGC.
TAYLOR   WILLIAM 30 22/03/1918 Private   Manchester Regiment 17th Bn. United Kingdom   '31214' France   POZIERES MEMORIAL. Husband of Clara Taylor (two children) of 13 East Rd, Longsight. (Later resident in France) Photographer attested 11/12/1915. Mobilised 26th Bn 29/02/1916. France 16/07/1916. Posted to 19th Bn from IBD 30/07/1916. Wounded 19/10/1916. Sick Jan 1918. Transfer to 17th Bn 06/02/1918. Missing XVI Pln D Coy, wounded right knee presumed dead. Died as POW.