Hi & Researching Pte W.H.Cairns KIA FEPOW

[UnknownSoldier]

Hi,

I've just bimbled across from the BMF because they mentioned this was the place to ask for help regarding Manchester Soldiers...... :-)

My names Tom, I'm 22 and a postgraduate student at UKC (Kent), I collect medals, pretty much any, as each man has a story to be uncovered (hence my handle, Unknownsoldier, as every man is unknown until researched).

I'm currently researching a father and son both KIA, one in WW1 the other in WW2:

Firstly father:

Name: CAIRNS, WILLIAM HENRY
Initials: W H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Manchester Regiment
Unit Text: 24th Bn.
Age: 38
Date of Death: 12/05/1916
Service No: 14269
Additional information: Husband of Sarah Jane Cairns, of 26, Trafalgar St., Oldham.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. A. 16.
Cemetery: CITADEL NEW MILITARY CEMETERY, FRICOURT

Original member of the Oldham Pals, (pioneers), B Coy. 5 Pl.

He worked at monarch mill (pre war) and three of his brothers served in the 1/10th manchester regiment.

Then Son:

NUMBER: 3525579
RANK: PRIVATE
NAME: WILLIAM
SURNAME: CAIRNS
REGIMENT: 1ST BATTALION MANCHESTER REGIMENT
D.O.D: 13TH OCTOBER 1943

MEDALS: GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL WITH PALESTINE BAR, 1939-45 STAR, PACIFIC STAR, DEFENCE MEDAL, WAR MEDAL 1939-45.

CWGC Write-up:
Name: CAIRNS, WILLIAM
Initials: W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Manchester Regiment
Unit Text: 1st Bn.
Age: 28
Date of Death: 13/10/1943
Service No: 3525579
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: B6. P. 14.
Cemetery: THANBYUZAYAT WAR CEMETERY

FYI, he is missing from your POW database.

Any help is greatly appreciated, as this is one that touched me quite a lot, not only because he never saw his father, he was presumably conceived just before he left for the front, and was born whilst his father was in France, but also because the Son William, knew a friend of mine Bert Craddock (In case any one here was at Singers with him, he ended the war in Chungkai, he revisited the camp many years later after suffering at the hands of his trauma and deciding to face his demons head on).

Tom :-)

[mack]

hiya tom.
this is what i have for william,henry

pte 14269 william,henry cairns
enlisted 17-11-14
aged 36
26 trafalgar st,oldham
married miss sarah,jane GORBUTT,at oldham,on 6-1-1906
children
george,william 22-3-08
oliver 14-8-09
olive,lavinia 15-9-11
parents,henry+margaret.32 royley back,royton.
brothers.oliver lived oldham/richard,leigh rd,todmorden/joseph.oswald st,rochdale.
occupation.worked spinner at monarch mill
religion CofE
born.royton.
disembarked 8-11-15
killed by shellfire on 12-6-16,along with Lt sutcliffe and ptes james rodgers+alfred chamberlain.
his wifes three brothers,were sgt 33 thomas gorbutt.[later 375007]
1757 fred gorbutt.killed at gallipoli,4-6-15
granville gorbutt[doesnt seem to have served overseas
her parents were william+jane,22 trafalgar st,oldham
granville was williams best man at the wedding[married by rev williams]
sarahs bridesmaid,was lily laylor.

williams wife,recieved his 1915 star,war+victory medals,on 28-1-21
his personal effects were sent to her,on 28-6-16
1 ID disc
1 wallet
1 testament
1 prayer book
1 pen knife
pencils.

is it possble,that william jnr,is william,henrys nephew,there was a william cairns,born in oldham in late 1914,his mothers maiden name,was benson.

we have a picture of william,henry and photos of both his original and later grave,in our photo gallery.

mack

[UnknownSoldier]

Hi,

Brilliant, thanks, as the dates just about tied in, and they were born in the same area, my mind has obviously jumped, however you could still be right about the family connection.... I was having trouble with the links as the cencus only goes to 1901, and it seemed logical that a child may be named after a deceased father, in such circumstances. :-)

This is getting most interesting, the manchesters were a most interesting lot, I also have a nice set to a Manchesters Lt A.V.Hedges (and his personal autobiography), he got an MC for bravery and finished up a Lt Colonel with the HG :-) I have as yet failed to find a photograph of him....

u]Lt Col A.V.Hedges MC [Giggleswick OTC], Royal Fusiliers/Manchester Regiment.[/u]





LG: "For Conspicuous Gallantry, and devotion to duty.  When touch with the enemy had been temporarily lost, and other officers had become casualties, he took command, and it was mainly due to his courage and skilful dispositions, that that the rest of the battalion was extricated, and was enabled to be reformed, and to take up a position in the rear.  In subsequent engagements he gave he gave a splendid example of energy and determinaion in every way and his work was beyond praise"

ATB,
Tom