Sandbach during the First World War.
Click on Above School Picture for Connor Reeves - Sandbach School in WW1 PDF File.
##################################################################################
HISTORY OF SANDBACH 1914-18.
Compiled by Stewart Green © 2013-14 to date.
##################################################################################
1914 POPULATION (1914 Kelly’s Directory Pages 552 to 556)
URBAN DISTRICT WARDS East 2,707; North 1,975; West 1,041
SANDBACH ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH 4,171 and Sandbach Heath 1,258
Parish Clerk William Nock
Sexton Arthur Allcock
1914 POST OFFICE – Post, M.O., T and Telephone Express Delivery Office,
Bradwall Road (Letters should have Cheshire Added)
Postmaster William M. John
Letter arrive from all parts of the Kingdom at 3 and 5.45am, 12.45pm,
3pm and 6.15pm and are delivered at 7am, 1.10pm, 3.15pm and 6.30pm.
Letters are dispatched from Sandbach at 10.30am, 11.15am, 3pm, 9.30pm and 10pm.
Money Orders are granted and paid from 8am till 8pm (Opening Hours)
One lady recalled that during this period of time because mail was delivered
on size she wanted to send a copy of the local Chronicle to her relative and
regularly put the paper through her Mangle (To squeeze clothes dry) to
make it smaller.
1914 URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL
Meetings at the Town Hall on the 2nd Monday in the Month at 7pm
CHAIRMAN Alfred Ernest Poole
VICE CHAIRMAN James Proudlove
EAST WARD RETIRE FROM OFFICE (Changed at outbreak of War)
James Buckley April 1915
Charles Wardle April 1915
George Boulton April 1916
Matt. Hassall Eardley April 1916
Edward Butler April 1917
Walter Lea April 1917
NORTH WARD RETIRE FROM OFFICE (Changed at outbreak of War)
Alfred Ernest Poole April 1915
Arthur Buckley April 1915
George Newall April 1916
James Proudlove April 1917
George Wright April 1917
WEST WARD RETIRE FROM OFFICE (Changed at outbreak of War)
Ralph Ruscoe April 1915
Alfred Price April 1916
Edward Holland April 1917
OFFICIALS
CLERK Alfred Edward Stringer of 3 Crewe Road.
TREASURER John William Twigg of the Manchester and Liverpool District Bank
Ltd, High Town
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH Robert Riddell M.B., C.M. Edinburgh of
West View, Crewe Road.
SURVEYOR AND SANITARY INSPECTOR John Rowland Price of
16a Welles Street
MARKET INSPECTOR AND RATE AND WATER RENT COLLECTOR
Amos Wood of 7 High Street.
POLICE SERGEANT William Lawson with 6 men.
FIRE SUPERINTENDENT Edmund Allen with 10 Men.
1914 CHURCHES
St Mary’s Rev. Canon John Richard Armitstead
St John’s Rev Charles Edward Muckleston
St Winefrede Catholic Chapel Rev. Patrick Kearney
Congregational Hope Street Rev William Plaskett
Primitive Methodist (Welles St) Rev David Rogers
United Methodist Church (Bradwall Road) Rev. Arthur Lee
Wesleyan (Seaman’s bank) Rev William Brookes
Wesleyan (Sandbach Heath) Rev William Brookes
1914 SCHOOLS
George William Braddock (School Attendance Officer) at Park Lane, Sandbach
Council – Chapel Street (erected 1874) Miss Jane Cheetham (Mistress)
Miss Mary Ann Wood (Assistant Mistress)
Council Senior School, Crewe Road (Built 1912 – or 1911)
Arthur Maskelyne (Master)
Crewe Road Secondary School (Now Primary School)
Grammar School at Wheelock Rd S.W. Finn M.A. (Headmaster)
Miss A Henrietta Harris (Private School) at 59 High Street, Sandbach
The Square (Built 1841) William Nock (Master)
Miss Annie Robbins (Mistress)
Sandbach Heath (erected 1866 and enlarged 1891) Arthur William Allen (Master)
Miss Maude Newall (Mistress) Miss Annie Hoole (Infants Mistress)
Sandbach School (Built 1677) Private School with some pupils sponsored. Crewe Rd.
St Mary’s Church – National Day School (Built in 1841 and closed in 1961)
Wheelock Primary (1871 Old Building / 19 Nov 1973 New Building)
1914 NEWSPAPERS.
Crewe Chronicle
12 Welles Street, Sandbach – John Frost agent (Published Fridays)
Sandbach Chronicle (Robert Head Publisher and Printer)
Jessie and Miss M A Wood 7 High Town, Sandbach, Local Publisher
(Published Saturdays)
Sandbach Guardian (Mackie and Co Limited publisher and Printer – Saturday)
Miss Mary J Jones Agent at High Town, Sandbach
Sandbach and Middlewich Advertiser (Swain and Co Limited – Proprietors
and Printers – Friday) 43 Middlewich Road, Sandbach
10 Mar 1914 FODENS MOTOR WORKS BAND CONCERT – Sandbach Town Band (Paid £15)
1 Concert
May 1914 St Winefride’s Roman Catholic Church opened on Middlewich Road.
1914-18 World War 1. The Great War between Britain and Germany
28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918.
“Abbey Fields” a large House on an estate accessed from the Middlewich Road
near Abbey Lane was converted into a Hospital for the wounded.
The Reverend William Plaskett from the Hope Street Chapel not only looked
after Sandbach and Wheelock but was also the Free Church Chaplin at Abbey fields.
His wife and daughter Rene also worked in the Hospital as VAD auxiliary nurses.
It was also a sad time for the Reverend Plaskett and his family as their eldest son
William C Plaskett was killed in the fighting.
Another VAD Nurse working at the hospital was Millicent Eva Ash who lived at the
Lakes Farm in Ettley Heath. Later she married Ted Johnson.
FAMILY - Father William Ash born in 1860 farmer in Ettley Heath with his
wife Grace Ash (.b. 1863 in Sandbach) and their children Nesta Lillie Ash
(.b. 1883 in Sandbach), Norman Ash (.b. 1890 in Sandbach) and
Millicent Eva Ash born in 1894 in Sandbach. (Details from the 1901 Census)
At the age of 13 Millicent’s mother died leaving the family to work together
with their father on the farm and Millicent had to leave school and education
behind and selling their vegetables outside the Town Hall on the market.
Millicent worked with Essba Twemlow the daughter of Sam Twemlow who
later married Jack Hawthorne and lived opposite the Grange.
They both learn’t the basics of medicine working with very primitive treatments
including the use of Iodine, Sulphur and Soap and Water to make sure the hygiene
levils were kept. Miss Ash remembers that there were a number of suicides at
the Hospital when the soldiers were unable to recover from their wounds and
the terrible traumas they had witnessed at the front.
Aug 1914 The War Office ordered 10 Steam Wagons from Foden’s Motor Works
at three days’ notice making the employees work over the Bank Holiday Weekend
and later the Wakes weekend to finish the order.
Aug 1914 Men of all ages signed up to join the forces.
SANDBACH SCHOOL
At Sandbach School they published “The Sandbachian” which included a list of
those who had joined up to fight in the war. The magazine was published three times
a year and was then dropped to one edition per year until after the war.
More than 200 students signed up with 35 students and one Master being killed.
The names of the fallen were put on a memorial in the school chapel.
The first ex pupil to be killed in action was Second Lieutenant A.J. Haughton
who had been at the school between 1892 and 1898. He was in the Cricket XI
of 1896 and 1898 and the Football XI in 1897. A.J. Haughton was a member
of the 9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry and was killed on 24 July 1915
at Flanders (Arrived in France and Flanders 17 April 1915).
In late May 1915 the 5th, 6th, 7th 8th and 9th Battalions were part of a force that was
sent to slow the German assault on the Bellwaarde Ridge the last battle of the
Second Battle of Ypres.
Keiser Wilhelm II inspired a branch of the “Miniature Rifle Association” that
included 16 year old William George Upton who won many rifle shooting
competitions and was also a keen pilot. The School’s Rifle Club for many
years featured in the Sandbachian (School Magazine published three times a
year before the war and once a year between 1915 and 1918. It was at this time
printed by Eachus and Son, The Square, Sandbach) over many editions.
William Upton took part in class debates and was able to pinpoint British Troops on a
Map of France during Geography lessons.
However on the 4 October 1918 at the age of 20 William George Upton died
when his plane a Sopwith Camel was shot down five miles over enemy lines
during a fire-fight over Roulers in Belgium.
He is buried at Dadizelle Cemetery in Belgium.
Miniature Rifle Association.
12 Sept 1914 FODENS MOTOR WORKS BAND CONCERT – Sandbach
Sandbach Co-op Society’s Fate (Paid £12)
Commencing 1.45pm. Play in Procession (Tea Provided)
27 Sept 1914 FODENS MOTOR WORKS BAND CONCERT – Sandbach
One Afternoon concert for National Relief Fund.
If wet 4 Oct 1914
October 1914 Belgian Refugees are welcomed into Sandbach with some of them going to work
in the Foden Factory. Ernest Wakefield a Pattern Maker of Eva Street, Elworth
(Lived with his wife and two young daughters at the time) had attended evening
classes to learn French and was given the task of interpreting for the Belgium
employees at the works.
1915 (Date Unkn) Pickford’s ordered 50 steam wagons from Fodens.
1915 (Date Unkn) Foden’s issued a badge in 1915 to all employees with the words
“On War Work” inscribed on it to stop people thinking the workers were
not doing their best for the war effort. Some Suffragettes pinned white feathers
on those young men not in uniform as a sign of cowardess and this badge gave
the employees some security from this misconception.
1915 (Date Unkn) Workers at Foden’s demanded an extra 5/- a week for a 54 hour week
(on Top of their current wage of £2 a week). This didn’t go down well with the
Foden family and many who had joined a Union were asked to leave the union
or be sacked. The Union held a mass meeting where 304 people to 13 voted to strike.
The Foden family decided however to bring in “Black Leg” labour and issued an
ultimatum to its workers to return to work or be sacked.
The workers had to survive on 17/6 a week on strike pay. (see June 1915)
May 1915 The Chronicle recorded the death of Frank H Knowles aged 35 the licensee
of the New Inn at Betchton.
He had died while out shooting rabbits. His body was found by Ernest Leese a
local boy who found the body in Love Lane said that a gun was by the man’s side.
West Cheshire Coroner Mr J C Bate and the jury decided that death was due to
accidental causes.
June 1915 Foden workers returned to work by June 1915 with the Union gaining a 2/- increase
and the reinstatement of sacked workers. One exception was Jim Wakefield
(the brother of Edward) who went on to work for Rolls Royce.
11 Aug 1915 A £1 reward was offered by the Superintendent of the Bradwall Training School,
Sandbach for the apprehension of John James Stanfield who absconded from the
Reformatory on the 8th instant (11 Aug 1915 Poster), and is supposed to have
enlisted, or to have gone to Belfast.
Any information to be sent to the School (Tel 40 Sandbach) or to Superintendent
of Police, Police Station, Middlewich.
Sept 1915 A detachment of the 3/7th Territorial Battalion Cheshire Regiment under
Major Taylor visited Congleton on the Monday in connection with a
Recruiting Rally of the Western Command after marching from Macclesfield.
On the Tuesday morning (28 Sept 1915) they visited Sandbach and were given a
Grand Military Smoking Concert in their honour at the Town Hall in the presence of the
Mayor of the Town. There will also be a boxing competition and local personality
Ex-Sergeant, now Pioneer Noah Kennerly, of the Cheshire Regiment depot appeared in
new patriotic sketches.
Oct 1915 Sandbach Council formed themselves into a Committee for the purpose of
sending Christmas Presents to all the men from Sandbach who were serving
at the front. By November packages for Soldiers and Sailors were being sent
to the Dardanelles in order to reach them by Christmas.
Each parcel contained a card bearing the Cheshire Coat of Arms and inscribed
“From the Ancient Town of Sandbach to her gallant sons at home
and abroad, who have answered the call, and are fighting, or eager to fight, on
sea or land, for liberty, for freedom, for motherland and home, wishing them
a happy Christmas and joyful homecoming. God Save the King 1915”.
Nov 1915 MP for the Eddisbury area Captain Harry Barnston announced that as he was a
Soldier in the Cheshire Yeomanry, fighting for his country and at the
same time the area’s MP he would return the cheque for his work as a
Member of Parliament as he was unable to do his constituency duty.
He had in reality always put the cheques into a separate bank account,
only spending it on public services as he is strongly opposed in principal
to the payment of Members of Parliament.
He was however Sir Harry Barnston, 1st Baronet MA JP DL son of
Major William Barnston of Crewe Hall and Mary Emma King.
In 1906 he stood unsuccessfully in Stockport but was elected for Eddisbury,
Cheshire from 1910 until his death on the 27 February 1929.
He became a Controller of the Household from 1921-1924 and Nov 1924 to
Jan 1928. In 1924 he was created a Baronet.
Nov 1915 Figures were released of those effected by Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria and
Typhoid Fever in the town with Sandbach having 17 cases compared with 94
in Congleton.
Nov1915 Mr S Maskery and Co (Bakers) announced that with great regret that due to an
increase in the cost of Raw ingredients that he would have to increase the cost of
his Congleton Gingerbread. A tin of 1½lb would cost 1/10d, a 3lb tin = 3/7d,
4½lb = 5/3d and a 6½lb tin costs 7/6d.
Special tins for the troops were also available with Christmas Boxes to Soldiers
and Sailors in the Dardanells and Egypt via Parcel Post costing 2/9d, 3/6d, 5/1d
and 6/9d.
Dec 2015 Khaki Armlets were distributed to the men of Sandbach who had attested under
Lord Derby’s Scheme in the Town Hall on Wednesday evening.
The Town Hall was full of those who waited their turn to receive the symbol
of Patriotism.
The first wave of recruits under the Derby scheme were encouraged to join up
in December 1915 and had until the 29th January to report to their unit.
If they needed more time before joining up they had until the 30 December 1915
to lodge an appeal to be placed in a later group of recruits.
(Reprinted in Sandbach Chronicle 31 Dec 2015)
Feb1916 Zeppelins were seen flying over Sandbach prompting the town to start
“Blackout procedures”.
1916 Women started working at Foden’s as many of the men had been called up.
21 May 1916 British Summertime started by act of Parliament. The Idea of British Summertime
was campaigned for by William Willett to allow more time for Farm workers to
work in the fields during daylight hours.
27 May 1916 FODENS MOTOR WORKS BAND CONCERT – Sandbach May Festival
A picture has come to our attention which shows what happed to the “Prussian Style
Uniforms” that were worn by Fodens band but had to be abandoned because if their
association with the Great War (Purchased in 1913). It shows Joiners at Fodens
Motor Works winning first prize at the Sandbach Festival with a mock up
German Zeppelin on top of a Steam Wagon wearing the uniforms along with
other soldiers in costume.
20 July 1916 Lieutenant Donald Wainwright Beard (Born and Bred in Elworth near the
Midland Pub) and gained the Military Medal for his action on this date.
He was a WW1 Pilot who shot down 8 German planes and was awarded the
Military Medal (Established 25 March 1916 for Non Commissioned officer’s
/ below commissioned rank it was the equivalent of the Military Cross)
and possibly played Cricket for Elworth Cricket Club.
Born on the 20 May 1895 in Elworth.
The 1911 Census puts the family in Elworth.
(Father) John W Beard .b. 1857 in Oldham and he was
a Commissioning Agent in Agriculture.
(Mother) Mary G Beard .b. 1870 in Sandbach
Herbert C Beard .b. 1893 in Elworth and was an
Engineering Draftsman’s Apprentice.
Annie G Beard .b. 1894 in Elworth
Donald W Beard .b. 1896 in Elworth an
Engineers Fitter’s Apprentice.
Neville Beard .b. 1899 in Elworth
Elizabeth Beard .b. 1901
Amy Beard .b. 1904
On the 20 August 1913 Donald Beard joined the RFC as a Mechanic
With 4 Squadron.
By 1916 he was flying as a rear gunner and on the 20 July 1916 he was
in a Royal Aircraft factory B.E. 2 during a number 4 Squadron mission
with Captain Copeland as his pilot. Unfortunately he was wounded by an
attacking Pfalz E1 which Sergeant Donald Beard shot down before he grabbed
the controls and flew the plane home earning himself the Military Medal
(Serial No 839) and a chance to do Pilot training.
(No 4 Squadron formed at Farnborough in 1912 as part of the Royal Flying Corps
and moved to Netheravon just before the Great War where it stayed during the
First World War. Useful Aircraft of the Squadron were sent to France under
Major G.H. Rayleigh on the 16 August 1914 where they carried out reconnaissance
missions supporting the British Expeditionary Force with
Lieutenant G.W. Mapplebeck flying the first mission on the 19 August 1914
searching for German Forces over Gembloux in Belgium.
Other aircraft of the squadron were used to carry out Anti-Zeppelin patrols. )
After training on the 26 November 1917 Donald Beard was assigned to 11 Squadron
as a Sergeant Pilot flying a Bristol F2 Fighter (1916 made Sergeant,
Service Number 839).
On the 9 March 1918 with Sergeant H.W. Scarnell as his rear gunner they
shot down a Pfalz D III and six days later an Albatros DIII and two other planes.
A week later with Second Lieutenant H.M. Stewart as his Gunner they set a D.V.
on fire.
On the 3 April 1918 Donald Beard was commissioned as a Temporary
Second Lieutenant with his final mission of WW1 on the 9 May 1918 when he
destroyed a Pfalz D III and downed another plane.
In the London Gazette of the 31 December 1920 Donald relinquished his commission
for health reasons connected to his active service days.
Between 1926 and 1936 Donald sailed from Argentina to Cape Town.
He was also a member of the Port Elizabeth Light Aeroplane club until he left
Port Elizabeth (in South Africa) in December 1930.
Between the wars Donald Beard married Stella Marie Gladys Londt who he met
on a ship when he was delivering a Foden Steam Tractor to Koster, Transvaal.
At the time she was 18 years old and so they waited until she reached 21 and
married in England (1931-2) possibly in Darlington in 1932.
Unfortunately Stella died on the 27 December 1933 in a Car Crash aged 22.
They had a daughter called Sally who died on the 1 January 1934. The reason for
death is not reported but it was possibly from injuries in the same crash as her
mother.
The 1939 Sandbach Urban District Council register has Donald living
with Marjory J Beard.
In WW 2 he became a Commissioned Officer from the 18 November 1940 as a
flying officer but by the 22 January he was assigned to administrative duties
due to ill heath, something he had suffered since the end of WW1 (1918)
and finally resigned as a Pilot Officer on the 13 March 1942 with a brief
return to duty until the 8 April 1947.
One possible date for his death is in December 1980 at the age of 85 in Haringey,
London. (Tbc) (Dec 1980 as Donald Wainwright Beard)
DONALD’S VICTORIES
Date Time Unit Aircraft Opponent Location
1. 20 Jul 1916 Unkn 4 B.E.2c Pfalz E (DES)
2. 09 Mar 1918 1130 11 Bristol F.2b (C4846) Pfalz D.III (OOC) Douai
3. 15 Mar 1918 1115 11 Bristol F.2b (C4846) Albatros D.V (DES) Rumilly
4. 15 Mar 1918 1115 11 Bristol F.2b (C4846) Albatros D.V (OOC) Rumilly
5. 15 Mar 1918 1115 11 Bristol F.2b (C4846) Albatros D.V (OOC) Rumilly
6. 22 Mar 1918 1835 11 Bristol F.2b (C4846) Albatros D.V (DES) Quéant
7. 09 May 1918 1220 11 Bristol F.2b (C807) Pfalz D.III (OOC) Albert-Combles
8. 09 May 1918 1225 11 Bristol F.2b (C807) Pfalz D.III (DES) W of Combles
Donald Beard.
His war record is available at
www.forces-war-records.co.uk/records/5344368/serjeant-d-w-beard-british-army-royal-flying-corps/
1916 (Poss Jan) Private Enoch Gater of 69 Park Lane, Sandbach sent a letter back home to his
parents telling them of a narrow escape he had while serving with the
Cheshire Regiment. A large piece of Shrapnel caught a cigarette box he had
in his left breast pocket and bounced off it towards his hand grazing it which
undoubtedly saved him from serious injury. Enoch intended to send home the
Cigarette box to his family as a souvineer.
POSSIBLE FAMILY in 1911 Census at 45 Sandbach Heath (The Hill).
Enoch Gater (Head) .b. 1852 (Aged 59) in Kidsgrove (Turner at Chemical Works)
(Died 1925 aged 75 in Sandbach)
Martha Gater (Wife) .b. 1859 (Aged 52) in Sandbach
Married 27 Years. Children Born to family 10. Children still alive 5. Children died 5.
Leonard Gater (Son) .b. 1892 (Aged 19) in Sandbach
(Apprentice Turner at Foden Motor Works)
Enoch Gater (Son) .b. 1897 (Aged 14) in Sandbach (Bricksetters Labourer)
Samuel Gater (Son) .b. 1900 (Aged 11) in Sandbach (At School)
Harold Gater (Son) .b. 1901 (Aged 10) in Sandbach (At School)
Feb 1917 Rationing introduced in Britain.
4-7 Sept 1917 The Crewe family who had purchased the Manorial rights to Sandbach sold the
Sandbach properties they owned in a sale that took place on the 4th, 5th, and 7th of
September 1917 at the Town Hall at 11am and 3pm each day by
Messrs Frank Lloyd and Sons. The sale included buildings and land owned by
the family.
It is possible that the sale was needed due to gambling debts by the Crewe family.
The map of property to sold included some alternate names for streets in the area.
Seaman’s Bank became Wesley Avenue
Narrow Lane became Offley Road.
1917 Due to the sale of the estate of Lord Crewe the supervision of the Common was
taken over by the Town Council.
18 Aug 1917 FODENS MOTOR WORKS BAND CONCERT – Sandbach Hospital Fate
and Pageant (Paid £15)
The event was to raise funds for the Hospital based at Abbey Fields on
Middlewich Road.
Nov 1917 NATIONAL NEWS – School children in two North East English Villages went
on strike to protest that they wouldn’t go to school unless they could have
free school meals.
1 June 1918 Edwin Firth killed in action at a place called Varennes, North West of Amiens on the
1 June 1918 while returning to the trenches a shell exploded just outside some woods
killing Edwin and his party, he was only 29 Year’s old.
Edwin had been the principal Cornet Player with Foden’s Band up until his last
tour of duty
www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/bygones/11688328.Tragic_tale_of_a_top_wartime_trumpeter/
July 1918 Sunday Schools were suspended in Sandbach due to an outbreak of Influenza.
The epidemic became one of the most serious global epidemic in recorded history.
15 July 1918 Butter, Marge, Lard, Meat and sugar were added to the Ration list.
20 July 1918 FODENS MOTOR WORKS BAND CONCERT – Abbey Fields Hospital,
Sandbach (Paid – Gratis)
The concert was for wounded soldiers at the Hospital.
18 Aug 1918 FODENS MOTOR WORKS BAND CONCERT – Sandbach Hospital Fate (£15)
J H Broad (Secretary). (Tea Provided)
11 Nov 1918 On the 11 November 1918 War officially ended at 11am with a cease fire.
It was an opportunity for all the churches to put aside their differences and to
join together for a “UNITED THANKSGIVING SERVICE” at St Mary’s Sandbach
on the 17 November at 3pm when Fodens Band would provide the musical
entertainment and various ministers would take part doing readings and prayers for
the congregation. (see below)
17 Nov 1918 UNITED THANKSGIVING SERVICE at St Mary’s Parish Church 3pm.
Opening Voluntary “Lead Kindly Light” played by Fodens Band
Conductor Mr Hines.
HYMNS
1. All People that on Earth do dwell.
2. Psalm XLVI God is our Hope and Strength.
3. Psalm XCVIII O Sing unto the Lord a new Song.
4. Psalm XLVII God me merciful unto us.
5. Hymn 165 and 376
O God our Help in Ages Past
Now Thank we all our God.
7. Hymn - Oh King of Kings Whose Reign of Old.
8. The Hallelujah Chorus Played by Fodens Band
9. The Trumpet of Victory Played by Mr W Nock on the Church Organ.
10. The National Anthem
11. Concluding Voluntary Played by Fodens Band.
1919 Mr Fred Hackney started his haulage business in Sandbach. Where possible over the
years he had used lorries made in the town by ERF or Foden.
1919 ZAN works in Wheelock Mills, Wheelock opened by Mr R.B. and Mr E.L. Hovey.
July 1921 A new Super Cinema was proposed for the town in Congleton Rd.
The plans were however turned down.
16 Apr 1922 The War Memorial was unveiled on the 16 April 1922 at 3pm by
Lieut Colonel John Kennedy, C.M.G., D.S.O., of the Black Watch
on the Market Square.
He was the son of Colonel and Mrs Kennedy of Brookside, Arclid.
#######################################################################################
HISTORY OF SANDBACH 1914-18.
Compiled by Stewart Green © 2013-14 to date.
##################################################################################
1914 POPULATION (1914 Kelly’s Directory Pages 552 to 556)
URBAN DISTRICT WARDS East 2,707; North 1,975; West 1,041
SANDBACH ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH 4,171 and Sandbach Heath 1,258
Parish Clerk William Nock
Sexton Arthur Allcock
1914 POST OFFICE – Post, M.O., T and Telephone Express Delivery Office,
Bradwall Road (Letters should have Cheshire Added)
Postmaster William M. John
Letter arrive from all parts of the Kingdom at 3 and 5.45am, 12.45pm,
3pm and 6.15pm and are delivered at 7am, 1.10pm, 3.15pm and 6.30pm.
Letters are dispatched from Sandbach at 10.30am, 11.15am, 3pm, 9.30pm and 10pm.
Money Orders are granted and paid from 8am till 8pm (Opening Hours)
One lady recalled that during this period of time because mail was delivered
on size she wanted to send a copy of the local Chronicle to her relative and
regularly put the paper through her Mangle (To squeeze clothes dry) to
make it smaller.
1914 URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL
Meetings at the Town Hall on the 2nd Monday in the Month at 7pm
CHAIRMAN Alfred Ernest Poole
VICE CHAIRMAN James Proudlove
EAST WARD RETIRE FROM OFFICE (Changed at outbreak of War)
James Buckley April 1915
Charles Wardle April 1915
George Boulton April 1916
Matt. Hassall Eardley April 1916
Edward Butler April 1917
Walter Lea April 1917
NORTH WARD RETIRE FROM OFFICE (Changed at outbreak of War)
Alfred Ernest Poole April 1915
Arthur Buckley April 1915
George Newall April 1916
James Proudlove April 1917
George Wright April 1917
WEST WARD RETIRE FROM OFFICE (Changed at outbreak of War)
Ralph Ruscoe April 1915
Alfred Price April 1916
Edward Holland April 1917
OFFICIALS
CLERK Alfred Edward Stringer of 3 Crewe Road.
TREASURER John William Twigg of the Manchester and Liverpool District Bank
Ltd, High Town
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH Robert Riddell M.B., C.M. Edinburgh of
West View, Crewe Road.
SURVEYOR AND SANITARY INSPECTOR John Rowland Price of
16a Welles Street
MARKET INSPECTOR AND RATE AND WATER RENT COLLECTOR
Amos Wood of 7 High Street.
POLICE SERGEANT William Lawson with 6 men.
FIRE SUPERINTENDENT Edmund Allen with 10 Men.
1914 CHURCHES
St Mary’s Rev. Canon John Richard Armitstead
St John’s Rev Charles Edward Muckleston
St Winefrede Catholic Chapel Rev. Patrick Kearney
Congregational Hope Street Rev William Plaskett
Primitive Methodist (Welles St) Rev David Rogers
United Methodist Church (Bradwall Road) Rev. Arthur Lee
Wesleyan (Seaman’s bank) Rev William Brookes
Wesleyan (Sandbach Heath) Rev William Brookes
1914 SCHOOLS
George William Braddock (School Attendance Officer) at Park Lane, Sandbach
Council – Chapel Street (erected 1874) Miss Jane Cheetham (Mistress)
Miss Mary Ann Wood (Assistant Mistress)
Council Senior School, Crewe Road (Built 1912 – or 1911)
Arthur Maskelyne (Master)
Crewe Road Secondary School (Now Primary School)
Grammar School at Wheelock Rd S.W. Finn M.A. (Headmaster)
Miss A Henrietta Harris (Private School) at 59 High Street, Sandbach
The Square (Built 1841) William Nock (Master)
Miss Annie Robbins (Mistress)
Sandbach Heath (erected 1866 and enlarged 1891) Arthur William Allen (Master)
Miss Maude Newall (Mistress) Miss Annie Hoole (Infants Mistress)
Sandbach School (Built 1677) Private School with some pupils sponsored. Crewe Rd.
St Mary’s Church – National Day School (Built in 1841 and closed in 1961)
Wheelock Primary (1871 Old Building / 19 Nov 1973 New Building)
1914 NEWSPAPERS.
Crewe Chronicle
12 Welles Street, Sandbach – John Frost agent (Published Fridays)
Sandbach Chronicle (Robert Head Publisher and Printer)
Jessie and Miss M A Wood 7 High Town, Sandbach, Local Publisher
(Published Saturdays)
Sandbach Guardian (Mackie and Co Limited publisher and Printer – Saturday)
Miss Mary J Jones Agent at High Town, Sandbach
Sandbach and Middlewich Advertiser (Swain and Co Limited – Proprietors
and Printers – Friday) 43 Middlewich Road, Sandbach
10 Mar 1914 FODENS MOTOR WORKS BAND CONCERT – Sandbach Town Band (Paid £15)
1 Concert
May 1914 St Winefride’s Roman Catholic Church opened on Middlewich Road.
1914-18 World War 1. The Great War between Britain and Germany
28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918.
“Abbey Fields” a large House on an estate accessed from the Middlewich Road
near Abbey Lane was converted into a Hospital for the wounded.
The Reverend William Plaskett from the Hope Street Chapel not only looked
after Sandbach and Wheelock but was also the Free Church Chaplin at Abbey fields.
His wife and daughter Rene also worked in the Hospital as VAD auxiliary nurses.
It was also a sad time for the Reverend Plaskett and his family as their eldest son
William C Plaskett was killed in the fighting.
Another VAD Nurse working at the hospital was Millicent Eva Ash who lived at the
Lakes Farm in Ettley Heath. Later she married Ted Johnson.
FAMILY - Father William Ash born in 1860 farmer in Ettley Heath with his
wife Grace Ash (.b. 1863 in Sandbach) and their children Nesta Lillie Ash
(.b. 1883 in Sandbach), Norman Ash (.b. 1890 in Sandbach) and
Millicent Eva Ash born in 1894 in Sandbach. (Details from the 1901 Census)
At the age of 13 Millicent’s mother died leaving the family to work together
with their father on the farm and Millicent had to leave school and education
behind and selling their vegetables outside the Town Hall on the market.
Millicent worked with Essba Twemlow the daughter of Sam Twemlow who
later married Jack Hawthorne and lived opposite the Grange.
They both learn’t the basics of medicine working with very primitive treatments
including the use of Iodine, Sulphur and Soap and Water to make sure the hygiene
levils were kept. Miss Ash remembers that there were a number of suicides at
the Hospital when the soldiers were unable to recover from their wounds and
the terrible traumas they had witnessed at the front.
Aug 1914 The War Office ordered 10 Steam Wagons from Foden’s Motor Works
at three days’ notice making the employees work over the Bank Holiday Weekend
and later the Wakes weekend to finish the order.
Aug 1914 Men of all ages signed up to join the forces.
SANDBACH SCHOOL
At Sandbach School they published “The Sandbachian” which included a list of
those who had joined up to fight in the war. The magazine was published three times
a year and was then dropped to one edition per year until after the war.
More than 200 students signed up with 35 students and one Master being killed.
The names of the fallen were put on a memorial in the school chapel.
The first ex pupil to be killed in action was Second Lieutenant A.J. Haughton
who had been at the school between 1892 and 1898. He was in the Cricket XI
of 1896 and 1898 and the Football XI in 1897. A.J. Haughton was a member
of the 9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry and was killed on 24 July 1915
at Flanders (Arrived in France and Flanders 17 April 1915).
In late May 1915 the 5th, 6th, 7th 8th and 9th Battalions were part of a force that was
sent to slow the German assault on the Bellwaarde Ridge the last battle of the
Second Battle of Ypres.
Keiser Wilhelm II inspired a branch of the “Miniature Rifle Association” that
included 16 year old William George Upton who won many rifle shooting
competitions and was also a keen pilot. The School’s Rifle Club for many
years featured in the Sandbachian (School Magazine published three times a
year before the war and once a year between 1915 and 1918. It was at this time
printed by Eachus and Son, The Square, Sandbach) over many editions.
William Upton took part in class debates and was able to pinpoint British Troops on a
Map of France during Geography lessons.
However on the 4 October 1918 at the age of 20 William George Upton died
when his plane a Sopwith Camel was shot down five miles over enemy lines
during a fire-fight over Roulers in Belgium.
He is buried at Dadizelle Cemetery in Belgium.
Miniature Rifle Association.
12 Sept 1914 FODENS MOTOR WORKS BAND CONCERT – Sandbach
Sandbach Co-op Society’s Fate (Paid £12)
Commencing 1.45pm. Play in Procession (Tea Provided)
27 Sept 1914 FODENS MOTOR WORKS BAND CONCERT – Sandbach
One Afternoon concert for National Relief Fund.
If wet 4 Oct 1914
October 1914 Belgian Refugees are welcomed into Sandbach with some of them going to work
in the Foden Factory. Ernest Wakefield a Pattern Maker of Eva Street, Elworth
(Lived with his wife and two young daughters at the time) had attended evening
classes to learn French and was given the task of interpreting for the Belgium
employees at the works.
1915 (Date Unkn) Pickford’s ordered 50 steam wagons from Fodens.
1915 (Date Unkn) Foden’s issued a badge in 1915 to all employees with the words
“On War Work” inscribed on it to stop people thinking the workers were
not doing their best for the war effort. Some Suffragettes pinned white feathers
on those young men not in uniform as a sign of cowardess and this badge gave
the employees some security from this misconception.
1915 (Date Unkn) Workers at Foden’s demanded an extra 5/- a week for a 54 hour week
(on Top of their current wage of £2 a week). This didn’t go down well with the
Foden family and many who had joined a Union were asked to leave the union
or be sacked. The Union held a mass meeting where 304 people to 13 voted to strike.
The Foden family decided however to bring in “Black Leg” labour and issued an
ultimatum to its workers to return to work or be sacked.
The workers had to survive on 17/6 a week on strike pay. (see June 1915)
May 1915 The Chronicle recorded the death of Frank H Knowles aged 35 the licensee
of the New Inn at Betchton.
He had died while out shooting rabbits. His body was found by Ernest Leese a
local boy who found the body in Love Lane said that a gun was by the man’s side.
West Cheshire Coroner Mr J C Bate and the jury decided that death was due to
accidental causes.
June 1915 Foden workers returned to work by June 1915 with the Union gaining a 2/- increase
and the reinstatement of sacked workers. One exception was Jim Wakefield
(the brother of Edward) who went on to work for Rolls Royce.
11 Aug 1915 A £1 reward was offered by the Superintendent of the Bradwall Training School,
Sandbach for the apprehension of John James Stanfield who absconded from the
Reformatory on the 8th instant (11 Aug 1915 Poster), and is supposed to have
enlisted, or to have gone to Belfast.
Any information to be sent to the School (Tel 40 Sandbach) or to Superintendent
of Police, Police Station, Middlewich.
Sept 1915 A detachment of the 3/7th Territorial Battalion Cheshire Regiment under
Major Taylor visited Congleton on the Monday in connection with a
Recruiting Rally of the Western Command after marching from Macclesfield.
On the Tuesday morning (28 Sept 1915) they visited Sandbach and were given a
Grand Military Smoking Concert in their honour at the Town Hall in the presence of the
Mayor of the Town. There will also be a boxing competition and local personality
Ex-Sergeant, now Pioneer Noah Kennerly, of the Cheshire Regiment depot appeared in
new patriotic sketches.
Oct 1915 Sandbach Council formed themselves into a Committee for the purpose of
sending Christmas Presents to all the men from Sandbach who were serving
at the front. By November packages for Soldiers and Sailors were being sent
to the Dardanelles in order to reach them by Christmas.
Each parcel contained a card bearing the Cheshire Coat of Arms and inscribed
“From the Ancient Town of Sandbach to her gallant sons at home
and abroad, who have answered the call, and are fighting, or eager to fight, on
sea or land, for liberty, for freedom, for motherland and home, wishing them
a happy Christmas and joyful homecoming. God Save the King 1915”.
Nov 1915 MP for the Eddisbury area Captain Harry Barnston announced that as he was a
Soldier in the Cheshire Yeomanry, fighting for his country and at the
same time the area’s MP he would return the cheque for his work as a
Member of Parliament as he was unable to do his constituency duty.
He had in reality always put the cheques into a separate bank account,
only spending it on public services as he is strongly opposed in principal
to the payment of Members of Parliament.
He was however Sir Harry Barnston, 1st Baronet MA JP DL son of
Major William Barnston of Crewe Hall and Mary Emma King.
In 1906 he stood unsuccessfully in Stockport but was elected for Eddisbury,
Cheshire from 1910 until his death on the 27 February 1929.
He became a Controller of the Household from 1921-1924 and Nov 1924 to
Jan 1928. In 1924 he was created a Baronet.
Nov 1915 Figures were released of those effected by Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria and
Typhoid Fever in the town with Sandbach having 17 cases compared with 94
in Congleton.
Nov1915 Mr S Maskery and Co (Bakers) announced that with great regret that due to an
increase in the cost of Raw ingredients that he would have to increase the cost of
his Congleton Gingerbread. A tin of 1½lb would cost 1/10d, a 3lb tin = 3/7d,
4½lb = 5/3d and a 6½lb tin costs 7/6d.
Special tins for the troops were also available with Christmas Boxes to Soldiers
and Sailors in the Dardanells and Egypt via Parcel Post costing 2/9d, 3/6d, 5/1d
and 6/9d.
Dec 2015 Khaki Armlets were distributed to the men of Sandbach who had attested under
Lord Derby’s Scheme in the Town Hall on Wednesday evening.
The Town Hall was full of those who waited their turn to receive the symbol
of Patriotism.
The first wave of recruits under the Derby scheme were encouraged to join up
in December 1915 and had until the 29th January to report to their unit.
If they needed more time before joining up they had until the 30 December 1915
to lodge an appeal to be placed in a later group of recruits.
(Reprinted in Sandbach Chronicle 31 Dec 2015)
Feb1916 Zeppelins were seen flying over Sandbach prompting the town to start
“Blackout procedures”.
1916 Women started working at Foden’s as many of the men had been called up.
21 May 1916 British Summertime started by act of Parliament. The Idea of British Summertime
was campaigned for by William Willett to allow more time for Farm workers to
work in the fields during daylight hours.
27 May 1916 FODENS MOTOR WORKS BAND CONCERT – Sandbach May Festival
A picture has come to our attention which shows what happed to the “Prussian Style
Uniforms” that were worn by Fodens band but had to be abandoned because if their
association with the Great War (Purchased in 1913). It shows Joiners at Fodens
Motor Works winning first prize at the Sandbach Festival with a mock up
German Zeppelin on top of a Steam Wagon wearing the uniforms along with
other soldiers in costume.
20 July 1916 Lieutenant Donald Wainwright Beard (Born and Bred in Elworth near the
Midland Pub) and gained the Military Medal for his action on this date.
He was a WW1 Pilot who shot down 8 German planes and was awarded the
Military Medal (Established 25 March 1916 for Non Commissioned officer’s
/ below commissioned rank it was the equivalent of the Military Cross)
and possibly played Cricket for Elworth Cricket Club.
Born on the 20 May 1895 in Elworth.
The 1911 Census puts the family in Elworth.
(Father) John W Beard .b. 1857 in Oldham and he was
a Commissioning Agent in Agriculture.
(Mother) Mary G Beard .b. 1870 in Sandbach
Herbert C Beard .b. 1893 in Elworth and was an
Engineering Draftsman’s Apprentice.
Annie G Beard .b. 1894 in Elworth
Donald W Beard .b. 1896 in Elworth an
Engineers Fitter’s Apprentice.
Neville Beard .b. 1899 in Elworth
Elizabeth Beard .b. 1901
Amy Beard .b. 1904
On the 20 August 1913 Donald Beard joined the RFC as a Mechanic
With 4 Squadron.
By 1916 he was flying as a rear gunner and on the 20 July 1916 he was
in a Royal Aircraft factory B.E. 2 during a number 4 Squadron mission
with Captain Copeland as his pilot. Unfortunately he was wounded by an
attacking Pfalz E1 which Sergeant Donald Beard shot down before he grabbed
the controls and flew the plane home earning himself the Military Medal
(Serial No 839) and a chance to do Pilot training.
(No 4 Squadron formed at Farnborough in 1912 as part of the Royal Flying Corps
and moved to Netheravon just before the Great War where it stayed during the
First World War. Useful Aircraft of the Squadron were sent to France under
Major G.H. Rayleigh on the 16 August 1914 where they carried out reconnaissance
missions supporting the British Expeditionary Force with
Lieutenant G.W. Mapplebeck flying the first mission on the 19 August 1914
searching for German Forces over Gembloux in Belgium.
Other aircraft of the squadron were used to carry out Anti-Zeppelin patrols. )
After training on the 26 November 1917 Donald Beard was assigned to 11 Squadron
as a Sergeant Pilot flying a Bristol F2 Fighter (1916 made Sergeant,
Service Number 839).
On the 9 March 1918 with Sergeant H.W. Scarnell as his rear gunner they
shot down a Pfalz D III and six days later an Albatros DIII and two other planes.
A week later with Second Lieutenant H.M. Stewart as his Gunner they set a D.V.
on fire.
On the 3 April 1918 Donald Beard was commissioned as a Temporary
Second Lieutenant with his final mission of WW1 on the 9 May 1918 when he
destroyed a Pfalz D III and downed another plane.
In the London Gazette of the 31 December 1920 Donald relinquished his commission
for health reasons connected to his active service days.
Between 1926 and 1936 Donald sailed from Argentina to Cape Town.
He was also a member of the Port Elizabeth Light Aeroplane club until he left
Port Elizabeth (in South Africa) in December 1930.
Between the wars Donald Beard married Stella Marie Gladys Londt who he met
on a ship when he was delivering a Foden Steam Tractor to Koster, Transvaal.
At the time she was 18 years old and so they waited until she reached 21 and
married in England (1931-2) possibly in Darlington in 1932.
Unfortunately Stella died on the 27 December 1933 in a Car Crash aged 22.
They had a daughter called Sally who died on the 1 January 1934. The reason for
death is not reported but it was possibly from injuries in the same crash as her
mother.
The 1939 Sandbach Urban District Council register has Donald living
with Marjory J Beard.
In WW 2 he became a Commissioned Officer from the 18 November 1940 as a
flying officer but by the 22 January he was assigned to administrative duties
due to ill heath, something he had suffered since the end of WW1 (1918)
and finally resigned as a Pilot Officer on the 13 March 1942 with a brief
return to duty until the 8 April 1947.
One possible date for his death is in December 1980 at the age of 85 in Haringey,
London. (Tbc) (Dec 1980 as Donald Wainwright Beard)
DONALD’S VICTORIES
Date Time Unit Aircraft Opponent Location
1. 20 Jul 1916 Unkn 4 B.E.2c Pfalz E (DES)
2. 09 Mar 1918 1130 11 Bristol F.2b (C4846) Pfalz D.III (OOC) Douai
3. 15 Mar 1918 1115 11 Bristol F.2b (C4846) Albatros D.V (DES) Rumilly
4. 15 Mar 1918 1115 11 Bristol F.2b (C4846) Albatros D.V (OOC) Rumilly
5. 15 Mar 1918 1115 11 Bristol F.2b (C4846) Albatros D.V (OOC) Rumilly
6. 22 Mar 1918 1835 11 Bristol F.2b (C4846) Albatros D.V (DES) Quéant
7. 09 May 1918 1220 11 Bristol F.2b (C807) Pfalz D.III (OOC) Albert-Combles
8. 09 May 1918 1225 11 Bristol F.2b (C807) Pfalz D.III (DES) W of Combles
Donald Beard.
His war record is available at
www.forces-war-records.co.uk/records/5344368/serjeant-d-w-beard-british-army-royal-flying-corps/
1916 (Poss Jan) Private Enoch Gater of 69 Park Lane, Sandbach sent a letter back home to his
parents telling them of a narrow escape he had while serving with the
Cheshire Regiment. A large piece of Shrapnel caught a cigarette box he had
in his left breast pocket and bounced off it towards his hand grazing it which
undoubtedly saved him from serious injury. Enoch intended to send home the
Cigarette box to his family as a souvineer.
POSSIBLE FAMILY in 1911 Census at 45 Sandbach Heath (The Hill).
Enoch Gater (Head) .b. 1852 (Aged 59) in Kidsgrove (Turner at Chemical Works)
(Died 1925 aged 75 in Sandbach)
Martha Gater (Wife) .b. 1859 (Aged 52) in Sandbach
Married 27 Years. Children Born to family 10. Children still alive 5. Children died 5.
Leonard Gater (Son) .b. 1892 (Aged 19) in Sandbach
(Apprentice Turner at Foden Motor Works)
Enoch Gater (Son) .b. 1897 (Aged 14) in Sandbach (Bricksetters Labourer)
Samuel Gater (Son) .b. 1900 (Aged 11) in Sandbach (At School)
Harold Gater (Son) .b. 1901 (Aged 10) in Sandbach (At School)
Feb 1917 Rationing introduced in Britain.
4-7 Sept 1917 The Crewe family who had purchased the Manorial rights to Sandbach sold the
Sandbach properties they owned in a sale that took place on the 4th, 5th, and 7th of
September 1917 at the Town Hall at 11am and 3pm each day by
Messrs Frank Lloyd and Sons. The sale included buildings and land owned by
the family.
It is possible that the sale was needed due to gambling debts by the Crewe family.
The map of property to sold included some alternate names for streets in the area.
Seaman’s Bank became Wesley Avenue
Narrow Lane became Offley Road.
1917 Due to the sale of the estate of Lord Crewe the supervision of the Common was
taken over by the Town Council.
18 Aug 1917 FODENS MOTOR WORKS BAND CONCERT – Sandbach Hospital Fate
and Pageant (Paid £15)
The event was to raise funds for the Hospital based at Abbey Fields on
Middlewich Road.
Nov 1917 NATIONAL NEWS – School children in two North East English Villages went
on strike to protest that they wouldn’t go to school unless they could have
free school meals.
1 June 1918 Edwin Firth killed in action at a place called Varennes, North West of Amiens on the
1 June 1918 while returning to the trenches a shell exploded just outside some woods
killing Edwin and his party, he was only 29 Year’s old.
Edwin had been the principal Cornet Player with Foden’s Band up until his last
tour of duty
www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/bygones/11688328.Tragic_tale_of_a_top_wartime_trumpeter/
July 1918 Sunday Schools were suspended in Sandbach due to an outbreak of Influenza.
The epidemic became one of the most serious global epidemic in recorded history.
15 July 1918 Butter, Marge, Lard, Meat and sugar were added to the Ration list.
20 July 1918 FODENS MOTOR WORKS BAND CONCERT – Abbey Fields Hospital,
Sandbach (Paid – Gratis)
The concert was for wounded soldiers at the Hospital.
18 Aug 1918 FODENS MOTOR WORKS BAND CONCERT – Sandbach Hospital Fate (£15)
J H Broad (Secretary). (Tea Provided)
11 Nov 1918 On the 11 November 1918 War officially ended at 11am with a cease fire.
It was an opportunity for all the churches to put aside their differences and to
join together for a “UNITED THANKSGIVING SERVICE” at St Mary’s Sandbach
on the 17 November at 3pm when Fodens Band would provide the musical
entertainment and various ministers would take part doing readings and prayers for
the congregation. (see below)
17 Nov 1918 UNITED THANKSGIVING SERVICE at St Mary’s Parish Church 3pm.
Opening Voluntary “Lead Kindly Light” played by Fodens Band
Conductor Mr Hines.
HYMNS
1. All People that on Earth do dwell.
2. Psalm XLVI God is our Hope and Strength.
3. Psalm XCVIII O Sing unto the Lord a new Song.
4. Psalm XLVII God me merciful unto us.
5. Hymn 165 and 376
O God our Help in Ages Past
Now Thank we all our God.
7. Hymn - Oh King of Kings Whose Reign of Old.
8. The Hallelujah Chorus Played by Fodens Band
9. The Trumpet of Victory Played by Mr W Nock on the Church Organ.
10. The National Anthem
11. Concluding Voluntary Played by Fodens Band.
1919 Mr Fred Hackney started his haulage business in Sandbach. Where possible over the
years he had used lorries made in the town by ERF or Foden.
1919 ZAN works in Wheelock Mills, Wheelock opened by Mr R.B. and Mr E.L. Hovey.
July 1921 A new Super Cinema was proposed for the town in Congleton Rd.
The plans were however turned down.
16 Apr 1922 The War Memorial was unveiled on the 16 April 1922 at 3pm by
Lieut Colonel John Kennedy, C.M.G., D.S.O., of the Black Watch
on the Market Square.
He was the son of Colonel and Mrs Kennedy of Brookside, Arclid.
#######################################################################################
