We Shall Remember Them - St Werburgh's Church, Chester

[Harper]

St Werburgh's Roman Catholic Church relocated from the 1799 chapel just outside of the Roman walls near Chester Cathedral to a new church in 1875. This much larger church was almost equidistant from the ruins of the Roman amphitheatre and the industrial sector with the adjoining the Irish quarter.

In the 19th century a significant number of Irish families came to Chester to work on the canals, railways and in the lead works. Many of the families lived within a 5-15 minute walk of the church.

On the outbreak of war in 1914 the men of Chester stepped forward with men from all around the country to serve their country and do their duty. Needless to say many parishioners were killed or died during the war and the parish as a whole suffered along with the rest of the country.

After the war a fitting memorial to the fallen was commissioned from Hardman's in Birmingham and dedicated in 1923. Sadly the memorial went missing during some renovations of the church and a replacement board was dedicated in the 1990's.

In 2014 a small group of parishioners started to started to research each name on the WW1 Memorial Board.

1. Our primary aim was to find information concerning all the men listed on the present memorial, so that it could be presented on fact sheets placed
   near the memorial and in a book to be published later.

2. Another aim was to publish an essay collection about life in the parish during the Great War.

We started with the 68 names on the 1990's memorial board and after researching the parish records and Cheshire Archives, and with some much appreciated help from Great War Forum members, we realised that many names were missing from the replacement memorial. Details of the original memorial were later uncovered in the Birmingham Archives, and now we know that over 110 men died in the service of the country, and they are listed below.

In late 2015 essays about and photographs of over 100 of the fallen were included in a book We Shall Remember Them which quickly sold out. A second edition is now available for purchase.

During the next couple of years we hope to publish our second book about life in Chester during the Great War and to place a Memorial Book in our Great War Memorial Chapel. We may even manage to place a new memorial plaque there, this time listing all those whose names should have been included!

If you would like to purchase a copy of We Shall Remember Them, please PM or email me at crhwrightATgmail.com. The book costs £13 including postage

1. Airth, Edward James. Private, Durham Light Infantry. Died 27 May 1918, age 19.

2. Anderson, George Henry. Sapper, Royal Field Artillery. Died 17 December 1918, age 22.

3. Ankers, Josiah Henry. Private, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Died 23 August 1918, age 22.

4. Baker, Albert Beckett. Driver, Army Service Corps. Died 21 January 1916, age 41.

5. Bartlett, George. Sergeant, King's Own (Royal Lancaster). Died 8 April 1917, age 21.

6. Beatty, Hugh. Private, Cheshire Regiment. Died 21 September 1916, age 39.

7. Beatty, Peter. Able Seaman, Royal Navy. Died 23 July 1917, age 30.

8. Beatty, Richard Michael. Sapper, Royal Engineers. Died 26 September 1918, age 29.

9. Bird, Walter. Private, Cheshire Regiment. Died 12 June 1923, age 46.

10. Bird, William Joseph. Private, Cheshire Regiment. Died 2 September 1918, age 38.

11. Boden, Thomas. Sergeant, Cheshire Regiment. Died 24 May 1917, age 46.

12. Bradley, Arthur. Sergeant, Cheshire Regiment. Died 15 October 1918, age 28.

13. Brandreth, Arthur Killingworth Bourne. Private, Royal Fusiliers. Died 1 November 1916, age 36.

14. Brown, Michael Philip. Sergeant Major, Army Service Corps. Died 17 June 1918, age 38.

15. Butler, James. Private, Labour Corps. Died 20 March 1918, age 41.

16. Butler, William Patrick. Private, Cheshire Regiment. Died 17 September 1915, age 35.

17. Caldwell, Alexander. Corporal, Cheshire Regiment. Died 1915.

18. Campbell, Stanley. Sergeant, King's Royal Rifle Corps. Died 6 November 1916, age 26.

19. Campion, John Vincent. Private, Royal Marine Light Infantry. Died 7 January 1916, age 19.

20. Carroll, John. Private.

21. Clayson, Matthew. Australian Munitions Worker. Died 1 December 1916, age 29.

22. Coghlan, Joseph Michael. Corporal, Royal Horse Artillery. Died 19 June 1918, age 24.

23. Condon, James. Private, King's (Liverpool) Regiment. Died 12 September 1916, age 44.

24. Connell, Edward. Private, Cheshire Regiment. Died 5 September 1916, age 31.

25. Corrigan, J. Sergeant.

26. Crean, Theodore. Captain, 1st Northants/Royal Flying Corps. Died 26 October 1914, age 34.

27. Crimes, John. Lance Corporal, North Lancashire Regiment. Died 31 October 1914, age 29.

28. Cunniff, Patrick. Private, King's Shrophire Regiment. Died 24 September 1917, age 35.

29. D'Arcy, Joseph. Private, Royal Welch Fusiliers. Died 18 July 1916, age 23.

30. Dobbins, George. Private, Cheshire Regiment. Died 29 January 1917, age 29.

31. Dobson, Thomas. Lance Corporal, Royal Welch Fusiliers. Died 28 August 1916, age 26.

32. Dodsworth, Edmund Francis. Lance Corporal, Royal Horse Artillery. Died 2 July 1916, age 41.

33. Donnelly, Richard. Lance Corporal, Royal Military Police. Died 27 March 1917, age 29.

34. Draycott, John. Private, Cheshire Regiment. Died 23 November 1918, age 23.

35. Draycott, William. Private, Grenadier Guards. Died 11 October 1917, age 27.

36. Farrell, George. Private, Royal Welch Fusiliers. Died 11 December 1914, age 18.

37. Farrell, James. Private, Royal Welch Fusiliers. Died 25 October 1914, age 33.

38. Feeney, Thomas. Private, Cheshire Regiment. Died 29 April 1915, age 22.

39. Field, Isaac. Lance Corporal, Royal Engineers. Died 26 February 1919, age 31.

40. Fox, Thomas. Private, Welsh Regiment. Died 26 April 1918, age 20.

41. Gaffney, James. Private, Welsh Regiment.

42. Garvey, James. Private, Royal Defence Corps. Died 2 July 1917, age 51.

43. Gerrighty, Peter. Private, Cheshire Regiment. Died 13 January 1918, age 43.

44. Gibson, Alfred John. Corporal, Life Guards. Died 13 May 1915, age 20.

45. Gough, Joseph. Private, Dragoon Guards (Prince of Wales' Regiment). Died 6 June 1915, age 26.

46. Goulding, Thomas. Private, Cheshire Regiment. Died 10 October 1916, age 20.

47. Green, Francis. Lance Corporal, Cheshire Regiment. Died 22 February 1919, age 26.

48. Hall, Joseph. Steward, Mercantile Marine. Died 22 August 1915, age 16.

49. Hargrove, Albert Edward. Lance Corporal, Cheshire Regiment. Died 26 March 1918, age 35.

50. Harvey, James. Private.

51. Heaney, Thomas Francis. Sergeant, Royal Engineers. Died 2 June 1918, age 50.

52. Hennessy, Richard John. Lance Corporal, 2nd Battalion South Lancashire Regiment. Died 27 July 1915, age 40.

53. Hudson, William Thomas. Private, Royal Welch Fusiliers. Died 20 December 1917, age 31.

54. Hughes, A. F. Died May 1917.

55. Hughes, George William. Private, Cheshire Regiment. Died 20 October 1918, age 29.

56. Hughes, John. Private, South Lancashire Regiment. Died 12 July 1917, age 28.

57. Hull, Frederick. Lance Corporal, Northumberland Fusiliers. Died 23 March 1918.

58. Jankinson, John Ernest Harrison. Private, Royal Welch Fusiliers. Died 9 May 1915, age 23.

59. Joinson, Michael Hugh. Private, Cheshire Regiment. Died 16 November 1916, age 20.

60. Joinson, Peter. Private, Cheshire Regiment. Died 2 March 1915, age 25.

61. Jones, Edward Vincent. Private, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. 12 October 1915, age 29.

62. Jones, Frederick. Private, Cheshire Regiment. Died 30 October 1914, age 19.

63. Jones, Walter Morissey. Private, Cheshire Regiment. Died 13 February 1915, age 23.

64. Kavanagh, Patrick. Lance Corporal, Irish Guards. Died 3 May 1918, age 36.

65. Kearns, John. Private, East Yorkshire Regiment. Died 20 September 1914, age 29.

66. Kelly, James Francis. Private, Hampshire Regiment. Died 4 November 1918, age 28.

67. Kelly, John Sullivan. Lance Corporal, Leinster Regiment. Died 4 May 1915, age 21.

68. Kelly, Philip Luke Harrington. Sergeant Major, Royal Welch Fusiliers. Died 18 March 1916, age 52.

69. Kennedy, Charles William. Rifleman, Prince Consort's Own Rifle Regiment. Died 3 September 1916, age 34.

70. Kerr, Francis Spiro. Gunner, Royal Field Artillery. Died 4 August 1918, age 25.

71. Kirby, James. Private, Royal Welch Fusiliers. Died 25 September 1916, age 23.

72. Leak, Matthew. Private, Cheshire Regiment. Died 4 June 1920, age 42.

73. Lowe, Thomas Henry. 2nd Lieutenant, Border Regiment. Died 23 April 1917, age 32.

74. Ludden, John. Private, Royal Engineers. Died 15 May 1916, age 48.

75. McCleary, Owen. Private, Welsh Regiment. Died 8 August 1915, age 28.

76. McCormack, James. Private, King's Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment. Died 29 October 1914, age 33.

77. McDonald, Patrick A. Private, Grenadier Guards. Died 27 September 1916.

78. McElmeel, James. Private, The King's Liverpool Regiment. Died 24 February 1919, age 19.

79. McElmeel, Thomas Patrick. Sergeant, Manchester Regiment. Died 4 October 1918, age 26.

80. McGetrick, John. Gunner, Royal Garrison Artillery. Died 21 October 1918, age 36.

81. McGrogan, John Strain. Bombardier, Royal Field Artillery. Died 7 January 1914.

82. Morahan, Maurice Joseph. Private, Cheshire Regiment. Died 7 October 1918, age 32.

83. Morley, Benjamin. Lance Corporal, Somerset Light Infantry. Died 24 October 1918, age 35.

84. Mullins, Alfred. Private, Cheshire Regiment. Died 14 April 1917, age 19.

85. Murphy, Joseph. Driver, Army Service Corps. Died 21 November 1916, age 40/46/55.

86. Murphy, Maurice. Died 9 October 1917.

87. O'Hara, John. Private. Died 1916.

88. O'Leary, Patrick.

89. Patterson, Michael. Private, Cheshire Regiment. Died 16 April 1915, age 40.

90. Peet, John Hatton. Private, Royal Fusiliers. Died 26 October 1917, age 26.

91. Pickering, Albert Henry. Gunner, Royal Garrison Artillery. Died 22 July 1915, age 36.

92. Price, George. Driver, Army Service Corps. Died 3 May 1917.

93. Rafferty, John. Private, Cheshire Regiment. Died 19 April 1917, age 34.

94. Rahill, Peter Joseph. Lietenant, Cheshire Regiment. Died 2 June 1918, age 21.

95. Roach, James Herbert. Private, Machine Gun Corps. Died 20 January 1919, age 29.

96. Roberts, Edward Owen. Lieutenant, Royal Defence Force. Died 29 January 1917, age 48.

97. Rogers, Michael. Private, Cheshire Regiment. Died 28 June 1917, age 27.

98. Rowlands, John. Private, King's Shropshire Light Infantry. Died 5 October 1914, age 27.

99. Sharkey, James Thomas. Private, Cheshire Regiment. Died 18 February 1915, age 25.

100. Siddall, Henry. Quartermaster Sergeant, Royal Army Medical Corps. Died 18 December 1918, age 33.

101. Simmons, George.

102. Stacey, Vincent Samuel. Private, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment. Died 3 April 1915, age 24.

103. Stretch, Joseph. Driver, Royal Field Artillery. Died 3 January 1918.

104. Sullivan, Arthur Dennis. Lance Corporla, Cheshire Regiment. Died 22 October 1914, age 22.

105. Sumpter, Andrew. Private, Cheshire Regiment. Died 1 August 1917, age 26.

106. Tatler, John. Corporal, Manchester Regiment. Died 4 October 1917, age 26.

107. Thompson, Alexander. Private, Cheshire Regiment. Died 3 October 1915.

108. Vahey, Andrew Charles. Lance Corporal, South Wales Borderers. Died 11 April 1918, age 18.

109. Vickers, Henry. Private, Lancashire Fusiliers. Died 1 July 1916, age 24.

110. Vickers, John Louis. Private, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Died 1 July 1916, age 20.

111. Vickers, Percy Joseph. Private, Lancashire Fusiliers. Died 20 December 1915, age 22.

112. Waldron, Thomas. Private, Royal Engineers. Died 12 December 1916, age 31.

113. Walsh, Michael. Private, Royal Engineers. Died 7 January 1916, age 35.

114. Ward, Thomas. Corporal, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Died 21 May 1915, age 22.

115. Warren, Wilfrid Joseph. Sergeant, Royal Engineers. Died 30 October 1917, age 29.

116. Wauters, Constant. Private, Belgian Army. Died 13 March 1915, age 26.

117. White, Charles Henry. Lance Corporal, Border Regiment. Died 22 August 1918, age 31.

118. Whitley, William Henry. Private, Cheshire Regiment. Died 25 April 1917, age 30.

[RussT]

Excellent work - well done.

Out of interest, did you note if any were missing from the memorial board in the Town Hall?

Where would you put the Irish quarter in relation to the current street/road layout?

Regards

Russ

[MBrockway]

Excellent work - well done.

Out of interest, did you note if any were missing from the memorial board in the Town Hall?

Where would you put the Irish quarter in relation to the current street/road layout?

Regards

Russ

Some useful info here:

Catholicism in Chester 1875-1975

[Edit: I cannot get the above link to work - probably because its webpage address contains an apostrophe, which, incidentally, is a VERY BAD IDEA!!]

To get to this page longhand, go to the St Werburgh's Church website here

Click on About St Werburgh's

Click on Parish History

Click on A History of Catholicism in Chester

Click on Chapter III: Growth in the Nineteenth Century

You should find this source contains this handy distribution map:

Also in the VCH:

The main Irish district in the city throughout the 19th century was around Steven Street in Boughton, but Irish people were always to be found elsewhere in Chester, and were not confined in a ghetto.

[source: Late Georgian and Victorian Chester 1762-1914: Social character in Victoria County History: A History of the County of Chester: Volume 5 Part 1, the City of Chester: General History and Topography, ed. C P Lewis and A T Thacker (London, 2003), pp. 199-201]

Steven Street ran between Boughton and the canal. It was the next street east of Seaville Street a little to the west of the new Waitrose. There is still a gap in the shops on Boughton where it used to join the main thoroughfare. It's between Beautique and the Blue Chili takeaway.

It was redeveloped in the 1960's. The modern sheltered housing flats called Steven Court is a little to the west of its original west side.

Mark

Edited 17 May , 2016 by MBrockway

[MBrockway]

Harper,

#95. Roach, James Herbert. (Private, Machine Gun Corps. Died 20 January 1919, age 29) is almost certainly the brother-in-law of #18 Campbell, Stanley. (Sergeant, King's Royal Rifle Corps. Died 6 November 1916, age 26) that I helped you with earlier.

The 1911 Census has this household at 35 Black Diamond St, Newtown, Chester
CAMPBELL, Harriet ; 50; head; widowed; born: ~1861, Chester, Newtown
- , John James; 22; son; Furniture Porter; born: ~1889, Chester, Newtown
- ,Stanley; 20; son; Apprentice To Pawnbroker; born: ~1891, Chester, Newtown
- ,Elizabeth; 18; daughter; Servant (Business Premises); born: ~1893, Chester, Newtown
MILLER, John; 25; boarder; Butchers Assistant; born: ~1886, Chester, St Mary
EDGE, Leslie; 7; nephew; born: ~1904, Port Sunlight, Cheshire
- ,Jessie; 7; niece; born: ~1904, Port Sunlight, Cheshire
- ,Wallice; 3; nephew; born: ~1908, Port Sunlight, Cheshire

A marriage was registered in Chester RD in Q3 1913 between ROACH, James & CAMPBELL, Elizabeth

The Next of Kin Declaration (Army Form W.5030) dated 18 Jun 1919 in Stanley Campbell's service record gives a sister Elizabeth ROACH, but her address is still given as 35 Black Diamond St - their mother's address. This perhaps suggests she is a widow.

In addition I note from CWGC that James Roach was in 59 Coy, Machine Gun Corps.

59 Coy, MGC was formed in March 1916 from the battalion machine gun units of the infantry battalions of 59th Brigade. James Roach was killed on 04 Sep 1916. I'd say there's a good chance he had originally been in one of the 59 Bde infantry battalions - 10/KRRC, 11/KRRC, 10/RB and 11/RB, so it's possible he may originally have also been in the KRRC.

If someone with Ancestry access could look into this I would be very grateful!

Returning to Stanley Campbell, I cannot remember if I ever did send you my notes on him?

You mentioned before that he had been an adult baptism into the congregation in 1912.

I note on his Attestation Form (02 Oct 1914) though that he describes himself as Church of England.

Also the 1919 AF W.5030 mentioned above is signed by Stanley's mother Harriet Campbell and witnessed by Rev George Bennett, Vicar of Christ Church, Newtown (CofE).

It's certainly possible that Stanley's mother may have attended Christ Church, Newtown and Stanley St Werburgh's. Also Christ Church is very close to Black Diamond Street, whereas St Werburgh's is a good twenty minute walk. Rev Bennett may have seen it appropriate to witness such a sad document even if Harriet was not of his congregation since it would save a 58 year old widow who had lost a son and a son-in-law a walk.

Out of interest, do you have any record of Harriet Campbell being in the congregation of St Werburgh's?

Stanley was one of the original volunteers into 16/KRRC - the Church Lads' Brigade battalion of the KRRC. Most of these men had previous connection with the Church Lads' Brigade, which as far as I know, was a purely Anglican youth movement.

Again, it's possible Stanley was in the CLB while growing up and before he converted, and one could imagine the attraction of enlisting into the KRRC's CLB 'Pals' battalion. Perhaps that might also explain why he has reported himself as CofE on his Attestation form?

Whatever his faith - and does it really matter now anyway - he is likely to have been a pious man opting to join "the churchman's battalion".

We remember them both still

Cheers,

Mark

[MBrockway]

#69. Kennedy, Charles William. Rifleman, Prince Consort's Own Rifle Regiment. Died 3 September 1916, age 34.

This should read 'Prince Consort's Own Rifle Brigade' or more usually just 'The Rifle Brigade'

Hopefully this is correct in the book.

Mark

[RussT]

Some useful info here:

Catholicism in Chester 1875-1975

[Edit: I cannot get the above link to work - probably because its webpage address contains an apostrophe, which, incidentally, is a VERY BAD IDEA!!]

To get to this page longhand, go to the St Werburgh's Church website here

Click on About St Werburgh's

Click on Parish History

Click on A History of Catholicism in Chester

Click on Chapter III: Growth in the Nineteenth Century

You should find this source contains this handy distribution map:

Also in the VCH:

The main Irish district in the city throughout the 19th century was around Steven Street in Boughton, but Irish people were always to be found elsewhere in Chester, and were not confined in a ghetto.

[source: Late Georgian and Victorian Chester 1762-1914: Social character in Victoria County History: A History of the County of Chester: Volume 5 Part 1, the City of Chester: General History and Topography, ed. C P Lewis and A T Thacker (London, 2003), pp. 199-201]

Steven Street ran between Boughton and the canal. It was the next street east of Seaville Street a little to the west of the new Waitrose. There is still a gap in the shops on Boughton where it used to join the main thoroughfare. It's between Beautique and the Blue Chili takeaway.

It was redeveloped in the 1960's. The modern sheltered housing flats called Steven Court is a little to the west of its original west side.

Mark

Mark

Thanks for that background and links to further information.

Know the location well but didn't know that bit of history

I use to walk past that Church everyday back and forth to school (Queen's Park), never been inside - but will the next time I visit.

My Gt Uncle, who I'm researching, is on the memorial board in St Paul's Church, Boughton. I don't think anyone has researched the names on that board - unless you know different.

Regards

Russ (exiled Cestrian, originally Hoole and latterly Newton)

[Harper]

Here is a more detailed map for you.

Steven Street was very convenient for workers on the railways, canal and at the lead works and steam mill.

There is also more information available on the Diverse Narratives website: https://diversenarratives.com/2015/01/28/the-irish-in-boughton/

We look forward to welcoming you, Russ, when you are able to visit St Werburgh's.

Harper

Mark

I'll check with the Group leaders, and then get back to you with responses to the points that you have raised.

Thanks

Harper

[MBrockway]

And St Werburgh's is in Grosvenor Park Road just off the bottom left corner of that extract

[RussT]

Here is a more detailed map for you.

Steven Street was very convenient for workers on the railways, canal and at the lead works and steam mill.

There is also more information available on the Diverse Narratives website: https://diversenarratives.com/2015/01/28/the-irish-in-boughton/

We look forward to welcoming you, Russ, when you are able to visit St Werburgh's.

Harper

Mark

I'll check with the Group leaders, and then get back to you with responses to the points that you have raised.

Thanks

Harper

Thanks Harper - a great map

The canal side has certainly changed since!

Regards

Russ

[Kitchener's Bugle]

Thanks for posting Harper - great Job by the way.

[ATNOMIS]

Email sent ref buying the book.

Simon

[Harper]

Mark

Apologies for the delay in answering your points about James Roach and Stanley Campbell. 

 

Our lead researcher responded:

" In addition I note from CWGC that James Roach was in 59 Coy, Machine Gun Corps.
59 Coy, MGC was formed in March 1916 from the battalion machine gun units of the infantry battalions of 59th Brigade. James Roach was killed on 04 Sep 1916. "

We disagree with the statement that James died in Sept 1916.
He had a chequered Army career with several moves to different units interspersed with periods of illness. He died 20 Jan 1919 at the Military Hospital Cannock. His body was brought to Chester for burial in Overleigh Cemetery, Grave 282. See CWGC Grave record.

 

Stanley Campbell is described as a member of the Church of England on his army enlistment papers, attended Christ Church C. of E. School, was a member of the Church Lads’ Brigade, has papers signed by the Vicar of Christ Church and at first appears to have no link with St. Werburgh’s Parish whatsoever. However there is a conditional baptism for Stanley Campbell at St. Werburgh’s on 8th Nov. 1911 and he was also confirmed there on 4th Feb. 1912. Elizabeth Campbell, his younger sister was also confirmed at St. Werburgh’s in Dec. 1912. It seems as though both siblings had converted to Catholicism. Elizabeth Campbell married James Roach at St. Werburgh’s on 6th Sep. 1913. Their three children, (one of whom was named James Stanley) were also baptised there.

Sgt. Stanley Campbell was reported killed in action in the Dec. 1916 issue of St. Werburgh’s Parish Magazine. His name is also included on the Town Hall memorial in Chester.

We found no evidence that Mrs Harriet Campbell, Stanley's mother ever converted to Catholicism.

 

Thanks

Harper

[MBrockway]

On 18/07/2016 at 19:34, Harper said:

Mark

Apologies for the delay in answering your points about James Roach and Stanley Campbell. 

 

Our lead researcher responded:

" In addition I note from CWGC that James Roach was in 59 Coy, Machine Gun Corps.
59 Coy, MGC was formed in March 1916 from the battalion machine gun units of the infantry battalions of 59th Brigade. James Roach was killed on 04 Sep 1916. "

We disagree with the statement that James died in Sept 1916.
He had a chequered Army career with several moves to different units interspersed with periods of illness. He died 20 Jan 1919 at the Military Hospital Cannock. His body was brought to Chester for burial in Overleigh Cemetery, Grave 282. See CWGC Grave record.

 

 

My mistake - I had the wrong James Roach, MGC.

 

This is the correct casualty.  He died of pneumonia and, as your team point out, is buried in Chester's Overleigh Cemetery.  I cannot see an MIC for him, so he may not have gone overseas.

 

Definitely Stanley Campbell's brother-in-law though!