Harold's Story.
Weaverham St. Mary's “Roll of Honour” records an H. (Harold) Mottershead.” Cheshirebmd records a Harold Mottershead born 1886 in the Weaverham district.
Guardian Article 6th July 1917 P5/C1; NORTHWICH, KILLED, PRIVATE HAROLD MOTTERSHEAD.
After months of anxious suspense concerning her husband, Private Harold Mottershead, of the Cheshire Regiment, of 2 Church Street, Weaverham, has been officially notified that he was killed in action on September 5th 1916. He was reported missing in September last year. He enlisted on March 23rd 1915 and went out to the front on July 8th in the same year. (His medal card has the date K.I.A. July 1916.) He was 28 years of age and in civil life was employed at Winnington Works. He leaves a widow and one child.
The Brunner Mond “Roll of Honour” records a Harold Mottershead Pte. Cheshire “Presumed Dead” (This is likely to be this Harold though it is a surprising comment “Presumed Dead” as it would be at least 2 years from Harold having been killed to production of the booklet. Does this indicate that the family always had hope?)
C.W.G.C. - remember Harold at THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, France, he was with 1st Bn. Cheshire Reg’t. No 25700, died Tuesday 5th Sept. 1916 aged 28. Son of John and Hannah Mottershead of 31 Spyan St. Fleawood; (Fleetwood has a Styan St. also see Lancashirebmd information on John and Hannah Mottershead.) husband of Lily Mottershead of 2, Church St., Weaverham.
N.A.M.C. - record Harold with the Cheshire Reg’t. No 25700, Private, awarded the British, Victory and 15 Star medals, Theatre of War, France; Date of Entry 7/7/15. The card records that Harold was K.I.A. 5/9/16.
The 1911 census has the family at 209 Runcorn Road Barnton.
John Hd 47 Chemical Labourer Staffordshire
Hannah W. 46 Barnton
Harold S. 25 General Labourer Barnton
Hannah D. 15 Winnington
Violet D. 13 School Barnton
John S. 11 School Barnton
Lily D. 7 School Barnton
(The Census recorded that Hannah, mother, had had 14 children with only 6 surviving in the 1911 census, now, with the loss of Harold, Hannah had lost 9 of her children.)
Freebmd record the marriage of John Mottershead and a Hannah Gleave, mum and dad, in Northwich in 1885.
Cheshirebmd/Freebmd records the marriage of a Harold Mottershead/Lily Yoxall in Northwich in 1914 and the birth of a child, Harold Mottershead in 1914, Weaverham
Lancashirebmd record a Hannah Mottershead died in Fleetwood in 1941 aged 74, the 1911 census has her age at 46, 30 years on she would be 76.
Lancashirebmd record a John Henry Mottershead died in Fleetwood in 1928 aged 64, the 1911 census has him aged at 47, 17 years on he would be 64.
Researched Bob Heaton
Researched Bob Heaton