Prestwich Rolls of Honour

Prestwich Methodists WWI
Prestwich Methodist WWI

War memorials form an important part of the UK's cultural heritage. They reflect the changing face of commemoration as well as artistic, social, military and international history. Each war memorial presents a unique record of the past, as with no central organisation for their erection, the design and wording on the memorials were chosen by the communities who created them.

The following is a (growing) list of the Rolls of Honour of Prestwich. These were lists of names of those who served and in some cases died, in the armed services.

They can include people who were born, resided, had relatives here or were associated with Prestwich.

Select "info" to read more about the individual's ultimate sacrifice, click a column heading to sort the table, or click on the photos, medals or regiment name for more information.

In some cases the individual is also mentioned in multiple Rolls of Honour, or is memorialised/buried on family gravestones elsewhere.

This is a work in progress, there are currently over 2000 individuals listed across Prestwich memorials.

In many cases names are not unique and other details are scarce, so mistakes in research can happen. The medals shown give an indication of what the person may have been eligable to wear based on their theatre of service or medal cards if available. Additonal medals, clasps & ribbons may also have been awarded e.g. Battle of Britain Clasp etc.

If you have corrections/connections to people listed here then feel free to contact Prestwichsloopy@gmail.com

Many thanks to Martin Harper

Read more about the Fallen of Prestwich at Prestwich Remembers

Join the Prestwich Remembers Group on Facebook

HP Methodists

St George's Simister

Surname	Forename(s)	Date of Death	Age		UK Burial/Memorial Location	Rank & Medals	Regiment	Burial/Memorial Location	Roll of Honour
BAKER	ALAN C	1944/09/18	20	InfoThe airlanding brigade dug in to secure the landing & drop zones West of Arnhem, North of the Rhine, after the initial landings on the 17th Sept. On the 18th the plan was changed and the RAC tried to link up with the Airborne troops to take and hold the northern end of Arnhem Bridge ready for the arrival of XXX Corps. On the 25th-26th Sept the surviving troops North of the river were evacuated. "SAPERE AUDE" ("Dare to know") A PURE AND GLORIOUS LIFE. HIS DUTY NOBLY DONE. A KNIGHT WAS HE.	-	Lance Corporal	Reconnaissance Corps, R.A.C.	ARNHEM OOSTERBEEK WAR CEMETERY	HP Methodists
BAGSHAW	ALAN	1944/06/15	22	InfoOn 15 June 1944, the frigate HMS Blackwood was on patrol as part of the 4th Escort Group in the west end of the English Channel to protect the ships of the Normandy landings, when she was hit by a Gnat from U-764 off Brittany, killing 57 of the crew. She was taken under tow, but foundered off Portland Bill the following day.	PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL	LDG SEAMAN	Royal Navy	PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL	HP Methodists
COLWELL	EDWARD	1915/11/05	19	InfoBattalion had sailed via Egypt to land there in April 1915 . From there he would have been placed on a Hospital Ship but died of Typhoid on the way back to England. Edward is buried at Gibraltar.	-	Private	Lancashire Fusiliers	GIBRALTAR (NORTH FRONT) CEMETERY	HP Methodists
DAWSON	GEORGE ARTHUR	1917/10/24	27	InfoGeorge died serving with the21st Manchester Regiment in the run up to the 2nd Battle of Passchendaele. He was reported missing and was not reported as Prisoner of War.	St Mary's CWGC	Serjeant	Manchester Regiment	TYNE COT MEMORIAL	HP Methodists
DEANE	HARRY	1942/10/02	19	InfoHarry's ship HMS Curacoa escorted convoys in and around the British Isles for two years. In late 1942, during escort duty off the Irish coast, she was accidentally sliced in half and sunk by the ocean liner RMS Queen Mary, carrying thousands of Americans of the 29th Infantry Division to join the Allied forces in Europe. Due to the risk of U-boat attacks, Queen Mary was under orders not to stop under any circumstances and steamed onward with a fractured stem. It is reported that other escorts rescued 99 men, with the loss of 337."HIS DUTY NOBLY DONE. HE HAS REACHED HIS LAST PORT - HEAVEN. GOD'S WILL BE DONE"	PORTREE (STRONUIRINISH) CEMETERY	ABLE SEAMAN	Royal Navy	PORTREE (STRONUIRINISH) CEMETERY	HP Methodists
ECKERSLEY	JAMES HENRY	1917/07/31	21	InfoJames died along with 31 other men from 17th Battalion on the first day of the3rd Battle of Ypres in Belgium. He was reported as wounded and missing, with no known resting place, he is commemorated on the Mennin Gate at Ypres.	-	Private	Manchester Regiment	YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL	HP Methodists
EDWARDS	GLYN	1944/12/21	33	Info 67th Medium Regiment (TA)was raised in 1939. On the outbreak of war, the Regiment served in defence of south east England against enemy attack. The Regiment was sent to North Africa in July 1941 as part of the Operation Crusader. It served under the 8th Army in the Western Desert from November 1941 until June 1942. The entire Regiment was captured in Tobruk on 21st June 1942. The men became prisoners of the Italian army and were transferred to Italian POW camps, The majority of casualties in the Regiment from the sinking of the Italian merchant ship SS Scillin in November 1942. The Italian armistice on 3rd Sept. 1943 enabled some to escape back to Allied Lines or to Switzerland, most were transported to POW camps in Germany, Austria and Poland.	Brymbo War Memorial, Wrexham	GUNNER	Royal Artillery	NEDERWEERT WAR CEMETERY	HP Methodists
HALLIWELL	GEORGE R	1942/07/20	28	InfoWellington HX 518 of the 15 th Operating Training Unit, was based R.A.F. Harwell (Berkshire). On the 20th they took off from the R.A.F. Portreath (Cornwall) at 06:50, to deliver the aircraft to the Middle East, and after 4 hours of flight in the company of the Wellington HX 423, they met a German Junkers Ju-88 C-6 20 miles from Sisargas. The German began the attack falling on the HX 518 in two passes, hitting the fuselage, the starboard engine and the wing broke, The plane caught fire and crashed in the water. There were no survivors and no bodies were recovered. The second Wellington (HX 423) managed to shoot down the German aircraft and returned to base. It so happens that this Wellington was the first allied aircraft shot down by a new version of the Ju-88, the C-6 Zerstorer type.	RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL	SERGEANT	Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve	RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL	HP Methodists
HILTON	FRANK	1918/07/05	29	InfoFrank had suffered a gunshot wound to his hand and face in 1916, and was declared missing in March 1918. He died from influenza in a German prisoner of War Camp 4 months later.	-	Bombardier	Royal Garrison Artillery	NIEDERZWEHREN CEMETERY	HP Methodists
WHITTAKER	WILLIAM	1916/07/01	?	InfoDied of wounds Killed during the battle for Montauban Village Montauban The Somme.	-	PRIVATE	Manchester Regiment	THIEPVAL MEMORIAL	HP Methodists
BAKER	ALAN C	1944/09/18	20	InfoThe air landing brigade dug in to secure the landing & drop zones West of Arnhem, North of the Rhine, after the initial landings on the 17th Sept. On the 18th the plan was changed and the RAC tried to link up with the Airborne troops to take and hold the northern end of Arnhem Bridge ready for the arrival of XXX Corps. On the 25th-26th Sept the surviving troops North of the river were evacuated. "SAPERE AUDE" ("Dare to know") A PURE AND GLORIOUS LIFE. HIS DUTY NOBLY DONE. A KNIGHT WAS HE.	-	Lance Corporal	Reconnaissance Corps, R.A.C.	ARNHEM OOSTERBEEK WAR CEMETERY	Prestwich Methodists
LANCASTER	HAROLD	1943/05/14	21	InfoSergeant (Flight Engineer)218 (Gold Coast)Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. The squadron flew the Stirling on bombing raids in occupied Europe against everything from infantry columns to V-weapon sites. Missions in 1942 included Operation Canonbury 1 and 2[4] on the night of 24 April and 4 May to bomb the Skoda factory at Pilsen in Czechoslovakia in support of the partisan group inserted to assassinate Reinhard Heydrich in Operation Anthropoid. Stirling BF413 had just landed after a successful operation and the aircrew had disembarked when the out of control Short Stirling BF480 killed both Sgt H Lancaster and Sgt A R Denzy. BF480 had, moments earlier, made a difficult landing and crashed through the watch office & into the briefing room.	St Mary's CWGC	Sergeant	Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve	PRESTWICH (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD	Prestwich Methodists
PICKERING	GEOFFREY	1941/11/09	21	InfoGeoffry was a bread & confectionery maker living on Fairfax Rd in 1939. Boy Andrew was an armed patrol vessel in collision with SS St.Rognvald. The steamship was overtaking the drifter in a swept channel in the Firth of Forth on the morning of Nov.9, 1941, when the drifter suddenly went to starboard across the course of the St.Rognvald. The drifter was pushed bodily under water, and all her crew of 13 were drowned. Nautical advisers to the court took the view that the St.Rognvald was being driven to pass the Boy Andrew too close, and that that was not good seamanship. She could have given the Boy Andrew a wider clearance. Both vessels, by faulty navigation, contributed to the disaster, the apportionment of blame being 2/3 to the Boy Andrew, and 1/3 to the St.Rognvald.	Lowestoft Naval Memorial	Ldg Cook	Royal Navy Patrol Service	LOWESTOFT NAVAL MEMORIAL	Prestwich Methodists
ROWBOTHAM	KENNETH L	1945/07/03	18	InfoThe RAC Corps was the umbrella for a large number of existing regiments, each of which retained their individual unit identity. These regiments were mainly former cavalry units, most of which had mechanised in the 1920s and 1930s. The RAC also included the battalions of the Royal Tank Regiment, previously known as the Royal Tank Corps. The Reconnaissance Corps was also part of the RAC from 1944 until its disbandment in 1946. Kenneth was serving with the 54th Training Regiment based at Barnard Castle from 1943.	St Mary's CWGC	Trooper	Royal Armoured Corps	PRESTWICH (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD link	Prestwich Methodists
SCOTT	KENNETH	1943/04/07	22	InfoKenneth was a signalman 42nd Armd. Div. Royal Corps of Signals.A square stone flower vase is inscribed: ‘Respected by all who knew him. Pals 42 A.D. Signals.’. On 31 October 1941 42nd (EL) Infantry Division was converted into 42nd Armoured Division. Although 42nd Division dropped the 'East Lancashire' subtitle when it became an armoured formation, the signals unit retained the subtitle. The division returned to Barnard Castle to re-train in its new role. However, it never went overseas, and in October 1943 the division was disbanded and its units dispersed.	St Mary's CWGC	Signalman	Royal Corps of Signals	PRESTWICH (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD	Prestwich Methodists
ARMITSTEAD	J N	1918/10/08	25	InfoWith the influx of volunteers to the armed services, and later conscription, the Royal Navy had more personnel than ships. This led to 8 Battalions being created so that volunteers could serve alongside the army on the continent, these came under control of the 36 RN Division and served on land throughout the conflict. Nelson died in action at Cambrai, 8th October 1918, aged 25.	St Mary's	Able Seaman	Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve	VIS-EN-ARTOIS MEMORIAL	Prestwich Methodists
BAXTER	J	1917/07/12	23	InfoJames served in the 15th Bn Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) and was Killed in Action to the east of Peronne.	St Mary's	Serjeant	Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)	VILLERS-FAUCON COMMUNAL CEMETERY	Prestwich Methodists
BELL	FREDERICK A	1918/09/02	25	InfoFrederick was killed near the end of the Second Battle of Bapaume as allies pushed east to secure their gains.	St Mary's	Private	Manchester Regiment	BANCOURT BRITISH CEMETERY	Prestwich Methodists
CURRIE	WILLIAM ALEXANDER (ALEC)	1917/06/03	21	InfoListed as William A. in 1901 & 1911, his father John was Senior Day Attendant at Prestwich Asylum. Alec died during the Battle of Messines, his brother had died 2 months earlier.	-	Gnr	Royal Garrison Artillery	KEMMEL CHATEAU MILITARY CEMETERY	Prestwich Methodists
CURRIE	DUNCAN WILLIAM	1917/04/28	24	InfoDuncan's father John was Senior Day Attendant at Prestwich Asylum. Duncan died during the Battle for Arras, his brother died 2 months later.	-	Corporal	Royal Scots	ROEUX BRITISH CEMETERY	Prestwich Methodists
JONES	CHARLES ARNOLD	1918/05/01	29	Info HE GAVE HIS LOVE TO HIS HOME HIS LIFE FOR FREEDOM HIS SOUL TO GOD	-	Second Lieutenant	Royal Army Service Corps	CROUY BRITISH CEMETERY, CROUY-SUR-SOMME	Prestwich Methodists
MORRIS	HERBERT	1917/07/31	35	InfoIn the role of ‘Moppers up’ the 8th left their trenches at 8.30am following behind the main attack. The going across the already heavily shelled, battle-damaged ground was difficult. Progress was further hampered by heavy shelling from the German Artillery and attack by snipers and they incurred heavy losses.	-	Private	King's (Liverpool Regiment)	YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL	Prestwich Methodists
RAMSDEN	NORMAN W	1916/07/01	21	InfoNorman died during the Battle of the Somme, and has no known grave. His brother Percy died during the First Battle of the Scarpe.	-	Private (M.G.)	Manchester Regiment	THIEPVAL MEMORIAL	Prestwich Methodists
RAMSDEN	PERCY GORDON R	1917/04/23	?	InfoPercy died during the First Battle of the Scarpe, his brother Norman died during the Battle of The Somme.	-	Corporal	Manchester Regiment	CUCKOO PASSAGE CEMETERY, HENINEL	Prestwich Methodists
RIGBY	ARTHUR E	1918/04/09	30	InfoBorn in Salford 1888, Arthur's father Joseph was a Cotton Merchant. Arthur died during the German Spring Offensives of 1918	-	Serjeant	Machine Gun Corps	PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL	Prestwich Methodists
WHEELER	FREDERICK T. W.	1916/10/04	25	InfoFrederick died during the Battle of the Somme serving with the 1/5th London Regiment	-	Rifleman	London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade)	THIEPVAL MEMORIAL	Prestwich Methodists
BEDFORD	FRANK GORDON	1916/07/03	25	InfoThomas was killed when a shell hit his dugout while in a rest camp behind the front lines.	-	Private	Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)	THIEPVAL MEMORIAL	St George
BLAKE	EDWARD JACKSON	1918/11/21	31	InfoEdward served in 7th Bn of The Kings Liverpool Regiment from June 1918, but never served abroad.Edward was admitted to Military Hospital in Whitchurch in August 1918, discharged as unfit for active duty on 4th November, and died 17 days later.	St Margaret's Ext. CWGC	Private	King's (Liverpool Regiment)	PRESTWICH (ST. MARGARET) CHURCHYARD EXTENSION	St George
BOCOCK	JOSEPH LACKLAND	1918/10/14	18	InfoJames, served with the 2/23rd London Regiment, and died near Hooge Crater,Ypres.	-	Private	East Surrey Regiment	HOOGE CRATER CEMETERY	St George
CLAY	ARTHUR	1916/07/01	38	InfoAlfred died on the first day of The Battle of The Somme	-	Private	Manchester Regiment	DANTZIG ALLEY BRITISH CEMETERY, MAMETZ	St George
CROSS	GEORGE	1917/11/16	22	InfoGeorge was released from the army in September 1917 as unfit for active service. He died 2 months later in a military Hospital in Bradford, and is buried in Moston aged 22.	MOSTON (ST. JOSEPH'S) ROMAN CATHOLIC CEMETERY	Private	King's (Liverpool Regiment)	MOSTON (ST. JOSEPH'S) ROMAN CATHOLIC CEMETERY	St George
FOSTER	HAROLD	1918/10/28	?	InfoHarold was taken prisoner in the summer of 1917, and died of pneumonia the following October.	-	L/Corporal	Lancashire Fusiliers	BERLIN SOUTH-WESTERN CEMETERY	St George
GEE	JOHN HENRY	1916/09/14	32	InfoJohn died in conflict with Bulgarian forces on the Macedonian front(Macukovo) and was posthumously awarded the Military Medal.	-	Corporal	Lancashire Fusiliers	DOIRAN MEMORIAL	St George
JAGGARD	JESSE	1917/10/12	35	InfoJesse was reported missing at the crossing of the Boermbeek near Ypres, confirmed dead the following July.	-	Private	Grenadier Guards	CEMENT HOUSE CEMETERY	St George
KNIGHT	ARTHUR	1917/04/26	?	InfoArthur died during a repulse of a counter attack near Monchy le Preux	-	Private	King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)	ARRAS MEMORIAL	St George
MANSERGH	ARTHUR JAMES	1918/10/20	29	InfoArthur died in France of Pneumonia, while working with the Royal Engineers, railways division	St Mary's	Sapper	Royal Engineers	LES BARAQUES MILITARY CEMETERY, SANGATTE	St George
PORTER	ALBERT	1915/02/16	20	InfoAlbert died of wound received during the build up to the Actions of St Eloi Craters near Ypres	Weaste Cemetery	Rifleman	King's Royal Rifle Corps	DICKEBUSCH OLD MILITARY CEMETERY	St George
RATHBONE	THOMAS SMITH	1918/07/09	42	InfoThomas had been awarded the Military Medal for "heroism in action and devotion to duty on 9th April on the Western front and for conspicuous gallantry". The Battalion had been involved in Battle of Estaires in April as the enemy launched Operation Michael. Thomas died during the build up to the Battle of Pilkem Ridge. He was killed by the blast from a shell. A family photo dates to about 1915/16, which is when his last son (the baby) was born.	All Saints Church Boardman Lane Rhodes	Serjeant	King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)	HOUCHIN BRITISH CEMETERY	St George
SANDERS	HARRY	1918/10/12	27	InfoHarry was reported missing & assumed dead as the allies pushed the enemy East of Cambrai in the last month of the war.	-	Private	Manchester Regiment	NEUVILLY COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION	St George
WILLIAMSON	GEORGE ALFRED	1917/06/14	35	InfoGeorge, a member of St George's Choir, and died to the West of Ypres, where the very large siege artillery was deployed. He worked in a post office, and was a member of St George's choir..	-	Gunner	Royal Garrison Artillery	VLAMERTINGHE NEW MILITARY CEMETERY	St George
WOLSTENHOLME	SYDNEY	1918/03/27	26	InfoSydney was wounded during the German Spring offensive operation Michael, on 26th March 1918, and died the following day .	-	Corporal	Royal Field Artillery	ST. HILAIRE CEMETERY, FREVENT	St George

A list of WW2 family memorials at St Mary's:

here.

A list of Commonwealth War Graves at St Margaret's, St Mary's and Butterstile Cemetery :

here.

See the names of the 142 ex-service personnel who each year receive a wooden Remembrance cross at St Mary's Churchyard click here.

St Mary's War Graves & Memorials :

Googlemap

Maps of St Mary's war graves & memorials in each section

here

A map of WWII locations in & around Prestwich

Googlemap

Read the booklet issued to new cadets when they arrived at Heaton Park during WWII.

RAF Booklet

A map of WWI locations in Heaton Park

Googlemap

what's that all about?

St Mary's War Graves & Memorials Album :

An album of war graves and memorials

When November comes round, all ex service personnel buried or memorialised at St Mary's get a poppy delivered...so long as the graves are reachable. Feel free to join the churchyard volunteers maintaining the churchyard, on Tuesday mornings.
Or donate to help us get in the professional tree surgeons and stone masons.