The Churton War Memorial Residents of Churton and district are informed that on Saturday June 9 th at 11.00 a.m. An unveiling ceremony of the Churton War Memorial will take place. Anyone wishing to attend this event should arrive at Churton Village Hall by 10.45 a.m. Please note that the Churton War Memorial Committee (CWMC) would please request all those wishing to attend the unveiling ceremony to kindly not park their vehicles on Stannage Lane. Further information regarding the unveiling ceremony may be obtained by contacting the CWMC by email: gallagher2010@btinternet.com
Churton's Fallen The Churton War Memorial commemorates the nine men who at some stage in their lives could justifiably refer to Churton as their home. Eight of these men died during the course of World War One and one Churton man died during the course of World War Two. Four of the men who died in WW1 have no known last resting place. Only one of Churton s war heroes is laid to rest in a place that may not be described as some corner of an foreign field. The names of men from the White family will figure prominently on the memorial. William and Jane White had five sons in the army. Three of whom died. They also lost their son-in-law and a nephew. The names of the men who died are listed chronologically, in the order of their deaths. WW I Sgt George White 7621 6th Battalion South Lancashire Regiment. George was born in 1886 to William and Jane White of Churton. George was their second son. George had been in the army prior to WW1. Sergeant George White died August 8 th 1915 during the Galipolli Campaign aged 30. George was buried in the Chatby War Memorial Cemetery, Alexandria, Egypt. Pte Francis White 2667 5th Battalion Cheshire Regiment. Francis was the youngest son of William and Jane White, Churton. Francis died on the 2nd July 1916 of wounds sustained during the first day of the Somme offensive. He was aged 17. Francis was buried in Waincourt Halte British Cemetery Saulty, France.
Pte John Foster Powell Liverpool Regiment 63076. Transferred to Labour Corps 41181 John Foster was born in Gwersyllt, Wales 1891. He was the son of John Powell and Margaret Ann Powell (nee Edwards) and the brother of Gladys Powell. The family moved to Churton in 1901 and following his father s death in 1904 John helped his mother to run a grocery in the village. John later moved later to Prestwich where, in January 1915, he married Annie Barlow. Their daughter Gladys was born in October 1915. In 1915 John was an Army Reservist. Later that year was enlisted in the Liverpool Regiment. In 1917 John was transferred to the Labour Corps. On May 13 th 1918 he was designated as not (medically) fit for military service. Presumably he sustained a serious injury in the course of his active service. John was repatriated to his home in Prestwich in May 1918 where sadly, he died on the 31 st of May. John Fosyer Powell was buried in St Mary s Church, Prestwich. June 3 rd 1918. Pte Charles Norman Williamson 31547 2nd Battalion South Lancashire Regiment. Charles was born in 1895. He was the son of Samuel Holland Williamson and Mary Ellen Williamson of "The Red Lion" public house Churton. Charles died in action in an offensive that was part of the Somme campaign. He died on the 21 st October 1916. Charles was aged 21. He is buried in the Grandcourt Road Cemetery, Grandcourt, Somme, France.
Pte Wilfred Mayers 27947 7th Battalion South Lancashire Regiment. Wilfred as born 1891. The son of John and Catherine Mayers residents of Tarvin. He married Elizabeth White of Churton in 1915. The Mayers lived in Churton. Wilfred was killed in action 24th September 1917 aged 26. His body was never found. Wilfred s name is commemorated on the Tyne Cot memorial panels. Pte Albert White 243705 1st/6th Battalion Cheshire Regiment. Born 1888. The son of a 27 year old single mother Hannah White. Hannah White lived in Churton with her widower father John White. John remarried later remarried Jane Probin. Sometime after Albert s birth and Hannah White and Albert moved away from the village. Albert is the nephew of William and Jane White of Churton and thus the cousin of the White brothers who are also commemorated on the Churton War Memorial. Albert died 26th September 1917 aged 29. Albert's body was never found. His name is commemorated on the Cheshire Regiment panel at Tyne Cot Memorial. L/Corporal Charles Henry White DCM 34931 1st Battalion Border Regiment. Charles was the husband of Mary Ellen White (nee Nicholson) and the son of William and Jane White, Churton. Charles was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) for gallantry during the Battle of Cambrai. He died of wounds sustained on August 18 th 1918 Charles died 22nd August 1918 aged 31. Charles Henry White DCM is buried in the Longuenesse Souvenir Cemetery, St Omer, France.
Pte Herbert John Mellor 295664 10th Battalion Royal Fusiliers. 4th Battalion London Regiment Born 1897. The son of Ambrose and Elizabeth Mellor (nee Diggery). Herbert s family moved to Churton circa 1912 and lived in New Lane. Reported as missing in action 25th August 1918 aged 21. Herbert's body was never found. His name is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial within the Vis-en-Artois British Cemetery, France. WWII Pte Joseph Glyn Clarke 4123860 1st Battalion Cheshire Regiment. Joseph was the son of Elizabeth Clarke who lived and worked in Liverpool. He was born 29th July 1916. Elizabeth Clarke went to some lengths to ensure that Joseph s father s name was not recorded on his birth certificate. Researching Joseph s history was not easy. After much researching it was discovered that Joseph was fostered by William and Elizabeth Knappett of Churton. Churton was always the village which Joseph regarded as his home. Joseph died aged 23 on December 17th 1939 in Port Sudan. The exact cause of his death is not recorded. Joseph is buried in the Khartoum War Cemetery, Sudan. The Churton War Memorial Committee wish to respectfully acknowledge the research carried out by the following: Ruth Clarke, Sandra Fenge, Paul Hinchcliffe, Ann Kettle, David and Jill Mitchell, Pauline Newell, Mike Royden, David Rudd, Helen Sadler and Kim and Neil Simmons which was consulted in constructing these short biographies of Churton s war dead.