As the war progressed a decision was taken that the bodies of those soldiers who died would not be repatriated to the UK.
They would be buried were they fell and eventually cemeteries would spring up all over the Western Front to hold the many thousands who fell.
However in my research into the employees of Manchester Corporation Tramways (MCT) who fell in the Great War I came across at least 12 who are either buried or remembered at cemeteries in the Greater Manchester Area.
One of the MCT employees on the Memorial Plaque is a Rothwell W.
My research took me to Weaste Cemetery which is located behind Media City in Salford.
I eventually came across the grave of the Rothwell family. Sgt William Edward Rothwell is the MCT employee who joined the tramways in 1913 and fought with the 6th Battalion Manchester Regiment.
He was the father of 8 children, one whom was also called William and who also died in the Great War.
They are both remembered on the family gravestone.
The inscription reads as follows
IN
LOVING MEMORY
OF
Sgt W.E Rothwell Man Regt
The beloved husband of
Elizabeth Rothwell
Drowned on duty Nov 17th 1915
Aged 48 years
Also their dear son
Le/cpl W.E. Rothwell 8th K.L.R.
Killed in action in France
Sept 11th 1918 aged 19 years
Now and forever soldiers of Christ
Also JAMES their beloved son
Who died April 5th 1921
In his 21st year
At rest
If you can provide any information on the Rothwell family please contact me at martin.logan@btinternet.com / 07985490124
Martin Logan © September 2016
Location Manchester & Salford
Picture; the Rothwell family, 2016 from the collection of Martin Logan
However in my research into the employees of Manchester Corporation Tramways (MCT) who fell in the Great War I came across at least 12 who are either buried or remembered at cemeteries in the Greater Manchester Area.
One of the MCT employees on the Memorial Plaque is a Rothwell W.
My research took me to Weaste Cemetery which is located behind Media City in Salford.
I eventually came across the grave of the Rothwell family. Sgt William Edward Rothwell is the MCT employee who joined the tramways in 1913 and fought with the 6th Battalion Manchester Regiment.
He was the father of 8 children, one whom was also called William and who also died in the Great War.
They are both remembered on the family gravestone.
The inscription reads as follows
IN
LOVING MEMORY
OF
Sgt W.E Rothwell Man Regt
The beloved husband of
Elizabeth Rothwell
Drowned on duty Nov 17th 1915
Aged 48 years
Also their dear son
Killed in action in France
Sept 11th 1918 aged 19 years
Now and forever soldiers of Christ
Also JAMES their beloved son
Who died April 5th 1921
In his 21st year
At rest
Martin Logan © September 2016
Location Manchester & Salford
Picture; the Rothwell family, 2016 from the collection of Martin Logan
No comments:
Post a Comment