REMEMBERING THE EMPLOYEES OF MANCHESTER CORPORATION TRAMWAYS FEBRUARY 1917 ........ Martin Logan

In 2008 when I first started researching one of the names on the Manchester Corporation Tramways (MCT) WW1 Memorial Plaque, which was affixed to the outer wall of the now demolished Princess Road Bus Depot, I never for one minute realised that it would become a journey of discovery.

What first started off as a curious glance at a metal plaque on a wall has over the years turned into a passion bordering on obsession to tell their stories. Over the intervening years I have amassed a small library of information on the 310 MCT employees whose names are inscribed on the Memorial Plaque.

Since first making contact with the relatives of BERRY H- Herbert Berry, I have made contact with five more relatives: COLLINS G L – the great grand daughter of George Leonard Collins; STARKEY W – the niece of William Starkey; GORMAN J – the great nephew of John Gorman; PLAYFOOT E L-The great nephew of Ernest Lewis Playfoot; MAYNE J – the great nephew of John Mayne. Each of these relatives has provided me with photos and information of their loved ones.

A book titled “Manchesters in the Great War” has provided me with photos and info on another six employees: BARTON T-Thomas Barton; CLIFFE G- George Cliffe; JENKINSON R A- Robert Alexander Jenkinson; NEWMAN G E- George Edward Newham; TANNER E A- Ernest Aubrey Tanner; and STALHER J A-Joseph Stalher.

A further two photos have been provided the Manchester Evening News in articles on the Centenary titled “The stories 100 Years Ago”; RASTALL G H-George Henry Rastall and PENNILL A- Alfred Pennill.  Two photos of MCT employees in army uniform, one group and one single have been provided by the Museum of Transport Manchester.

With all this information in my possession it is now my intention to try and update the MCT Roll of Honour of the Great War, which was published in 1918.

To create a lasting memorial so that the current generation and future generations can look back with pride and sadness on the achievements and sacrifices made by the MCT employees in the Great War.

If you can help me in any way shape or form with this endeavour I would be very grateful. Please contact me at martin.logan@btinternet.com or by mobile 07985490124

At the base of the MCT War Memorial is the following inscription.
Let those who come after see to it that these names be not forgotten
LEST WE FORGET

© Martin Logan 2017

Pictures; courtesy of Martin Logan, 2017