GRANGETOWN IN TIMES PAST
Football Teams
St Marys School
Mick Traynor - Boer War Recruit + Others
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Grangetown People
World War One 1914 -18
Parish, Priests and Processions
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1925 Ladies Parish Outing + More
The Twenties
A Tale from the Duckie + other stories
The Thirties
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World War Two 1939 - 45
Messages from Home & Abroad
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Editor's Diary
The World of Work
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The Forties
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Upstairs and Downstairs...
The Board School
Pochin Road Infants School
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Sir Wm Worsley School
The Fifties
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St Peter's Senior School
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The Sixties
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Contact Information for Grangetown in Times Past
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Friends Answer the Call
 | Friends Answer the Call - courtesy of Jim White
Billy Noteyoung and Dai Thomas entered the fray in August 1914 - fresh from the fields of Grangetown St Mary's FC.
Here we have a postcard photo of the time embellished by patriotic symbols. |
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Patrick O'Neill of Vaughan St
 | Patrick O'Neill of Vaughan St - Family Album
My granda Patrick O’Neill ( far right )was born in 5 Bessemer Street, in 1888, son of a Puddler John O’Neill and Annie Fox ( both Irish emigrants ) who lost his mother Annie aged 28 when he was only two years old. She died a few months after giving birth to his sister Margaret in Lawson St Middlesbrough.
It is doubtful whether he ever saw his father again - as he remarried within two years and died in 1897 of pneumonia aged 32 - a possible victim of the strenuous activity and inhaled fumes from the open furnaces of Bolckow, Vaughan & Co.
It would seem that his grandparents on both sides of the family took responsibility for the children’s upbringing and Patrick and Margaret were taken to Barley Hill, Tyrone where they lived for 10 years - until Patrick decided to ‘run away’ to England to work in Bolckow, Vaughan’s ironworks at the age 12 - so the story goes - probably to join his Uncles and Grandfather Fox who worked there in the early 1900's.
Patrick O'Neill had already been in the army before until 1908 as a regular and even joined the reserves after the war when times were still bad.
Here is with three comrades in arms.Patrick is on the far right - aged 24. |
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Walter Cave of Laing Street
 Walter Cave of Laing Street - courtesy of Mrs Kathleen Percival nee (Cave)
Her parents Walter + Nora Cave lived in Laing Street.Here we see the backyard photograph with the stylishly presented net curtains in the background and Walter proudly enjoying the moment with Tommy, their first born. |
Patrick O'Neill with batman
 Patrick O'Neill with batman - Family Album
Taken during the war looking older than previous snap. He served in the 4th Yorks Militia from 1905 - 1908 and enlisted as Bombardier Regtml No 311733 in the Northumbrian Royal Garrison Artillery E. Riding H.B on May 8th 1914.
He was disembodied on March 30th 1919 and re-enlisted in the Royal Engineers Supp. Reserve on Sep 4th 1925.
He spent much of his civilian life working on the building of the Trunk Road to Redcar which began in 1921 until his re-enlistment.
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Jim O Brien of Laing Street
 | Jim O'Brien of Laing Street - courtesy of Kathleen Percival nee Cave
In studio with wife Maggie. |
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2nd Ltnt. John Fox of Bolckow Road
 | 2nd Ltnt. John Fox of Bolckow Road
Son of Councillor John Fox and Bridget (Quinn)
Killed in Action 1917 aged 22 years
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William Short V.C.
 | A fitting tribute was erected to the memory of a very brave man from Vaughan Street Grangetown.
William Henry Short was born to James Short and Annie Stephenson - they did not marry until 1888 - of 11, William Street, Eston Middlesbrough, Yorkshire on 4th February 1885. There were five sons and four daughters.
The family moved to 35 Vaughan Street Grangetown near Middlesbrough in 1900. Known by his family as Will, he was a popular local footballer playing for Grangetown Albion and Saltburn and Lazenby United Football Clubs.
He was sometimes called'Twig'or'Twiggie by his friends since he always seen walking around with a twig in his mouth.
At the age of 16 years, William Short worked as a craneman at Bolckow, Vaughan & Co Steelworks in Eston until the start of the Great War.
He enlisted on 2nd September 1914 into the Green Howards, and travelled to France on 26th August 1915 with'C' Company, 8th Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment. He fought in the early stages of the battle of the Somme around Contalmaison on 5th and 10th July.
12067 Private William Short won his VC at Munster Alley near Pozieres on the 6th August 1916. He died of wounds the next day and his body was eventually buried in Contalmaison Chateaux Cemetery Plot 11, Row B Grave 16, some four miles to the north east of Albert.
His name is recorded on the Grangetown war memorial and the obelisk in Eston Cemetery. William Short's medals were sold to the Regiment by his youngest and only surviving brother in April 1979. The VC and medals are held by the Green Howards Regimental Museum in Richmond.
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Private Will Short VC of Vaughan St
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Private P Higgins of 67 Bessemer St
 photo sent in by Sheila Barker
In Memory of
Private P Higgins
7th Btn.Yorkshire Regiment
who died aged 27 on Saturday, 1st July 1916
Private HIGGINS was the son of John and Mary Higgins of Grangetown;
husband of Harriet Mary Higgins, of 67 Bessemer Street, Grangetown, Yorks
Remembered with honour
FRICOURT BRITISH CEMETERY, Somme, France |
7th Battallion No 2 Platoon Yorkshire Regiment 1914
 | photo from Ellen Thomas USA
It is understood that Ellen's father Dai Thomas is on this photograph and his best pal Billy Noteyoung. |
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Grangetown's Brass Band after WW1
 | Grangetown's Brass Band after WW1 - courtesy of George Ayton
I attach a photograph of my grandfather George William Ayton who married Maggie Buxton in 1904 and settled in Vickers Street by 1909 - taken after WWI in a band (he is the one in the front with the big drum). Someone may recognise one of the faces. I have always understood this photograph to have been taken in Grangetown.
George Ayton
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George William Ayton of Vickers St 1914
 | photo and info - George Ayton
I know that my grandfather lost an eye and sustained other injuries during the course of WWI. However I think that the photograph was taken later, I will attach another photgraph of him taken in 1914 and you will see what the war did. I notice that my grandfather is wearing a different cap-badge from the rest, I'm sure his is a Green Howards badge.
For the record he and my grandmother had 11 children, 9 survived into adulthood, they were;Benjamin Ayton (Ben), Edward James Ayton (Jim), Edith Mary (Edie), Alice (Lal), Marie Roze (Marie), Robert William (Rob), George Albert (George), Betty, and the sole survivor Victoria (Vicki).
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Bolckow,Vaughan & Co's Female Workforce 1914 -18
 | | Bolckow,Vaughan & Co's Female Workforce 1914-18 - courtesy of Dennis King |
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Thomas Walsh of Bessemer Street
 | Thomas Walsh of Bessemer Street - courtesy of Tony Walsh
Thomas Walsh of Bessemer Street in the uniform of the Connaught Regiment ( 1891-1964 ) married Anastasia Bruen in 1920. They had nine children. |
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Private Jack Kennedy Medal Winner of Vaughan St
 photo - courtesy of Grangetown Local History Group
Another brave man awarded a military medal personally from King George V was John Kennedy ( Jack ) of Vaughan Street who held a trench against enemy onslaught and was badly wounded in the process. He carried enemy bullets in him until his death 40 years later at his home in Vaughan St. |
Joseph Murphy
 | photo - courtesy of Kevin Murphy USA
After surviving the Great War, Joseph emigrated to the US in the Twenties with his parents and brought up his own family in the Chicago area.
He was also a friend of Dai Thomas - pictured earlier - and the references to Dai Thomas in this site helped his son Kevin discover his family connections with the area whilst researching his family tree. Kevin is an author. |
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Army Unit of John Murphy 1914
 | photo - courtesy of Kevin Murphy USA
Unsure of regiment. John Murphy is pictured among a group of many soldiers who fought in the Great War. |
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Bill Simpson of 96 Vickers St
 | photo - courtesy of Debbie Mills
This may just be my imagination but I am sure that the officer on the left in my picture looks the same as John Fox. Do you think so? I do hope so. This has been a family mystery. My grandfather is the merchant seaman on the right of the picture. He was born William Simpson on the 14.2.1892 at 96 Vickers St, Grangetown. I have just started to try to trace back our family line as we no absolutely nothing about this side of our family.
My dad always said that his dad ( William ) maintained that it was a cousin that was in the photo with him but I don't know how true that is. Williams parents were married in 1889 both from Bolckow Street( John William Simpson & Hannah Hilder ) Hannah supposedly died in childbirth but we now know that it wasn't with William as she reg'd his birth. Yet another mystery!!!!!
Perhaps someone can help Please!!!!! I live in Kent but plan to visit your neck of the woods at the end of Feb to continue my search. so any help would be very appreciated!!!!
Thank you for setting up such a great site it is such a help for people like me to get a feel for where our ancestors came from.
Debbie Mills. ( Gravesend, Kent )
John,
Hi! once again. I sent you a photo of my grandfather in merchant seaman uniform he was William Simpson who was born at 96 Vickers Street Eston in 1892 he died in 1964 in Falmouth where he met my Gran and had my dad John. I have now discovered who the army officer in the photo is (or at least I think I have all evidence matches up) He was William Hazelhurst Archbold (my grandads cousin) second lieutenant 228thfield Coy, Royal engineers who died on Mon 21 October 1918 age 27and is buried at Lijsenthoek Military cemetery Poperinge, Belgium. With them seated I think is his mother Sarah Archbold nee Simpson who we believe had a hand in bringing up my grandad or at least paid for his apprenticeship as an Engineer in the merchant navy. I hope this is of interest to you. I just thought that as youd been so kind to add the photo to your site I would keep you informed
Regards
Debbie Mills(nee Simpson) Gravesend, Kent
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The Memorial Service after the Great War
 | The Memorial Service after the Great War - courtesy of Vera Robinson MBE
Grangetown Peace Festival on Saturday July 26th 1919. A Memorial Service at which the hymn All People That On Earth Do Dwell was sung and a prayer by the Rev. N.L. Fisher. Then we sang the Saints of God.
Private William Short, V.C. Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friend.
It was unveiled by Lieutenant Colonel B.M. Westerton, 8th Yorkshire Regiment. John Fox, Esq., J.P. County Councillor presided.
On Sunday, January 9th, 1921 at 2.00 p.m. The unveiling of the memorial to those brave souls of Eston, Normanby and Barnaby Moor who gave their lives for the country during the Great War 1914-18.
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Bill Herlingshaw Stapylton Street & Yorkshire Regiment 1912
 | Yorkshire Regiment 1912 - courtesy of Bill Herlingshaw
William Herlingshaw of 102 Stapylton Street served in the regulars from 1906 to 1916 until he was invalided out after receiving three bullet wounds from enemy fire and left for dead. One bullet from the trenches which entered his neck, is still kept as a souvenir by his grandson Bill in Penrith.
William is pictured third right in the back row in uniform without a hat - sporting a large quiff and moustache. He married Sara Wilkinson.
One of his children was named after the battle in which Bill received his wounds - Louis (Raymond) -possibly after the Battle of Loos in September 1915. |
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Bill Herlingshaw's discharge papers 1916
 | Bill Herlingshaw's discharge papers 1916 - courtesy of grandson Bill Herlingshaw of Penrith
Bills grandfather was left lying on the battlefield for dead. |
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James Mannix and Medals
 | James Mannix and Medals
My great-uncle Jim and a sample of two medals which were awarded to those who served in the Great War. He lived at 20 Cheetham Street. |
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Twig Short Memorial
 | | Twig Short Memorial |
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A typical poster of the time
 A typical poster of the time |
Grangetown Cenotaph Service Nov 2003
 | Grangetown Cenotaph Service Nov 2003
Many people gathered at Grangetown's Cenotaph on Sunday November 9th to remember the fallen in all wars. This memorial actually commemorates the fallen of World War One with the inscribed names of 136 soldiers who died for their country during the years 1914 - 1918. May they rest in peace.
They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
With apologies to the relatives of anyone whom I have mistakenly missed and misspelt, here are the listed names on the cenotaph:
CAPT HEATHCOCK T YORKS
LIEUT. FOX J CR
LIEUT. HUNTER A KOYLI
SGT COLLINS J YORKS
SGT HUNTER N YORKS
SGT LOOGE A E YORKS
SGT LOOGE J W YORKS
CPL SPENCER G R YORKS
CPL WATSON G F YORKS
CPL COLLINS W YORKS
CPL COWELL E YORKS
CPL LANE W W YORKS
CPL VICKERS W YORKS
L/CPL HOGGETT T H YORKS
L/CPL MILBURN R O YORKS
L/CPL MILLINGTON C W YORKS
L/CPL SPENCE J YORKS
PTE SHORT W VC YORKS
PTE ADAMSON J YORKS
PTE BARRETT F YORKS
PTE BELL C YORKS
PTE BENNETT S YORKS
PTE BENNETT M YORKS
PTE BENNETT J YORKS
PTE BETTERIDGE E YORKS
PTE BETTERIDGE J W YORKS
PTE BLAND R YORKS
PTE BOWDEN W J YORKS
PTE BOYLE S YORKS
PTE BRANNON C YORKS
PTE BURKE J YORKS
PTE CANNEL J C YORKS
PTE DUFFIELD D YORKS
PTE EASON J W YORKS
PTE EBBS J YORKS
PTE HAVELOCK F YORKS
PTE HETHERINGTON J YORKS
PTE HETHERINGTON T YORKS
PTE HIGGINS P YORKS
PTE KIRK A YORKS
PTE LINCOLN A A YORKS
PTE LINTON L D YORKS
PTE MOSS J E YORKS
PTE McCARTHY J YORKS
PTE McCARTHY C YORKS
PTE O BRIEN M YORKS
PTE PARKER S YORKS
PTE ROBSON R YORKS
PTE SMART C ? YORKS
PTE SMITHSON C YORKS
PTE SMITH H YORKS
PTE SPENCER G YORKS
PTE STAINTHORPE J W YORKS
PTE SULLIVAN R YORKS
PTE SULLIVAN T YORKS
PTE THOMAS J YORKS
PTE TURNBULL C YORKS
PTE TWAITES H YORKS
PTE WETHERHEAD T T YORKS
PTE WHILE A YORKS
PTE WILKINSON B YORKS
PTE WILLIS J D YORKS
CPL EVERITT W YRL
PTE THOMPSON V.C SUP'N
PTE FINN E LANCS
PTE PARKER W LANCS
SGT HOARE D N F
PTE WALLS J YORKS
PTE PARKINSON W J YORKS
SGT MAYGRAN ? A R E
PTE BAILEY C LINCS
PTE BIRD H N F
PTE CANEY R N F
PTE CUMMINGS C N F
PTE DAVIES H N F
PTE JONES W N F
PTE MITCHELL S J N F
PTE SNOWDEN J G N F
PTE WATSON W H N F
SGT PRATT T R C A
B R CADMAN W R C A
CNR BULLOCK E F R C A
CNR THOMAS E H R C A
CORP BAXTRAM A REA R F A
CORP RIDSDALE J H R F A
BDR DAWKINS H R F A
CNR HAWKRIDGE A R F A
CNR KEATING J R F A
CNR KING F MM R F A
CNR LLOYD D J R F A
CNR LOWERY W L R F A
GNR SULLIVAN D R F A
GNR WILLIS C M R F A
GNR WILLIAMS J M O?
SGT BAILEY A M O?
SGT BOWER J M K T S
SGT O'NEIL J
SGT HOLMES A
SGT ELGIE J R D L I
SGT KAY W A D L I
PTE BRENNAN J A D L I
CORP HOLT J A O A I?
SPR FURLONGER H R E
SPR McQUADE R E
PNR BETTERIDGE R E
PNR DICKENSON R E
PNR LIGHTFOOT H M R E
CORP HOOD R E
L/CPL LLOYD A S R E
RFLTN CORK S H R E
RFLTN GRAHAM R E
RFLTN WOOD R E R E
RFLTN WOOD A E R E
RFLTN ONIONS J T R I R
PTE ATKINSON A L C C
PTE STAINTHORPE C C C
PTE BAILEY C KOYLI
PTE BETTERIDGE A W DORSET
PTE DARK E W R WKS
PTE DEVANEY J ESSEX
CPL WHITE A ESSEX
PTE FOLEY J C R
PTE HAGEN R R A M C
PTE McKENNA P J R A M C
PTE HANLON J R K O R L
PTE HARRISON J W CORDONS
PTE HARRISON T M'CHESTER
PTE GREEN F A S C
PTE HAVELOCK R HUSSARS
PTE KENWOOD W HUSSARS
PTE NORTON D H N & D
PTE PHILLIPSON E R S F
PTE WEATHERILL J D W R
SMN BRADLEY T R R N
SMN CROSBY J C R N
SMN NURSE RODGERS W A P
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Charles Thompson after Loos 1915
 | Charles Thompson after Loos 1915 - courtesy of Alan Thompson
An unusual pictorial record treasured by the Thompson family of Grangetown is this photograph of their grandfather Charles, contained in a book of the time which recounts the stories of battles fought by our forces overseas during the Great War. Taken from a series of pictures this first picture actually records Charles Thompson with his arm in a sling, after the Battle of Loos in 1915. |
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After the Loos Battle 1915
 | After the Loos Battle 1915 - courtesy of Alan Thompson
Weariness and the trauma of battle shows in the eyes of the soldiers as the head for a rest camp. Some are lucky enough to travel by ancient buses.
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After Loos 1915
 | After Loos 1915 - courtesy of Alan Thompson
A beautiful French village ravaged by war echoes to the sound of weary English feet after the victory of Loos. |
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The War Graves
 | The War Graves - courtesy of Alan Thompson
British soldiers' graves are tended by sympathetic French as evidenced by the french wreaths and writing above. |
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Charles Thompson in 1914
 | Charles Thompson in 1914 - courtesy of Alan Thompson
Charles (seated) poses with a shell and a friend long before the battle of Loos in 1914.
Photograph depicting Charles Thompson seated with friend says photo taken in 1914 before battle of Loos.
The standing friend is wearing a tin hat. These were issued October 1915, two months after Loos. Picture was, therefore taken on or after October 1915. Dean Marks - March 2007
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Loos Battle 1915
 | Loos Battle 1915 - courtesy of Alan Thompson
John O’Neill d. 25th September 1915. Age 21years
Seaforth Highlanders.
Battle of Loos War Memorial
“We searched them out!
Those we’ve found,
Bury in the sacred ground!
Scribe all other names on the wall
The ‘Missing’ label tells it all!”
Breaking dawn?
First jump over parapet!
Did you whoop or flinch,
Was it then your fate was met?
Or where open ground awaited,
You walking, bayonet fixed,
Skirting crowded craters,
From whose layered depths,
Whimpering wounded petitioned,
A disregarding God,
With eyes defunct,
And severed limbs unshod?
When machine gun bullets,
Discharged from hidden sett,
By well drilled enemy,
Whistled around your head?
Was one, the instrument of death?
Else sniper, secure in tower,
Taking bead on Scottish plume?
Did you run,
The gamut of all,
Before the trench was gained?
Where gas still lingered,
To venture there was it wise?
Was that instrument in your demise?
Say you were not on wire hung,
Crucified target for hostile guns?
If you achieved the town,
With delegation?
Were people happy?
About their liberation?
Was none left to greet,
Or no street?
Did you scale 70 hill?
On which survivors lament,
“They slaughtered us at will!”
Who knows that day When?
Where? How? Your gallant body fell?
Ged O’Neill 2006
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Fred King MM of Vickers Street
 | Fred King MM of Vickers Street- courtesy of Dennis King
Buried with full military honours Fred King of Vickers Street died of wounds inflicted during battle. Another brave man listed on the war memorial in Birchington Avenue.
(apologies for any earlier confusion with Will Short VC.) |
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