WWI Cheshire Regiment Soldiers, & Street Scene from Hyde.

I've once again been sent pictures from Elaine Hallfarm, if you recall it was Elaine who shared a picture of John Street, Hyde where part of the property had collapsed. Through the information that turned up on the face-book group page, Elaine as been able to add that to the back of the picture for future reference.

WW1 Soldier from the Cheshire Regiment with women

WW1 Injured Soldiers in unknown Hospital, One is possibly Elaine's Uncle Arthur 

WW1 Cheshire Regiment Soldier, wear a Mourning Button

DuringWW1 it was permissible in the British army to wear a small square or black crepe or silk wrapped around the second button on the tunic as a sign of personal mourning. Officers wore black armbands.

Procession Walk in Hyde

What a cracking picture this is
Where it is unknown but it is from Hyde
Anyone know the church banner
I will be very pleased if this can be pinpointed and see what it's like today.

These pictures are all shared by Elaine in the memory of her Aunty May

These were Aunty May's pictures, and are now passed on to family members. Elaine says there are more pictures to follow, and that the family sometimes can work out who they are looking at, but more often there are no clues. She hope we enjoy looking at them and better still find something of interest in them.

The Casualties of War

As we are coming up to Remembrance Day I thought I'd share the following cuttings sent to us recently by Arthur Heywood.

These newspaper clippings show the absolute heartbreak some families endured during WW1.

The following families lost 3 and 4 sons in the war.

I cannot even begin to understand how they coped with losing their loved ones.

Many thanks for sharing, Arthur.

Much appreciated.

Updated from

The Hyde In Wartime Book

At the end of July, 1915, Mrs Esther Long of Cheapside, Hyde, a widow, received from Buckingham Palace a letter, sent on behalf of His Majesty the King congratulating her upon the fact that she had six sons serving with the colours.   The eldest soldier-son was 46 years of age, and the youngest 25. Sergeant Major Thomas Long, George Street, the eldest, married, a volunteer and Territorial for 27 years, and served in the Boer War, and been wounded in France. The seconds son, Lance Corporal Walter Long, for many years with the old Hyde Volunteers, enlisted for active service about Christmas, 1914, and went to France in February, 1915. He died at a Rouen Hospital on the 17th December, 1915, from wounds received in action. His home was at Hallbottom Gate, Newton, and he was married. Private John Long, the third son, enlisted at Whitsuntide, 1915. He was killed instantly, at Dardanelles, on the 1st. January, 1916. The forth, Private William Long, an old soldier, unmarried, served some time in India, also in South Africa, after the Boar War, was in much fighting in France and was 'gassed' on the 2nd of May, 1915. Later he was discharged as physically unfit for further military service, after serving 17 years. The fifth, Private Henry Long, spent 6 years in India, was called up as a reservist immediately after the war started, and at once went to France. He fought at Mons; was taken prisoner, and was subsequently located in Hanover, Germany. He is married, and his home is at Winsford. The youngest of the six, Trooper Joseph Long, went to France in October, 1914, and as been in the thick of the fighting. At the end of February, 1916, he was still in France, having been there all the time, with the exception of one leave of about a week. 

A Celebration of Peace

Here are a few shots of a coin I found whilst sorting out some old stuff.
It seems to shows the commemoration of the end of WW1, complete with the name "Mirfin" who appears to have been the Mayor of Hyde at the time.

If anyone has anymore information regarding it please let us know!

Please note.
Posts may be sporadic in the next few weeks as I try to get my computer and scanner working properly.
I will endeavour to keep the blog going as much as possible though.

Thanks for your support.
Nancy.

Addendum (by Dave Williams)

'The History of Hyde' says this about John Mirfin, Mayor 1917 to 1919:

'John Mirfin in early life became overlooker at a silk and cotton mill in Newton Heath, but left the mill to become licensee of the Woodman Inn, George Street, Hyde. His quiet demeanour and upright conduct soon caused the inn to become one of the best conducted hotels in the town, and when he contested the Newton ward in the Conservative interest in 1906 he was elected to the Town Council, and was again returned at the head of the poll in 1909. In 1910 he became an alderman, and retained the position until his death. Mr Mirfin was the first licensed victualler to be made Mayor of Hyde, and up to that time there had been some feeling about the advisability of appointing a license-holder to the position of chief magistrate. But Mr Mirfin's quiet and conscientious performance of his duties won the respect and admiration of all classes, and for two strenuous years in the war period Mr and Mrs Mirfin as Mayor and Mayoress discharged the many difficult tasks that fell to their lot in a way which sustained the highest tradition of the offices. Mr Mirfin died in Preston on April 28^th, 1923, at the age of 57 years, but was interred in the Hyde cemetery, the Mayor and Corporation attending the funeral.'

The report in the book of the ending of the war includes the following:

'Peace Day was celebrated throughout the world on Saturday, July 19^th, 1919 and Hyde, in common with the whole British Empire, gave itself up to a full day of joy-making.'

And later on:

'Each child attending the day schools in the borough was presented with a medal as a souvenir of the signing of peace.'

I endorse Nancy's comments and I'll try to chip in with posts as and when I've got the material to do so.

Hyde In War Time (1914-16) Page 42-43 The Rally From The Prairie Land.(continued)

Today sees the start of more pages from The Hyde In War Time Book 1914-1916... I know many liked reading this and as the book is quite rare and is not available on the internet as yet this blog is a good a place as any to show it.

A "Jack Johnson" Kills A Family

A 'Jack Johnson' was the British nickname used to describe the impact of a heavy, black German 15-cm artillery shell.

Driver Frank Holland, of the Canadian Field Artillery, is the eldest son of Mr. George Holland, Joel Lane Gee Cross, formerly of Higher henry Street and Nelson Street, Hyde. Born at Hyde, he went to Canada about ten years ago. Driver Holland came over with the first Canadian Contingent, and went to France in February, 1915. He had some very thrilling experiences, going through a place which the Canadians nicknamed "Hell" and round a corner called "Dead Man's Corner." In a message dated May 16th, addressed to his brother in Swain Street, Driver Holland said they had lost a lot of brave men and horses. He saw a German "Jack Johnson" hit a building, and it killed eight of a family - parents and six children, while all lay asleep in bed. About this time Driver Holland and chum, during a brief "nap" had a most narrow escape from death, a shell dropping within about half a dozen feet of them, and bursting; yet they were practically unhurt. He had ridden through a town while shells were knocking down houses all round. 

Patriot From British Columbia

Lance-Corporal Walter Hardman left Hyde three or four years before the war, for Canada. Settled at Revelstoke, a small town in British Columbia, where he obtained a position under the Canadian Pacific Railway Company for two years held the office of Vicar's warden in the parish, and acted as lay reader. Enlisted about July, 1915, and after six weeks at Vancouver, came to England to complete his training

A Loyal Hyde-Canadian

Among the local men in Canada when the war started was John Worrall, nephew of Councillor T. Worrell, and brother-in-law of Councillor T. Middleton. He had for several years been farming. He volunteered immediately, and came over to England with the second Canadian. He went to France in April, 1915, as a signaller, and was soon in the danger zone. Within a very short time he was seriously wounded in the face with shrapnel. He was under hospital treatment for a considerable period, and the injury resulted in loss of sight in the right eye.

Newton Brothers Join In Canada

Bombardier Frank Ormerod and Private Harry Ormerod, sons of Mr. Wm. Ormerod, Bagshaw Street Newton. Both had been in Canada some years when war broke out, and both responded to the Old Country's call. Frank joined the Canadian R.F.A., and became a bombardier, completing his training in England. Harry enlisted in the R.A.M.C., was at Hill 60, Neuve Chapelle, and Ypres, being "gassed" at the last-named place, but recovered, and rejoined the ranks.

A Rally From The Far West

Another instance of a Hydonian in Canada rallying to the old flag and coming over to Europe to defend the Mother Country was provided by Staff-Sergeant William E. Chidlow, the only son of Mr J. Chidlow, Great Norbury Street, the well known Insurance Superintendent. Staff Sergeant Chidlow went to Canada six years before the war broke out, and had a farm near Lloydminster, Saskatchewan. The call of King and Country caused him to leave his farm and join the colours, in November, 1914. After twelve months' training in Canada he came to England, and continued training at Shorncliffe. In April, 1916, he was stationed at Bath, performing duties in connection with the Canadian casualty Department. Meanwhile, he had risen to the rank of Staff Sergeant, having originally been a Private.

One of Hydes Brave '710'

After reading the Peace Day poster below it got me thinking about my Great-Uncle Harry Mullins who is one of Hydes "710"  brave men who is commemorated on the Cenotaph on Werneth Low who died fighting for his country.

Harry was born in 1898 and was only 18 years old when he was killed in action at France & Flanders on the 13th November 1916,  having been on the frontline for the previous 18 months .
He was too young to have joined up without lying about his age and had they known I'm sure he would have been taken off the frontline.

Harry lived at 1 Mount Street and was the son of Jane and Henry Mullins.
His memorial is at Thiepval Memorial Somme, France.




This used to hang on my Nan's wall.


Harry aged approx 16 years old