Gresford Colliery Disaster - RWF Perished

[ap1]

The figure of 27, comes from the message from the Kings Private Secretary to the regiment, which was published in YDG Dec 1934.

Totals so far: 25

Confirmed RWF(assumed to be Ex):

William Henry Nichols
Harry Nicholls
Edward Llewelyn Rogers

Confirmed Serving with 4RWF:

4186383 Bdsm Frank Hampson - HQ
4183662 Dmr Thomas Richard Cornwell - HQ
4190685 Fus George Albert Clutton - HQ
4182570 Fus Arthur Davies - HQ
4188348 Fus Mathias Davies - A Coy
4191282 Fus John Richard Parry - A Coy
4190774 Fus Richard Thomas Stevens - B Coy

Confirmed Former Members:

John Rowlands MM
4183216 Joseph Archibald
4187087 Ralph Edward Tittle
4178003 Iorwerth Jones
4179329 Albert (Harry) Ross
4186286 William Henry Roberts
20066 Henry Evan Owens(Later RDC)
69288 William Henry Taylor (Later DLI)
25332 Mark Prince (Later RAF)
8690 Walter William Wineyard
4183969 Arthur Bew
4183750 Thomas Dodd
200512 Ernest Jarvis
4188103 Albert Edward Cartwright
4187086 Albert Strange

[Aled Roberts]

Been trying to pin Joseph Mckean

His father, Joseph senior (Pte 646 & 5956 RWF) married Hannah Ellen Lewis in October 1897 at Wrexham Registry Office. They had two children Elizabeth (20/1/02) and Joseph (27/6/04)

Hannah died in July 1909.

In 1919 he married Harriett Mary Jones (nee Hart) whose husband had died (Geoffrey Bernard Jones) - They had one son Richard Jones.

I suspect they had been "living in sin" for some time prior to that.

Joseph Snr died 15th November 1935 - and at this time was living at 28 St Giles Crescent, Wrexham.

The attached document confirms this is the right family

The Joseph who died at Gresford married Elsie M Sheldon in 1933. Despite not being able to tie in the "Cheshire View" address I can find no trace of any other candidate other than 4184682 (and jotting up the days between the birth of and enlistment is about bang on)

[Aled Roberts]

Just read through the facebook data again

"Only mentions his dear wife & his little daughters Jean & Patsy 19 Derby Road, Hightown"

Found births for Patricia E McKean & Jean McKean - mother's maiden name Sheldon.

[ap1]

Good enough Richard, well done…the side notes mentioning the "Alford" address and the disaster is compelling..

Number 26!

[ap1]

Totals so far: 27

Confirmed RWF(assumed to be Ex):

William Henry Nichols
Harry Nicholls
Edward Llewelyn Rogers

Confirmed Serving with 4RWF:

4186383 Bdsm Frank Hampson - HQ
4183662 Dmr Thomas Richard Cornwell - HQ
4190685 Fus George Albert Clutton - HQ
4182570 Fus Arthur Davies - HQ
4188348 Fus Mathias Davies - A Coy
4191282 Fus John Richard Parry - A Coy
4190774 Fus Richard Thomas Stevens - B Coy

Confirmed Former Members:

John Rowlands MM
4183216 Joseph Archibald
4187087 Ralph Edward Tittle
4178003 Iorwerth Jones
4179329 Albert (Harry) Ross
4186286 William Henry Roberts
20066 Henry Evan Owens(Later RDC)
69288 William Henry Taylor (Later DLI)
25332 Mark Prince (Later RAF)
8690 Walter William Wineyard
4183969 Arthur Bew
4183750 Thomas Dodd
200512 Ernest Jarvis
4188103 Albert Edward Cartwright
4187086 Albert Strange
4184682 Joseph McKean
4186083 Percy Johns

[Pete Dagnall]

Ap1, just a thought do you have a list of all miners who died in the disaster. If not, I have one.

[Aled Roberts]

Hi Pete.

Thanks for the kind offer of assistance. We have the original list and addresses. We are using it to cross reference the men we believe were serving or former members of the regiment.

Richard

[Pete Dagnall]

Richard, no problem it is just that I am a member of our local history group, Broughton, Wrexham, about 3 miles from the Colliery.

if you are interested our historian has been researching the soldiers mentioned on our Memorial Gates from both WW1 and WW2. I have asked him if I can give out the link and he is more than happy to share his research.

http://www.broughton-history.co.uk/page24.html

if you scroll down you will find all the names. Some of them are not RWF though.