Harry Cropper is aged 7 and lived at 4 Williams Street, Prescot, with his father Henry, a 50 year old labourer, mother Mary (47) and siblings William (25), Thomas (19), Mary (16) and Dorothy (14)
1911 Census -
Harry Cropper was an Apprentice Plasterer aged 18 and lived at 4, Williams Street, Prescot, the home of his parents Henry (60, a Roadman in a Coal Mine) and Mary (58), who had been married for 38 years. Harry’s elder brother William (35), sister Dorothy (24) and brother James (5).
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
Birth Registered Q2/1893, Prescot, 8b, 712
Death registered Q4/1920, West Derby, 8b, 663
Research Ref. No.
P068
Service Details
Harry Cropper enlisted into the army on the day war broke out, 4th August 1914, at which time he was recorded as being 21 years and 5 months old. He was originally numbered Sapper 6846, Royal Engineers and his service record shows him to have arrived in France in May 1915, although his Medal Index Card (below) suggests that he arrived in January 1915.
He appears to have suffered several wounds in service, but the most serious shows him in an unidentified hospital in France from 10th December 1917 until 10th February 1918. The records show that he was suffering from a “gun shot wound to the right hip”, further stating “X-Ray shows dislocation of hip shaft upwards” and “Part of the head of the femur appears to be missing”.
On 10th February, he was transferred to Beckett Park Military hospital, where he received treatment described as“Massage and Passive Movement” until his transfer on 3rd June 1918 to Highfield Military Hospital in Knotty Ash, better known today as Alder Hey Hospital. The extract below shows this entry in his records.
He remained here until 22nd September 1918, before being sent on three months leave while he waited for an operation. On 8th November 1918 he was readmitted to Highfield, where he remained until March 1920. He was finally discharged from the Army on 19th April 1920 but died on 17th October.
Harry Cropper’s Medal Index Card confirms his arrival in France on 2nd January 1915
Harry Cropper’s grave in Prescot Churchyard
Private 14747 Daniel CULLEN
Prescot Reporter 11/08/1916
Unit/Regiment
9th Bn, Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Date of Death
25/07/1916
Age at Death
19
Burial/Memorial & Reference
Thiepval Memorial
Pier and Face 4A
CWGC Family Details
(if shown)
Son of Thomas and Annie Cullen, of 9, Bretherton Rd., Prescot, Lancs
Census Details
1901 census -
Daniel Cullen was 11 years old and lived at 9, Stone Street with his parents Thomas and Annie, sister Maggie (16) and brother Jack (14),
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
Birth Registered Q1/1890, Prescot, 8b, 688
SDGW – Where Born
Prescot, Lancs
Enlisted
Wrexham
Resided
Prescot, Lancs
How Died
Killed In Action
Theatre of War
France & Flanders
Notes
Note substantial discrepancy between age from CWGC and Census & Birth records, suggesting CWGC is in error. This is confirmed by the report (below) which says that he had worked at the colliery for 10 years
Research Ref. No.
P069
Service Details
Daniel Cullen enlisted into the army on 4th September 1914.
The Prescot Reporter of 11th August 1916 reported his death.
“Prior to enlisting he worked for ten years at St Helens Collieries. His eldest brother, of the same Regiment, is a prisoner in Germany and his younger brother is serving with the R.W.F. in France.
The news of his death on active service is contained in the following letter from an officer – ‘I must introduce myself to you as the Officer in charge of the Machine Gun Section to which your son was attached. He has been fighting like a good soldier, as you know, for a long time out here and has done thoroughly all through our latest advance, but while we were in reserve doing nothing but keeping in readiness to move up if wanted, we were very heavily shelled. The men stood this ordeal in a remarkable manner. All were calm and cool. One cannot say enough for their bravery and it is hoped that those at home will be as brave should they have to bear any personal grief. It was during your shelling that your son and two of his pals were killed instantly by a shell dropping right amongst them. We buried them just where they died and placed a cross above their heads, plainly marked with their names and regiment. I deeply regret having to break this news, and I hope that you will accept my deepest sympathy. He was an excellent, well-trained soldier and one whom one could put every trust in. We feel the loss a great deal. Yours sincerely, J.C. Bromhall’“
The two men who were killed with Private Cullen were Private Isaiah Jones, aged 29, and Private Ernest Tomlinson, 25, both from Staffordshire. The grave in which the three men were buried was lost in subsequent fighting and all three are now remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the missing of the Somme.
The officer who write to Daniel Cullen’s family was Major John Coventry Bromhall, M.C. and Bar, a native of London. He was subsequently killed in action on 7th August 1918, aged 35.
The Parish Magazine of 27th October 1916 stated “Since the October magazine was published in which the names of 47 of our heroic dead were recorded, 7 more have fallen in the long battle of the Somme. The list then followed, including “Pte. Daniel Cullen of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers”.
Daniel Cullen’s Medal Index Card shows his arrival in France on 5th September 1915. His medal entitlement was the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Sergeant 16978 James CUNDILL
Prescot Reporter 27/10/1916
Unit/Regiment
8th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment
Date of Death
29/08/1916
Age at Death
38
Burial/Memorial & Reference
LonsdaleCemetery, Authuile
III M 9
CWGC Family Details
(if shown)
Husband of Elizabeth Shingler (formerly Cundill), of The Stanley Arms, 52, New Cross St., St. Helens, Lancs.
Census Details
1891 Census -
James lived at 72 Cyril Street, Eccleston, with his parents Thomas, a 38 year old Plate Layer, and Maria (38). He also had an elder sister, Charlotte, aged 18. James, aged 13, is recorded as a labourer at a brickworks.
1911 Census -
The Cundill family lived at 1, Duke Street, Prescot. James, a 33 year old Pavior and his wife Elizabeth (26) had been married for a year and had a daughter Clara, aged 3 months. James was a native of Hull.
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
Birth Registered Q2/1878, Hull, 9d, 251
Marriage to Elizabeth Atherton, Q4/1909, Prescot, 8b, 1051
SDGW – Where Born
Hull, Yorks
Enlisted
St Helens, Lancs
Resided
Prescot, Lancs
How Died
Killed In Action
Theatre of War
France & Flanders
Notes
Brother of Thomas Edgar Rufford Cundill
Research Ref. No.
P070
Service Details
The 8th Battalion of the South Lancashire regiment was formed soon after the outbreak of war in 1914, part of the third batch of 100,000 recruits asked for by Lord Kitchener..
James Cundill was aged 36 years and 11 months when he attested for military service on 23rd February 1915 in Warrington. He stated that he had previous military service with the Coldstream Guards, his conduct being marked as “Very Good”.
His records show that he stood 5ft 7 ¾ inches in height and had a 36 inch chest measurement, expandable by 3 inches. He noted that his next of kin was his wife Elizabeth, of 22 Columbia Road, Prescot. They had been married on 18th December 1909 in Prescot. Their only child, Clara, was born on 30th December 1910 in Prescot.James was a Pavior by trade.
Private Cundill was posted to the 8th Battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment on 12th March 1915 with a temporary rank of Lance Corporal. Other promotions followed:- Temporary Corporal on 18th June 1915, then Lance Sergeant on 24th September 1915.
The Battalion trained on Salisbury Plain before embarking for France on 28th September 1915, being initially based in Armentieres The battalion didn't take part in any significant operations for the rest of 1915, other than ordinary, if uncomfortable, tours of duty in the trenches of the Ploegsteert sector.
James Cundill’s temporary promotion to Sergeant was made permanent on 6th February 1916 whilst based in France.On 12th June 1916, he had a week’s leave in England, returning to France on 19th.
In mid-1916, the battalion prepared for its role in the Somme offensive. They were part of the reserve and did not become involved in the battle until 8th July, when they were tasked with taking the enemy trenches south of Ovillers.
They advanced at 4 a.m. and took the German trenches without much opposition, pushing on as the day progressed into the German 2nd and 3rd lines of trenches. The battalion stayed in the line until the 17th July, when they were relieved and moved back to Senlis for a period of rest. They went back into the line on 31st at Beaumont Hamel, but this was quickly followed by an extended period out of the lines until 27th August.
They were sent back into the line in an area known as the "Leipzig Salient", parts of which the Germans were holding tenaciously.The battalion was detailed to attack a position on the Thiepval Spur, starting at 4 p.m. on the 28th.
Under cover of an intense bombardment, the leading companies went steadily forward in two waves. One company was shattered by a German counter-barrage just before it reached its objective, the CO being killed and all other officers wounded. Another company reached the enemy trenches but was bombed out with heavy casualties. The resistance was too strong and further assaults in this sector were abandoned.
Sgt. Cundill was killed in these attacks. He now rests in LonsdaleCemetery, into which many casualties of this and other smaller assaults were brought in the post-war concentration of cemeteries.
On 16th May 1917, the War Office wrote to the regimental records office at Shrewsbury to say that any personal effects of Sergeant Cundill should be returned to his widow, Elizabeth, who was now living at 16, Bank Street, St. Helens. It’s not clear exactly when she moved from Columbia Road, or if the move was permanent.
The records office also wrote to Mrs. Cundill in September 1919, stating that in order for the Memorial Plaque and Scroll to be delivered to the correct address, she should write to confirm these details, which she did.
On 31st March 1920, Elizabeth, still living at the St. Helens address, wrote to the Army Records Office acknowledging receipt of His Majesty’s letter covering the dispatch of a memorial scroll.
Sergeant Cundill’s medals (the 1914-15 Star, Victory Medal and British War Medal) were issued to Elizabeth on 17th March 1921. By this time, her address was recorded as the Lorne Hotel, 60 Parr Street, St. Helens.
An extract from Sergeant Cundill’s records, showing the details of his re-burial at Lonsdale after the war
The Parish Magazine of 24th September 1918 added to the list of honour a further set of names, including “Sergeant James Cundill of 8thSouth Lancs killed in action 28th April 1916”.
Sergeant Cundill’s Medal Index Card. He first arrived in France on 28th September 1915
Private 3368 Thomas Edgar Rufford CUNDILL
(C) Prescot Reporter
Unit/Regiment
1st/5th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment
Date of Death
07/07/1915
Age at Death
22
Burial/Memorial & Reference
Menin Gate
Panel 37
Census Details
1901 Census:-
The family lived at 4, Mick Road, Ditton and comprised Thomas Cundill, 44, a Street Pavior, his wife Maria, 46, and their seven year old son Thomas.
1911 Census -
51 Moss Street was the home of Thomas Cundill, a 55 year old Pavior with the Urban District Council, his wife of 30 years, Maria, and their 17 year old son Thomas Edgar, a labourer at the Wire Works
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
Birth registered Q4/1893, Prescot, 8b, 681
SDGW – Where Born
St Helens, Lancs
Enlisted
Prescot
Resided
How Died
Killed In Action
Theatre of War
France & Flanders
Notes
Brother of James Cundill
Appears to have served under mother's maiden name of RUFFORD.
Although there is a discrepancy between the parents’ ages in 1901 (as shown here) and 1891 (as shown for James Cundill), they are the same couple.
Research Ref. No.
P071
Service Details
Thomas Cundill arrived in France on 28th June 1915 as part of the reinforcements to the 5th Battalion. At that time, the battalion was in support lines on the Yser.
After 25th May, there were no more serious offensive actions from either side as all parties were exhausted, although the battalion remained in the front line until 1st June. Despite the lack of major offensives, there were constant minor engagements between the two sides as they both sought to gain slightly more favourable positions, but generally speaking, all lines remained intact.
It will have been during this war of trench raids and patrols that Thomas Cundill was killed. His body was never identified and he is remembered on the Menin Gate.
Prescot Reporter 14th September 1917.
Thomas Rufford Cundill’s Medal Index Card. His arrival in France on 28th June 1915 entitled him to the 1914-1915 Star in addition to his British War Medal and Victory Medal
Thomas Cundill’s inscription on the Menin Gate, showing that he served and died under his mother’s maiden name
Anthony CUNNINGHAM
No details have been found of Anthony Cunningham's military sefrvice or of his death, although he is commemorated on the Civic Memorial and also on the Rood Screens inside the Parish Church.
Anthony was born in 1900, the son of James and Margaret Cunningham of 4, Taylors Court, Prescot. James was a Coal Miner. By the time of the 1911 census, the family lived at 4, Houghton Street, Prescot. James (39) and Maggie (37) had been married for 12 years and had children Anthony (11), Elizabeth (9), Frances (7), James (5) and Catherine (3).
Private 8541 John CUNNINGHAM
Unit/Regiment
2nd Bn, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
Date of Death
25/01/1916
Age at Death
Burial/Memorial & Reference
VoiCemetery, Mombasa.
VI B 1
SDGW – Where Born
St. Helens, Lancs
Enlisted
Liverpool
Resided
Prescot, Lancs
How Died
Died
Theatre of War
East Africa
Research Ref. No.
P073
Service Details
Private Cunningham’s citation in the London Gazette
The publication “Twenty Years After”, reported the raid on Tanga as below:-
"From the outset the movements of the expedition were far too dilatory, moreover the German authorities at Dar~es~Salaam had entered into some sort of unofficial agreement with the British by which they undertook not to molest British ships so long as the latter did not fire on any coast town. This arrangement had, so it turned out covered Tanga. Consequently at dawn on November 2nd 1914, HMS Fox, flying a flag of truce, steamed into Tanga to inform the German commissioner that the truce was to end and he was given an hour to haul down his Flag. This not being done by 9.30a.m., it was decided to land. The force disembarked at three points just south of Ras Kone, east of Tanga, Ras Kone and TangaBay. The ground was densely overgrown scrub and maize plantation, over 8 feet high, and rubber plantation.
After wasting most of November 2nd, a greater part of Force "B" was ashore by 16.30 hrs. Advancement was arduous and a protracted action involving 13th & 61st Indian Regiments made it clear that Tanga would not be taken without more troops & some stiff fighting. The sole British Battalion with the force, the 2nd Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, ,then landed, dug some trenches and put out outposts. But it was not until 10.00 a.m. on the 4th that the Force was fully ashore ("The enemy’s resistance disorganised our plans" runs the War Diary}.
von Lettow Vorbeck had all day been reinforcing the Town by way of the Usambara Railway, from around 400 Men and 6 Machine Guns to over 1300 Men & 30 Machine Guns.
The attack restarted around 13.00 Hours on the 4th. The Indian Imperial Service Brigade were on the right; the Loyals, on the right hand side of the left, being the directing unit with the 27th Brigade on the left. No guns were landed by the Imperial forces as it had been decided to fire from aboard HMS Fox.
The British advance proceeded slowly impeded by the assistance of swarms of Wild Bees, that when disturbed proved a more effective assailant than enemy snipers!
By 15.00 hrs the attack started to go the right way for the British and Indian Force, and by 16.00 hrs the 2nd Loyals & 2nd Kashmir Rifles were in Tanga. House to house fighting ensued & the Loyals lost cohesion in their stubbornly contested advance; at 16.30 von Lettow Vorbeck launched his counter attack, having been reinforced further by the Railway, throwing everything he could at the 101st, virtually putting them out of action.
The British attack had been roughly handled but the situation was far from hopeless. Casualties amounted to little more than 800 men. Water however necessitated a fall back to the Hospital Buildings on TangaBay, where under the orders of General Aitken, who was dismayed at the reports reaching him, the whole force was ordered to withdraw to the landing beaches, followed the next day by a complete re-embarkation and return to British East Africa. Thus ending one of the "Most deplorable events of the whole War". To our initial reverse at Tanga must be ascribed the original cause of the remarkable resistance which General von Lettow Vorbeck eventually offered to British Forces in East Africa."
John Cunningham’s Medal Index Card confirming his arrival in Africa on 16th October 1914
