Jospeh & John William Eccles

[Carole]

Wondering if I can get some help to find more about my great uncles. My grandmother made a comment when I was in my teens that she lost 2 of her brothers in WW!. I remember the 2 younger brothers. I have been looking for information for about 2 years with no success until last week when I was looking at the Formby Flicka site where they had photos of the Formby Roll of Honour commemorating 100 years and guess what there they were on it as well as my grandfather Samuel Richard Dickinson. From the information on the roll I have found out that both brothers were in the Kings Liverpool Regiment 7th Battalion. Jospeh's number is 1675 and John William's 1876. I have found a Silver War Badge roll transcription for Jospeh stating he enlisted on 13/03/1913 and was discharged on 25/03/16 as he was no longer fit for service. Nothing for John William. Both brothers lived in Kirklake Road, this is also where my grandparents lived and I remember visiting and staying often as a child. My parents emigrated to Australia in 1958 so I have lived nearly all my life here. Any information on my great uncles would be fantastic. Here's hoping. TIA Carole

PS i am going to be in Formby/Southport the first week in December so will be definetly visiting the Roll of Honour.

[Hilary]

Did the lads survive the war? The roll of honour commemorates all those who served during the war. I found a list of names on the Formby War Memorial but there are no Eccles.

[MaryA]

Wonderful that you found the photographs, what a bonus.

I've had little luck with these two, I wonder if Katie has any mention of them in her database, however, they would mainly have been Liverpool soldiers. I hope there may be more information at Southport, Crosby would be a good place to try also as they hold a lot of archives.

[Hilary]

When you visit the area you should also go visit the Museum of Liverpool. As well as being a fascinating museum there is a whole gallery about the Kings Liverpool.

I am in Crosby Library on Friday doing a help desk. If I have time I will see if they have any further information.

Could you post the years of birth of all the lads and who their parents were as it might help in any search.

And yet another edit!

Samuel was in the Royal Marines his papers are on the National Archives site and you will probably be able to download them for a small fee. He joined up in

[Katie]

The only Joseph Eccles I have is from Warrington.

And the only Eccles from Southport is:-

King's Liverpool Regiment
Eccles
56743
Charles
Private
Southport
22nd September 1917
Killed
(SEE: JOHN CHARLES ECCLES) Son of Mrs. I. Eccles, of 14, Hope St., Southport.
Medal Card details

[Katie]

Joseph was wounded April/May 1915

24th-Aug-1915
7th King's Liverpool Regiment (T.F)
Private
Joseph
1675
Eccles
Wounded-April/May

also

13th-Nov-1916
King's Liverpool Regiment
Private
John
1686
Eccles
Formby
Wounded

Joe D maybe be able to assist more.

[Carole]

Thanks everyone for your help. Joseph Eccles was born in 1896 and John William in 1898. Their parents were John A Eccles and Alice Rimmer. Up until last week I was only able track them in the 1911 census. Time permitting visiting the Liverpool Museum would be great, though at this stage will be spending most of my time in Formby and Southport. Cheers Carole

[Hilary]

I think this is John William's death

June 1959
Southport
Volume 10F
Page 513

And this is Joseph

Dec 1960
Crosby
Volume 10c
Page 97

This in the probate index

Joseph Eccles of Ravensgate Kirklake Road Formby near Liverpool died 17 December 1960 Administration 3 January 1961 to Clifford Edward Eccles Effects £562 10s

[dickiesam]

Re Samuel Richard Dickinson bn 9 March 1897 in Formby, Lancs.

Findmypast have a Record Sheet image for a Samuel Richard Dickinson in the Royal Marines, probably the one from the National Archives that Education Officer referred to. Gives a sister as a next-of-kin with her address.

[MaryA]

Findmypast.com is free for the weekend from Friday lunchtime this week.

[Carole]

Many thanks to all for your assistance. I actually remember my grandmothers two younger brothers, Ernest and Clifford and the addrEss given for probate is my Grandmothers, Ravensgate but don't remember Jospeh. I have a few family photos but only Uncle Ernie and Cliff are present. I will now try and find where both Jospeh and John William served on the war and what their injuries were. Thanks again.
Carole

[Carole]

Once again thanks for your responses to my query regarding Joseph and John. I now know quite a lot more but with this brings more questions as to what happened to them between the war and their deaths. In my previous searches I was unable to locate any marriages for them or children. I have always believed that my mother was the only child born from the 5 children of John Eccles and Alice Rimmer. I have photos of my parents wedding and Ernie and Cliff are there but not Joseph and John.I have looked at the ww1 records in ancestry and find my past and National Archives UK but not able to get any further. Is is possible that my great uncles injuries were severe. Dont know where to look for more info. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks Carole

[Hilary]

I suggest you get the death certificates for both the lads which might give you information about their later years.

Clifford appears to have married so it might be worth seeing if they had children and track those children down.

You could also see if the electoral rolls for Formby still exist and check those. If they do they will be at Crosby Library in the information unit.

The other thing I would suggest would be to look in the local newspaper to see if there are obituaries for them. The most likely would be the Formby Times and again this is at Crosby library.

You mentioned you would be staying with family in the area so how about setting them some research to do for you!

[Carole]

Hi Hilary, thanks for your suggestions shall try and take a visit to Crosby Library, I have looked on the map and not too far from Formby. Also I will definetly order the death certs for my great uncles. Upon looking further I have found the Probate information for John William and he died at the Promenade hospital in Southport and looking further this hospital from WW2 looked after people with spinal and orthopedic injuries. Learning all the time. Thanks Carole

[Hilary]

John W Eccles married Mary Ann W Jones in 1952 in Southport at St Simon and St Jude and All Souls.

Although the Promenade Hospital saw the beginning of what is now the Spinal Unit at Southport I think it dealt with other things as well.

As I now have the dates of death for Joseph and John I will look them up in the Formby Times at the Help Desk in Crosby this morning if I have time.

[Hilary]

I was able to look at the Formby Times and now have reports on both the the men's funerals. If you could PM me with your email address I will send them to you.

[Carole]

Thanks very much Hilary, I have pm you my email address.

[MaryA]

Well done Hilary.

[Hilary]

Reports just pm'd to you. Have fun lots of names in them.

[Carole]

Hi Hilary, Thank you so very much for the death notices for my great uncles, I even get a mention in both of them. I have learnt so much in the last week my head is buzzing. Is the Formby Times on line, or is the only way to access is to go to the library? Once again thank you. I cannot wait to get to Formby next month and spend time looking for more info. What is amazing is that I may have a living relative from this side of the family and would love to get in touch before my visit, will be working on this today. Cheers Carole