John Roberts - WW2 Civilian Casualty - Died 12th March 1941

Post by **Englandphil** » 31 Dec 2010 12:32

Out of the 20+ Civilian Casualties of WW2 who had associations with Widnes, I have identified the burial location of all but 2. One of these is the casualty listed below.

The CWGC record states that he lived at 175 Pitt Lane, but having received a copy of his death certificate his address was listed as the Old Sailors Home, Liverpool.

With Help from a number of people, I can confirm that he is not buried at any of the following Cemeteries

Wallasey Rake Lane
Widnes
Anfield

Does anyone have any other idea's as to how to trace a burial location

Name: ROBERTS, JOHN
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Civilian
Regiment/Service: Civilian War Dead
Age: 55
Date of Death: 12/03/1941
Additional information: of 175 Pit Lane, Birchfield Road, Widnes, Lancashire. Died at City Line Sheds, Dock Road.
Casualty Type: Civilian War Dead
Reporting Authority: WALLASEY, COUNTY BOROUGH

Post by **MaryA** » 31 Dec 2010 12:57

We have tried to put together a few suggestions, many of them on this thread http://liverpool-genealogy.org.uk/phpBB ... php?t=5739 although you aren't going to find the entry online since it is too recent.

If his religion was RC then the place to try is the combined microfiche for Yewtree, Ford and Ainsdale, held at the Record Office.

Alternatively if you make a request to Allerton Cemetery Lodge http://www.liverpool.gov.uk/Community_a ... /index.asp

Information here http://liverpool-ancestors.co.uk/lookingforgrave.htm about looking for a grave, although the suggestion is that you contact Allerton Cemetery Lodge, you may well be told that the fee is £10 per cemetery per year. You might just touch lucky with having the exact date and if you get a friendly assistant hopefully you will get away with it.

Post by **Katie** » 31 Dec 2010 13:03

Hi Phil

So many the the blitz victim where buried in a mass grave at Anfield they held a big open air service and the majority of these were recorded in the registers as unknown. His death was registered in Wallasey so he must be recorded in his name.

He could be buried at Allerton or Toxteth or he could have been cremated.

Post by **daggers** » 31 Dec 2010 13:16

I have looked in the privately-run Allerton cemetery info website which has some [but by no means all] transcriptions from headstones, but John Roberts is not among them.
<http://freepages.misc.rootsweb.ancestry ... ml#wardead>

D

Post by **Katie** » 31 Dec 2010 13:25

He doesn't appear to be in Toxteth Park either

have you looked to see if a obituary was published in the local paper

Post by **Englandphil** » 02 Jan 2011 12:44

Thanks to all that responded. I do plan to search through the local newspaper archives on a future visit to the Library.

Thanks once again

Phil

Post by **Hilary** » 02 Jan 2011 15:52

As the gentleman apparently died in Wallasey how about St Hilary's church? I'm fairly certain that the Wallasey Group of the Cheshire FHS has done the memorial inscriptions of the graveyard and perhaps there is a copy in Wallasey library.

Hilary
Ed Officer

Post by **Englandphil** » 03 Jan 2011 09:34

Name: ROBERTS, JOHN
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Civilian
Regiment/Service: Civilian War Dead
Age: 55
Date of Death: 12/03/1941
Additional information: of 175 Pit Lane, Birchfield Road, Widnes, Lancashire. Died at City Line Sheds, Dock Road.
Casualty Type: Civilian War Dead
Reporting Authority: WALLASEY, COUNTY BOROUGH

The interesting development is that Pitt Lane does not go as High as 175, so it is possible that the address was 175 Birchfield Road which does exist. (Pitt Lane is off Birchfield Road)

I think this is one for the Electoral role to see if he actually lived there and then the Widnes Weekly News Archives

P

Post by **Hilary** » 03 Jan 2011 10:10

I have a book called Wallasey at War by the Wallasey History Society. It lists all the civilian war dead (1940 - 1941) including your John Roberts. He was one of 5 killed at the City Line Sheds Seacombe that night, he was the youngest the others being 73, 68, 67 and 61. You said his addres was the Seaman's home Liverpool - there is a large seaman's home in Wallasey.

As I said above I would try St Hilary's it's C of E.

Hilary
Ed Officer

Post by **Englandphil** » 03 Jan 2011 18:22

Education Officer wrote:I have a book called Wallasey at War by the Wallasey History Society. It lists all the civilian war dead (1940 - 1941) including your John Roberts. He was one of 5 killed at the City Line Sheds Seacombe that night, he was the youngest the others being 73, 68, 67 and 61. You said his addres was the Seaman's home Liverpool - there is a large seaman's home in Wallasey.

As I said above I would try St Hilary's it's C of E.

Hilary
Ed Officer

Thanks Hilary, the death Cert says 'Old Sailors Home, Liverpool UD'.

Ill see if I can find anything from St Hilarys

Phil