The Accidental Historian - Tony Davies

Whilst looking through my book, The Knutsford Lads Who Never Came Home, I see that during the Great War, the local public house of the area suffered. Several sons were killed in combat during those four and a half years.

Philip Bell was one of nine children who lived at Warren de Tabley Arms in Peover. He became a professional soldier with the Royal Field Artillery. He arrived in France in November 1915. He was wounded on the May 2 1916 and died eight days later.

Raymond Brereton lived at The Plough and Flail in Mobberley, where his mother was the publican. He enlisted in the Northumberland Fusiliers and during heavy action just before the battle of the Somme he was wounded. He died on the June 26 1916.

William Eden was the son of Nancy Eden, the publican of the Bulls Head, Mobberley. He joined the Cheshire Regiment. He died from illness prior to going abroad on the May 5 1916.

George Garft was the son of Harry Garft who ran The Legh Arms, Knutsford. He became an insurance clerk. He joined the Manchester Regiment. He was wounded on the first day of the Battle of the Somme – July 1 1916. He was with a wiring party when he has hit in the arm by machine-gun fire. He was discharged from the arm as a result of the injury but died of pneumonia on November 22 1918.

John Garner was a stable boy at the Royal George Hotel, Knutsford. He joined the Cheshire Regiment before being transferred to the East Lancashire Regiment. He was killed in action on the March 15 1917 on an attack on the German lines.

Sidney Howard was the son of Albert, the publican at The White Bear, Knutsford. He joined the Manchester Regiment and was promoted to Lance Corporal. He died of wounds on the October 26 1917 received during the infamous Battle of Passchendaele.

Ernest Williams lived at The Rose and Crown, Knutsford. There is a picture of him, in a uniform, on the wall today. He enlisted in the Manchester Regiment, and on the May 5 1915 arrived in Gallipoli. He was killed in action just 26 days later. His medals were never claimed and were returned to be broken up.

I have listed some 274 lads from Knutsford and the surrounding area that never returned from that terrible war – and all I can say about all of them is – WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Tony is an author and historian and regularly speaks in schools about WW1.