Wigan Album
War Related Items
5 Comments
Photo: Rev David Long
Item #: 18913
He was buried on May 18th 1922 with full military honours. An escort and firing party came from from the 5th Manchesters,a party from the 5th Bn. Loyal North Lancs Regt. attended, and members of the Wigan & the Ince branches of the Comrades of the Great War paraded behind the band, and flags flown at half-mast at St Mary's Church and School.
A service was conducted by the Vicar of St Mary's, the Revd. Samuel Bryson, before the graveside ceremonies.
Eric McPherson came across the details during his researches in the Wigan Observer of the period, and Freda Chorlton's work on Ince Cemetery Records enabled me to locate the grave.
Very interesting story David
Congratulations to all three, the Rev. David Long, Eric McPherson and last but by no means least Freda Chorlton - a great combination of teamwork to keep aspects of Wigan's history alive.
Checking Freda's information against what is inscribed on the headstone throws up discrepancies. Martha is recorded as having been buried over a fortnight before her death; there is no Ellen, but there is a Nellie, who was buried over 6 months before her death, and was only 6; and Richard was aged 51, rather than 52, when he died. I expect someone with the BMD records could resolve the issue - which might simply have arisen from the stone having been erected (perhaps with US Army money) in 1922, and family recollections were hazy. The death of the mother, Nancy, is recorded on the back of the stone. She died aged 75 in 1936.
Martha Walker died 23 JUNE 1896 and was buried 11 JULY 1896.
Nellie Morgan died Jan-Mar 1905 aged 6 ( BMD & Cem. Records)
Richard Morgan died age 51 ( BMD & Cem. Records )
Pte David Morgan died 1818 - buried 18 May 1922
So burial details recorded at time of deaths are likely to be more correct than the headstone.
Sorry, Pte David Morgan died 1918 !!!!!