Born on the 27th February 1883, the birth being
registered during the June quarter 1883 in the
Altrincham R.D. - ref: 8a/211, the eldest son of
Samuel & Emily Toft (nee Swan).

1891 Census - Rostherne Village, Rostherne,
Cheshire.     Son - aged: 8 - Scholar - born:
Rostherne.   Head of household - Samuel Toft -
Married - aged: 39 - occ: Agricultural Labourer -
born: Marthall, Cheshire.    Also - Emily Toft -
Wife - aged: 29 - born: Mere, Cheshire.   Plus 3
siblings and 2 uncles.

1901 Census - Cicely Mill Cottages, Rostherne,
Cheshire.     Son - aged: 18 - occ: Carriage
Cleaner on Railway - born: Rostherne.    Head of
household - Samuel Toft - Married - aged: 49 -
occ: Farm Labourer - born: Marthall, Cheshire.   
Also - Emily Toft - Wife - aged: 39 - born:
Rostherne,   Plus 6 siblings.

Married Annie Powell during the March quarter 1911
in the Bucklow R.D. - ref: 8a/267.

1911 Census - 78 Ella Grove, Mobberley Road,
Knutsford.    Head - Married - aged: 28 - occ:
Assist Advertising Inspector - born: Rostherne,
Cheshire.    Also - Annie Toft - Wife - aged: 28 -
born: Oswestry, Shropshire.

1939 National Registration - 22 Huxley Street,
Altrincham.  John Toft - Married - born: 27th
February 1883 - occ: Labourer at Machine Tools.  
Queenie Toft - Married - born: 19th April 1881 -
occ: Unpaid Domestic Duties.   Norman Toft -
Single - born: 6th August 1913 - occ: Milling
Engineer.

Listed as a labourer in the local directories.

CWD Ref No. 17 - Buried by Masonry - Body (fully
dressed) found at 20.45hrs, 25/10/1941 - Taken to
to A.B. Brookes & Son's Mortuary,, Stamford New
Road, Altrincham - Identified by his brother,
William Toft, 32 Grove Lane, Hale.

Buried 29/10/1941 - Burial No. 11,100.

His wife, Annie Elizabeth died 17/02/1957 aged 74
years.

German Bombing Raid on Altrincham on the night of
the 25th/26th October 1941

This raid comprised a high level attack on the
Broadheath area of Altrincham in which 8 aircraft
took part, flying at a height of 13,000 ft. The
raiders were heading in the direction of north
Wales and most stayed over the Liverpool area.

Red Warning was given at 20.35 hrs.   White
Warning at 22.15 hrs.   There was no Barrage
Balloon cover at the time, but the local Ack-Ack
Battery was deployed.

Wind speed at 15,000 ft: 30 ft per second.  At
20,000 ft: 34 ft per second.   Visibility was 4 to
5 miles.  Cloud base was between 5,000-10,000 ft. 
  Cloud density: 8/10th.

Two Parachute Mines fell simultaneously, causing
damage to 11 factories, a railway station, a
school and some shops.  Nine houses were totally
destroyed and 655 others sustained varying degrees
of damage.

Bombs landed 2,725 ft and 3,290 ft away from a 40
person 35 ft x 10 ft x 6 ft high steel "Anderson"
style shelter where 24 persons were taking cover. 
 There were no casualties at this shelter.

There were two domestic "Anderson" shelters some
40 ft away from No.1 crater, but were not affected
by the mines.

The destroyed houses were "old" cottage style
houses converted into shops, approximately 50
years old.  The area of damage was half a mile
radius.    Several small fires developed.

CWGC - of 22 Huxley Street, Broadheath. Husband of
Annie Toft.    Died at 22 Huxley Street.CWGC - of
22 Huxley Street, Broadheath. Husband of Annie
Toft.    Died at 22 Huxley Street.

For more information of this raid - see GMBV
website - "Altrincham Raid - October 1940" under
"Memorials".