Born on the 26th January 1889, the birth being
registered during the March quarter 1890 in the
Congleton R.D. - ref: 8a/318, the son of Thomas &
Catherine Mason.

1891 Census - Long Fold, Elton, Cheshire.    Son -
aged: 1 - born: Elton, Cheshire.   Head of
household - Thomas Mason - Married - aged: 26 -
occ: Wire Works - born: Moston, Cheshire.    Also
- Kate Mason - Wife - aged: 27 - born: Wybunbury,
Cheshire.   Plus - 2 elder siblings.

1901 Census - Moss Lane, Elton, Cheshire.   Son -
aged: 10 - born: Elton.    Head of household -
Thomas Mason - Married - aged: 35 - occ: General
Labourer - born: Elton, Cheshire..   Also
Catherine Mason - Wife - aged: 36 - born:
Wybunbury, Cheshire.    Plus 6 younger siblings.

1911 Census - Broadheath Farm, Atlantic Street,
Dunham Massey.    Servant - aged: 22 - occ Carter
on the Farm of John & Amanda Booth - born:
Sandbach, Cheshire.

Married Mary Ethel Smith during the June quarter
1914 in the Bucklow R.D. - ref: 8a/403.   4 Wright
Street was Mary's home - she was listed there in
1911 - aged: 23 - occ: Packer Boot Polish Trade -
born: Broadheath.

Listed as a labourer in the local directories.

1939 National Registration - 4 Wright Street,
Altrincham.    Thomas Mason - Married - born: 26th
Januray 1889 - occ: Engineer's Slinger Heavy
Worker.   Ethel Mason - Married - born: 12th
August 1888 - occ: Unpaid Domestic Duties.

CWD Ref No. 16 - Buried by Masonry - Body (fully
dressed) found at 10.00hrs, 25/10/1941 - Taken to
A.B. Brookes & Son's Mortuary, Stamford New Road,
Altrincham - Identified by his sister, Eva Stuart,
85 Stokoe Ave, Altrincham.

Buried 30/10/1941 - Burial No. 11,106.   Unmarked
Grave.

Cemetery records him as being 55 years of age
(info probably taken from the CWD records, which
would have been the mortician's estimated age).

The 26/10/1945 edition of the local newspaper
states that that his wife's name was Ethel and she
lived at 18 Barlow Rd, Altrincham.

CWGC - Firewatcher; of 4 Wright Street. Husband of
M. E. Mason. Died at 4 Wright Street.

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.

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