Elizabeth Ann Rossitter

Rank:Civilian
Died:10/01/1941Age:74
Incident Date:10/01/1941
Incident Address.11 Holborn Street
Died Address:11 Holborn Street
Grave Details:Z3/37469
Grave Photo:Yes - Marker only
Contemporary Bomb
Site Photo:
Yes
Cemetery or Memorial:Rochdale Cemetery
Town Memorial:Not Listed
Extra Information:
Born as Elizabeth Ann Heywood during the March
quarter 1866 in the Rochdale R.D. - ref: 8e/52,
the daughter of James & Mary Ann Heywood (nee
Richardson).

Her father - James Heywood died during the June
quarter 1870 in the Rochdale R.D. - ref: 8e/48 -
aged: 45.

1871 Census - Moorland Place Shop, Wardleworth,
Rochdale.   Daughter - aged: 5 - born:    Head of
household - Mary A. Heywood - Widow - aged: 29 -
occ: Confectioner - born: Rochdale.   Plus 1
younger sister, 1 maternal aunt and 1 lodger.

Her mother - Mary Ann Heywood married William Wild
during the December quarter 1871 in the Rochdale
R.D. - ref: 8e/65.

1881 Census - 12 Entwistle Street, Castleton,
Rochdale.   [Step-father, mother and baby
half-sister listed as "Wilde" with a 'e'].  
Step-daughter - aged: 15 - occ: Silk Piecer -
born: Rochdale.   Head of household - William
Wilde (Wild actually) - Married - aged: 41 - occ:
Silk Dresser - born: Sowerby, Yorkshire.   Also -
Mary Ann Wilde (Wild) - Wife - aged: 39 - born:
Rochdale.   Plus 1 younger sister and 1 younger
half-sister.

Married William Rossitter during the December
quarter 1888 in the Rochdale R.D. - ref: 8e/97.

1891 Census - 21 Balfe Street, Litherland,
Liverpool. [Family listed as BATTITAR]  Wife -
Aged: 25 - born: Rochdale.  Head of household -
William Rossitter - Married - aged: 27 - occ:
Railway Carriage Inspector - born: Manchester. 
Plus 1 son - James W Rossitter - aged: 1  born:
Seaforth.

1901 Census - 131 Durham Street, Rochdale.   Wife
- aged: 35 - born: Rochdale.    Head of household
- William Rossitter - Married - aged: 37 - occ:
Shopkeeper (Grocer) Own Account - born:
Manchester.    Plus 2 sons - James W. (11) &
Joseph W. (2).

1911 Census - 13 Law Street, Rochdale.   Wife -
aged: 45 - occ: Shopkeeper (Greengrocer) Own
Account - born: Rochdale.   Head of household -
William Rossitter - Married - aged: 47 - occ:
Brake Fitter for Rochdale Corporation's Tram
Department - born: Manchester.  Plus 1 son and 1
grandson.

Elizabeth's husband - William Rossitter, died
during the September quarter 1936 in the Rochdale
R.D. - ref: 8e/45, aged: 72.

1939 National Registration.  11 Holborn Street,
Rochdale.   Elizabeth A. Rossiter - Widowed - born
on the 19th December 1865 - occ: Unpaid Domestic
Duties.

The "Alert" sounded at 19.30 hrs on the 9th
January 1941.   At 00.10 hrs on the 10th, German
aircraft dropped two H.E. bombs that fell within a
hundred yards of each other, one fell in
Manchester Road, the other at the rear of her
house at No. 11 Holborn Street, both in the Sudden
District of Rochdale.   Elizabeth had been sitting
by her kitchen fire when the bomb fell and it took
the rescue squad several hours of searching before
they located her body in the wreckage of her
almost totally demolished house - only the remains
of her roof was still hanging supported by the
houses either side, the rest had gone.    Six
other people in nearby houses required hospital
treatment and twenty-four more received minor
injuries that were dealt with at a First Aid
Depot.   Houses on both sides of Holborn Street,
between Cheltenham Street and Sandon Street had
all their windows blown out.  Not a single door or
window remained in the block of property between
Napier Street and Bentfield Place, practically
opposite where the bomb exploded.  Most of their
roofs had gone as well.   Westminster Street,
Finsbury Street, Mayfair Gardens, Brimrod School
and Manchester Road were also badly affected.  In
total 353 houses and shops were damaged with
twenty being classed a demolished.  The old
Coliseum Cinema was requisitioned for the storing
of all the household furniture from these damaged
dwellings.   one old lady who was being treated in
a First Aid Post was very worried because she had
left a bag containing £70 in her house.  First
Aid personnel and the police went to her house and
after digging for sometime, found the money
intact.

Death registered during the March quarter 1941 in
the Rochdale R.D. - ref: 8e/45 - aged: 74.

Commemorated on the 1939-1945 War Memorial in St.
Aidan's P.C. Sudden, Rochdale.  I am grateful to
Ina Penneyston and St. Aidan's Church for their
help and photographs of their war memorial.

CWGC - of 11 Holborn Street. Widow of William
Rossitter. Died at 11 Holborn Street.

District:
Rochdale (Rochdale MBC)
Memorials found on:
C.W.G.C.
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