James Cunnane

Rank:Air Raid Warden
Died:25/10/1941Age:69
How Died:Buried by Masonry
Incident Date:25/10/1941
Incident Address.Huxley Street, Broadheah
Died Address:Huxley Street, Broadheah
C.W.D. No.14
Grave Details:Unmarked
Grave Photo:No
Cemetery or Memorial:Altrincham (Hale) Cemetery
Town Memorial:Not Listed
Extra Information:
Born in Co. Mayo, Ireland on the 7th September
1870.

1891 Census - Russell Street, Altrincham.  Lodger
- Unmarried - aged: 20 - born: Ireland.

He married Mary Morley during the March quarter
1894 in the Altrincham R.D. - ref: 8a/271.

1901 Census - No Trace.

1911 Census - 6 Davenport Road, Altrincham.   
Head of household - Married - aged: 36 - occ: Farm
Labourer - born: Co. Mayo, Ireland.  Also Mary
Cunnane - Wife - aged: 36 - born: Altrincham.  
Plus their four children.

1939 National Registration - 6 Davenport Road,
Altrincham.  James Cunnane - Born on the 7th
September 1870 - Married - No Occupation - Air
Raid Warden.   Mary Cunnane - Born on the 3rd
March 1872 - Married - occ: Unpaid Domestic
Duties.   James Cunnane - Born on the 2nd August
1897 - Single - occ: Invalid.  Michael Cunnane -
Born on the 13th October 1878 - Single - occ: Farm
Labourer. 

Killed by a landmine at Huxley Street,
Broadheath.

CWD Ref No. 14 - Buried by Masonry - Body (fully
dressed) found at 20.45hrs, 25/10/1941 - Taken to
A.B. Brookes & Son's Mortuary, Stamford New Road,
Altrincham - Identified by his son, W.Cunnane, 38
Hillcroft Rd, Altrincham.

Buried 30/10/1941 - Burial No. 11,103.

The grave is unmarked.   Next grave to the left of
M. Doyle's CWGC headstone.

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 - Air Raid Warden; of 6 Davenport Road. Died
at Huxley Street.

District:
Altrincham (Trafford MBC)
Memorials found on:
C.W.G.C.
Similar Names