June Edwina Fairbank

Rank:Civilian
Died:23/12/1940Age:11
How Died:Falling Masonry
Incident Date:23/12/1940
Incident Address.89 Oakfield Road
Died Address:89 Oakfield Road
C.W.D. No.3
Grave Details:B/211
Grave Photo:Yes
Cemetery or Memorial:Altrincham (Hale) Cemetery
Town Memorial:Not Listed
Extra Information:
Born on the 2nd June 1929, the birth being
registered during the June quarter 1929 in the
Bucklow R.D. - ref: 8a/250, the daughter of Ronald
Marshall & Florence Eva Fairbank (nee Jenyons).

1939 National Registration - 56 The Avenue,
Hornchurch, Essex.   Ronald M. Fairbank - Married
- born: 27th September 1901 - occ: Fitter at Motor
Works.     Florence Fairbank - Married - born:
15th November 1903 - occ: Unpaid Domestic Duties. 
 June E. Fairbank - Single - born: 2nd June 1929 -
occ: At School.

At around 02.00 hrs on the first night of the
"Manchester Blitz" (22nd/23rd December 1940), an
H.E. bomb landed at the entrance of Stamford Park,
corner of Charter Road and Mayors Road.    The
blast from the bomb severely damaged the corner
shop and houses opposite, including the residence
of the Edwin and Maud Jenyons.   Their daughter -
Florence Eva Fairbank, aged: 37 and her daughter -
(their grand-daughter) June Edwina Fairbank, aged:
11, were staying with them over the Christmas
holidays period.   In view of their situation,
their friend - Mrs. Annie Clark, 89 Oakfield
Street, kindly offered to temporarily put them up
at her house.

Just before 20.30 hrs during the second night of
the "Manchester Blitz" (23rd/24th December 1940),
a bomb fell on the corner of Oakfield Road & Moss
Lane, Altrincham, destroying six houses and
killing 12 civilians.     Edwin, his daughter and
grand-daughter, along with Mrs. Annie Clark were
all killed at No. 89 Oakfield Street.

Again the ARP Rescue Services had to dig in the
rubble to locate Annie.    Her CWD Ref No.3 -
states that she was buried by masonry and that her
body was dressed in a frock when found at 06.00
hrs on the 24th December 1940.  Her body was taken
to A.B. Brookes & Son's Mortuary, Stamford New
Road, Altrincham and identified by - F.W. Evans,
24 Woodhouse Lane, Ashton on Mersey.     Buried
with her mother and grand-father in Altrincham
(Hale) Cemetery.    Buried 30/12/1940 - Burial No.
10,771.

Lord Stamford wrote in his diary that "One little
girl, who was dead, had her arm round a dog which
was alive, although two of its legs were broken".

Commemorated on the private family gravestone in
Hale Cem.

Her grand-father, Edwin Jenyons and her mother,
Florence Eva Fairbank, were also killed in the
same incident.  Her grand-mother - Maud Jenyons,
having survived two explosions, eventually died
23/01/1970 aged 85 years.

See also the Jenyons' record.

Although not individually named, June is one of
the 12 local residents killed at this site and
around the corner on Moss Lane who are
commemorated in the Memorial Garden on the corner
of Moss Lane and Oakfield Road.

On Friday 23rd December 2011 a group of local
residents, relatives of the victims and civic
dignitaries attended a wreath laying ceremony at
the memorial garden on Oakfield Road, Altrincham,
to the 12 civilians that died when a German bomb
landed at this site at about 8.30 pm 71 years ago
to the day.

The Sale & Altrincham Messenger sent a
photographer and a short report of the ceremony
appeared in the 5th January 2012 edition of their
newspaper.    The Hale, Sale & Altrincham
Independent Newspaper also reported the event in
their January 2012 edition.

As the articles attracted such interesting
feedback from relatives of victims and those
involved in their recovery, the Messenger's Chief
Reporter Chris Griffin,  researched the event
further and wrote a number of excellent articles
about it and the families involved.   He also
reported about the recent demolition of the nearby
Bridge Inn public house where one of the victims
was raised.    The articles were dated 12th
January, 26th January, 2nd February, 16th
February, 1st March and the 15th March 2012.  
Chris was able to obtain much unknown information
and personal photographs of a number of the
victims from their families.

Six houses were demolished in this incident - Nos.
83, 85, 97, 98 & 91 Oakfield Road, plus the first
house on Moss Lane.    No.43 Moss Lane was
situated immediately behind No. 91 Oakfield Road. 
These two dwellings suffered the greatest amount
of damage and was obviously the point where the
bomb struck.   The bodies from these two houses
were the last to be recovered at 1.0 pm on
Christmas Day.    The land where Nos. 83 to 91
Oakfield Road was sited is now the site of the
Memorial Garden and a builders merchants now
occupies the site of No. 43 Moss Lane.


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