Edwin Jenyons

Rank:Air Raid Warden
Died:23/12/1940Age:60
How Died:Falling Masonry
Incident Date:23/12/1940
Incident Address.89 Oakfield Road
Died Address:89 Oakfield Road
C.W.D. No.6
Grave Details:B/211
Grave Photo:Yes
Cemetery or Memorial:Altrincham (Hale) Cemetery
Town Memorial:Not Listed
Extra Information:
Born at Bowdon in 1880, the son of James &
Catherine Jenyons (nee Jones).   Baptised at St.
Mary's P.C., Bowdon on the 19th January 1881.

1881 Census - 6 Vale Cottages, Bowdon.    Son -
aged: 10 months - born: Bowdon.    Head of
household - James Jenyons - Married - aged: 27 -
occ: Stone Mason - born: Manchester.     Also -
Catherine Jenyons - Wife - aged: 27 - born:
Weaverham, Cheshire.  Plus 2 elder sisters.

His father - James, died in 1885, aged: 32.

1891 Census - Vicarage Lane, Bowdon.  Son - aged:
10 - Scholar - born: Bowdon.   Head of household -
Catherine Jenyons - Widow - aged: 37 - occ:
Charwoman - born: Weaverham.   Plus 5 siblings,
his paternal grand-mother and a cousin.

1901 Census - Brunswick Terrace, Victoria Road,
Hale.   Son - Unmarried - aged: 20 - occ: Mechanic
(iron) - born: Altrincham.    Head of household -
his mother Catherine married John Goulden in 1898,
though her new husband was not at home on census
night - Catherine Goulden - Married - aged: 47 -
born: Weaverham, Cheshire.    Plus 4 siblings and
3 boarders.

Married Maud Spilsbury during the June quarter
1903 in the Bucklow R.D. - ref: 8a/331.

1911 Census - 14 Charter Road,  Altrincham.    
Son - Married - aged: 30 - occ: Machinist Matrix
Stamping - born: Bowdon.    Head of household -
his mother Catherine has now been widowed for a
second time - Catherine Jenyons - Widow - aged: 57
- born: Weaverham, Cheshire.  Plus 1 younger
brother and his paternal grand-mother.   No trace
of Maud anywhere else, nor their daughter -
Florence, born 1903.

1939 National Registration - 14 Charter Road,
Altrincham.  Edwin Jenyons - Married - born: 18th
May 1880 - occ: Assistant Foreman Matrix Linotype
and A.R.P. Warden.  Maud Jenyons - Married - born:
26th December 1884 - occ: Unpaid Domestic Duties.

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.

Aged 60, Edwin was serving as an Air Raid Warden
when he was killed in the Oakfield Road Incident. 
Again the ARP Rescue Services had to dig in the
rubble to locate Edwin.     His CWD Ref No.6 -
states that he was buried by masonry and that his
body was fully clothed and in possession of
whistles, torch, A.R.P. badge and cycle clips when
found at 06.00 hrs on the 24th December 1940.  
His body was taken to A.B. Brookes & Son's
Mortuary, Stamford New Road, Altrincham where it
was identified by F.W. Evans, 24 Woodhouse Lane,
Ashton on Mersey.   Buried with his daughter and
grand-daughter in Altrincham (Hale) Cemetery.  
Buried 30/12/1940 - Burial No. 10,772.

His wife - Maud, having survived both explosions,
eventually died on 23/01/1970 aged 85 years.

See also the Fairbank family records.

Although not individually named, Edwin 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.

CWGC - Air Raid Warden. Husband of Maud Jenyons,
of 14 Charter Road. Died at Oakfield Road.

Probate Record - Edwin Jenyons of 14 Charter Road,
Altrincham was killed through war operations on
the 23rd December 1940 at Oakfield Road,
Altrincham.   Administration granted to Maud
Jenyons (Widow).   His Estate was valued at £178.
15s 8d.
District:
Altrincham (Trafford MBC)
Memorials found on:
C.W.G.C.
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