Trafford

Born during the March quarter 1887 in the York R.D. - ref: 9d/5, the only
son of Joseph Potts & Rachel Axon (nee Markland).

1891 Census - 51 Bulwer Road West, York.   Son - aged: 4 - born: York.  
Head of household - Joseph P. Axon - Married - aged: 31 - occ: Boot
Repairer - born: Gee Cross, Cheshire.   Also - Rachel Axon - Wife - aged:
32 - born: Accrington, Lancashire.  Plus 1 boarder.

1901 Census - 18 Queens Street, Ashton in Makerfield, Lancashire.   Son -
aged: 14 - occ: Shoemaker's Apprentice - born: York.   Head of household -
Joseph P. Axon - Married - aged: 41 - occ: Shoemaker (employer at home) -
born: Werneth, Cheshire.   Also - Rachel Axon - Wife - aged: 40 - born:
Accrington, Lancashire.  Plus 1 adopted sister.

Married - Alice Furness during the December quarter 1909 in the Bucklow
R.D. - ref: 8a/356.

1911 Census - 20 Sinderland Road, Broadheath.  Head - Married - aged: 24 -
occ: Pattern Maker at Engineers - born: York.   Also Alice Axon - Wife -
aged: 24 - born: Altrincham.   Plus their one month old daughter - Ada
Axon.

Attended St. John's School, Earlstown and employed as a Pattern Maker at
George Richards Engineering Co, Broadheath.    He was a Member of the
Broadheath Weslyan Church.

Enlisted in 1914.    His MIC states that he was awarded the 1915 Star, plus
the BWM & VM.   He was drafted to France on the 27th September 1915.

His mother died in late 1914 - aged: 54 and his father in 1924 - aged: 65.

The 10th Bn Cheshire Rgt started their Somme campaign at Authuille Wood on
the 3rd July and fought throughout that offensive.     Taking it from the
beginning of October - In reserve south of Stuff Redoubt - To Stuff Redoubt
07/10;   Attack cancelled and withdrew to reserve line;   To Stuff Redoubt
again on 09/10 - successful attack on German held north face of redoubt
12.35pm - forward posts established and counter attacks repulsed during the
evening;   Relieved and to reserve line 10/10;   To Crucifix Corner 15/10; 
 Bouzincourt 16/10;   Moved forward to positionds north of Mouquet Farm,
Hessian Trench and Zollern Trench 17/10.

War Diary records all companies working as hard as possible carrying up
materials for forthcoming attack.    Relieved and to reserve line 19/10.

Killed by a casual shell, trench mortar or a sniper perhaps?    Death
reported in the 21/11/1916 edition of the Altrincham Guardian.

Listed in the Guardian Year Book - Roll of Honour for 1917.