Trafford

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.

For more information of this raid - see GMBV website - "Altrincham Raid -
October 1940" under "Memorials".