Trafford

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.