Trafford

Born Annie Shaw on the 23rd February 1908, the birth being registered
during the March quarter 1908 in the Northwich R.D. - ref: 8a/250, the
daughter of Joseph & Beatrice May Shaw (nee Wood).   Baptised at St. Mary's
P.C., Weaverham, Cheshire on the 10th May 1908.

1911 Census - Copyhold, Weaverham, Northwich, Cheshire.     Daughter -
aged: 3 - born: Weaverham, Cheshire.   Head of household - Joseph Shaw -
Married - aged: 33 - occ: Boiler Maker - born: Wilderspool, Cheshire.  
Also - Beatrice May Shaw - Wife - aged: 26 - born: Weaverham, Cheshire.  
Plus 2 siblings.

Married Ernest Hough during the March quarter 1935 in the Bucklow R.D. -
ref: 8a/235.

1939 National Registration - 91 Oakfield Road, Altrincham.  Ernest Hough -
Married - born: 6th November 1911 - occ: House Painter & Decorator.   Annie
Hough - Married - born: 23rd February 1908 - occ: Unpaid Domestic Duties.  
Ernest A. Hough - born: 28th September 1935 - occ: Under School Age.  
There is one other person listed, but blanked out under the 100 year rule. 
Presumably this is Annie's other son - David Hough?

Just before 20.30 hrs during the second night of the "Manchester Blitz", a
bomb fell on the corner of Oakfield Road & Moss Lane, Altrincham,
destroying six houses and killing 12 civilians. 

CWD Ref No. 10 - Buried by Masonry - Body (dressed in a frock) found at
1300hrs, 25/12/1940 - Taken to A.B. Brookes & Son's Mortuary, Stamford New
Road, Altrincham - Identified by her husband, Ernest.       Ernest, a
Painter & Decorator by trade, had only been in the Army for 2 weeks at the
time of the bombing.

The 05/03/42 edition of the local newspaper reports of a letter that had
been received by his parents at their home at 27 York St, Altrincham from a
United States Major General John C.H. Lee paying tribute to their son and
the way he was recovering from the tragic loss of his family.    Ernest, by
then in the British 8th Army, had been assigned to help the Major General
at his Army H.Q. both at Tobruk and Tripoli.    

Buried 30/12/1940 - Burial No. 10,773.

Commemorated on the private family (Hough in-laws) gravestone in Hale
Cemetery, which lists her as Nancy.

M.I. - "In Jesus' keeping".

Her two sons, Ernest Alan and David also died in the same incident.

Her husband - Ernest, died 15/11/1966 aged 55 years.  

Although not individually named, Annie 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.