Trafford

Born during the December quarter 1938 in the Bucklow R.D. - ref: 8a/269,
the younger son of Ernest & Annie Hough (nee Shaw).

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. 

Aged 2, he was killed along with his mother and elder brother, in the same
incident at 91 Oakfield Road, Altrincham.   His CWD Ref No. 8 - states that
he was buried by Masonry and that his body was dressed in pyjamas when
eventually found at 13.00 hrs on the 25th December 1940.   His body was
taken to A.B. Brookes & Son's Mortuary, Stamford New Road, Altrincham and
identified by his father, Ernest.    His father was a Painter & Decorator
by trade and 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 paternal grand-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. 10,774.

Commemorated on the private family (paternal grand-parents) gravestone in
Hale Cem.

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

His mother, Annie (Nancy) and his brother, Ernest Alan also died in the
same incident.

His father, Ernest died 15/11/1966 aged 55 years.

Although not individually named, David 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.