Trafford

Born on the 26th January 1889, the birth being registered during the March
quarter 1890 in the Congleton R.D. - ref: 8a/318, the son of Thomas &
Catherine Mason.

1891 Census - Long Fold, Elton, Cheshire.    Son - aged: 1 - born: Elton,
Cheshire.   Head of household - Thomas Mason - Married - aged: 26 - occ:
Wire Works - born: Moston, Cheshire.    Also - Kate Mason - Wife - aged: 27
- born: Wybunbury, Cheshire.   Plus - 2 elder siblings.

1901 Census - Moss Lane, Elton, Cheshire.   Son - aged: 10 - born: Elton.  
 Head of household - Thomas Mason - Married - aged: 35 - occ: General
Labourer - born: Elton, Cheshire..   Also Catherine Mason - Wife - aged: 36
- born: Wybunbury, Cheshire.    Plus 6 younger siblings.

1911 Census - Broadheath Farm, Atlantic Street, Dunham Massey.    Servant -
aged: 22 - occ Carter on the Farm of John & Amanda Booth - born: Sandbach,
Cheshire.

Married Mary Ethel Smith during the June quarter 1914 in the Bucklow R.D. -
ref: 8a/403.   4 Wright Street was Mary's home - she was listed there in
1911 - aged: 23 - occ: Packer Boot Polish Trade - born: Broadheath.

Listed as a labourer in the local directories.

1939 National Registration - 4 Wright Street, Altrincham.    Thomas Mason -
Married - born: 26th Januray 1889 - occ: Engineer's Slinger Heavy Worker.  
Ethel Mason - Married - born: 12th August 1888 - occ: Unpaid Domestic
Duties.

CWD Ref No. 16 - Buried by Masonry - Body (fully dressed) found at
10.00hrs, 25/10/1941 - Taken to A.B. Brookes & Son's Mortuary, Stamford New
Road, Altrincham - Identified by his sister, Eva Stuart, 85 Stokoe Ave,
Altrincham.

Buried 30/10/1941 - Burial No. 11,106.   Unmarked Grave.

Cemetery records him as being 55 years of age (info probably taken from the
CWD records, which would have been the mortician's estimated age).

The 26/10/1945 edition of the local newspaper states that that his wife's
name was Ethel and she lived at 18 Barlow Rd, Altrincham.

CWGC - Firewatcher; of 4 Wright Street. Husband of M. E. Mason. Died at 4
Wright Street.

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".