Trafford

Born during the December quarter 1883 in the Chorlton R.D. - ref: 8c/648,
the son of Albert & Alice Mottershead (nee Gleave).

Employed as a Salesman with Messrs. Brundrett (Florists), Withington &
Smithfield Market.   He married - Alice Eastwood during the December
quarter 1909 in the Manchester R.D. - ref: 8d/313.

1891 Census Return - 35 Wellington Street, Upton-cum-Chalvey, Slough,
Buckinghamshire.   Son - aged: 7 - born: Didsbury, Manchester.    Head of
household - Albert Mottershead - Widower - aged: 34 - Gardener Domestic
Servant - born: Didsbury, Manchester.   Plus 1 sibling and 1 cousin.

1901 Census Return - Old Hall Road, Sale.   Son - Unmarried - aged: 17 -
occ: Market Gardener - born: Didsbury, Manchester.    Head of household -
Albert Mottershead - Married - aged: 44 - Nursery Foreman - born: Didsbury,
Manchester.    Also - Lucy Mottershead - Wife - aged: 41 - born: Doncaster,
Yorkshire.   Plus 6 siblings.

1911 Census Return - 13 Thomson Grove, Chorlton on Medlock, Manchester.  
Head - Married - aged: 27 - occ: Market Salesman in Market Gardens - born:
Didsbury, Manchester.  Also - Alice Mottershead - Wife - aged: 26 - occ:
Shirtmakers Machinist - born: Manchester.

He was a Lewis Gunner with the Manchester Rgt.   Killed during the
Anglo-French advance astride the Ypres to Staden Railway on a 2½ mile
front.    200 German POWs were captured from the south end of Houlthulst
Forest.

Pension Records - Widow - Alice Mottershead, 20 Needham Street, Longsight,
Manchester.   Awarded a £5 grant on the 24th November 1917 and a weekly
pension of 13/9d w.e.f. the 20th May 1018 which was increased to 20/- 
w.e.f. the 3rd September 1919.

His half brother - Stanley Saul Motttershead also died on active service.  
Another half brother - Charles Saul Mottershead was serving with the School
of Technical Training Royal Flying Corps.   The CWGC records state that his
father was living at Stock Lane, Hough, Crewe - presumably after 1920. 

The RoH in the 16/11/1917 edition of the local newspaper reports that he
lived at  13 James St, Sale Moor and that he was 29 years of age.   The
report of his death in the same edition states that he was 34 years of age
and that his father was employed as a Gardener.

His eldest half brother - George Saul Mottershead married Elizabeth
Atkinson, a girl from Westmorland.  George was well known physical culture
teacher, served in France with the South Lancashire Rgt.  He was badly
wounded on 15/10/1916 during the Battle of the Somme and spent some
considerable time in the Highfield Military Hospital, Knotty Ash.   He was
told by doctors that he would be paralised for life, but to the
astonishment of the doctors, he managed to walk again within three years.  
He was eventually released from military service as being unfit for duty. 


His father - Albert Mottershead was a well known horticulturalist and
orchid grower.   Albert often took his three sons - Albert, Stanley &
Charlie, plus his dauhgter - Norah, to the Belle Vue Zoo, Manchester.  
Although George always enjoyed the visits, he didn't like the way many of
the animals were exhibited behind bars and vowed that when he grew up he
would create a zoo "without bars".    In 1919 on the advice of his doctor,
George, his wife and baby daughter, Muriel moved to Shavington, near Crewe.
 Here they started a market garden and bought a shop which as well as
having produce from the market garden, sold pet birds.  This allowed him to
indulge in collecting rare birds and the beginning of the Oakfield Zoo at
Shevington.   He soon added a chimp and some rare monkeys that attracted
large numbers visitors each paying to see the animals.  George went on to
found the Chester Zoo which opened its doors on the 10th June 1931.