Trafford

Born on the 28th January 1892, the birth being registered during the March
quarter 1892 (5th March) in the Altrincham R.D. - ref:8a/177, the fifth son
of William & Annie Sumner (nee Harrison).  Along with three of his
siblings, he was Baptised at St. Mary's P.C. Ringway on the 9th December
1900, another sibling was baptised there on the 9th September 1900.  His
father's occupation given as a Labourer.   There were two Sumner families
in the Village - William & Anne and John & Alice.

1901 Census - Tile Yard Cottage, Davenport Green, Ringway, Cheshire.    Son
- aged: 9 - born: Ringway.    Head of household - William Sumner - Married
- aged:45 - occ: Estate Jobbing Labourer - born: Hey Head, Cheshire.  Also
- Ann Sumner - Wife - aged; 41 - born: Gatley, Cheshire.   Plus 4 brothers
& 1 sister.

In 1902, his mother - Mrs. Anne Sumner subscribed to "The Hignet Memorial".
 The East Window and Choir Stalls were erected by subscription in 1902 in
memory of Mrs. Constance Hignett, the wife of the Revd. Harry Alfred
Hignett M.A., Vicar of Ringway for her many years of self-sacrificing
labours to the well being of the Parish of Ringway.   See under "Altrincham
Memorials".

1911 Census - Hall Lane, Partington.    Boarder - aged: 20 - occ: General
Labourer - born: Ringway, Cheshire.   Head of household - Jane Plant -
Widow - aged: 75 - born: Hopshort, Shropshire.   Also 3 of Jane's nephews.

He was employed at the Millbank Corn Mill at Partington, but by the time of
his enlistment he was working at Eastland Farm, Warburton.

R.I.R's War Diary - Spent the 5th to the 8th May 1915 in billets at Bac.
St. Maur.   At 23.00 hrs on the 8th the Bn marched to the assembly trenches
at La Cordonnerie Farm, arriving at 02.00 hrs on the 9th in preparation to
an attack on German Trenches at Rouge Bancs, the objective being Fromelles.
  Once the British Barrage terminated at 05.40 hrs, 'C' & 'A' Companies
advanced in lines of platoons onto the German Trenches.  'A' & 'B'
Companies followed up behind in the same formation and were subjected to
heavy machine gun and rifle fire obliquely from both flanks and suffered
many casualties..   The Bn was unable to achieve their objective and by
07.00 hrs they were beaten back or killed or wounded, losing all their
officers.   A completely failed offensive.  The R.S.M. brought the
survivors together and they stayed in position until daybreak on the 10th
when they returned to their billets at Bac St. Maur.

The Diary records that 10 officers were KiA, 2 DoW, 4 were missing, plus 7
wounded.    Other ranks - 44 killed, 203 missing, plus 207 wounded, a total
of 477 casualties.   However, SDGW lists 182 R.I.R other ranks that were
killed that day, one of whom was Harry, who was killed between 05.40 hrs
and 06.00 hrs on the 9th.

This offensive failed in part because the plan was for the R.I.R.  British
against the Germans was fatally flawed as the plan was for them to be
covered on their left flank as they advanced by another regiment (the 13th
London Brigade); but the 13th London Brigade could not move forward to
provide the required cover because the Germans had planted mines in their
path.  The advancing Royal Irish Rifles had little chance against a barrage
of German machine guns.

MIC - Posted to France on the 18th March 1915.

Nantwich Guardian dated the 2nd June 1916  - In Memoriam - Private Harry
Sumner killed at the front on the 9th May 1915, son of William Sumner,
Davenport Green, Ringway aged: 24.  "A Brave Soldier Sadly Missed".   Also
commemorated in the 10th May 1918 edition of the Nantwich Guardian.

CWGC - "Son of William & Ann Sumner of Davenport Green, Ringway,
Altrincham".   Although Harry is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial
which is in Belgium, it is only just inside Belgium and I am informed by
Harry's great-nephew that he was killed at a place called Rouges Bancs,
near Fromelles, France.

Hale Barns was part of the Parish of Ringway.    Nothing much is now left
of Ringway; the "Romper" public house, the old church now privately used as
offices and a couple of dwellings; the village has been largely swallowed
up by the Manchester (Ringway) Airport.

Ringway is just over the Trafford/Manchester border, but when requested by
Hale to join with them on the Hale War Memorial, the people of Hale Barns
decided to throw their lot in with the village of Ringway, hence the Hale
Barns Cenotaph is labelled as being for the fallen of Ringway & Hale Barns.
  The Hale Barns Church now being known as All Saints & St. Mary's P.C.

As well as being commemorated on the Hale Barns Town Memorial, he is also
commemorated on the Warburton Village War Memorial situated in the grounds
of St. Werburgh's P.C. Warburton.

Pension Records - No Trace.

I am most grateful to Geoff Sumner for his contribution to some of the
above information.