Trafford

Born during the June quarter 1883 in the Altrincham R.D. - ref: 8a/211, the
eldest son of Samuel & Emily Toft (nee Swan).

1891 Census - Rostherne Village, Rostherne, Cheshire.     Son - aged: 8 -
Scholar - born: Rostherne.   Head of household - Samuel Toft - Married -
aged: 39 - occ: Agricultural Labourer - born: Marthall, Cheshire.    Also -
Emily Toft - Wife - aged: 29 - born: Mere, Cheshire.   Plus 3 siblings and
2 uncles.

1901 Census - Cicely Mill Cottages, Rostherne, Cheshire.     Son - aged: 18
- occ: Carriage Cleaner on Railway - born: Rostherne.    Head of household
- Samuel Toft - Married - aged: 49 - occ: Farm Labourer - born: Marthall,
Cheshire.    Also - Emily Toft - Wife - aged: 39 - born: Rostherne,   Plus
6 siblings.

Married Annie Powell during the March quarter 1911 in the Bucklow R.D. -
ref: 8a/267.

1911 Census - 78 Ella Grove, Mobberley Road, Knutsford.    Head - Married -
aged: 28 - occ: Assist Advertising Inspector - born: Rostherne, Cheshire.  
 Also - Annie Toft - Wife - aged: 28 - born: Oswestry, Shropshire.

1939 National Registration - 22 Huxley Street, Altrincham.  John Toft -
Married - born: 27th February 1883 - occ: Labourer at Machine Tools.  
Queenie Toft - Married - born: 19th April 1881 - occ: Unpaid Domestic
Duties.   Norman Toft - Single - born: 6th August 1913 - occ: Milling
Engineer.

Listed as a labourer in the local directories.

CWD Ref No. 17 - Buried by Masonry - Body (fully dressed) found at
20.45hrs, 25/10/1941 - Taken to to A.B. Brookes & Son's Mortuary,, Stamford
New Road, Altrincham - Identified by his brother, William Toft, 32 Grove
Lane, Hale.

Buried 29/10/1941 - Burial No. 11,100.

His wife, Annie Elizabeth died 17/02/1957 aged 74 years.

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.

CWGC - of 22 Huxley Street, Broadheath. Husband of Annie Toft.    Died at
22 Huxley Street.CWGC - of 22 Huxley Street, Broadheath. Husband of Annie
Toft.    Died at 22 Huxley Street.

For more information of this raid - see GMBV website - "Altrincham Raid -
October 1940" under "Memorials".