Trafford

Born at Salford the latter end of 1905; the birth being registered during
the March quarter 1906 in the Salford R.D. - ref: 8d/136, the only son of
Gilbert Johnson & Gertrude Richards (nee Hadskis).  Baptised at the Stowel
Memorial Church, Salford on the 7th January 1906.

1911 Census - 16 Cedric Street, Pendleton Lancashire.   Son - aged: 5 -
born: Lancashire.   Head of household - Gilbert Johnson - Married - aged:
34 - occ: Clerk  at Steam Elevator Docks - born: Plymouth, Devon.    Also -
Gertrude Richards - Wife - aged: 29 - born: Manchester.

Married - Mabel Mary Phillips during the June quarter 1936 in the Bucklow
R.D. - ref: 8a/485 and resided at 46 Walton Road, Sale.

1939 National Registration - 8 Hayling Road, Sale.   This was the residence
of Gilbert's in-laws.     Ernest D. Phillips - Married - born on the 17th
September 1876 - occ: Consulting Engineer.   Annie E. Phillips - Married -
born on the 10th January 1878 - occ: Unpaid Domestic Duties.   Mabel M.
Richards - Married - born on the 21st November 1908 - occ: Unpaid Domestic
Duties.  There was one redacted record at this address - this would have
been Gilbert & Mabel's son - also called Gilbert A. Richards born in the
summer of 1937.   Gilbert was missing from the National Registration
records, so must have already been in the Army at that time.

Gilbert landed in Normandy, France on the 24th June 1944, part of
"Operation Epsom"  He was initially buried in a battlefield cemetery at
Putout-en- Bassin, buried in the Bayeux Cemetery in March 1945.

Served in the RA before the war in the Territorials with F.C. Harte (who
also died on active service).   They were both in a Light Ack-Ack Unit.

He left a widow, a 7 year old son and a 4 year old daughter.

His wife also lost her brother - Harold Phillips during WW2.  Harold is
also commemorated on this website under "Sale WW2".

His parents eventually moved to Blackpool.