Trafford

Born during the June quarter 1921 in the Bucklow R.D. - ref: 8a/339, the
son of Harry & Florence Margaret Moss (nee Randell or Randle).

He had served in Burma for 4 years with the 14th Army and not received a
scratch.

He had been employed as an ammunition loader at No. 2 M.U. for six months 

The Operations Record Book of No. 2 M.U. - R.A.F. Altrincham records that
on the 11th August 1947, an accident occurred in the vicinity of Shed G.11.
during the loading of 20 mm unservicable projectiles sentenced for deep sea
dumping.

Labourer, Geoffrey Moss was fatally injured and Chargehand, Harry Clarke
injured.

A court of enquiry to investigate the circumstances was convened on the
13th August 1947.    An inquest upon the death was held on the 14th August
and a verdict of "Accidental Death" returned.     The funeral took place at
Brookland’s Cemetery on the 15th August and was attended by the
Commanding Officer, senior civilian staff and representatives of Unit
employees.

The Commanding Officer's report concludes.  "This is the first serious
accident which has occurred at the Unit since it was opened in 1924".

Harry Clarke, aged: 50 of 69 Hillcroft Road, Altrincham, sustained muliple
minor injuries in the incident and was lucky to survive.  That he did so
was due to Geoffrey Moss taking the force of the blast.    Harry told the
Guardian reporter that he and Geoffrey were inside a truck and were taking
boxes of munitions from off a conveyor and stacking them into the lorry. 
He had just put a box down and returned to the conveyor to collect the next
box, when the box Geoffrey had just put down exploded.   Harry states that
he was nearly blown out of the lorry and was struck by many pieces of metal
in his body, head, hands and legs.  He said that there were about 30 other
boxes of this ammunition already loaded and it was a wonder that those
hadn't exploded as well.

The 20 mm ammunition involved was for use in the Hispano Cannon, probably
the Hispano-Suiza HS.404 cannon and was the 110 shell.

Buried in the same unmarked grave as his father - Harry Moss, who died on
the 24/3/1943, aged: 61.   His mother - Florence died in 1955, aged: 69,
but was not buried in the same grave.