Trafford

Born during the March quarter 1891 in the Altrincham R.D. - ref: 8a/180,
the son of William & Sarah Annie Gratrix (nee Grocrott).

1891 Census - 20 Moorfield Place, Northenden Road, Sale.    Grandson -
aged: 2 months - born: Sale.   Head of household - Richard A. Gratrix -
Married - aged: 52 - occ: Agricultural Labourer - born: Sale.   Also Sarah
A. Gratrix - Wife - aged: 64 - born: Cheshire.   Plus William Gratrix
(John's father) - Married - aged: 28 - occ: General Labourer - Scavenger -
born: Sale.   Sarah E. Gratrix (john's mother) - Married - aged: 23 - born:
Burslem, Staffordshire.

1901 Census - 358 Northenden Road, Sale.    Son - aged: 10 - born: Sale.   
Head of household - William Gratrix - Married - aged: 39 - occ: Night Soil
Man - born: Sale.   Also - Sarah Ann Gratrix - Wife - aged: 33 - born:
Burslem, Staffordshire.   Plus 4 siblings.

1911 Census - 23 Lindow Street, Sale.   Son - aged: 20 - occ: Gardener
(Domestic) - born: Sale.    Head of household - William Gratrix - Married -
aged: 49 - occ: Gardener (Domestic) - born: Sale.   Also - Sarah Annie
Gratrix - Wife - aged: 43 - born: Burslem, Staffordshire.   Plus 7
siblings.

The 28/09/1915 edition of the local newspaper reports that he was serving
with the RFA and that he lived at Harley Rd, Sale.  He had been gassed
during the battle for Hill 60 (south of Ypres), that he had made a good
recovery in hospital at Tarporley and was now on his way to the front at
Gallipoli (which he obviously survived).

Married Hilda M. Hurst during the June quarter 1913 in the Bucklow R.D. -
ref: 8a/375.   Their son - John F. Gratrix was born during the December
quarter 1913 in the Bucklow R.D. - ref: 8a/333.

Employed by Westinghouse, but not listed on their memorial. ???

Formerly 224396 Royal Army Service Corps.

Died of wounds received on the 25th April 1918.    Death reported in the
17/05/1918 edition of the Altrincham Guardian.

French M.I. - "Though death divides fond memories cling".

He had three brothers serving in the Army - one of them - Harold Gratrix
had been wounded and at the time of John's death was wounded and in
hospital.

He left a widow and one son.    Commemorated on the family gravestone in
Sale Cemetery.

His father - William Gratrix died on the 24th April 1946, aged: 84 years
and his Mother - Sarah Gratrix, died on the 4th January 1946, aged: 68
years.