Trafford

Born during the December quarter 1880 in the Altrincham R.D. - ref: 8a/171,
the son of George & Lucy Aldcroft (nee Brown).

1881 Census - 1 Church View Cottage, Bowdon.   Son - aged: 4 months - born
Bowdon.   Head of household - George Aldcroft - Married - aged: 30 - occ:
Joiner - born: Bowdon.   Also - Lucy Aldcroft - Wife - aged: 25 - born:
Altrincham.   Plus 4 siblings and his paternal grandmother.

1891 Census - Langham Road, Bowdon.   Son - aged: 10 - Scholar - born
Bowdon.   Head of household - George Aldcroft - Married - aged: 42 - occ:
Joiner - born: Bowdon.   Also - Lucy Aldcroft - Wife - aged: 35 - born:
Altrincham.   Plus 8 siblings.

Attended St. Mary's CofE School,

1901 Census - Langham Road, Bowdon.   Son - aged: 20 - occ: Engineer's
Draughtsman - born Bowdon.   Head of household - George Aldcroft - Married
- aged: 52 - occ: Joiner (own account at home) - born: Bowdon.   Also -
Lucy Aldcroft - Wife - aged: 45 - born: Altrincham.   Plus 6 siblings.

1911 Census - Langham Road, Bowdon.   Son - aged: 30 - occ: Engineer's
Draughtsman - born Bowdon.   Head of household - George Aldcroft - Married
- aged: 62 - occ: Joiner (own account at home) - born: Bowdon.   Also -
Lucy Aldcroft - Wife - aged: 55 - born: Altrincham.   Plus 4 siblings.

Employed for 17 years at Messrs. Luke & Spencer, Broadheath.   Due to his
occupation, he was exempted from military service, but repeatedly appealed
to be released to join up.

Formerly a Section Commander in the V.T.C. Hale Section.

WO363 - Previously served for three years with the Earl of Chester's
Yeomanry.    Enlisted into the Royal Engineers on the 13th November 1915. 
He was then aged 25 years and weighed 123 lb.  He was 5 feet 6¼ inches in
height and had a chest measurement of 34 inches to 36½ inches expanded. 
His address was given as Ivy Cottage, Langham Road, Bowdon.  He was
promoted to Lance Corporal on the 29th January 1916, Corporal on the 16th
September 1916 and Sergeant on the 24th February 1917.   

He had four brothers serving with the colours.

After his death, a Lieutenant Norman Newton wrote to his parents with his
condolences.

Death reported in the 20/07/1917 edition of the Sale & Altrincham
Messenger.  See also the 27/07/1917 edition of the local newspaper.

Listed on the Royal Engineers Memorial

Brother of Mr. G.H. Aldcroft, Old Market Place and Kingsway, Altrincham.

M.I. - "Their glory shall not be blotted out".

Listed in the Guardian Year Book - Roll of Honour for 1918.

See also the Stretford Database.

Ernest's parents George & Lucy received financial support from the "John
Sington Fund".  Mr & Mrs  Aldcroft had no fewer than 5 sons who fought,
including Ernest, who worked at Luke & Spencer and was exempted from
service.  Nevertheless, he enlisted, and was killed in action in July 1917.

 
The John Sington Fund - John Sington was the son of Adolphus Sington, a
Jewish Prussian shipping merchant who came to Britain and in 1845 became a
naturalised citizen.   Adolphus had his own company, involved originally in
the production of linen and cotton, and later the import and export of
machinery for the cotton industry.  John and at least one of his brothers
worked in their father's business in Princess Street, Manchester.

In 1885 John married Mildred Campbell Maclure, daughter of Sir John William
Maclure, Bt., who became MP for Stretford the following year.  John and
Mildred had two sons, Alan John Campbell Sington and Edward Claude Sington.
 In 1914 both sons enlisted in the British Army, and their father is listed
in The Gazette in 1915 as Major John Sington, Royal Engineers Territorial
Force Reserve.   In 1909 the Sington family moved from Whalley Range to
Dunham House, on Charcoal Road, Dunham.

When Major John Sington's two sons returned safely from active service
during WW1 he established a fund 'as a Thanksgiving Offering for their safe
return for the benefit of the wives, children and dependants of any men
who, as a result of service with His Majesty's Forces or the Mercantile
Marine, have died or been killed or disabled, and for the benefit of any
members of His Majesty's Forces or the Mercantile Marine who have been
disabled as a result of such service.'   The fund's scope was limited to
those who had been resident in the Urban District of Bowdon or the village
of Dunham Town for at least six months.

Six trustees were appointed, namely, John Bleckly, Henry Edwin Gaddum,
William Alfred Hampson, Joseph Kenworthy, Joseph Watson Sidebotham and the
Major himself.  The Clerk to the Trustees was Willis Paterson the Bowdon
UDC Solicitor, 11 Stamford Street, Altrincham to whom applications for
grants had to be made.    Information about the Fund and its beneficiaries
was kindly supplied by Cynthia Hollingworth from the records kept in
Trafford Local Studies Library.