Trafford

Born at Altrincham on the 4th July 1889, the birth being registered during
the September quarter 1889 in the Altrincham R.D. - ref: 8a/176, the eldest
son of John & Agnes Groark (nee Grant).   Baptised at the Church of St.
Vincent de Paul on the 21st July 1889.

1891 Census - 22 Chapel Street, Altrincham.   Son - aged: 1 (Surname spelt
"Groak") - born: England.    Head of household - John Groak - Married  -
aged: 30 - occ: Labourer and Lodging House Keeper - born: Ireland.   Also
Agnes Groak - Wife - aged: 40 - born: England.  Plus two of her Hines sons
and Mary Groak, their daughter.  Plus nine Lodgers.

1901 Census - 22/24 Chapel Street, Altrincham - Son - aged: 11 - born:
Altrincham, Cheshire. (Surname spelt "Groark").   Head of household - John
Groark - Married - aged: 38 - occ: Bricklayer's Labourer - born: Ireland.  
Also Agnes Groark - Wife - aged: 49 - born: Manchester.  Plus 3 siblings
and 8 Lodgers.

1911 Census - 6 John Street, Altrincham.   Son - aged: 22 - occ:
Bricklayer's Labourer - born: Altrincham. (Surname spelt "Groark").   Head
of household - John Groark - Married - aged: 50 - occ: Bricklayer's
Labourer - born: Ireland.   Also Agnes Groark - Wife - aged: 58 - born:
Manchester.   Plus 2 younger siblings and 4 Lodger.   John & Agnes had been
married 24 years and produced 9 children, of whom 5 are still alive.

Spelt 'Groarke' on the Altrincham Cenotaph and the Chapel St Mem - 'Groark'
on the CWGC database, SDGW and the census returns.

WO363 - Enlisted at Hale into the Cheshire Militia on the 15th January
1904.  Residing at 22 Chapel Street, Altrincham and employed as a Labourer
in a Coal Yard.   He was then aged only 15, but added two years to his age
to - 17 years 6 months.  He was 5 feet 2 1/4 inches in height; he weighed
105 lb and his chest measurements were 30 1/2 to 32 1/2 inches.   He had a
fresh complexion; brown eyes; dark brown hair and his religion given as
Roman Catholic.  He had a tattoo on his right forearm - "Anchor and W.G." 
He was posted for Drill on the 17th January 1904.  He served until 1910.

He re-enlisted in 1914 and was posted to the Balkans in 1915.

By 1915 the 8th Battalion, Cheshire Rgt was at Bedford, Bedfordshire, part
of 159th Brigade, 53rd (Welsh) Division.   To Davenport and sailed on the
"Euripides" 0n 16/07.  Called at Gibraltar on 20/07 and Malta 24/07.  
Arrived Alexandria 27/07 and sailed for Port Said on 30/07.

Sailed for Lemnos on 04/08 and arrived at Mudros Harbour on 07/08.   The
"Euripides" went to ground on the edge of a reef and the men had to be
transferred to another ship.   Sailed for Gallipoli on 08/08 and landed on
'C' Beach, Sulva Bay and bivouacked on the beach.

Went forward to positions on the north-west slope of Lala Baba at 4.00am on
09/08.   (Attached to 34th Brigade and later in support of 32nd Brigade
during the attack on Anafarta Sagir).   Advanced and took over firing line
at Sulajik and attacked during the afternoon of the 10/08.    The attack
failed through lack of support - Casualties - 29 killed - 124 wounded and
289 missing.

Withdrew to support line 11/08 and were in support of the 1/5th Norfolk Rgt
in their attack on 12/08.    Took over front line trenches from the 1/5th
Welsh Rgt on 17/08.   Began work digging a new forward line and
communication trench during the night of 18-19/08.

Could well have been one of those 124 that were wounded on the 10th, or
could have been fatally wounded early on the night of the 18th/19th.

See also "The Bravest Little Street in England" by Karen Cliff, Trafford
Local Studies Library.