Edwin Jenyons

Rank:Civilian
Ship/Rgn/Sqn No:Air Raid Warden
Name of Rgt or Ship:Civil Defence
Died:23/12/1940Age:60
How Died:Killed in Air Raid
Country of burial:U.K.Grave Photo:Yes
Cemetery or Memorial:Altrincham (Hale) Cemetery
Town Memorial:Not Listed
Extra Information:
Born at Bowdon in 1880, the son of James & Catherine Jenyons (nee Jones).  
Baptised at St. Mary's P.C., Bowdon on the 19th January 1881.

1881 Census - 6 Vale Cottages, Bowdon.    Son - aged: 10 months - born:
Bowdon.    Head of household - James Jenyons - Married - aged: 27 - occ:
Stone Mason - born: Manchester.     Also - Catherine Jenyons - Wife - aged:
27 - born: Weaverham, Cheshire.  Plus 2 elder sisters.

His father - James, died in 1885, aged: 32.

1891 Census - Vicarage Lane, Bowdon.  Son - aged: 10 - Scholar - born:
Bowdon.   Head of household - Catherine Jenyons - Widow - aged: 37 - occ:
Charwoman - born: Weaverham.   Plus 5 siblings, his paternal grand-mother
and a cousin.

1901 Census - Brunswick Terrace, Victoria Road, Hale.   Son - Unmarried -
aged: 20 - occ: Mechanic (iron) - born: Altrincham.    Head of household -
his mother Catherine married John Goulden in 1898, though her new husband
was not at home on census night - Catherine Goulden - Married - aged: 47 -
born: Weaverham, Cheshire.    Plus 4 siblings and 3 boarders.

Married Maud Spilsbury during the June quarter 1903 in the Bucklow R.D. -
ref: 8a/331.

1911 Census - 14 Charter Road,  Altrincham.     Son - Married - aged: 30 -
occ: Machinist Matrix Stamping - born: Bowdon.    Head of household - his
mother Catherine has now been widowed for a second time - Catherine Jenyons
- Widow - aged: 57 - born: Weaverham, Cheshire.  Plus 1 younger brother and
his paternal grand-mother.   No trace of Maud anywhere else, nor their
daughter - Florence, born 1903.

1939 National Registration - 14 Charter Road, Altrincham.  Edwin Jenyons -
Married - born: 18th May 1880 - occ: Assistant Foreman Matrix Linotype and
A.R.P. Warden.  Maud Jenyons - Married - born: 26th December 1884 - occ:
Unpaid Domestic Duties.

At around 02.00 hrs on the first night of the "Manchester Blitz" (22nd/23rd
December 1940), an H.E. bomb landed at the entrance of Stamford Park,
corner of Charter Road and Mayors Road.    The blast from the bomb severely
damaged the corner shop and houses opposite, including the residence of the
Edwin and Maud Jenyons.   Their daughter - Florence Eva Fairbank, aged: 37
and her daughter - (their grand-daughter) June Edwina Fairbank, aged: 11,
were staying with them over the Christmas holidays period.   In view of
their situation, their friend - Mrs. Annie Clark, 89 Oakfield Street,
kindly offered to temporarily put them up at her house.

Just before 20.30 hrs during the second night of the "Manchester Blitz"
(23rd/24th December 1940), a bomb fell on the corner of Oakfield Road &
Moss Lane, Altrincham, destroying six houses and killing 12 civilians.    
Edwin, his daughter and grand-daughter, along with Mrs. Annie Clark were
all killed at No. 89 Oakfield Street.

Aged 60, Edwin was serving as an Air Raid Warden when he was killed in the
Oakfield Road Incident.  Again the ARP Rescue Services had to dig in the
rubble to locate Edwin.     His CWD Ref No.6 - states that he was buried by
masonry and that his body was fully clothed and in possession of whistles,
torch, A.R.P. badge and cycle clips when found at 06.00 hrs on the 24th
December 1940.   His body was taken to A.B. Brookes & Son's Mortuary,
Stamford New Road, Altrincham where it was identified by F.W. Evans, 24
Woodhouse Lane, Ashton on Mersey.   Buried with his daughter and
grand-daughter in Altrincham (Hale) Cemetery.   Buried 30/12/1940 - Burial
No. 10,772.

His wife - Maud, having survived both explosions, eventually died on
23/01/1970 aged 85 years.

See also the Fairbank family records.

Although not individually named, Edwin is one of the 12 local residents
killed at this site and around the corner on Moss Lane who are commemorated
in the Memorial Garden on the corner of Moss Lane and Oakfield Road.

On Friday 23rd December 2011 a group of local residents, relatives of the
victims and civic dignitaries attended a wreath laying ceremony at the
memorial garden on Oakfield Road, Altrincham, to the 12 civilians that died
when a German bomb landed at this site at about 8.30 pm 71 years ago to the
day.

The Sale & Altrincham Messenger sent a photographer and a short report of
the ceremony appeared in the 5th January 2012 edition of their newspaper.  
 The Hale, Sale & Altrincham Independent Newspaper also reported the event
in their January 2012 edition.

As the articles attracted such interesting feedback from relatives of
victims and those involved in their recovery, the Messenger's Chief
Reporter Chris Griffin,  researched the event further and wrote a number of
excellent articles about it and the families involved.   He also reported
about the recent demolition of the nearby Bridge Inn public house where one
of the victims was raised.    The articles were dated 12th January, 26th
January, 2nd February, 16th February, 1st March and the 15th March 2012.  
Chris was able to obtain much unknown information and personal photographs
of a number of the victims from their families.

Six houses were demolished in this incident - Nos. 83, 85, 97, 98 & 91
Oakfield Road, plus the first house on Moss Lane.    No.43 Moss Lane was
situated immediately behind No. 91 Oakfield Road.  These two dwellings
suffered the greatest amount of damage and was obviously the point where
the bomb struck.   The bodies from these two houses were the last to be
recovered at 1.0 pm on Christmas Day.    The land where Nos. 83 to 91
Oakfield Road was sited is now the site of the Memorial Garden and a
builders merchants now occupies the site of No. 43 Moss Lane.

CWGC - Air Raid Warden. Husband of Maud Jenyons, of 14 Charter Road. Died
at Oakfield Road.

Probate Record - Edwin Jenyons of 14 Charter Road, Altrincham was killed
through war operations on the 23rd December 1940 at Oakfield Road,
Altrincham.   Administration granted to Maud Jenyons (Widow).   His Estate
was valued at £178. 15s 8d.




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