Trafford

Born during the September quarter 1888 in the Altrincham R.D. - ref:
8a/166, the son of William Joseph & Mary Amelia Cunliffe.  His mother died
between 1888 and 1891.

1891 Census - 26 Beaufort Avenue, Sale - Son - aged: 2 - born: Sale,
Cheshire.   Head of household - Wiliam J. Cunliffe - Widower - aged: 41 -
occ: African Merchant - born: Havre, France (B.S.).    Plus 3 elder
siblings, his paternal grandmother and 2 domestic Servants.    His brother
Harold Hastilow Cunliffe (then aged: 5), later became an Alderman and Mayor
of Sale.

1901 Census - Bilton Grange School, Bilton, Rugby, Wawickshire - Boarder -
aged: 12 - Scholar - born: Brooklands, Cheshire.  His still widowed father,
eldest sister (Lilian Annis Cunliffe), paternal grandmother and 1 domestic
servant were then residing at Hatton Fold situated between the Normanhurst
Hotel and the Woodcourt ?

1911 Census - "Oakwood", Weybridge, Surrey.  Visitor at the 16 roomed house
of Sir John Arrow Kempe, Comptroller & Auditor General.   Visitor - aged:
22 - occ: Law Student - born: Brooklands, Cheshire.   No trace of his
father, but his eldest sister was residing at Hatton Fold, Whitehall Road,
along with his brother, William Richard Cunliffe.

Educated at Bilton Grange, Rugby, Winchester and the University College
Oxford, where he gained his MA & RCL Degrees.      He had just become
articled to Slater Heelis, Solicitors, Manchester, when war broke out.

Married Dorothy Smith, (daughter of L.C. Smith, Ashton on Mersey???) at St.
Mary's P.C., Ashton upon Mersey, during the June quarter 1914 in the
Altrincham R.D. - ref: 8a/391.   (John A. & Sarah Ellen Smith???) 
Dorothy's brother - Lionel Stockdale, Smith was also killed during WW1.

Commissioned in December 1914 and drafted to the front on the 10th November
1915.   Served in 21st (Service Battalion, 'A' Company, No.1 Platoon,
Manchester Regiment (6th City Battalion) - see page 262 Manchester City
Battalions.

Part of 91st Brigade, 7th Division.   On the 1st July 1916 (first day of
the Battle of the Somme 1916, the 21st Bn attacked at Mametz and occupied
Danzig Alley.   On the 3rd September they moved forward into Montauban
Alley.  On the 4th September they moved into the front line at Delville
Wood and into Bitter Trench and South Street where they took part in an
unsuccessful bombing attack on Ale Alley.

Death reported in the 15/09/1916 edition of the Altrincham Guardian.  
Cenotaph lists name as J. Cunliffe.

He and Private Holland lived next door to each other.   He left a widow and
an infant son - John M. Cunliffe, born: 1915.