Trafford

Born - Dec Qtr 1875 - Chorlton R.D. - ref: 8c 738, the son of James Nelson
& Isabella Caldwell (nee Urquhart).  His father was born in Glasgow on the
4th June 1842.  

His parents moved from Glasgow to Manchester in 1869 to take up an
appointment as Compositor with the Manchester Guardian Newspaper.   After
some years he joined the firm of his friend - Mr. W.T. Alexander as his
Manager and Traveller, in which position he held for 25 years until his
death.   Died May/June 1901 and buried in the Harpurhey Cemetery,
Manchester.

1881 Census - 50, Bell St, Cheetham, Manchester.   Son - aged: 5 - Scholar
- born:Manchester.   Head of household - James N. Caldwell - Married -
aged: 38 - occ: Manager (Dry Salter) - born: Scotland.   Also -  Isabella
Caldwell - Wife - aged: 35 - born: Scotland.  Plus - their  children -
Jessie N. Caldwell - aged: 13 - Scholar - born: Scotland.   Catherine B.
Caldwell - aged: 9 - Scholar - born: Manchester.   John W. Caldwell - aged:
7 - Scholar - born: Manchester.     William A. Caldwell - aged: 5 - Scholar
- born: Manchester.   Alexandra B. Caldwell - aged: 3 - born: Manchester.  
Isabella U. Caldwell - aged: 1 - born: Manchester.

1891 Census - 75, Bignor Street, Cheetham, Manchester. - Son - aged: 15 -
occ: Office Boy - born: Manchester.   Head of household - James N. Caldwell
- Married - aged: 48 - occ: Dry Salters Manager - born: Glasgow.   Also -
Isabella Caldwell -  Wife - aged: 45 - born: Glasgow.   Plus their children
- Jessie N. Caldwell - aged: 23 - occ: Forewoman In Brace Making - born:
Glasgow.   Catherine B. Caldwell - aged: 19 - born: Manchester.    John W.
Caldwell - aged: 17 - occ: Printers Compositor - born: Manchester.   
William A. Caldwell -  aged: 15 - occ: Office Boy - born: Manchester.  
Alexander B. Caldwell - aged: 1 occ: Warehouseman - born: Manchester.  
Isabella U. Caldwell - aged: 11 - Scholar - born: Manchester.    Annie B.
Caldwell - aged: 9 - Scholar - Manchester.    Alice A. Caldwell - aged: 7 -
Scholar - born: Manchester.

1901 Census - No Trace of William, but his parents and six siblings were
still residing at 75, Bignor Street, Cheetham, Manchester.

1911 Census - No Trace.

His father died during the June Qtr 1901 - aged: 59.   His mother died
during the Dec Qtr 1905 - aged: 61.

William married Christina (Chrissie) McLaurin Anderson Park in Scotland in
November 1915.  His first son was born in Sept 1916 and his second son
Robin in Sept 1917 - a son he never saw.   After his death the family moved
back to Renfrew.   Robin's wife still lives in the same house.  William's
parents were Wesleyan - his father in particular.  So that fits in with his
name being on the Sale Wesleyan Memorial.

He is recorded as residing at "Valhalla", 15 Arran Avenue, Sale from the
5th August 1913 until the 17th July 1918, when it became empty for about
two months.  Presumably that final date is when his widow moved back to
Scotland.

He was the Captain of the "Manchester Miller".  This ship was built in 1903
- 4,234 Grt - it was torpedoed and sunk on the 5th June 1917 in the
Atlantic by German Submarine U-66 whilst on voyage from Philadelphia to
Manchester with a general cargo in position 190 miles NW of the Fastnet
Rock - 8 men lost.

Later he was the Captain of the "Manchester Spinner".  This ship was built
in 1903 - 4,247 Grt - it was torpedoed and sunk on the 22nd January 1918 in
the Mediterranean, 33 miles SSE of Malta in position 35.15N  15.05E by the
Austro-Hungarian submarine U-27 whilst on voyage from Java to the UK with a
cargo of sugar.   Another source states that it had made two trips taking
supplies to Salonica, one in 1916, the second one was when she was on her
way home from the far east she was torpedoed and sunk.

He is commemorated on the family grave in Arkleston Cemetery, Renfrew where
his wife's family hailed from - his wife, Chrissie died on the 17th
February 1966 - aged: 60.

Brother in Law of Harry Ebdon - see Sale WW2 database.

Guildhall Library, London - CALDWELL, William Alexander b. Manchester 1875
- 034158 Liverpool 1903 vol.60 Extra folio no.13 no voyages listed; vol.75
1904-1911.

Cause of death - Poisoning by Monoxide of Carbon at the Osborne Hotel,
Strada Mezzodi, Valletta, Malta on the night of the 5th and 6th February
1918.   Death Certificate gives his age as 41 - actually aged 42.      
N.B. The "Strada Mezzodi" was the street name under Italian Rule, it then
became "South Street" under British Rule and "Triq Nofs in-Nhar" is its
modern Maltese name.

Group Photo - James Harry Whitworth - known as Harry - is on the left.  WAC
in the centre and the other man is unknown.  Harry and WAC must have kept
in touch during the war.  Harry was in the 3rd Batt of the Royal Fusiliers
and during 1917 they were based about 70 miles from Salonika.

Location Information: The Cemetery is located in Triq id-Duburi (Our Lady
of Sorrows Street), 2 kilometres south-west of Valletta on the road to
Sliema. On the edge of the Gwardamanga district, the entrance is on Triq
II-Principessa Melita, leading to Triq Tal-Pieta and Msida Sea Front and
Creek. 

Administration (with Will) London 2 July to Christina Park Caldwell widow. 
Effects £713. 1s. 9d.

HE IS NOT RECOGNISED BY THE CWGC - an application to so commemorate him has
been made, but if anyone has further information that can be used to
support the application, I would be pleased to receive it.