Herbert Johnson
Killed in Action 21th August 1918
Herbert's Story
The Johnson family were living at Kermincham in 1911 and from the jobs they held they probably were living at Kermincham Hall or close by.
At the time Herbert was 12 years old and was at school. His father, William was a domestic gardener and his eldest daughter Margaret a housemaid. The Johnson family were living at Kermincham in 1911 and from the jobs they held they probably were living at Kermincham Hall or close by.
At the time Herbert was 12 years old and was at school. His father, William was a domestic gardener and his eldest daughter Margaret a housemaid.
The Parish Magazine reports that he was called up in March 1917 and joined the Cheshire Regiment where he was a private with number 51596. In 1918 he was reported killed in action and his date of death recorded as 21st August 1918 when he was aged 19. He is buried at Adanac Military Cemetery, Miramont, Somme, France, Grave IV.D.28.
The villages of Miraumont and Pys were occupied on 24-25 February 1917 following the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line. They were retaken by the Germans on 25 March 1918, but recovered by the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division on the following 24 August.
It would appear Herbert Johnson was killed during the attack to re-take Miraumont and Pys in late August 1918.
Norman William Lea
Killed in Action 9th September 1917
Norman's Story
Norman Lea was the son of Alice Anne Clarke (nee Ollier) and William Lea and was born in 1885.
He lived in Macclesfield Road for most of his life but his parents had moved to Church View at the time of the war after his father had died.
In 1911 he was a postman at Brereton Green aged 26.
Norman was called up in 1916 and enlisted in 16th Battalion Cheshire Regiment at Holmes Chapel and was a private with number was 50309. He was killed in action in France on 9th September 1917 and is buried at Villers-Faucon Communal Cemetery Extension in grave I.F.10. He received the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.
William Lea's House
'They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.'
Extract from 'For the Fallen' by Laurence Binyon