James Henshall
Killed in Action 22th October 1914
James' Story
James was born in 1882 to Henry and Hannah Henshall who, at the time lived in Sandbach. Henry was a shoemaker and in 1891 lived at Cherry Tree Cottages (Terrace), London Road. Henry was still in Holmes Chapel in 1901 but James was not on the census. He had already joined the army in 1899.
James joined the army on 7th June 1899 when he gave his birth year as 1881. The records show he was 5ft 3ins tall with fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. His army number was 7491 and he joined the 4th Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment, 22nd Foot. He appears to have remained with the army until 1903 when he bought his discharge. In 1911 a James Henshall was in the army in India but it is not clear that it is the same man.
The Parish Magazine reported that he had joined the Cheshire Regiment in December 1914. Most probably he re-enlisted into the1st Battalion Cheshire Regiment; he was a private and served in France and Flanders.
Initially he was reported killed in action but not confirmed. His date of death is recorded as 22nd October 1914. He is remembered on the Le Touret Memorial in France.
Home of the Henshall Family
George Henshaw
Killed in Action 19th September 1918
George's Story
George Henshaw was 25 at the outbreak of the war.
He was born in June 1889 to Joseph and Phoebe Henshaw who lived at Green Bank Holmes Chapel.
By 1901 aged 14 he was a blacksmith living in the village but by 1911 he was a gardener living with his uncle William Hardy on Macclesfield Road.
He enlisted at Knutsford into the 12th Battalion Cheshire Regiment at the start of the war in 1914 when he would have been aged 25. His service number was 16474 and during his career was promoted to corporal. The Parish Magazine reported that he served for 3 years on the Salonika front in Serbia where he was killed in action on 19/9/1918.
His grave is at VI.E.5 Doiran Military Cemetery. The cemetery (originally known as Colonial Hill Cemetery No.2) was formed at the end of 1916 as a cemetery for the Doiran front.
'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
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