Robert Sanderson
Killed in Action 31st January 1916
Robert's Story
Robert was born in May 1891 to Robert and Jane Sanderson who were living at Mt St Lawrence on Middlewich Road at the time. His father was a glass manufacturer’s agent and the family moved from the village some time between 1891 and 1901 to Cheadle Hulme where young Robert was living in 1901 aged 9.
At the time of the 1911 census he was living at Ivy Cottage, Bredbury and working as an insurance clerk. It does not appear that he returned to Holmes Chapel but his war experiences are recorded in the Parish Magazine so he may have still had connections in the village.
He enlisted in 1916 into the Royal Fusiliers (London Regiment) 21st Battalion when he was aged 24. His service number was 4224 and he served as a private in France and Flanders.
He is recorded killed on 31st January 1916 in France.
He received the Victory Medal and British War Medal
Although mentioned in the Parish Magazine and born in Holmes Chapel his death is not recorded on the memorial in Holmes Chapel. However, he is recorded on the Bredbury memorial where his parents had moved at the time of the war.
Charles Street
Killed in Action 25th July 1918
Charles' Story
Charles Street was born in February 1895 to David (a railway porter) and Elizabeth who were living in Back Lane, (now Chester Road), Holmes Chapel in 1901.
In 1911 Charles was living at the home of John Cross at Saltersford Farm, Twemlow, where he was a stockman, aged 16.
He enlisted at Macclesfield as a private into the 1/7th Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment at the start of the war in 1914. His number was 290741.
The Parish Magazine reported that he was serving abroad in August 1915. In September 1915 he was in hospital in Chichester, brought home from the Dardanelles. He had wounded his hand opening a tin of fish. In February 1918 he was discharged from hospital (not necessarily same incident as the one in September 1915 but there were no intermediate reports.)
In September 1918 he was reported to have been killed in action on July 25th 1918 in France. He was reported to have served in Mesopotamia and Egypt before going to France.
He was buried in Grave I.A.2 Raperie British Cemetery, Villemontoire which is approximately 10 kilometres from Soissons.
Home of Charles Street in 1911, Saltersford Farm
'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