Thomas Connolly
Killed in Action 26th April 1917
He was born in 1892 at Rocksavage, son of William and Mary Connolly. At the 1901 Census the family were living at 16 Brook Street, Lostock Gralam, with Thomas aged 9 years. At the 1911 Census the family were at the same address at Lostock with Thomas now aged 19, working as a waggoner on a farm.
Thomas enlisted at Northwich into the 12th Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment with the number 13901.
He was killed in action in Serbia on the 26th April 1917 and is buried in Grave VI.J.14 in the Doiran Military Cemetery, Greece. Doiran Military Cemetery is situated in the north of Greece close to the Macedonia border and near the south-east shore of Lake Doiran.
Doiran Military Cemetary where Thomas Connolly is buried.
John Connolly
Killed in Action 25th April 1917
John William Connolly was born in Lostock Gralam to William (a brick layers labourer) and Mary in August 1893.
In 1901 he was living at 16 Brook Street in Lostock Gralam with his family including his brother Thomas Howard.
By 1911 he had moved to Cranage and was working for Arthur Winstanley, a hay and straw merchant. On the census he was described as a ‘general servant domestic’ and a ‘straw carter’
In September 1914 he enlisted at Northwich into the 12th Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment on the same day as his brother. His number was 13900 just one different from his brother.
During his career he was promoted to sergeant and saw action in Serbia where he was killed on 25 April 1917 aged 23 just one day before his brother who was in the same battle zone.
'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