St Lukes Farnworth/Widnes

[MUMMYG]

Thanks all,
Ill try to find some time to visit today in case the church is open, if not I will try your suggestions as the place seems too big to search on foot.

[MUMMYG]

Emailed St Lukes churchwardens  as suggested, they say they cant find them but their records are only taken from actual head stones, they suggest  I contact Cheshire record office as they have the old records for the church, have just done that and await a reply although they wont be able to tell me exactly where the grave is at least Ill know if they are there.
A reply from Widnes fhs said that David was there but no further info was forthcoming?

There are two threads going along this line now, Im sorry about that, will only update the other one 'find a grave in Widnes' from now on. Thanks for all help.

[englandphil]

Evening MummyG, whilst doing some research on one of my Widnes WW2 casualties who served with the South Lancs, I have come across a reference in September 1939 to a Captain Boast M.C..

We already know that both brothers where awarded the Military Cross in WW2, and that one of the brothers was killed, so I assume that the reference is to the 2nd Brother.

The reference is in the War Diary for 1940, and states that Capt Boast M.C. (Note three men with the surname Boast where awarded the M.C. serving with the South Lancs. was 2 i/c with C Company 1st South Lancs at the time that it mobilised for France and Belgium.

The war diary, then mentions him again being in France in early October 1939, and is later listed as capt S.W.Boast, who when awarded the M.C. was a 2nd Lt.  By early 1940 he has been promoted to Battalion major.

On the 18th Feb 1940 - 25th Feb 1940, he is shown as being on Leave in the UK, but by 10th March he is no longer listed in the Officers Nominal role, as on the 9th March 1940 he was appointed as Camp Commandant ROXA, which I assume was a POW Camp.

Do you know if this is one of your Boast's

phil

Nb. The 3rd Boast to win the MC, was Maj. Sydney Thomas Boast, M.C., D.C.M., (2nd Bn. South Lancashire Regt.), whose own son Frederick, was died in 1919 after returning to the UK after fighting on the Western Front.

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=899832

[MUMMYG]

Yes he is one of mine, well my husbands actually,  he is the brother of Frederick.  His father was Major  Sydney Thomas Boast (whos brother was Captain John Samuel Boast, killed in France 1918)


SW Boast was born 1894 in Cork, died 1961 in St Helens, he died of damage to his kidneys a short while after being knocked over by a wagon in the town centre, very sad after surviving two wars hey.  He was 2nd SLR  Corporal, 2nd Lieutenant and acting Captain 1914-1920 and his Regtl no was 9270 long number P,21172 changing to 153790, I have his copy of the SLR Regimental History (ICH DIEN) and the family has all his medals.

I havnt researched him much as I was working backwards from his grandfather who was 95th Regiment in Crimea and India and have been taking a break and doing some research on my own family. What a family though, fascinating, Im reading an interesting book at the moment about women who travelled with the regiments so I can find out what it was like for the wives.

Thanks very much for this information Phil, its something I didnt know and is much appreciated.

[johneowens]

The MIs are indeed in typed form within the church itself. They were transposed by the parish clerk some years ago. Apparently, the best time to visit to check them is open church, late on Wednesday mornings.

 I no longer live anywhere near Widnes, so cannot help myself.

Good luck

John

[MUMMYG]

Thanks for your input John, good  to know

Gill

[randers]

I'm hoping someone could see if a memorial stone exists in the churchyard for an ancestor and take a photo of it. The ancestor's name was  Peter Robinson (b: circa 1760-d: March 7, 1816). He was likely buried at St. Luke's (source: March 9, 1816 Farnworth burial record). Peter was a steward and farmer for Miss Anna Maria Bold of Bold Hall. He lived at the "Old Hall" (also known as "Bold Hall Farm"). I understand that there is a monumental inscription book for St. Luke's, but I haven't been able to locate it. I've sent e-mails to St Luke's and to the Widnes Library, but I haven't received any replies yet. If someone is willing to walk through the churchyard and look for "Peter Robinson" or  "Robinson of Bold" that would be wonderful. I'm trying to put together the Robinson family tree.

Peter Robinson: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=151250981

[jangeo]

Good evening Randers,

I visit Farnworth Church (St Lukes) about once a month, the problem with the churchyard is that it is very overgrown,it is one that does not come under the local council so any cutting back is done by volunteers and they cant keep up with it. Will see what I can find on my next visit.

[randers]

hi jangeo,

Thanks for your offer to help!