Over the past few days I have been relating stories about the men from Salford who fought and died in the First World War.

Here is a rather different story about two Salford men who were to die from gunshot wounds, sadly fired by their comrades.

Herein there is friendship, false identity, and an entirely understandable desire to escape the horrors of war.

This sorry tale is made all the more intriguing by the excuse given to the father of one of the men as to his son’s death.

Read on.

24-year-old Private Albert Ingham (10495) was the son of George and Eliza Ingham, of Atherton Cottage in Lower Kersal.

Together with his best friend, 21-year-old Private Alfred Longshaw (10502), they worked as clerks at the Salford Goods Yard of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company.

They were known to be inseparable and even volunteered together, serving in the 11 Platoon of C Company in the 18th Battalion of the Manchester Regiment.

Both men saw active service on the Somme and they were due to be transferred to their Brigade’s machine gun unit for service in the trenches.

But rather than face another terrifying day of death and destruction on the frontline of battle, the pair decided take a chance and attempted to escape.

They would get as far as the port of Dieppe – both wearing civilian clothing and attempting to board a ship to take them home to England.

The men were noticed absent after roll call on the evening of 5 October 1916.

They faced a military Court Martial after their arrest, which gives a fascinating insight into their state of mind at the time.

At their trial witness were called including Sergeant H. Emnett of the Intelligence Corps at Dieppe Base.

He told the court: “About 9.30 am on 1st Nov 1916 I was on duty visiting shipping at the port and I visited the SWEDISH vessel BELLEVILLE. I there saw the accused and knowing that he was not one of the original crew I [illegible] him as to his identity.

“He said, ‘I am an American. I left America about eleven months ago.’ He refused to answer any other questions. Not being satisfied I took him to the Intelligence Office and further questioned him.

“He said, ‘My name is Sam Bostock, I am an American citizen and I refuse to give you any particulars about myself.’

About 3.15 pm the same day I again saw the accused. I said to him, ‘I want to question you again, Ingham’.

He said: ‘Alright I’ll tell you all about it. My name is Ingham and belong to the Manchester Pals Battalion being attached to a Machine Gun Corps.

Having lost most of my comrades I needed to clear out with Longshaw. When at Buire about 10.30pm on 5 or 6 October we left our billets and struck for the coast.

We hid by day and travelled by night. We purchased the clothes and been at a village and arrived at Dieppe about a week ago. Since then we have been working on the ships. No one on board knew who we were.

Further on we found some old coats and caps on the ship, which we wore, throwing the uniform into the dock.

I left with my chum firstly to see those at home and then to try and get into the Navy along with his brother who is serving there.

I was worrying at the time through the loss of my chums. Also about my mother at home, being upset, through learning bad news of two of my comrades. I plead for leniency on account of my service in France of twelve months and previous good conduct. I beg for a chance to make amends.’

The Court Martial retired to consider their verdict and after some deliberation they stated: “I recommend that the sentence be carried out as this is a clear case of deliberate desertion.

Except as regards previous character which is reported good there are no extenuating features to this case and I therefore recommend that the extreme penalty be inflicted”.

Both men were told to stand in front of a firing squad and shot at dawn on 28 November 1916.

The company Captain released this short statement: “I certify that the Sentence of Death awarded by F.G.C.M on No.10495, Private A. Ingham. 18th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment, attached 90th Company Machine Gun Corps, and confirmed by the Commander-in-Chief on the 28th November, 1916, was duly executed at 7.12 a.m today in my presence”.

Following their executions, they were buried side by side in the Bailleulmont Communal Cemetery in France: Albert in grave B.12 and Alfred in grave B.13.

In a final twist to this story Alfred Ingham’s father was told that his son had been killed by gunshot wounds and his name was added to the Charlestown Roll of Honour.

However Alfred’s comrades told him the truth about his son’s death.

He petitioned the War Office and eventually had the words, “Shot At Dawn, One Of The First To Enlist, A Worthy Son Of His Father” inscribed on his son’s headstone.

The unique inscription was his way of denouncing the official lie.

They were finally pardoned by announcement made in August 2006, along with 304 other shot soldiers

A tale of incredible bravery hit the newspapers in Salford as a local soldier was awarded one of the country’s highest honours for gallantry in war.

Sergeant A. Smith – sadly his first name seems to be lost to history – risked his life to retrieve the bodies of three killed Eccles men from a burning mine crater.

Serving with the B Company of Lancashire Fusiliers, dubbed the ‘Eccles Pals’, Sgt Smith was serving in northern France at the time.

He reportedly joined the British Army to avenge the death of his brother, the decorated Sergeant Major Smith, who died while serving with the 1st Somerset Light Infantry.

Allegedly his older brother way bayoneted to death by German soldiers as he lay wounded on the ground.

He was posthumously awarded the Medallie Militaire by the French government for meritorious service and acts of bravery in action against an enemy force.

The younger brother’s moment of glory would come on 10 December 1915 as Sgt Smith was on duty at an advanced sentry post.

A huge crack like thunder exploded below his company when the Germans detonated a mine, instantly killing three Eccles Pals and burying them under a mountain of soil, blood and debris.

The soldiers killed were just 26 years old.

Private Sam Hamer, of Parrin Lane in Winton, had only been married 18 months previously and was survived by his young widow.

Before the war Private J Street was a coal delivery driver with the Eccles Co-op Society and was living with his mother in Phillip Street in Eccles.

Their final comrade Private Holt was from Pym Steet in Patricroft.

Determined not to let these men become another ‘unknown soldier’ statistic, Sgt Smith risked his life to crawl bodily into the deafening No Man’s Land with fire falling all around him.

Progress was painfully slow as he dug through the earth with his hands to recover the bloodied corpses.

The Eccles and Patricroft Journal reported how he heard plaintive cries of ‘Sergeant’ echoing across the battlefield.

The shouts appeared to be coming from the detonated mine crater, but he was furious to discover this was a German ruse – firing flares into the night sky the opposing soldiers called out in English to lure Sgt Smith into a potential ambush.

Pressing on, Sgt Smith took a sniper’s bullet to the face for his trouble, but found his fallen Pals and using a rope tied around his waist dragged them one-by-one back toward home lines.

Without his efforts, the men’s bodies would have remained buried in the mud.

But Sgt Smith was extremely modest.

Upon hearing the news of his recommendation for the Distinguished Conduct Medal – at the time the oldest British award for gallantry – he spoke only of his fellow soldiers’ bravery and played down his own part in the rescue.

Writing to Mr A. J. Albrow, who was in charge of the Eccles Pals Comfort Fund, he said: “If Eccles folk could have seen how their men’s courage and endurance were put to the test during the period in which the unfortunate casualties occurred they would thrill with pride.”

The organisation was locally organised and sent out such luxuries as gloves, socks, chocolates and cigarettes to local men fighting in France.

He continued: “I beg to thank you for your generous appreciation of what I consider to be my duty as a soldier.

“I assure you that any member of my company would have done exactly the same as I did and I am rather afraid the affair has been exaggerated.”

Although he was born in Somerset, his experiences with the Fusiliers made Sgt Smith “a naturalised Lancashire lad”, in his own words.

He writes: “Although not an Eccles man I consider it an honour to belong to B Company whose officers and men share the same sort of grit – which is peculiarly British.”

Smith is a common name – and without a first name to check researchers are a little hamstrung – but there was a Sergeant A. Smith who served with the 7th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers.

According to the war records he was killed on 27 September 1918 on active duty in France.

His name is now borne on the Vis-en-Artois British Cemetery Memorial at Haucourt in Pas-de-Calais, France.

18-year-old Thomas George Rowland Ellis was employed in the Manchester Town Planning Department and lived at Park House in Worsley, with his mother Ellen Ellis and his father, noted Worsley architect George Rowland Ellis.

His uncle was Reverend T Ellis from Winton church, so the family name was well established in the area.

And with this more privileged background the family could no doubt have persuaded the authorities to give him a safer billet.

But had volunteered to sign up at the age of just 18 with the Royal Fusiliers.

Thomas was educated at the Central Schools, Whitworth Street, Manchester and after leaving he was employed on the office staff of the General and Fine Arts Insurance Company, Manchester.

He must have been eager to ‘do his bit’ and joined the Royal Fusiliers (Sportsmen’s Reserve Battalion), training at Leamington, Oxford and Edinburgh before being shipped over to France.

He was overseas for less three weeks before he met his untimely end.

Thomas George Rowland Ellis, Service No. 3968, died on 26 July 1916 and is buried at Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No.1, just north of Amiens in Northern France.

In a horrible twist of fate, his mother and father received two letters on the same day: one was from Thomas which described the ‘nerve-wracking’ effect of the shell fire raining down on the trenches.

Thomas had written home several times before but his parents were surprised to hear that he was under heavy gunfire because of his young age.

The second letter was from the Army Chaplain who with a heavy heart sadly informed them that Thomas had died in the army hospital from injuries received the previous day, on 26 July 1916.

In a effort to soften the blow he assured the family that they were going to bury Thomas, “in a sweet little cemetery in town” with a cross bearing his name over the grave.

A further letter was received from the Sister of the hospital extending her sympathy that told George and Ellen that she was with their teenage boy in his final hours.

The Managing Director of General and Fine Arts Insurance Company also wrote to the family offering their condolences:

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“The staff are deeply affected and have asked me to offer their sympathy in this your sad affliction.

“I had great regard for your son, who always took a real interest in his work, but, what is more, he was a good lad.”

 

A memorial service was held for him at Winton Church where he had been a member of of the Church Lads’ Brigade, the service was led by his uncle Reverend T. Ellis.

So a young life ended at the tender age of 18, a life that seemed to promise so much for him – that would never come to be.

In 2016, national centenary commemorations of the first day of the Battle of the Somme had been completed.

But over 100 years ago, local families in Eccles and Swinton were just entering what seemed to be a nightmare that would never end.

Catastrophic losses on both sides were met with a flurry of letters home.

Below is just a small selection of writing on behalf of local regiments and beyond.

Lance Corporal James Collinson served in the Cheshire Regiment and lived at Manchester Road in Walkden with his wife and two children.

Before he joined up James had worked at the Bridgewater Colliery.

The family had already suffered terribly when James’ brother William was killed at Gallipoli earlier that year.

His is a rather poignant story.

His wife told the Eccles Journal in July 1916 that she was concerned that she hadn’t received a letter from him since the 1st day of the month – the opening day of the offensive against German lines at The Somme.

His final missive to her would be a short letter in which he expressed hope that the war would soon be over so he could come home and see her and his two children.

Enclosed in the envelope were red and white rose petals, to express love and the hope for peace.

Private Fred Meadowcroft, 19, lived at Vincent Avenue in Monton with his parents.

He had joined the Royal Scots Regiment in 1914 and would not survive beyond day one of the Battle of the Somme.

His friend Sergeant William Black, who also lived in Monton, wrote to the family expressing his sadness.

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“Your son was one of the best men I have ever had serving under me, and always steady even under heavy shelling.

“When the great advance was in progress there never was a braver lad on the field of battle, it is such as great heroes as Fred that our Battalion has won such great fame, for when the first battle was over the General with tears in his eyes thanked our gunners for their great work, saying that through their efforts wer instrumental in saving a whole division of men”.

 

He then added as a postscipt:

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“Fred was killed at once and suffered no pain”.

Private William Edward Barber, 18, lived on Liverpool Road, Irlam and left his job at the CWS Works to join the Manchester Pals.

His is yet another tragic story of the waste of a young life.

William had seen in action in France and had gained special permission to return home and get married, one month earlier.

His distraught widow received a letter from a friend, which said they went into action at 8.30am on that fateful day and William fell mortally wounded within half an hour.

His comrades said his death was a great loss and he would be sadly missed.

How on earth would William’s widow cope after only one month of marriage to lose such a young husband of 19?

Private John Mason, 22, who lived at Park Lane West, Pendlebury, joined the Lancashire Fusiliers in 1914 leaving his job as a surface hand at Clifton Colliery.

John Mason had seen more action than most serving soldiers.

He took part in the retreat from Mons in 1915, fought in the battles of the Aisne and the Marne, Ypres, Armentieres and Loos.

He had been gassed on two occasions by German troops, and was once shot in the head in combat but made a full recovery.

He was last home on leave in September 1915 for a few days before going back to France.

Sadly John’s luck was to run out on 1 July when he was shot and killed at the Battle of the Somme. This incredibly brave young man died at just 22 in yet another tragic waste of life.

Private Arthur Booth, 18, lived at Bolton Road, Pendlebury with his parents, he was employed at Clifton Hall Colliery before joining the Swinton and Pendlebury Pals in 1915.

His parents were to receive the shattering news of young Arthur’s death from a letter written to them by an officer in the Lancashire Fusiliers.

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“It is with very great regret that I have to inform you of the death of your son on the morning of 3 July.

“He was killed together with two of his friends by a very large shell which blew in the emplacement where he was serving his gun, he died instantly and without pain.

“I had a high regard for your son who was such a nice and cheerful and bright lad, its a cruel shame that he been taken away from you in the flower of his youth, he served his company and country with gallantry.”

 

Private Harold Leach, 22, joined the Lancashire Fusiliers in 1914 and left his place of employment at Dean’s Mill, he lived with his parents on Blantyre Street, Moorside, Swinton.

They too would receive a letter from his Commanding Oficer, Lieutenant Gribble bearing the dreaded news of his death.

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“It is with deepest regret that I have to inform you that Harold gallantly fell in action on 1 July,” he wrote.

“He was greatly loved by both officers and men and will be sadly missed, he died a true British hero fighting for his King and country and God willed it that he should pay the supreme sacrifice, he died without pain.”

 

While it was perhaps to spare the family’s feelings, it would be extremely unlikely that these young, terrified soldiers would die heroically, and painlessly.

Thousands of men died in agony, hit by shelling, with no medical aid, or trapped on barbed wire in No Man’s Land.

Many were not long out of their teens, single or just married, to die in some foreign field for a cause they probably knew nothing about.

The so-called Great War threw up daily tragedies for local people with family in the Armed Forces but this story from the Salford City Reporter of August 1916 is particularly heartbreaking.

Mrs Stephenson lived at 4 Fern Street in the ‘slum-clearance’ area of Hanky Park in Salford – where Salford Shopping City is now – with her three sons: Edward, Ernest and Harold.

Edward, 36, enlisted in the Lancashire Fusiliers in April 1915 and saw action at Ypres, St Eloi and Loos where he was wounded.

He rejoined his unit and was soon back in the action but sadly was to fall on the first day of the Battle of the Somme: July 1, 1916.

The news of his death was first received in a letter from Gunner Thomas Ford who wrote to Edward’s wife to assure that her that he would be buried safely.

Ford also described some personal photographs that he found on Edward’s body and said that he would send them back to the family when possible.

At the time of his death Edward was carrying a picture of his wife and one of their six children.

This photograph made it safely back to England via a Private W Heslop.

Further bad news was to come when news of Harold Stephenson arrived in Salford.

A letter arrived stating that Harold had been reported missing, presumed killed in action on 1 July, the exact same day and battle in which his older brother Edward perished.

Harold, 31, enlisted in the 15th Lancashire Fusiliers in November 1914 and was married with six children.

He lived at Tate Street, off Ellor Street, Salford and had been employed at Messrs Pike’s on Ordsall Lane, Salford.

I haven’t been able to find out whether Harold survived the war.

I do hope so – for one family to have to endure that amount of misery is beyond belief and just shows the absolute futility of war.

The youngest brother, 25-year-old Ernest was well-known in Salford as a keen sportsman and all-round promising athlete. Before enlisting he worked at Seedley Bleach Works.

His war was no better than his brothers.

News came through that on that same day, 1 July 1916, Ernest had also been reported missing in action.

A letter from his Army Chaplain, Rev TA Lee read:

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“I am very sorry to tell you that after the recent battle, Ernest was posted as missing.

“I am afraid that this means he has been killed and that his body has not been found.

“At such a time as this mere words do not seem of much use by way of comforting the bereaved, still I would remind you that he and his regiment did splendidly under very difficult circumstances and I hope that your pride in him will help you to bear his loss bravely, please accept my heartfelt sympathy”

 

The Salford City Reporter told that Mrs Stephenson still had not given up hope that her boys may have been captured as prisoners of war, and she continued to wait for them to turn up on her doorstep back in Salford.

Carrying on with our series on local soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Great War, we tell the story of Private Harry Hughes a Swinton man.

As the First World War continued to drag on through August 1916 the newspapers were becoming saturated with news of the deaths of local young men in France and Belgium.

This story from the pages of the Eccles and Patricroft Journal 100 years ago tells of the sad death of Private Harry Hughes who was serving in the Lancashire Fusiliers.

Harry, 28, lived at Central Buildings, Swinton and before enlisting in February 1915 was employed at the Electric Power Station in Radcliffe.

After a few weeks’ basic training he was shipped out to France along with many more young men all eager to do their bit.

He was able to survive 15 months in combat before tragedy struck.

His family received the dreaded letter through the door informing them of Harry’s death from his pal, Sergeant Dolby.

Dolby wrote:

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“It is with great sorrow and regret that I inform you of the death of your son.

“He had recently been transferred to my platoon as officer’s sergeant and he lost his life whilst trying to get in touch with his senior officer.”

 

There was no room for treading carefully around the subject, and Sgt Dolby continued:

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“He was shot through the head by a German sniper and died instantaneously, without suffering any pain.

“He was always a bright and cheerful fellow, and was well liked and respected by all the officers, NCOs and men.

“There is not a man who in the company who does not regret his loss, for he was a splendid soldier.

“He was buried on the field of battle during the night.”

 

He then added:

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“It may interest you to know that I managed to shoot the sniper through his head a short time afterwards.”

It seems bizzare to modern ears.

At a time when death was all around, perhaps Dolby honestly believed that news of their son’s killer’s death would somehow ease his parent’s grief?

To add to the sadness of Harry’s death we learn that he had been home on leave from the frontline in January and that he had been making plans to get married on his next leave.

So Harry’s sacrifice, brave as it was, would amount to no more than becoming just another name on the Menin Gate.

A good few years ago I wrote about local men serving in all branches of the armed forces in the Great War, with Remembrance Sunday looming I thought it would be nice to share a few of these stories, with a few men each day.

We start with the sad tale of Eccles man Joe Baines.

It would be a hard slog for 21-year-old Joe Baines to be accepted into the British Army.

The pressure to enlist and fight overseas was immense if you looked healthy enough and were of around the right age.

And while recruiters often turned a blind eye to men under the age limit, for those with medical problems it was more difficult to join their friends and comrades on the front line.

When war broke out young Joe was living on Silk Street in Eccles and working at the Eccles Bleach Works.

It would be a hard slog for 21-year-old Joe Baines to be accepted into the British Army.

The pressure to enlist and fight overseas was immense if you looked healthy enough and were of around the right age.

And while recruiters often turned a blind eye to men under the age limit, for those with medical problems it was more difficult to join their friends and comrades on the front line.

When war broke out young Joe was living on Silk Street in Eccles and working at the Eccles Bleach Works.

 
Eccles Bleach Works Reservoir – by Bernard Wakefield, Salford Museum & Art Gallery

As scores of his friends and colleagues from the shop floor enlisted to the King’s Liverpool regiment, Joe tried too, but was discharged with defective eyesight.

It meant he was deemed unfit for military service. It turned out to be months before he could try again.

In November 1915 Joe found a way in through the Manchester Regiment, where he was accepted and started to prepare to head out into the firing line.

His position would not be to fight, or to man the artillery as a gunner, but instead to be a cook.

He would survive only six months before his wife, married the year before, received the dreaded letter informing her of Joe’s death.

Just weeks before she had given birth to a baby son who Joe hadn’t seen – and never would.

The letter from his Company Sergeant told that Joe was one of the cooks in the regiment, adding:

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“He was none too strong, but he made up for that in pluck and endurance.”

The day before he was killed Joe was cooking in the camp a few miles from the front line when he asked if he could be sent to take the place of a wounded soldier who had been brought back to camp.

His request was refused.

However the next day the catering unit was ordered to form up just behind the front line.

As they were being relieved by other troops making their way back to their camp, tragedy struck.

A German shell dropped alongside their cooker, the blast downing both horses pulling the wagon, injuring two other cooks on the ride-along and tragically killing Joe outright.

His untimely death would be just one of many local men who joined up determined to do their bit, rewarded with a pointless death in a foreign land and leaving behind a devastated young family.
 

The annual Salford Histories Festival was held today in Swinton with over 30 stalls from various local history societies at The Fletcher Hall and four talks in the nearby St Peter's Church and it proved  to be a roaring success I am happy to say.

In The Fletcher Hall were stalls from, Buile Hill Mansion Group, Eccles and District History Society, Swinton Lions, Salford Link, Friends of St Thomas Church, Urmston and Davyhulme Postcard heritage, Salford Victoria Theatre, FRECCLES, , Boothstown Village, MLFHS, St Augustine Church, Pendlebury, Manchester Transport Museum, WCML, Irwell Valley Mining Project, Salford Local History Group, plus stalls manned by Sue Richardson, Martin Gittings, Chris Makepeace and Tom Brown Arts to name but a few.

Rebecca Long Bailey the Labour MP for Salford and Eccles presented the Frank Mullineux award to Lawrence Cassidy for his book on Cheetham Hill and Salford which was richly deserved as I have seen all the  hard work he has put into this.

Because of the popularity of this Festival two extra rooms in The Fletcher Hall were opened up to make room for the extra exhibitors and in one of them I was delighted to see The Merry Trotter room which was full of weird and wonderful memorabilia for times gone by and to be honest not that long ago, all of the exhibits, toys. games, kitchen utensils, tools, uniforms, books, children's annuals, radios you were encouraged to pick up and talk about, I was told they take the exhibits to schools, community groups, care homes etc, which is a wonderful thing to do.

Roll on next year and there is talk of it moving to a larger venue because of it's growing popularity, but still in the same area.

Finally I got the shock of my life when a lady approached me and asked if I had seen Tony Flynn in the Hall, I admitted that it was me and she told the chap with her, her Father was my Uncle Tony Yates, who I had not seen for over 60 years! and I have to admit I wouldn't have recognised him, however we are meeting up in a fortnight in Urmston for a catch up and a good chat, how good is that?

Today is the final day of the dig at St Thomas's Church, Pendleton in the, "Uncovering Pendleton's Past" project, after three weeks of volunteers removing the top grass and top soil to expose the headstones which have been unseen the early 1970s, when they were grassed over to make them look, "tidier"

The project which was funded by Historic England will enable researchers from The Greater Manchester Archaeological Advisory Service to build a profile of the people who are buried there, their place of birth, occupation and what trades were prevalent in the area, family, social issues relating to health etc.

So far 96 headstones have been revealed in two area of the churchyard, I took several photos of the headstones, plus we have drone footage and interviews with Barry and Theresa Emberton from, Friends of St Thomas's Church to come in the next few days.

Here are just a few of the names which adorn the headstones, they include Watson, Dolby, Rees, Diggle, Seddon, Hall, Holbrook, Handley, Clegg, Wright, Kirk, Mason, Cook, and Boame, are you possibly related?

It is thought that a further six months of research will be needed before the pieces of the proverbial jigsaw fall into place and then a fuller and clearer picture will emerge of these people buried and their lives, and I can't wait to see the finished article.

Thanks must be given to the army of volunteers including school children, students, interested locals, parishioners, even the local community bobby who worked through all weathers to see the job through.

A cautionary tale from the pages of The Salford City Reporter, October 1922 when Mary Hartley appeared at Salford Magistrates Court charged with unlawfully using her house in Florin Street, Pendleton for the purpose of betting.

Alongside her in the dock were, Edward Routledge 18, John McDermott 52, and William Jewson 18 charged with making bets, all the Defendants pleaded guilty.

The case which "aroused tremendous interest" was headed by Mr H Tomson who was prosecuting for the police, he told the court that the house had been under observation for the period, 6th until 13th September when they saw numerous visitors to the house and under cover policemen laid bets with Mary Hartley.

On the 6th of September the police witnessed some 40 men, women and children enter the house via the back door, after the police constables made their bets, suspicions were aroused and they were followed by a man believed to have been a "tout" who kept them under observation for over 90 minutes.

The police returned the next day and witnessed a further 50 people enter and make bets, again they went in and placed bets with Mary Hartley, presumably different policemen, this carried on for a further six days and a decision was made to raid the premises, led by Inspector Hulmes, Sergeant Lamb and several constables.

They found Mary in the kitchen speaking to William Jewson, he told police that he had gone there to place a bet on for another man, Inspector Hulmes informed Mary that he had a search warrant, she took a purse from her pocket which contained 14 shilling, six pence and betting slips relating to that days racing and informed he had no need to search the house as she had sent all the betting slips down to the pitch, some time ago.

They did carry out a search and found £56 11s 2d, two large paying out sheets, four smaller one's, several handicap books all relating to horse racing, sporting newspaper and betting slips.

Mr Tomson then told the court that with the number of people observed visiting the house he expected to have found more betting slips but had reason to believe what Mary had said was true also the police had the name of a man with his names on betting slips who was connected in this business...presumably a legal bookie who had a licence to operate on the track.

The Clerk of the Court asked him if these people in the dock were covered by a bookmaker who is behind the scenes?, he was told that this was true and he would foot the bill and was not uncommon.

Mr Flint for the Defence said that was mere inference and there was no evidence in court to show there was anybody else involved and if the man mentioned was involved he should be involved for aiding and abetting, and as for the money found in the house, Mary was the Treasure of several "nick nack" clubs, and that she had bills to prove that £36 of the money was for footwear, also she was the Secretary of a saving clubs, but it was only in the past weeks she had been taking bets in her back yard.

Getting into his stride he told the Magistrate that the raid took place at the busiest time in a bookmakers business yet the police only found 14 shillings and a few betting slips, yes they found other money but this could be explained by the number of people visiting her house to make daily contributions to their club money and as long as horse racing continues people will make a small wager he added for good measure...he is good isn't he?

The Chairman of the Bench no doubt, tied up in knots by Mr Flint's eloquent defence decided to hand out the sentences to the Defendants.

The three men were all fined 20 shillings.

Reserving his anger for Mary he told her that he had to administer the law as it stands and fined her £25 on each of the six summonses she was charged with, a staggering £150 in all, he added that she alone would have to pay the fine, but would be allowed time to pay.

That fine was aimed directly at the mysterious unnamed bookmaker and was meant to act as a deterrent for anybody who was considering stepping into her shoes.

My Grandfather, William Moran was a turf accountant in Salford and would work on courses throughout the country and his wife, Elizabeth my Grandmother often told ms stories about back street betting and her house in Regent Square, Salford was used for this purpose and often houses would be "rented out" as a front for months at a time with the understanding if they were caught you never named the bookie and he would pay your fine, plus they got a cut off the takings.

The Betting and Gaming Act of 1960 finally legalized off-course betting

Photo: Florin Street.

Another peep into Salford's colourful past with a look at a story from the pages of the Salford City Reporter, October 1922, when a Salford woman took offence at a fellow passenger on a tram.

Sarah Helen Greenwood who resided at Robert Hall Street, Salford appeared at Salford Magistrates Church charged with assaulting Fred Barlow a discharged soldier, from Norway Street, Salford.

Fred told the Magistrates Court that he and his wife took their seats on the upper deck of a tram after an evening out, where several drunken passengers were singing at the top of their voices, he told his wife that "they were in for a musical ride"

One of the drunken chorus, Sarah Greenwood overheard the remark and gave him a punch in the face, breaking his false teeth, when he stood up she knocked him back down and for good measure gave Fred's wife a dig in the mouth, cutting it.

Fred then went to the driver of the tram and pleaded to be let off, sadly the driver refused to stop, Sarah Greenwood had followed the pair down the tram and hit him again, the tram driver stopped her from carrying on the attack and let Fred and his wife off... the next bit made me laugh.

Sarah got off with them and carried on with her attack on him, he then asked a passing Police Constable for help but he was arrested and taken to the police station were he was charged with,  "behaving in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace"

This charge was later dropped and Sarah was charged with assault.

Sarah questioned Fred in court asking him why he he called her, "a dirty swine" and that he had hit her with his walking stick, which he denied, she then said that he had called her, "a dirty dog" and hit her with his stick, but did not retaliate.

The tram guard said he saw her hit Fred three times and carried on, "battering" him after he told her to stop, two other witnesses on the tram said that they had seen Sarah attacking him, with other passengers shouting at her to stop the attack.

The Magistrate fined her 20 shillings and awarded Fred a further 15 shilling for new false teeth.

She sounds a bit of a live wire does Sarah Greenwood, hopefully she behaved herself on further tram journeys and that Fred got his new teeth.

We paid a visit to St Thomas's Church, Pendleton today to see the progress being made on the uncovering of the gravestones in the church grounds, where almost 10,000 are buried and which was grassed over in the early 1970s

The project funded by a £10,000 grant from Historic England, will help shed light on the regions working class heritage, research will be carried out on the names revealed by using census records and this promises to be an amazing insight into how Pendleton grew and it's role in the Industrial Revolution and throughout the following years.

Work will be carry on for the next three weeks and then the real work will start as the names of the people interred there will be diligently researched by teams of volunteers, already they have found about a local character who used to frequent the nearby Church Inn, recently demolished who was in court for consuming poisoned beer...

Salford Mayor, Paul Dennett called in and gave a rousing speech about the importance of the work being carried out there and thanked the volunteers and Historic England for their kindness in funding the project.

We shall be returning in the next few weeks for a follow up story and look at the graveyard as it would have appeared many, many years ago.

We visited The Salford Armed Forces And Veterans, Breakfast Club in Winton today to speak to organiser, Glenn Croston, who told us of plans to remember, Harry George Crandon and William Mariner, two local men who won the coveted Victoria Cross.

Their names which are on a Roll of Honour at the Breakfast Club and will be added to new benches to be sited at the Swinton Cenotaph on November 2nd this year, the names of other medal winners will be added shortly.

Today we spoke to Linda Martinez who is a relative of George Henry Crandon who won his Victoria Cross in South Africa, for putting a wounded comrade onto his own horse, and taking him to safety whilst dodging hails of bullets on a 1,000 yard dash, he died in 1953 and is commemorated by a sheltered housing complex in Pendlebury which bears his name, and is buried in Swinton cemetery.

Also attending was Margaret Clarke who is married into the Mariner family who brought along a treasure trove of photos, letters, postcards, many of them from William Mariner to his mother who lived at, Fletcher Street, Lower Broughton, Salford.

Mariner was a fascinating character who I have written about before, who it must be said was a bit of a character, but the type of man you would want next to you in the trenches, a born fighter who didn't seem to know the meaning of fear.

He had served in the British Army since 1889 and was stationed in India, from 1901 -1907, being discharged in 1912 for several misdemeanours, he re-enlisted in August 1914 and was sent to France, serving in The Kings Royal Rifle Corps, on the night of 22nd May 1915, his unit was pinned down by German troops, he scrambled through barbed wire and hurled bombs into their placements, he actually waited until more Germans advanced and threw more bombs at them, wiping them out.

For this he was rightly awarded the Victoria Cross and returned to Salford in triumph, he went on his own to Buckingham Palace to receive his medal from The King, sadly his mother and sister had to pay their own train fare to see him be decorated, ironically they went to Windsor first, then onto Buckingham Palace and were too late to see him receive it.

The Army wanted Mariner to be a "poster boy" for the army and help in recruiting new soldiers, however he had other thoughts and went out enjoying his fame, often running into scrapes with the police and authorities until he returned in October 1915, and true to form he was killed in action attacking German lines, August 1916 aged 34.

It is right and fitting that these, two brave men should be remembered and full credit to Glenn Croston and his team of volunteers at The Salford Armed Forces And Veterans, Breakfast Club for ensuring that their names shall live for ever more.

I came across this story from the Salford City Reporter, August 1922 which carried the headline, "Woman's Amazing Conduct", judge for yourself.

Ellen Coleman aged 23 who gave her address as being, Regent Road, Salford appeared at Salford Magistrates Court charged with being drunk and disorderly at Exchange Railway Station.

Railway Constable Corless told the Court that he found the prisoner, drunk in the waiting room at 1.10am, when he attempted to wake her up she became abusive, so much so that he required assistance from a Police Constable to take her to the nearby, Chapel Street Police Station.

Ellen denied the allegations and asked Corless why he had come into the Waiting Room, he replied that it was his job and to see if she had a valid ticket, and when asked was told...."To -----with you"

He then added that Ellen's shoes and purse were on the waiting room floor, with money scattered around, and by her side was a Gents umbrella.

P.C. Gleeson said that he was on duty near the station when he heard screams and shouts and going up the ramp he saw Corless  struggling with Ellen Coleman, she was lying on the footpath and calling Corless, "opprobrious" names - look it up, I had too, and refusing to move an inch.

He tried to pick her up but she tried putting his hand in her mouth and attempting to bite it, at the Police Station she carried on struggling, even taking her shoe off and throwing it at his head, which missed.

P.C. Knott also gave evidence saying that she was very drunk when being took into custody.

When asked to comment, Ellen said there was no point as it was three policemen against her.

She then told the Stipendiary Magistrate that she arrived at Exchange Station at 12.20am and was waiting for the opening of the ticket office at 12.50am, when Corless walked in, she told him that she was going to Liverpool, he grabbed hold of her and took her to the Police Station but she said she walked all the way, unaided.

The Stipendiary Magistrate asked Inspector Mitchell if anything was known about her, he replied,

"No, nothing but I would like to ask for a remand in custody, when she was brought into the Police Station she was in possession of three brooches and four tickets relating to parcels in the left luggage office, she has told me that she has lived with Mother at an address on Regent Road, Salford, but told the Police Matron that she is a war widow and then told me her husband was away"

The 24 hour remand was granted.

The next day when she appeared in Court she was charged with being in possession of a Gents umbrella and coat, suspected to have been stolen and giving a false account of how she obtained them.

Inspector Mitchell said she had told P.C. Gleeson that they belonged to her brother who had gone the Isle of Man, and lived with her at Regent Road, enquiries revealed the address she had given was a lock up bicycle shop and neither her or her brother were known there.

P,C, Gleeson, gleefully told the Magistrate that when he told her that morning she was going to charged with these new offences, she replied..."Any more?  is that the lot, then?"

Ellen then said the items were her brothers and she was going to the Isle of Man to return them when she  was arrested and wanted them back for him.

Inspector Mitchell in a last ditch attempt to besmirch Ellen said that her fingerprints showed that she had been arrested for theft in Glasgow 1917...some five years ago!

Finally the Police Court Missioner. Mrs Wilford said that Ellen had told her that she had started a drapery business on Regent Road with money given to her by the Canadian Government in respect of her dead husband.

The Stipendiary Magistrate, no doubt as confused as the rest of us, fined her 30 shillings for being drunk but dropped all of the other charges.

Is it just me or do you think Inspector Mitchell had it in for Ellen, a 24 hour remand then adding new charges on top of the original charge? as for Ellen she sounded a bit of a character with little regard for authority, I hope she returned her brothers coat and umbrella to the Isle of Man and I bet she was smiling walking out of that Court!

Photo: Exchange Railway Station platform.

Sadly the Gods seem to be frowning down on me at the moment regarding the Eccles History Walk this Sunday with rain threatening to proverbially pee on my parade, chuck into the mix the closure of The Albert Edward pub on Church Street, where it was planned to hold a quiz and perhaps have some food...

The walk more of a limp actually will hopefully start at Eccles Railway Station, Church Street at 12pm and finish about 1:30pm/2pm

Some people are under the impression that this is a pub crawl around Eccles...No Sirree, far from it, we shall have a pint or a half in The Lamb, then walk around Eccles at The Eccles War Memorial and then hopefully a suitable venue for the quiz and food will be sorted...any suggestions?

But what will I learn on this educational walk I hear you scream from behind your tightly, drawn curtains, bear with me and I shall spill the beans, not all of them, you have to join the rest of the curious rabble on the tour.

You will stand slack jawed in amazement as you learn about horrific train crashes, and fatalities one in particular a first in the world, who on earth would put arsenic in the local beer causing deaths galore, men and women, mainly women to be honest, rampaging mobs, hell bent on smashing up shops and pubs, secret tunnels, body snatchers, millionaires, foul mouthed Mynah birds, 'orrible suicides, long gone, shops, cinemas, pubs, the cholera mass burial pit, Eccles Cross it's origins and mishaps, Fred Engels and his chums, the sinking of the RMS Lusitania, Beatlemania (The Kinks) as screaming girls pursue pop stars wielding scissors, Eccles race course, yes we did have one, Eccles cakes and a bizarre death by a lightning bolt...need I go on?

Know here is the good bit, where you the reader can feel better about yourself, I intend charging a measly £5 for this two hour extravaganza or if your tight chuck what you can afford in to the collecting bucket wielded by my bodyguard Karl, all of the money raised will be split between the Mustard Tree Foodbank and Salford Unemployed and Community Resource Centre on Liverpool Road, Patricroft, who both do sterling work helping those less fortunate in our community, and disgraceful in my opinion that we need foodbanks in this day and age..

Also if you have any spare tins of food lurking at the back of the cupboard, pasta, toiletries etc please bring them along and they will be shared with the foodbanks. Karl likes Pineapple Chunks or Sliced Peaches.

I think I have covered everything, the last walk before Covid struck attracted lots and lots of people, a bit too many as I had to shout through a rolled up newspaper so I could be heard, perhaps it could be limited to, shall we say 25 people?

Let me know what you think and try and keep it clean, children read these pages, so weather and the police permitting we set sail at 12pm from Eccles Railway Station. 

See you there.

Members of the community in Bolton and beyond are being invited to dig into an important part of the town’s past over the coming weeks at Hulton Park.

Historically the town of Little Hulton was originally a village in the ancient Deane parish with a chapel, sometimes called Peel Chapel. The chief manor was held by the Hultons at Hulton Park in Over Hulton. In 1974 it became an electoral ward in Little Hulton.

A team of archaeologists from the University of Salford will be exploring the site of the former Hulton Hall on the 1,000-acre Hulton Estate from July 25, with members of the public, local schools and other groups invited to join in.

The community dig is the first in a summer programme of events and family activities planned at Hulton Park, as landowners Peel L&P welcome the Bolton community for a rare glimpse of the historic estate.

The full programme of Hulton Park Happenings events programme will be announced in the near future and is set to include a number of activities through the second half of 2022 based around culture and arts, history and heritage, sports and wellbeing. The Happenings will also showcase Hulton Park’s potential to host community events in the future, as an integral part of the proposed restoration plans.  

With a myriad of historical and cultural connections as diverse as being the seat of William Hulton, who in 1819 signed the order that led to the Peterloo Massacre, and the site of the UK’s third worst mining accident in the Pretoria Pit disaster of 1910, whilst the Hulton family and archive were the inspiration for the hit TV series Downton Abbey. The archaeological excavation is a rare opportunity to see first-hand an important part of this historic estate.

Now owned by Peel L&P, the company is keen to uncover and celebrate the history of the Hulton Estate as part of its wider restoration plans. Working in partnership with the University of Salford, Peel L&P has commissioned the dig on the site of the former Hulton Hall which is expected to have plenty of undiscovered historical artefacts. Its cellars and foundations are not thought to have been explored since the Hall was demolished by the Hultons in 1958.

As part of the archaeological exploration, local residents and historical enthusiasts will be invited from the 25th July – 6th August to take part in the community dig, whilst learning more about the history of the estate. 

Graham Mottershead, Project Manager at Salford Archaeology, said: 

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“Hulton Park and the Hulton family played an instrumental role over 700-years in shaping the history not only of Bolton, and indeed the society we know today. The team and I are incredibly excited to be leading this project and we can’t wait to get started.

“For those living and working around Bolton over the last 700 years, the Hultons were influential in their everyday lives. 

“Excavations like this will help us learn a great deal about some of the most important periods of human history and provide the people of Bolton with an in-depth understanding of the heritage of their town.” 

 

Charlotte McCarthy, Group Archivist at Peel L&P, who researched the history of the Hulton family and the Estate said: 

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“Although Hulton Park was a private family estate, in its heyday the Hulton family would host specific events and activities including its Primrose Garden parties, charity open days, group outings and scout camps.

“We are really pleased to offer our neighbours from across Bolton and the wider area the opportunity to join the dig. Who knows what fascinating treasures are waiting to be unearthed?

“Our long-term vision for Hulton Park includes restoring parts of estate back to their former glory like the pleasure grounds, walled kitchen garden and serpentine lake, and opening up new walking and cycling routes through the Park, for people to use and enjoy. We are living in a really exciting period of modern history for Hulton Park that we hope local people will engage with and this event is just the start of many more we wish to bring to the Park over the next few months.”

 

Ian Trumble, Chair of Bolton Archaeology and Egyptian Society, who is joining the dig along with Greater Manchester Young Archaeologist’s Club, said: 

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“Having not been explored in 700 years, the potential of Hulton Park as an archaeological site is really exciting and we cannot wait to see what we can find! Untouched estates like these, especially in the North West, are really rare to come by and function as a time capsule into Bolton’s pre-historic past.

“Hulton Park has always played a prominent role in Bolton’s history. The community dig is a great opportunity to give the next generation the opportunity to get on site and physically dig, explore and find artefacts, as well as learn more about their town’s heritage – hopefully to inspire the next generation of archaeologists within the region!”

 

There will also be dedicated slots available for local schools and community groups.  

Availability will allow visitors six years-old and over to sign up for a three-hour slot (9am-12pm or 1pm-4pm) or full day, with sun cream and refreshments provided on the day. Equipment will also be provided, with the University of Salford asking those attending to wear sturdy footwear and appropriate clothing. Register to take part here.

I think it would be fair to say that the lovely ladies of Salford are not only intelligent, attractive, amusing, debonair and can get stuck in, if it goes off, as this story from the Salford City Reporter of July 1922 shows. 

Nicholas Keriakides, Joseph Prudholm and Harold Davies, described as being seamen appeared at Salford Magistrates Court charged with being drunk and disorderly.

Prudholm was also charged with assaulting, P.C. Breeze and damaging an umbrella belonging to Mrs Ellen Swarbrick, a married woman from Halliwell Street, whilst Davies was charged with assaulting P.C. Breeze and a man called Benjamin Ferguson.

Pc, Breeze told the Court that he saw the three men, singing and shouting on Regent Road and then jostling passers-by, he told them to behave, but they continued with their behaviour, rather bravely or foolishly he decided to arrest all three men and take them into custody at Regent Road Police Station.

Rather than go quietly as he hoped, they set about kicking and punching him, then pulled him to the ground and kneeled on him, several passers-by came to his assistance, Davies then bit and kicked Benjamin Ferguson so badly he needed hospital attention.

Up stepped the plucky Ellen Swarbrick who without a thought for her own safety began walloping the three men around the head and body with her umbrella, this infuriated Davies so much, that he snapped it in half and threw it onto Regent Road. undeterred Ellen grabbed the Constable's whistle and blew for help.

Police reinforcements arrived due to Ellen's quick thinking and the desperados were taken to the police station, once there Davies tried to throw away a razor he was carrying in his jacket when he was being searched.

In Court the Stipendiary Magistrate, Mr Atkin warmly commended Ellen for her courageous actions and wished it to be placed on record.

He then turned his attention to the three men in the dock,

Nicholas Keriakides was fined 12 shillings and sixpence, Harold Davies was fined £1 for being drunk and disorderly and three months imprisonment with hard labour for assaulting P.C. Breeze and Mr Ferguson, Joseph Prudholm was fined £1 for being drunk and disorderly, ordered to pay Ellen,13 shillings and sixpence for a new umbrella, and a months hard labour for assaulting P.C, Breeze.

Justice of a sort was done, the guilty men were sent to Strangeways and Helen got a new umbrella for her public spirited behaviour, would it happen today, though is another question.

What was described as  being as one of the most remarkable statements ever heard in a Salford Court was made by John James Casey, who gave an address in Cork who was charged with embezzling three sums of money totalling £4 and three shillings from his employers. Messrs R. Shaw and Co Ltd, paint manufacturers, New Bailey Street Salford, in July 1922.

The Salford Police Courts heard from Detective Inspector Mitchell who said that Casey had been employed as a traveller by Shaw and Co  of Salford from April 15th until he absconded on April 24, he was permitted to collect accounts on behalf of the firm, three amounts were taken by him and never payed to the firm, as the result of a police investigation he was found in Bristol.

Casey pleaded guilty but then asked if he could have a word with the Stipendiary Magistrate, Mr W. P. Atkin and then in a rather dramatic confession told him the following,

"I am very sorry for what I have done, I am absolutely sorry but there is a deep cause, for what i did, I should like to tell you what the cause was, it was practically a pistol to my head"

He stated that when war broke out he joined the British Army and was sent to Ireland, where he remained until 1916, one night going back the barracks he was captured by the IRA and was sentenced to death, but if he would help in the blowing up of the military barracks at Cork, he would be spared, when the day came he informed Lieutenant Sir John Maxwell and the plot was foiled.

After this he went to France but returned to England in 1920, where he was discharged from the Army in consequence of wounds he had received in combat, he then went back to Ireland and was recaptured by the IRA and was given "duties to perform", one of these was to give information on a certain British Army General whom he was acquainted with, on his return to England he moved to Manchester and given incendiary bombs and instructions to set fire to buildings in Salford which contained chemicals, which he refused...you smell a rat yet?

This fantastic story carried on and on, he claimed he was fined £100 by the IRA for not carrying out his duties! and was given time to pay...he only had £14 on him and so he joined Shaw and Co where he stole the money to pay the them. 

He returned to Dublin...like you would, and they asked him for his help in assassinating Sir Henry Wilson in London, and would you believe it, he wrote to Sir Henry Wilson and the Home Secretary to warn them of this threat.

Sir Henry Wilson was assassinated by the IRA on the doorsteps of his home In London in June 1922 by two gunmen who were caught at the scene and hung at Wandsworth prison in August that year, it's no great leap of the imagination to assume that Casey had read the account of the murder and wove his mesh of lies to include him and his vivid imagination.

Detective Inspector Marshall told the Court that they were prepared to accept his story about his military service but not the rest of his statement, and that he had told them he was a citizen of Ireland, America and England but they had reason to believe he was a Russian subject, and he was remanded in custody for two weeks whilst enquiries were to be carried out.

At the resumed hearing a different tale was told, Detective Inspector Mitchell said that Casey was born in Russian but had lived in England since he was six years of age and had served on a training ship in the band of The Royal Dublin Fusiliers, and rather being wounded he had spent more time before medical boards than anywhere else.

I had to laugh when Casey asked the Magistrate if he could withdraw all the statements he had made about the IRA and Ireland and that he had sent a letter to the Secretary of State asking the same!

The Magistrate called him a "Romancer and a dangerous man" and sent him to prison for three months for the embezzlement charges.

I can't understand why the police took any notice of this fantasist although he could certainly spin a story, and it would be interesting to see if Mr Casey ever returned to Cork a hotbed of Irish Republicanism at that period of time and the birth place of Michael Collins.

Photo: Sir Henry Wilson.

Now that is what I call a headline, it wouldn't be out of place in any daily tabloid newspaper, however it is from the pages of The Salford City Reporter, July 1922... read on.

John Joseph Jones who resided at Brunswick Street, Salford appeared at Salford Magistrates Court charged with assaulting Edith Kinchin, and there was a counter summons by him for wilful damage.

The full story unfolded before the Stipendiary Magistrate Mr W. F. Atkin a tale of bad blood and no love lost between them.

Edith who appeared in the dock with a "severe bruise, visible" on her face, told the court that, she saw Jones on the street and reminded him that she had not forgotten about the lump on her head, which she alleged he had caused in an earlier argument  he reacted by striking her in the face with his crutch which felled her to the ground, Jones wife then joined in the assault by hitting her with a stick as she lay on the ground, and she was taken to Salford Royal Hospital for treatment.

Jones told the Court a different story, he said that he was only acting in self defence after she assaulted him, and claimed that she offered him 17 shilling and sixpence to settle the matter.

Prior to this she had stopped him in the street and assaulted him, he intended pressing charges against her but on a Police Constables advice he stayed indoors, but the morning following the alleged assault on her, at 1.20am he was woken by the sound of breaking glass and looking through his bedroom window he saw Edith in her stockinged feet, armed with a stick, smashing three of his windows.

Edith vehemently denied this saying that was still at Salford Royal Hospital being treated for her injuries caused by the Jones family. This was backed up by two women friends of her.

The Stipendiary Magistrate no doubt less than amused by both parties, gave his verdict.

Edith Kinchin was fined 20 shillings for breaking Mr Jones windows and warned about her future behaviour.

He then fined John Joseph Jones, 20 shillings for the assault but added that in his opinion he had taken advantage of his crutch, and if he came before him again for a similar offence, he would make it very awkward for him.

Reading between the lines they both sound a dreadful pair of neighbours who would go out of their way to cause trouble and deserved what they got, I wonder what the legalities of sending a one legged man to prison are?

My late Father used to tell me, that In Ireland you can't hang a man with a wooden leg...I asked why... the reply was... you have to use a rope... the Winter nights flew by in our house.

Photo: Rear of Brunswick Street.

Marital harmony is a wonderful thing I have been told, sadly this couple from Salford must have missed that memo, when Arthur Blewitt of St Stephen Street, appeared at  he Salford Stipendiary Court charged with unlawfully wounding his wife, Mary Ellen.

P.C. Barrett, told the Court that he was on duty at St Stephen Street when he noticed a crowd gathered around a house, he ascertained from speaking to Mary Ellen, who told him that she had been arguing with her husband and was afraid to go back into the house.

The noble Constable knocked on the front door asked Arthur if he would let his wife back in to the house and calm down, to which he dutifully agreed, however he slammed the door shut once she was inside and they began fighting again, with Mary Ellen screaming for police help.

Arthur had struck her on the head with a decanter causing a wound that required treatment at the nearby, Salford Royal Hospital, a scalp wound, described as being, "not of a serious nature", he was arrested and taken into police custody, where he said he had nothing to say,, however his wife turned up at the police station asking if he could be granted bail and released...not granted.

Mary Ellen took the stand and told the Magistrate that she had taken "a drop" of drink on the Saturday night and was not accustomed to it, Arthur reprimanded her for being drunk to which she answered by throwing a flower vase at his head, he ducked and it smashed against the wall luckily for him.

Arthur then gave his side of the story, 

"She has admitted being drunk and I was stone cold sober, we have six children and I would not like to injure my wife, I love her.

She took the flower vase from the dresser and flung it at me, it smashed and in my temper I picked a piece up and threw it at her it caught her on the head, but I had no intention of harming her"

The Stipendiary Magistrate after hearing all the evidence told the warring couple,

"If you both give up the drink it would be better for each of you, and for the children, also it will enable you to live more happily together"

The couple then promised to abstain from intoxicants and were discharged from the Court.

Nice to see a happy ending to a domestic argument as they do sound like a loving couple, albeit with a few hiccups, I do hope they kept of the drink and lived happily ever after.