Wallace Doody's Story.
EARLY LIFE
Wallace Doody Latham was born on 13 July and baptised on 13 August 1893 at St Lawrence's Church, Biddulph, Staffordshire, the son of Frances (nee Moss) and Henry Latham, a domestic coachman. In 1901, seven-year-old Wallace was living at 49, Bradley Smithy, Gurnett, near Macclesfield with his parents and siblings John Henry (16), Winifred Emma (14), Walter (11), Ethel (5), Edwin (3) and Frank (1). Ten years later the family was living at the same address and Wallace was employed as a shop assistant at a clothing outfitters.
Wallace was educated at Sutton St George Branch (London Road) School, Macclesfield, and in 1906 enrolled at Macclesfield Technical School to further his education; he was then working as a hatter. After serving an apprenticeship at Naden's outfitters in Mill Street, Macclesfield, Wallace worked in Manchester at Affleck and Brown's department store, once known as "the Harrods of the north."
WW1 SERVICE
Wallace enlisted in January 1916, joining the Cheshire Regiment with service number 4183, and was drafted to France in November 1916. The Macclesfield Times reported on 17 August 1917 that he had recently been wounded, and was repatriated to the UK to be treated in hospital at York:
Private Wallace Latham, Cheshire Regiment, has written to his mother, who resides at 49 Gurnett, Macclesfield, stating that he was wounded on active service in France on August 5th. It appears... that Private Latham was taking his captain down to have a wound attended to at the dressing station. On the way they were met by the chaplain, and as the three were together a shall came over, killing the captain and the chaplain and wounding Private Latham in the legs and left foot. He is now in hospital in York, and has been under X-rays for the extraction of the shrapnel. Twenty-four years of age, Pte Latham was educated at the London Road (Branch) Day School, and was connected with Sutton St James' Church and Sunday School, being at one time a choir boy. For a time he was in the employ of Messrs Naden Bros., Mill Street, Macclesfield, and then went to work at Affleck and Brown's, Manchester. Pte Latham joined the Army twelve months ago last January, and was drafted to France the following November. He has previously been in hospital with muscular pains, but was not sent over to England.
He was a well-known local sportsman, being a playing member of the Wednesday's Football Club, now disbanded. As a runner, he gained several distinctions and holds a medal for the cross-country championship in connection with the Manchester Business Men. Three brothers are serving with the colours, viz.: First Air Mechanic John Henry Latham, Royal Flying Corps, stationed in Scotland; Private Edwin Latham, Manchesters (serving in France); and Private Frank, who is only eighteen years of age, with a training reserve at Kinmel Park, North Wales, Another brother, Mr Walter Latham, is engaged upon munition work at Arnside, Westmoreland.
Wallace was later transferred to the Army Pay Corps, service number 23752, possibly due to his injuries, and most likely spent the remainder of the war years serving in England in a clerical role.
Wallace survived the war, but unfortunately died in an accident in Arnside, Cumbria, on 11 September 1920. A report of his death was printed in the Macclesfield Advertiser on 17 September 1920:
BOATING DISASTER AT ARNSIDE - MACCLESFIELD MAN DROWNED
The story of a boating fatality at Arnside, off Morecambe Bay, and the strenuous efforts of the two occupants to swim against the current, was told at an inquest held at Arnside on Wallace D. Latham (28), of Gurnett, Macclesfield, who drowned on Saturday morning. The evidence showed that the deceased and a friend named John V. Williams, also of Macclesfield, who were spending a holiday together, hired a boat and rowed down towards the railway viaduct. Here the current proved to be so strong that the boat was dashed with tremendous force against one of the viaduct's columns, and smashed to pieces. Both men were able to swim, and when Williams came to the surface he found Latham about three yards away. Williams asked if his friend was all right, and he replied "Yes." They then made strenuous efforts to reach and empty boat which was moored about 50 yards away, but after swimming some distance they were caught in a current and sucked down. When Williams came to the surface again he could see no sign of his companion. Meanwhile two boats had put off from the shore, and Williams was picked up in an exhausted condition, after struggling in the water for about half an hour. Three hours later, as the tide was receding, Latham's body was found lying face downwards in a foot of water.
A verdict of "accidental death" was returned.
The deceased, who had served in the Army and was wounded in France, was well-known in the town... His father was for many years coachman to the late Colonel W W Stancliffe, J.P., of Byron's Lane, and much sympathy is felt for the Latham family in their sad bereavement.
The interment took place on Wednesday afternoon, at St James's, Higher Sutton. About sixty relatives and friends walked in the procession to the church... There were about thirty floral tributes, including wreaths from Messrs Naden Bros., outfitters, Mill Street, Macclesfield (with whom the deceased served his apprenticeship), and Messrs Affleck and Brown, drapers, etc., Manchester, where he was employed prior to joining the army and since demobilisation.
The body was conveyed from Arnside to Macclesfield by motor-car on Tuesday evening.
COMMEMORATION
Private Wallace Latham is buried in grave ref. New Part. 156. in Sutton St James Churchyard.
Locally, Private Wallace Latham is commemorated on the Macclesfield Park Green war memorial.
SOURCES
GRO (England & Wales) Index: Births
Staffordshire Parish Baptism Registers (Find My Past)
Census (England & Wales): 1901, 1911
Cheshire School Admission records (Find My Past)
British Army Medal Index Cards (Ancestry)
WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls (Ancestry)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Lives of the First World War website
Macclesfield Times: 17 August 1917
Macclesfield Advertiser: 17 September 1920
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.