Robert's Story.
There are no Duncan’s on Weaverham St. Mary’s “Roll of Honour” but a Harold Duncan came up when searching service records just using Weaverham as did a Robert Woodward Duncan.
The 1911 census for the Duncan family has them living at Huxley St. Castle. Joseph head of the family was aged 50, a chemical labourer and was born Winsford; His wife Lucy, aged 40, having had 8 children all surviving; Robert aged 19, Chemical Labour, Ruby aged 17, Fusion? Cutter, Harold aged 14, Chemical Labourer, Ada aged 12, school, Emily aged 10, school, Evelyn aged 6 all born Weaverham; finally Thomas, aged 4 and Joseph aged 7m, born Northwich.
Cheshirebmd/Freebmd do not record the birth of a Robert Woodward Duncan in the the years 1880 – 1900 which is a puzzle when looking at the census data.
The Weaverham search brought up Robert’s service documents, which confirm the above details. The best address in the files appears to be 39 Huxley St. Castle Park, Northwich. This is the same address as Harold Duncan. It would appear that Robert was born at Weaverham, attested on the 1/9/14 at Preston, Posted on the 15/9/14 Gunner. Embarked Avonmouth M.E.F. 18/6/15, embarked at Alexandria 13/2/16 and disembarked at Basra 7/3/16. Demobbed 14/4/1919, medical A1.
N.A.M.C. - record a Robert W. Duncan with the Royal Field Artillery, Reg’t. No 12330, Rank Gunner, awarded British, Victory and 14/15 Star medals, Theatre of War Egypt, and Date of Entry11/7/15.
B. M. & Co. R.o.H. booklet does not record a Robert Duncan even though the 1911 census records him working as a Chemical Worker.
Cheshirebmd have a Robert W. Duncan/Mary Johnson marriage in 1920, Northwich Civil Marriage.
1921 Census records Robert Duncan living with his in-laws the Johnson family at, 20 Broken Cross Place, Rudheath. Robert was working at the Electro Bleaching Company at Middlewich. Robert and Mary have one child, Robert Joseph Duncan, 6 months old.
Research Bob H.