David's Story.
David Ainscough was born in Birkenhead, on 4th June 1894, the son of William and Martha Ann Ainscough. Both of his parents had been born in Birkenhead, in 1864, and had married in 1884. They went on to have 10 children, of which 3 died. By 1911, William Ainscough was employed as a General Labourer, living at 42 George Street, Birkenhead, with his wife, and 5 surviving children: William (Jnr) (born in 1886); David (born in 1894); Albert (born in 1900); Lillian (born in 1902); and Joseph (born in 1906). Of the 5 children, the 2 eldest son’s, William and David, were both employed as General Labourer’s, and the remaining children were still at school. David had previously been educated at St. Werburgh’s School, Birkenhead. By 1913, he was employed as a Boiler Cleaner with the Pacific Steamship Company. In his spare time he was a member of the Shaftesbury Boys Club.
In February 1914, David Ainscough enlisted into the Cheshire Regiment (No.9622), and on completion of his training, joined the 1st Bn. In August 1914, he was mobilized, but did not go to France with his battalion when they left later that month. Instead, he was drafted to France on 18th December 1914, and re-joined his battalion then. Private Ainscough continued to serve with his battalion until he was killed in action on 6th May 1915, in positions near Larch Wood, near Hill 60, in the Ypres Salient, Belgium. His body was never recovered and identified from the battlefield, and is therefore commemorated by name only on Panel’s 19 & 22, The Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium.
His medal entitlement was Memorial Plaque, 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, and Victory Medal.
His eldest brother, George Ainscough also served with the Cheshire Regiment, and was a Prisoner – of – War in Germany when David was killed in action. Another brother – William Ainscough – had enlisted into the Lancashire Fusiliers, and at the time of David’s death, was recovering from wounds in a hospital at Barrow-in-Furness.
David Ainscough is commemorated in the Shaftesbury Boys Club Roll of Honour book, and on the Shaftesbury Boys Club Roll of Honour sampler.
Researched and compiled by Peter Threlfall.
The Birkenhead News reported his death.
Birkenhead News 12 June 1915
Birkenhead Private gives his Life
A PATRIOTIC FAMILY
News has been received by Mrs. Ainscough, of 9, George Street, Birkenhead, that her son, Private David Ainscough, of the 1st Battalion Cheshire Regiment, had been killed in action in France.
Private Ainscough who was only 20 years of age, had been in the regiment about two years, and on the outbreak of war was sent with the British Expeditionary Force to France. His mother has received many communications from him, written in a very cheery spirit.
Before the war he was employed as a boiler cleaner by the Pacific Steamship Company. He was educated at St. Werburgh’s School. His brother George of the same regiment, is now a prisoner of war in Germany, while another brother, who is attached to the Lancashire Fusiliers, has been to France, was wounded, and is now at Barrow-in-Furness.
The picture of James and the newspaper article added by Chris Booth.