William's Story.
EARLY LIFE
William was born on 29 July 1889, the son of Gertrude (née Smart) and William A Aldred, a paper-hanger. William was educated at Armitage Street School, Manchester between 28 September 1897 and 24 April 1903.
In 1901, 11-year-old William was living at 49 Elizabeth Street, Gorton, with his parents and siblings Harry (17), Amy (15), Maggie (13), Frank (9), Eric (7), Edwin (4) and Sidney (1). By 1911 the family had moved to 4 Ventnor Avenue, Levenshulme, and included two more children, Tom (6) and Lora (4); twenty-one-year-old William was employed as a joiner.
William later moved to Macclesfield and in 1913 he joined the Amalgamated Society Of Carpenters & Joiners Trade Union as a joiner.
On 24 July 1915 William married Emily Potts at St Paul's Church, Macclesfield. He stated that he was a 25-year-old joiner, lived at 11 Jodrell Street, Macclesfield and his father was Henry Aldred, a painter. A son, Eric, was born the following year but he sadly died a few months later.
WW1 SERVICE
William Aldred enlisted in Macclesfield, initially serving with the Royal Engineers with service number 277477. He was later transferred to the 10th Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry with service number 36695.
It is not known where and how William was wounded but he died from his wounds at a casualty clearing station on 11th December 1917.
William's death was announced in the Manchester Evening News of 22 December 1917:
ALDRED - Private W Aldred, 36695, Royal Engineers, 1 Jodrell Street, Macclesfield (formerly of Longsight), died in Clearing Station abroad from wounds received in action. Deeply regretted by his sister and brother-in-law. 10, Green Street, Tib Street, Manchester.
COMMEMORATION
Private William Aldred is buried in Grave Ref. IV. B. 17. of the Tincourt New British Cemetery, France.
In Macclesfield, William Aldred is commemorated on the Park Green, Town Hall and St Michael's Church war memorials.
SOURCES
GRO Indexes: Births, Marriages, Deaths
England and Wales Census: 1891, 1901, 1911
Trade Union Membership Registers (Find My Past)
Cheshire Parish Registers: Marriages (Ancestry)
National School Admission Registers (Find My Past)
Lives of the First World War website
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Manchester Evening News: 22 December 1917
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.