Vote for us in the Everyday History Heroes competition run by Find My Past and Heritage Open Days! We are one of three sites shortlisted in the North West and need your vote please. Research on three local men on our War Memorial has revealed their ordinary lives in Stockport, including tragedies and challenges even before the Second World War cast it’s dark shadow over everyone’s lives.
Read their stories on our display and accompanying booklet.
Help Find Living Descendants – Do you know our 2nd World War Chaps?
Research was conducted using Findmypast and other sources to discover the stories of unknown names on our War Memorial. As they were local men, we think there may be some descendants who do not know their ancestor is remembered here in St Peter’s. Can you help us to trace them?
John Hardy lived with wife Hilda and their family on Eastwood Drive in Adswood. He also had earlier connections to Northgate Road, Daw Bank and Heaton Norris. John joined the Royal Army Service Corps, and was listed as ‘presumed killed’ when the minesweeper he was on was torpedoed.
James Platt grew up around the King Street/Daw Bank area and married Florence Ditchfield in St Matthew’s Church in 1941. He joined the Royal Artillery Anti-Aircraft 48 Regiment and was taken prisoner by the Japanese in 1943. He died in a prison camp in March 1945.
Richard Rowlinson married Florence and lived over his mother’s shop on Chestergate. He also joined the Royal Artillery and was in the 5th Searchlight regiment in Singapore when it surrendered to the Japanese in 1942. Sadly we were not able to find a picture of Richard and hope someone knows him.
There is much more to their lives to discover in our exhibition, and we now also mark VJ Day with an Act of Remembrance and Free 1940s Tea Party on Saturday 15th August from 10.30am.