Trafford

Born Margaret Frances Heath on the 1st August 1904, the birth being
registered during the September quarter 1904 in the Salford R.D. - ref:
8d/181, the daughter of James & Margaret Heath (nee Shee).

1911 Census - No Trace.

Married John Carney during the September quarter 1931 in the Salford R.D. -
ref: 8d/944.

1939 National Registration - 83 Oakfield Road, Altrincham.   Margaret F.
Carney - Married - born: 1st August 1904 - occ: Unpaid Domestic Duties. 
Annie Carter - Married - born: 7th September 1908 - occ: Unpaid Domestic
Duties.  There was one redacted record at this address.

Just before 20.30 hrs during the second night of the "Manchester Blitz", a
bomb fell on the corner of Oakfield Road & Moss Lane, Altrincham,
destroying six houses and killing 12 civilians. 

Aged 36, Margaret was killed at 83 Oakfield Road, Altrincham, where she
lived with her husband John Carney.    Again the ARP Rescue Services had to
dig in the rubble to locate Margaret.   Her CWD Ref No. 5 - states that she
was buried by Masonry and that her body was fully dressed when found at
06.00 hrs on the 24th December 1940.   Her body was taken to A.B. Brookes &
Son's Mortuary, Stamford New Road, Altrincham and because her husband was
serving in H.M. Forces, it was identified by her brother - George Heath, 60
Stowel St, Salford 5.   Margaret was buried in an unmarked grave in
Altrincham (Hale) Cemetery.   Buried 30/12/1940 - Burial No. 10,768.

Although not individually named, Margaret is one of the 12 local residents
killed at this site and around the corner on Moss Lane who are commemorated
in the Memorial Garden on the corner of Moss Lane and Oakfield Road.

On Friday 23rd December 2011 a group of local residents, relatives of the
victims and civic dignitaries attended a wreath laying ceremony at the
memorial garden on Oakfield Road, Altrincham, to the 12 civilians that died
when a German bomb landed at this site at about 8.30 pm 71 years ago to the
day.

The Sale & Altrincham Messenger sent a photographer and a short report of
the ceremony appeared in the 5th January 2012 edition of their newspaper.  
 The Hale, Sale & Altrincham Independent Newspaper also reported the event
in their January 2012 edition.

As the articles attracted such interesting feedback from relatives of
victims and those involved in their recovery, the Messenger's Chief
Reporter Chris Griffin,  researched the event further and wrote a number of
excellent articles about it and the families involved.   He also reported
about the recent demolition of the nearby Bridge Inn public house where one
of the victims was raised.    The articles were dated 12th January, 26th
January, 2nd February, 16th February, 1st March and the 15th March 2012.  
Chris was able to obtain much unknown information and personal photographs
of a number of the victims from their families.

Six houses were demolished in this incident - Nos. 83, 85, 97, 98 & 91
Oakfield Road, plus the first house on Moss Lane.    No.43 Moss Lane was
situated immediately behind No. 91 Oakfield Road.  These two dwellings
suffered the greatest amount of damage and was obviously the point where
the bomb struck.   The bodies from these two houses were the last to be
recovered at 1.0 pm on Christmas Day.    The land where Nos. 83 to 91
Oakfield Road was sited is now the site of the Memorial Garden and a
builders merchants now occupies the site of No. 43 Moss Lane.