Trafford

Birth registered as JOHN ONIONS.   Born on the 28th May 1888, the birth
being registered during the September quarter 1888 in the Chorlton R.D. -
ref: 8c/661, the eldest son of John & Mary Ann Onions (nee Bird).  
Baptised at the Church of St. Clement, Chorlton cum Hardy on the 5th August
1888.

His father - John Onions died at the beginning of 1891 - aged: 43.   His
mother - Mary Annie Onions then married - George Hulme during the June
quarter 1899 in the Chorlton R.D. - ref: 8c/1578.

1891 Census - Up Entry, Beech Road, Chorlton cum Hardy.   Son - (LISTED AS
JOHN ONIONS) - aged: 7 - born: Chortlton cum Hardy.   Head of household -
Mary A. Hulme - Widow - aged: 36 - born: Birmingham.   Plus 2 elder
siblings and his younger brother - Frank Onions - aged: 3 months - born:
Chorlton cum Hardy.

1901 Census - 53 Acres Road, Chorlton cum Hardy.    Son - (STILL LISTED AS
JOHN ONIONS) - aged: 13 - born: Chorlton cum Hardy.   Head of household -
George Hulme - Married - aged: 44 - occ: Teamsman on Farm - born:
Partington.   Also Mary A. Hulme - Wife - aged: 45 - born: Birmingham.  
Plus his younger brother - Frank Onions - aged: 10 - born: Chorlton cum
Hardy.  Two of George Hulme's children were also listed.

Recorded as JOHN INIONS - he married Catherine Hennerley at Knutsford
Registry Office on the 30th October 1909 in the Bucklow R.D. - ref: 8a/354.
 Catherine was the daughter of Dennis & Mary Hennerley, 10 Chapel Street,
Altrincham.

It would appear that John decided to ditch the surname - "ONIONS" in favour
of - "INIONS".  This would add to the confusion later on when the Chapel
Street War Memorial was being collated.

1911 Census - 42 Longridge Street, Longsight, Manchester.   John INIONS -
Head of household - Married - aged: 23 - occ: Groundsman at Anson Golf Club
- born: Chorlton cum Hardy.   Also Catherine Inions - Wife - aged: 22 -
born: Altrincham.   Plus Francess (sic) Leo Inions - aged: 12 months -
born: Altrincham.

Employed as a Golf Groundsman (ref: son's death certificate and census
return).  The Anson Golf Club where John was employed opened in 1893 and
closed down in October 1919.  It was situated in Birch Fields, off Birch
Hall Lane, Longsight.

WO363 - Enlisted at Altrincham on the 31st August 1914.  Aged: 25 years 94
days.  Employed as a Labourer, residing at 32 Chapel Street, Altrincham. 
Married.  Previously served in the 3rd Battalion, Manchester Rgt.  He was 5
feet 6 7/8th inches in height; he weighed 126 lb; his chest measurements
were 33 inches to 35 3/4 inches; he had a fresh complexion; hazel eyes;
brown hair and his religion was Church of England.  He had a "Thistle" with
"Kitty" tattoo on the back of his right forearm.

Posted into the 8th Battalion, Cheshire Rgt on the 3rd September 1914. 
Appointed Paid Lance Corporal on the 28th October 1914 in the 9th
Battalion.  Deprived of his L/Cpl stripe on the 9th July 1915.   Posted to
France with the Expeditionary Force on the 19th July 1915.   Admitted to
No. 58 Field Ambulance on the 11th October 1915 and discharged on the 14th.
 Admitted to No. 32 Casualty Clearing Station on the 15th February 1916
with an I.C.T. (Inflamed Connective Tissue) to his left hand - discharged
on the 19th and sent by train down to the No. 8 General Hospital at Rouen. 
 Returned to England on the hospital ship - H.S. St. Denis on the 25th
February 1916.

On the 1st May 1916, he was given 2 days C.B. (Confined to Barracks) for
overstaying his furlough by two days on the 29th & 30th April 1916.  Posted
to the Command Depot on the 10th May 1916.  Posted into the 3rd Battalion,
Cheshire Rgt on the 14th October 1916.  On the 24th October 1916 he was
given three days C.B. for overstaying his special pass from 12 noon on the
22nd until 10.30 am on the 23rd October 1916.  Posted to France with the
13th Battalion on the 26th November 1916 and into the 10th Battalion on the
8th December 1916.

His Widow - Catherine INIONS married John Good in 1919.  His Children -
Frank Inions (10) - born: 31/03/1910.    John (Jack) Inions (8) - born:
05/02/1912.  William Inions - born: 01/12/1914 - aged just 2 years, William
died of Capillary Bronchitis at Altrincham General Hospital on 26/03/1916. 
 Kathleen Inions (2.5) [Whom he never saw] - born: 22/03/17.    Mother -
Mary Hulme, Rose Cottage, Chorlton cum Hardy.   Full blood brother - John
Frank Inions, aged: 28.  In May 1917, his effects were to be sent to his
widow - Mrs. C. Inions, 12 Lloyds Square, Altrincham.  With effect from the
23rd July 1917, Catherine was awarded a weekly pension of 26/3d (£1.30)
for herself and their three children.

During 1915 and 1916, John's wife and family were residing at 54 Chapel
Street, Altrincham.   John was killed in January 1917 and Catherine married
a John Good during the June quarter 1919 in the Bucklow R.D. - ref: 8a/533.
  In December 1921, John's Victory Medal was sent to his widow - Mrs. C.
Good, 11 Selina Road, Walton, Liverpool.  By September 1922, his widow -
Mrs. C. Good, is residing at 9 Lloyds Square, Regent Road, Altrincham.   In
1925 John Good & Catherine produced a daughter - Joan Good.

I BELIEVE THAT THIS "JOHN INIONS" (Formerly JOHN ONIONS), IS THE "JOHN R.
ENNION" THAT IS LISTED ON THE CHAPEL STREET MEMORIAL.   THE "JOHN ENNION"
LISTED ON THAT MEMORIAL SHOULD HAVE BEEN "JOHN INIONS" WHOSE WIFE AND
CHILDREN RESIDED AT CHAPEL STREET.  HIS IN-LAWS WERE PART OF THE CHAPEL
STREET HENNERLEY FAMILY.   SOMEHOW, IN 1919, SOMEONE HAS MISTAKENLY
INSCRIBED "ENNION" FOR "INIONS", BY THE TIME THE MEMORIALS WERE BEING
CREATED, HIS WIDOW HAD LEFT THE DISTRICT, SO WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
CORRECT THE ERROR.   HE IS LISTED SIMPLY AS "JOHN ENNION" (NO 'R') ON THE
CHAPEL STREET MEMORIAL, WHEREAS ON BOTH THE ALTRINCHAM ROLL OF HONOUR AND
ST. MARY'S WAR MEMORIAL RECORD THE NAME AS "JOHN R. ENNION".  I HAVE NOW
SUBSTITUTED "JOHN INIONS" AS THE CHAPEL STREET "JOHN ENNION".

See also "The Bravest Little Street in England" by Karen Cliff, Trafford
Local Studies Library.