Trafford

Born during the June quarter 1896 in the Altrincham R.D. - ref: 8a/181, the
second son of William & Agnes Winstanley.

1901 Census - Next door to the Unicorn Hotel, Hale Barns. (331 Hale Road?).
 Son - aged: 5 - born: Hale.   Head of household - William Winstanley -
Married - aged: 31 - occ: Blacksmith - born: Hale.   Also - Agnes
Winstanley - Wife - aged: 30 - born: Mobberley, Cheshire.   Plus 3 siblings
and 1 boarder.

1911 Census - 331 Hale Road, Hale Barns.   Son - aged: 15 - occ: Moulder at
Iron Works Factory (George Richards Co) - born: Hale Barnes.    Head of
household - William Winstanley - Married - aged: 41 - occ: Blacksmith,
Shoesmith - born: Hale.   Also - Agnes Winstanley - Wife - aged: 40 - born:
Mobberley, Cheshire.   Plus 5 siblings.   This was a six roomed house.

Attended the Hale Chapel School.    Employed by Messrs. George Richards
Co.., Broadheath.    Member of Hale Barns Football Club.

"British Battalions on the Western Front" by Ray Westlake.   June 1915.  
Start of the month they were in bivouacs south of the
Poperringhe-Vlamertinghe road.  On the 9th, they relieved the 3rd
Worcestershire Rgt in trenches running from Menin Road to Sanctuary Wood. 
Relieved and into bivouacs on the 11th.   Moved into assembly trenches
between Witte Poort Farm and the Ypres-Roulers railway on the 15th ready to
attack towards Bellewaarde Lake on the 16th - the day William was killed. 
'C' & 'D' Companies went forward that day having had no sleep for for 30
hours and shelled all day by heavy artillery.  Despite the courage of the
men, they were driven back.  Fire from the railway line to the left as well
as the front, swept away the advance.  The survivors - weary, dazed and
angry, fell back to the German front line trench.   300 casualties -
killed, wounded and missing, sustained.

No. 11 Platoon.    A letter received from an officer in his unit stated
that Rifleman Winstanley was OK when they attacked and captured the German
front line trenches, but as 'C' Coy started off for the second line a shell
burst near him and he was not seen again.    His colleagues wrote a poem
about him. 

Listed in the Guardian Year Book - Roll of Honour for 1916.    Commemorated
on the family gravestone in Hale Unitarian Chapel Yard.