The Accidental Historian, Tony Davies, gives us an insight into the lives of two more Knutsford 'lads' who never came home:  

As you have probably guessed by now – I have a passion for all things relating The Great War so this is going to be a very busy and interesting four years for us enthusiasts, with the centenary looming.

So this week I am highlighting two local heroes who fought in that war and never came home.

Frederick Darlington was born in 1898 and lived in King Street, Knutsford. When he reached the age of 19 he enlisted in the Royal Flying Corp. He was completing his training and was coming home on leave and as he was entering St Pancreas Railway Station and group of German Gotha bombers commenced an air raid on the capital. Frederick was injured in the raid and died four days later. He is buried in Knutsford Cemetery.

Mayson Penn was born in Knutsford in 1892 but emigrated to Australia in 1912 where he became an ‘orchardist’. On the outbreak of the war he enlisted in the Australian Army and was sent to Gallipoli where he was killed on the 25th August 1915. He was buried along with three other Australians in a shallow grave and the location was described in the war diary but they were never found and lie their still.

I have spent the last 6 months researching all 270 lads from the Knutsford/Mobberley area who perished in the war. My book ‘The Knutsford lads who never came home’ is available on Amazon.

If you have any information about anyone who was involved in the First World War I would love to hear from you – email me at tony@tonydavies.me.