You have no doubt already clicked on the ‘Everton‘ tab on the home page, as it explains my own personal role within the cemetery. This page relates to one of my favourite grave stories for the cemetery.
Thomas Read Mansergh was born in Burrow-with-Burrow / Lancashire. He married Emma in Bury in 1889. They had seven children, three of whom died in childhood; Gladys (born 1890), Frank (b&d 1892), Norman (b&d 1893) Doris (born 1895), Irene (born 1896), Kathleen M (1900-1911) all born in Bootle.
Thomas described himself as a cow keeper and later as a retired dairy farmer. In 1891 to 1901 the family lived at 57 Queen’s Road, Bootle where they ran a dairy with the help of a number of servants. By 1911 they were living at 19, Breeze Hill, Bootle.
The Mansergh Dairy at 19 Breeze Hill / Bootle
The Dairy, showing the large ‘shippen’ (cow-sheds) to the rear,
and 2 cow yards at either ends (now car-parking)
After WW1, Thomas & Emma moved to Elsinore, 35 Caldy road, West Kirby, Cheshire. Thomas died on the 30th May 1930. His effects were valued at £28924 10s 9d (almost a million pounds at current values.) Emma, his wife died in 1944 aged 83 years.
The Cow-keepers of Liverpool, supplied milk to the ever increasing population of the City. Herds of cows were housed in the yards behind the city’s dairies, and walked out to pasture each day by the cow-keepers.
In this short YouTube movie of Liverpool produced in 1931, you can see a group of Cow-keepers, driving their stock through the city centre…
Gore’s 1900 Directory of Liverpool, shows:
Thomas Mansergh listed as a Liverpool Cow-keeper at 32-36 Wadham Road and 57 Queen’s Road. Bootle + Joseph Mansergh at 14 Norfolk Street, Bootle
The 1881 Census of Liverpool shows:
Thomas Mansergh, A Liverpool Cow-keeper, living at 16 Clyde Street, Liverpool L1. Thomas was born in Burrow/Lancashire.
The 1911 Census of Liverpool, shows:
Joseph Mansergh, a Liverpool Cow-keeper, living at 14 Norfolk Street, Liverpool L1. Joseph was born in Wittington/Lancashire.
Also on the Mansergh memorial, is an inscription to a young daughter (Kitty) and a son (Harry), killed in action, in the great war of 1914-1918, and buried in France.
Rank: Lieutenant
Date of Death: 12/11/1916
Age: 25
Regiment/Service: The King’s (Liverpool Regiment) 1st/9th Bn.
Grave Reference: I. A. 66.
Cemetery: ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of Thomas Read Mansergh and Emma Mansergh, of 19, Breeze Hill, Bootle. Native of Bootle, Liverpool.
Historical Information
During the First World War, the area around Etaples was the scene of immense concentrations of Commonwealth reinforcement camps and hospitals. It was remote from attack, except from aircraft, and accessible by railway from both the northern or the southern battlefields. In 1917, 100,000 troops were camped among the sand dunes and the hospitals, which included eleven general, one stationary, four Red Cross hospitals and a convalescent depot, could deal with 22,000 wounded or sick. In September 1919, ten months after the Armistice, three hospitals and the Q.M.A.A.C. convalescent depot remained.
GALLANT BOOTLE OFFICER.
COUNCILLOR’S SON DIES OF WOUNDS.
The sympathy of a wide circle of friends has this week gone out to Councillor and Mrs. T.R. Mansergh, of Tinto Lodge, Breeze-hill, in the death of their only son, Lieut. Harry Reid Mansergh, K.L.R., who was seriously wounded on Sept. 18th, and died in a base hospital in France on November 12th. Born in 1891, Lieut. Mansergh was educated at Bootle Secondary School, Merchant Taylors (Crosby), and at Bruges, and on the outbreak of war, was a dental medical student at Liverpool University. He joined up soon after war was declared, and gained rapid promotion, being gazetted to a lieutenancy in February, 1915. He went through numerous engagements, including the Battle of Loos, when he was appointed temporary adjutant on the field. He went into action with 40 men and four machine guns, and at the end of the fierce onslaught only he, a sergeant, and two privates were left. Officers and men alike speak in the highest terms of Harry Mansergh’s courage, coolness, and resource, and Bootle people extend their sincerest condolence to the bereaved parents who have lost so gallant and promising a son.
Harry Read Mansergh was born in Bootle in 1891. He was the son of Thomas Read Mansergh and Emma Mansergh (nee Holgate). Harry was engaged to Ruth Pennington at the time of his death. His sister Gladys Mansergh, had married Ruth Pennington’s brother, Stanley Muncaster Stanley in 1912. Stanley was the son of Councillor Harry Pennington and was awarded the Military Cross during the war. In 1918 Mayor Pennington gave £1,000 to establish the Pennington (Peace) Scholarship at Bootle Secondary School in thanksgiving offering for the safe return of his son.
He served with the King’s (Liverpool Regiment). His medal card records show that he arrived on the Western Front on the 24th February 1915. It also gave the date of his commission – 7th March 1915. Documentation of soldiers who died in the Great War, lists him as belonging to the 1st battalion, attached to the 9th battalion of the King’s (Liverpool Regiment). His family were issued with the British Medal and Victory Medal and the 1915 Star after the war.