Sapper 434161 Valentine Gerrard

Family details:
Son of William and Emma Cecilia Gerrard, of 1, High St., Skelmersdale, Lancs.

Census details:
1901 - 5 years old Valentine is living at Gibbons Lane, Ashton in Makerfield with parents William (33), Emma C (32) and four siblings: Janet (12), William (9), James Arthur (2), Cecil (6 Mths). 1911 - Sees 15 years old schoolboy Valentine living at 203 Atherton Road, Hindley, Nr Wigan with mother Emma Cecilia (42) and seven siblings: Janet (22), William (19), James Arthur (12), Cecil (10), Richard Allen (7), Sydney Joseph (5), Irene Patricia (3).

Notes:
[url=lmem.php?lmem=39]Remembered On The St. Aidan's C of E Church Memorial[/url]

Valentine was the son of William and Emma Cecilia Gerrard of 1 High Street, Skelmersdale. The family moved to Smethurst Road, Billinge Higher End, and Valentine enlisted at Liverpool to join the Royal Engineers. He was killed in action on Monday the 27th of May 1918 at Berry-au-Bac, France aged 21 years. His name is recorded on the Soissons Memorial, France, St. Aidan`s C.E. Church Memorial and on the Upholland Cenotaph. Sources:- St. Helens Local History Library, Soldiers killed in the Great War; The Commonwealth War Graves Commission. [url=http://sthelens-connect.net/sitefiles/billinge-history.pdf]Information Courtesy of The Billinge History Society[/url] [url=http://www.sthelensrollsofhonour.co.uk/allsaintssutton][pic]/valatine_gerrard.jpg[/pic][caption]The panel on the Soissons Memorial bearing the inscription for Sapper Valentine Gerrard. (Photograph courtesy of Ste M. and FAG)[/caption][/url]