During the First World War, Manchester contained between thirty and forty war hospitals, including the 2nd Western General Hospital and the Nell Lane Military Hospital for prisoners of war. Many of those buried in the cemeteries and churchyards of the city died in these hospitals. During the Second World War, there was a Royal Air Force Station at Heaton Park, Manchester.

Manchester Southern Cemetery contains burials of both wars, the majority of them scattered. There are also separate plots for First and Second World War burials, but in neither case are the graves marked individually; instead, each plot has a Screen Wall bearing the names of those buried there. Each plot has a Cross of Sacrifice. In all, 803 Commonwealth casualties of the First World War, including 1 unidentified, and 475 from the Second World War, including 3 unidentified, are now commemorated in the cemetery; there is also 1 non-war service grave.

The Screen Wall in the Second World War plot also bears the names of 177 servicemen and women whose remains were cremated. Further memorials in this plot commemorate 17 Polish servicemen buried there, and a number of casualties of both wars buried in other cemeteries and churchyards in the Manchester area whose graves could no longer be maintained.

Casualties buried in several local cemeteries and churchyards are now alternatively commemorated on Screen Wall Memorials in Manchester Southern Cemetery.

One soldier who served in the Yorkshire Regiment is buried with a family headstone marking his grave. Another soldier who served in the Yorkshire Regiment is commemorated on the First World War screen wall.
There is also a family memorial commemorating an Officer of the Yorkshire Regiment who lost his life in action.

We are extremely grateful to Mike Berrell (<mike_berrell@ntlworld.com>) for providing the photos of the headstones and the cemetery.
Select a thumbnail image for a larger image which opens in a new window.

		Captain Richard Mason. 13th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 23 November 1917. Aged 29. Commemorated on Panel 5 on the CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, LOUVERVAL. "IN LOVING MEMORY OF RICHARD MASON / BORN NOV. 8TH 1851 DIED FEB. 7TH 1932 ALSO LYDIA RUTH BELOVED WIFE OF THE ABOVE WHO DIED 23RD JAN. 1946 / AGED 83 YEARS. LYDIA ANNE MASON BORN FEB 27TH 1885 DIED DEC18TH 1885 ALSO SARAH CAROLINE MASON BORN SEPT 8TH 1894 DIED MARCH 20TH 1912 ALSO CAPTAIN RICHARD MASON 13TH YORKS BORN MARCH 23RD 1888 KILLED IN ACTION AT BOURLON WOOD, FRANCE NOV. 23RD 1917." Richard Clarke of the Derby and Derbyshire War Memorials Project noted;- "Captain Richard Mason, of the 13th Battalion, is named on the memorial in the yard of the Charlesworth Independent Chapel. Born in Saskatoon, Canada, he grew up in Charlesworth (appearing there in the 1901 Census) before moving to Manchester by the time of the 1911 Census. He doesn't appear on the main Charlesworth memorial, probably for that very reason. He was the son of Richard and Lydia Ruth Mason and was an elementary school teacher by profession."

		Private Albert Edward Spruce. 202152. 2nd/4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of George and Clara Spruce, of Manchester; husband of Annie Spruce, of 24, Booth St. West, Manchester. Died at home 5 February 1917. Aged 35. Enlisted Manchester. IN LOVING MEMORY OF PRIVATE ALBERT SPRUCE / 2/4 YORKS BELOVED HUSBAND OF / ANNIE SPRUCE WHO DIED FEB 5TH 1917 / AGED 35 YEARS "TILL WE MEET AGAIN" ALSO MARTHA BELOVED WIFE OF WILLIAM PEGG DIED AUG 7TH 1933 / AGED 69 YEARS "LIFE'S WORK WELL DONE" ALSO WILLIAM / THE BELOVED HUSBAND OF THE ABOVE WHO DIED FEB 5TH 1942 / AGED 80 YEARS "RE UNITED".

The above image is of the screen wall commemoration of Private Smith

Private William Henry Smith. 44055. 16th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, transferred to (13145) Clearing Office, Labour Corps. Son of William H & Mary A Smith of Ireland. Died at home 21 March 1919. Aged 22. Born Salford. (Additional information : Attended St Joseph’s Industrial School for Catholic boys, Chorlton-upon-Medlock, Manchester.)

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