SECOND LIEUTENENT EDWARD C. DURNAN (1896-1917)
In December 2008 a contributor to the Sheffield History Forum posted the following photograph to the Forum. The contributor stated that it was acquired in the town of Liberty, Texas, USA. It was weathered and worn but it clearly referred to a 2nd Lieut E Durnan
I checked the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
database and found the following entry
DURNAN, EDWARD
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Date of Death: 16/10/1917
Age: 21
Regiment/Service: York and Lancaster Regiment 14th Bn.
Grave Reference I. E. 18. Cemetery ROCLINCOURT MILITARY CEMETERY -
Roclincourt is a village to the east of the road from Arras to Lens.
Additional Information: Son of Thomas and Charlotte Durnan, of Worsboro' House,
43, Grove Rd., Millhouses, Sheffield.
The wooden cross to next to Edward's is that of a Serjeant George Bonsall who was from the same battalion as Edward and died on the same day. They lay alongside each other
Rank: Serjeant
Service No: 8/13586
Date of Death: 16/10/1917
Age: 20
Regiment/Service: York and Lancaster Regiment 14th Bn.
Grave Reference I. E. 19.
Cemetery ROCLINCOURT MILITARY CEMETERY
Additional Information: - Son of John and Bethesta Bonsall, of "Ash Lea," High
Street ., Swallownest, Sheffield.
The wooden crosses were initially placed there to mark the last resting place of those that lost their lives. When the Commonwealth War Graves Commission took over the cemeteries and erected the now familar Portland stone headstones, the original wooden crosses grave were offered to the families of the fallen. Apparently many families and parish priests went over to France and collected these crosses and brought them back as permanent memorials.
The address that is given by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission is in the Millhouses district of Sheffield and so in February 2008 I went to photograph the house - 43 Grove Road - and when I found the road, the house was no longer there. It is now the site of the Holy Trinity Church
The family did live there for many years. Edward's father Thomas is recorded in
three Sheffield Trade Directories between 1905 - 1925
Durnan, Thomas Residing at Worsborough House,Grove Road,
Millhouses, Sheffield. Recorded in: Whites Directory of Sheffield &Rotherham
1905.
Durnan, Thomas (W. S. Laycock Ltd)). Residing at h, Worsborough House, 43
Grove Road. Recorded in: Whites Directory of Sheffield & Rotherham - 1911.
Durnan, Thomas (Secretary - W.S.Laycock Ltd)). Residing at h. Worsborough House, 43 Grove Road, ~ Recorded in: Sheffield & Rotherham Kellys Directory 1925.
W. S. Laycock Ltd were a Sheffield engineering firm of long standing.
From Sheffield Daily Telegraph dated 14th July 1917
From Sheffield Red Book Oct. 1918 - Orbit - Second Lieut. Edward Durnan, York & Lancaster Regt, of 43 Grove Road, Millhouses, killed in action.
From Yorkshire Telegraph and Star dated 20th October 1917
There is rather a sad postscript to this article. Edward's family are buried in Sheffield's City Road cemetery - see note 3. It is in the Roman Catholic section of the cemetery. A descendent of the family notes that there are no members of the family now living in Sheffield. Edward is remembered on the grave but the grave itself is now neglected, and Edward's details half buried.
NOTES
1. Possible that this is Edward's father and grandparents in the 1881 Census
-
Household Record
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation Disability
William DURNAN Head M Male 50 Barnsley, York, England Linen Black Warp Dresser
Hannah DURNAN Wife M Female 45 Barnsley, York, England
Thomas DURNAN Son U Male 17 Barnsley, York, England Clerk (Hair Seating Manfr)
Annie DURNAN Daur Female 15 Barnsley, York, England Factory Operative (Hair
Seating)
Katherine DURNAN Daur Female 12 Barnsley, York, England Scholar
Owen DURNAN Son Male 10 Barnsley, York, England Scholar
Source Information:
Dwelling 37 Powell St
Census Place Sheffield, York, England -
Family History Library Film 1342123
Public Records Office Reference RG11
Piece / Folio 4648 / 123
Page Number 52
Powell Street to Grove Road,Millhouses looks like an interesting journey!!
Thomas Durnan appears as DurMan in the 1901 Census - 37 years old with Edward
DurMan as a 4 year old juvenile, residing in Nether Hallam
2.
E. Durman on the St. Oswalds Roll of Honour -
Edward Durnan was my Great Great Uncle. I was named after him with my middle
name being Durnan, last name Tasker.
The Tasker's are a well known family in Sheffield, although Edwards direct
descendants are no longer living in Sheffield. I don't believe that there are
any Durnans directly descended from Edward left in Sheffield.
3. Durnan, Henry (Child, age 3).
Died at 49 Vincent Rd; Buried on April 9, 1891 in Roman Catholic ground;
Grave Number 3371, Section GG of City Road Cemetery, Sheffield.
Durnan, Sheila (Daug of Thomas, age 6 mo).
Died at 43 Grove Rd; Buried on April 1, 1911 in Roman Catholic ground;
Grave Number 3371, Section GG of City Road Cemetery, Sheffield.
Durnan, Thomas Cavil (Representative, age 54).
Died at 34 Pingle Ave; Buried on February 5, 1942 in Roman Catholic ground;
Grave Number 3371, Section GG of City Road Cemetery, Sheffield.
Durnan, Thomas Owen (Secretary, age 67).
Died at 34 Pingle Ave; Buried on January 2, 1931 in Roman Catholic ground;
Grave Number 3371, Section GG of City Road Cemetery, Sheffield.
Tasker, Angela Mary (daug of, age 2).
Died at Victoria Cottage, Mablethorpe; Buried on September 16, 1920 in Roman
Catholic ground;
Grave Number 3371, Section GG of City Road Cemetery, Sheffield.
Parent or Next of Kin if Available: John H. Remarks: .
4. In 1897, the area of
Holy Trinity
was part of the Grange Villa Estate belonging to Sir Wilson Mappin. He gave the
site for a chapel-of-ease to be built, his wife laying the foundation stone. The
chapel was to serve the ever-increasing population of Millhouses, because the
Parish Church of that time was up the hill at Ecclesall. It was to be known as
Holy Trinity Mission Room. By 1910 Millhouses had grown sufficiently to separate
from Ecclesall and have its own parish, so St. Oswald’s was built, at the corner
of Abbeydale Road and Bannerdale Road, and the chapel came under its care.
Just over a decade later, this area of Millhouses grew enormously and in 1927
the Rev.Alfred Wood became Priest-in-charge. Within three years the Bishop
consecrated the chapel as a parish church and the Rev. Wood became the first
vicar of the Parish of Holy Trinity.
In 1935, with a substantial grant of £5,000 from the Bishop of Sheffield’s
100.000 Guineas Fund and major contributions from the parish, the chapel and a
neighbouring house were demolished and the present church of Holy Trinity was
built. The Rev. Wood and Miss J. Edgar (in memory of her father, John Edgar)
laid the foundation stone on 4th January 1936. Nearly eighteen months later, on
1st May 1937, the new church was dedicated and consecrated by the Lord Bishop
Sources
Yorkshire Telegraph and Star dated 20th October 1917
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Sheffield Indexers
Sheffield Daily Telegraph dated 14th July 1917
Sheffield History Forum
This page was last updated on 11/10/16 17:36