Monthly Archives: April 2021

Riach’s in Dingwall

Patrick Scott Riach.

Patrick Scott Riach was born at Edinkillie in January of 1892. He was the son of James Alexander Riach and his wife Janet Scott. James Alexander Riach was Station Master at Dingwall Railway Station.

Dingwall Railway Station via Wikipedia

Patrick was born the middle child of five born between 1886 and 1895.  Patrick and his siblings had each been given a middle name that connected them to their forebears, on both the maternal and paternal lines.

The small village of Edinkillie had been home to the Riach’s until about 1894. Patrick and his elder sibling were all from the village while the two youngest were born in Muir of Ord, Dingwall.

Edinkillie to Dingwall via Google maps

In 1901 the family were living in Station Square, Dingwall. Station Square is still there, surrounded by the Victorian Station and houses.

The time of the 1911 census came and the family were still living at Station House. Patrick was now 19 years old and working as a Post Office clerk.

In the centre of the square is a small grassy area which is surrounded by wrought iron railings and within its centre is the local war memorial with a rustic wooden cross at the top which remembers the fallen from the 4th Btn Seaforth Highlanders.

In 1917, while James Alexander Riach was working at Dingwall Station he would have seen the ‘Jellico Express’.

What was the ‘Jellico Express‘? I hear you saying!

In May 1917, while Patrick Scott served his Country, his home town played a great part in the war. A rail route had been introduced from London to Thurso – the nearest station to Scapa Flow in Orkney where the Grand Fleet was stationed. It was Britain’s longest railway journey, just over 700 miles, and is said to have transported about 500,000 military personnel and mail in two years. The train’s carriages could hold up to about 500 for the long, 22-hour journey. The journey was the safer option, and quicker than by sea – it was also safer than the sea with the constant threat of U-boats.

The railway station cafe was also a very busy place and is said to have served over 134,800 cups of tea – served during the entire war by Red Cross volunteers.

Patrick’s Post Office record has him working from 1908 to 1915. By the time April 1918 had arrived Patrick Scott Riach was serving with the Royal Flying Corps, later the Royal Air Force. He served in France and by October 1918 he was in Russia. In June 1919 his records tell that he was in Archangel. He was a wireless operator and had completed numerous courses in this field. He had experience and qualified as a telegraphist. He had knowledge of telegraphic engineering and held a Class 1 Postmaster Generals Certificate for Wireless and attended courses in Valve Detectors at Brooklands and British School of Telegraphy, London. During his time serving his country, he had been given the rank of Lieutenant. It was while in Archangel that he was Acting Captain. He was transferred to the ‘unemployed’ list.

Royal Flying Cross via Wikipedia

In October 1919 he was awarded the A.F.C. (Air Force Cross)

Upon return to civilian life, he returned to working for the post office. In 1922 he married Christina Laurie Hood. Christine had also worked for the post office – could they have met through work? The couple went on to have at least two children.

Patrick retired from the post office and lived the rest of his days in Dingwall.

He died on the 16th of October 1958. He rests in Mitchell Hill Cemetery, Dingwall.

John Roy – Upper Ballochy to Germany

John Roy – Upper Ballochy to Germany.

The 22nd of October, 1918 was a sad day for James and Jane Ann Roy – it was the day their son John died at Chemnitz, Germany during WW1.

John served in the Canadian forces during the war. He had been born on October 27th 1890 in Upper Ballochy, Elginshire and later in life worked as a teamster.

Upper Dallachy via https://maps.nls.uk/


When John Attested in 1914 he was one month shy of 25 years of age – serving as Pte 20365. He was 6′ tall – very tall for someone of that period and weighed 185lbs. He had a medium complexion, grey eyes and brown hair and was a Presbyterian by persuasion. He was declared to be fit by Medical Officer WP Duncan.

As John served with a Canadian Regiment and therefore his service records have survived. How wonderful is that?

One of the identifier pages of his service records tells that John had two large patches of Leukoplake on either side of the lower abdomen. But saying that he was classed as fit. So at Valcartier, Quebec he joined the army and gave his mother as his next of kin.

Valcartier Camp, Quebec WW1 via Wikipedia

John served with the 103rd Regiment, Calgary Rifles from 1914 and sailed with his unit to France on the 3rd of 1914. For some reason, not named, John was subject to 15 days Field Punishment at Pond Farm on the 29th of October 1914.

On the 21st of May 1915, John was recorded as missing and Struck Strength to days later. Three years later he was officially reported missing and officially a prisoner of war Kreigsfefaugenlater, followed by Munster, later being transferred to Chemnitz, Ebersdoft.

Upper Dallachy to Germany via Google Maps

In December 1918 he died of pneumonia whilst a POW in the camp hospital in Chemnitz in the state of Saxony. The information supplied in a letter from the British Help Committee. It seems that he had been gassed and while under the immediate effects of the gas had been taken a prisoner. He spent time at Kreigsgefangenenlager (sic), Munster before his transfer to Chemnitz.

Information about John and I suppose other prisoners had been extracted from Hosp Adm. book by Cpl. Wilkinson, RAMC, which included that he was later a POW at Munster. From looking at one of John’s records it would seem that Cpl. Wilkinson, himself a POW, returned home and brought the register with him.

During the years John was a prisoner of war, his mother was receiving $15 per month.

Headstone of Pte John Roy, via Find a Grave

John rests in Sudwestfriedhof der Berliner Synode Military, which is also known as Berlin Suth Western Cemetery, Brandenburg. Above his name is the Canadian Mapel Leaf and his service number and rank. Followed by a cross with ‘Ever Remembered by Those Who Loved Him’ at the base as requested by his family.

The Probate entry in the Scottish National Probate Index lists John, who died intestate. His father James, a ghillie of Upper Dallachy, Spey Bay, was granted the estate of £215 3s.

The Speymouth War Memorial includes John’s name and two other Roy’s.

Speymouth War Memorial© Carol Sklinar 2020

Another Walk around Sugar Lane Cemetery

Another Walk around Sugar Lane Cemetery.

In the March quarter of 1864, in the Pancras Registration District, John Nathaniel Manton married Annie Elizabeth Trevett. John Nathaniel had been born in St Georges, Bloomsbury and Annie Elizabeth gave St. Pancras as her place of birth.

Later in the year on the 30th of June Annie Elizabeth gave birth to their son, John Albert Manton. The summer came and went and autumn began to creep around the corner. One early autumn day John Albert Manton was taken by his parents to the All Saints church in the centre of Wakefield. I wonder how many family and friends joined the couple to celebrate the christening, John’s christening? 

John’s name and that of his parents are entered in the Parish Register along with seven other babies and their parents. All but two of those entries were signed by Rev. C E Camidge – remember the Camidge family from the previous Walk Around Sugar Lane?

The family now lived on South Parade and Nathaniel worked as a dentist. The family are still living in South Parade at the time the census enumerator walked his round in 1871. By then John Albert had two younger sisters – Constance A aged 5 and Gertrude F(?) aged just two. Also part of the household was Annie Teall, their 22-year-old general servant and Barnsley born, Sarah Heliwell a 20-year-old nurse. 

The census enumerator called again in 1881 to the Georgian terrace house. Each of the houses backed on to George Street, while their front door opened directly on to South Parade. Each of the houses had a long garden, accessed across the narrow road. Who is in the house? John Nathaniel, who now classes himself as a dental surgeon. His wife Annie Elizabeth is next, followed by John Albert now aged 16 and a medical student. Constance Annie followed by Gertrude Lilly – her name is now written clearly and in full. Both girls are pupils at the High School – probably, the Girls High School. Again there are two servants – Elizabeth (22) and Annie (19) Wilson.

In early 1889 John Albert Manton and his family were in the Salford area. John was to be married to Ernestine Graham Gradisky. The families gathered at Stowell Memorial Church on the 5th of March 1889. It seems by looking at the corrections to the date, on this and the previous entry, the minister was not sure of the dates. John, now 24 years old was a surgeon, living at Shrewsbury House, Sheffield. While Ernestine, a year older than John, lived at Glen View, 59 Howard Street, Salford. John’s sister Constantine, John N Manton and Charles Gradisky were witnesses.

There is one thing on this entry in the parish registers, that I find fascinating. Ernestine Graham-Gradisky signed in a good hand but, and there is always one of those, in parentheses the minister added a wonderful snippet of information (adopted name). With a quick bit of side-tracking, it seems that Ernestine could have been the daughter of Ann Straker, who later married Charles Gradisky. Ann also appears to have been known as Ann Holt or another question, were there two Ann’s? Anyway, aged 25 she married Charles Bradisky, a Belgian designer. Charles, in turn, was the son of a ‘gentleman’. Where the ‘Graham’ comes into the equation, I have not gone that far as Ernestine is not the main focus of my rambling around Sugar Lane.

Norfolk Road, Sheffield

Back to John. The Medical Directory of 1905 includes an entry for John which tells:- “Manton, John Albert, Shrewsbury House, Park, Sheffield (teleph. 1340) – M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. Lond. 1886: (St. Bart., Leeds, Durh.); Chevalier Holy Ord. of St. Sava (Servia) 1899; Med. Off. Post Off. and Educat. Departm.; Hon.Surg. Sheffield Bn. Boys’ Brig.; Surg. Hearts of Oak; Med. Reg. Nat. Mut. and other Insur. Cos.; late Demonst. Anat. Sheffield Sch. of Med. Author Pamphlets, “Echoes from the Savoy,” 1893: “Scandinavian and Russ,” 1895; Municipal Hygiene;” Joint Author of “Round Sheffield” Guides; “By Way of the Balkans,” 1899. Constrib, “Hypnotism,” Hospital, 1899; “Universal Variety of Episapadias – Pseudo Hermaphrodism,” Lancet 1890.”

John and Ernestine went on to have three children. Although the family lived in Sheffield, they returned to Wakefield to have their children christened in what is now Wakefield Cathedral.

As well as being a prominent doctor, surgeon and writer of guides and medical works, John was also heavily involved in the local community. The Sheffield Evening Telegraph tells that ‘John Albert Manon, physician and surgeon of 1 Norfolk Road, Sheffield, nominated by William Arthur Birks, John Frederick Hodgson, William Rawson Carter and George Senior’ for the Municipal Elections of 1891. He was nominated for quite a few years and did serve time on the Council’. During this time, John was a member of St Leonard’s Lodge, 2263, part of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Yorkshire West Riding.

John Albert Manton died on the 4th of February 1919. His obituary in the British Medical Journal tells of his full life and explains some of the abbreviations previously mentioned. “Dr, John Albert Manton, a well known Sheffield medical practitioner, died on February 4th from pneumonia following influenza. He was born in Wakefield in 1864, and studied medicine at St. Bartholomews Hospital and at the medical schools of Leeds and the University of Durham, obtaining the M.R.C.S. and L.R.C.P. diplomas in 1886. Two years later he began practice in the Park district of Sheffield. Among other early appointments, he was a demonstrator of anatomy in the Sheffield School of Medicine. For many years Dr. Manton took a prominent part in municipal life as a member of the city council and a guardian. In addition to the work of a large private practice, he held the appointments of medical officer to the Sheffield Post Office and to the Education Department. He spent his holidays in travel, and made good use of his experiences, both on the platform and in various literary contributions. He visited Servia in 1899, and wrote a series of sympathetic articles on life in the Balkans and in recognition of which he was appointed by King Alexander of Serbia a Chevalier of the Order of St. Sava. He was an enthusiastic cyclist, and was for many years president of the Sheffield Road Club, in this was adding year by year to his knowledge of local roads and of the antiquarian lore of the countryside. Dr Manton leaves a widow, a son and two daughters. He was for many years a member of the Sheffield Division of the British Medical Association.”

The Sheffield Daily Telegraph of Saturday 8th of February 1919 adds more information to the life and times of Dr. Manton. “The funeral of Dr John Albert Manton whose death is universally regretted in Sheffield, where he was held in the highest esteem, took place yesterday at Wakefield – his native town. Owing to the fact that the internment was at an early hour of the day, and difficulties of travelling, many old friends of the doctor were unable to attend. The Rev. T. C. Greenwood, Vicar of St Mary’s Church, Wakefield, was the officiating clergyman. The mourners were the immediate relatives, and included Mrs Manton (widow), Captain and Mrs Marcus Manton (son and daughter-in-law), the Misses Manton (daughters), and Mrs James Lowe, of Addison Grange, Sale (sister-in-law). The remains were laid to rest in the family grave. Floral tributes were sent by the widow and daughter, Mr and Mrs Marcus Manton, Mr James Low (sister-in-law), the Brethren of St. Leonard’s Lodge, No. 2263 (“In affectionate remembrance of a beloved Past Master, from the Brethren of St Leonard’s Lodge, No. 2263″), J E B Beaumont, the Staffs of the Sheffield Theatres, Mr and Mrs H Amstein, Mr Reuben Thompson, and Nurse Moore”.

The family headstone in Sugar Lane cemetery has the following inscription -“In loving memory of John N Manton LDS & RCS Eng. of Wakefield Born Novr 2nd 1833. Died Sept 2nd 1900. ‘His end was peace’ Annie Elizabeth Manton, wife of the above who died March 4th 1909. ‘He giveth his beloved sleep’. Also John Albert Manton, MCRS Eng. LRCP Lon. son of the above. Born June 30th 1864. Died Feby 4th 1919. ‘After life’s fitful fever, he sleeps well’.

There were quite a few entries for John in the British Newspaper Archive with each article adding more to his very rounded life. As an afterthought, while in the BNA I searched for Ernestine and came up with the following which goes a long way to answering previously asked questions. The Sheffield and Rotherham Independent March 7th 1889 “Marriage of a Local Doctor – At the Stowell Memorial Church, Salford on Tuesday was celebrated the marriage of Mr J Albert Manton, MRCS, LRCP, Shrewsbury House, Park, formerly of Wakefield to Miss Ernestine Graham Gradisky, only daughter of the late Mr J Graham, of Warsaw(?). The bride, who looked charming, in a dress of dark green cloth, “a la Directoire,” was given away by Mr C Gradisky. The nieces of the bride, attired in dresses of white pongee silk, with reseda sashes, the Misses Manton in pink embroidered dresses, a nephew in the costume of “Little Lord Fauntleroy”, and a profusion of choice flowers, with the bright sun streaming in at the window made the ceremony one of the prettiest that has been witnessed in this church for some time”.

Marcus Dyce Manton via Ancestry

Extra information from the Yorkshire Telegraph and Star June 12 1915 – Marcus Dyce Manton, son of John and Ernestine, was the Godson of Sir Dyce Duckworth, eminent surgeon, physician and dermatologist and physician to King Edward when he was Prince of Wales. “I was at Hendon Flying Ground the other evening, and there saw Mr Marcus Dyce Manton, a godson of Sir Dyce Duckworth, and instructor in flying. He told me how Flight-Lieut. J S Mills, one of the heroes of the week’s Zeppelin-shed attack, had a setback in his flying lessons last winter. In “the swirl “ of another aeroplane the other day – it can only happen on a calm day – he got blown down and hooked on to a railway fence! Now he is famous. Mr Manton taught him to fly.”  Marcus during WW1 was found to be unfit on medical grounds for service.  He, therefore, continued to teach flying and was a key figure in the formation of the British Gliding Association.

I never get tired of saying that you can learn so much from a few names on a headstone with the smallest amount of ‘digging’.