Wakefield’s Honoured Soldier

If you hear the name Andrew Moynihan, what is your first thought?

Andrew was born in Saw Yard, Wakefield, at the beginning of 1830, the son of Malachi and Ann nee Scott. A few months later, his parents took him to St. Austin’s Catholic Church, where he was baptised.

He joined the army when he was 17 years old and, by age 25, was a sergeant in the 90th Foot – a Scottish Infantry regiment raised by Thomas Graham in the late 1700’s. The Regiment has seen action in many well-known wars: French Revolutionary Wars, Napoleonic Wars, Crimean War, Sepoy Revolt (India), Xhosa Wars (South Africa) and the Anglo-Zulu War.

The Regiment set sail from England, heading for Balaklava, and saw action at the Seige of Sebastopol. There was then a return to England before heading to India to join other regiments with the Indian Rebellion and later in the hear the relief of Lucknow. A t total of six Victoria Crosses were awarded while the Regiment was based in India. He was promoted to sergeant major while in India and, in 1856, was commissioned into the 8th (King’s) Regiment of Foot. The following year, he was promoted to lieutenant and, in 1863, promoted to captain.

With another return to England to train more recruits, they headed off to fight in the Anglo-Zulu War. In 1866, he left Kingstown, Ireland, for Malta, where he was based for just over a year.

Victoria Cross

While the 90th Foot was in Crimea, Andrew Moynihan was awarded the Victoria Cross on the 8th of September 1855 at Sebastopol. The London Gazette of the 24th of February 1857 has the following citation: Sebastapol, Crimea, 8 September 1855, Serjeant Andrew Moynihan, 90th Regiment (Perthshire Light Infantry). When Serjeant, 90th Light Infantry, at the assault of the Redan, 8th September 1855, he encountered and killed five Russians. He rescued from the Redan a wounded Officer under heavy fire. He was awarded this great honour by Queen Victoria at Hyde Park on the 26th of June 1857.

Moynihan, while living in Floriana, Malta, died on the 19th of May 1867 (aged 37) after contracting typhoid fever after drinking unsterilised goat’s milk. He rests in Ta Braxia Cemetery, Malta, under a raised chest tomb with a prominent cross covering the entire length of the stonework.

Andrew married Ellen Anne Parkin in 1853 in Ashton under Lyne, Lancashire. Ellen followed her husband to Malta, where their son Berkley was born in 1865. Now a widow, Ellen returned to England – Leeds, where she raised Berkley and his two sisters.

The family home by the harbour via Google Maps

Berkley Moynihan became an eminent surgeon and lecturer in Leeds and a Baron in 1929 (Berkley George Andrew Moynihan, Baron Moynihan). Berkley was a surgeon, while my relative was in charge of the Leeds Infirmary. Upon his retirement, my relative had the honour of having the hospital renamed in his and one other’s name – but that is another story. 

Another Walk Around Sugar Lane

William Jepson Rhodes was born in Wakefield in 1876. He was the son of Ezra Rhodes and his wife Hannah. By the time William was 15, his father, Ezra, was a widower looking after two teenage boys who both worked as joiner labourers with their father, a joiner. Home for the small family was Rhodes Yard, in the Primrose Hill area of Wakefield. Both Rhodes boys had been born in Wakefield, while Ezra had been born in Morley. Next door was widow Elizabeth Rhodes, who was living on ‘Own Means’ also from Morley – could she have been his mother? And could her husband have been responsible for the building of Rhodes Yard?

William, now 25, lived in Epsom Place in the Parish of St Mary, Wakefield, and was a cabinet maker.

Just short of ten years later, William was now the father to three daughters and one son. Home for the family was Mollacree’s Yard, Kirkgate, Wakefield. He had married Mary Ann nee Ward in the summer of 1898. William’s father, Ezra, was on the marriage certificate as a Master Joiner. He was also a witness on the happy day. Mary’s father was James Ward of Sun Lane, Warrengate, Wakefield, a foreman railway waggon shunter.

In 1939, William and his wife Mary were together in Duke of York Street, Wakefield – William was now a joiner and shopfitter.

Between the census dates, another set of documents tells another side of the Rhodes family – passenger lists. In 1908, mum Mary and three children were on SS Etruria bound for Middlesbro’ Kentucky from Liverpool. Why? The passenger list tells that the nearest relative was an aunt who lived in Northgate, Wakefield – no name of the aunt, but something maybe to research later. Where was William Jepson Rhodes? Had he died? No, I have seen the headstone; William was still alive. Did he stay in Wakefield? No. William, aged 32, travelled on SS Lusitania in February 1908. His wife Mary was living in Zetland Street, Wakefield, probably preparing for her upcoming journey.

Why did the family leave the country? They only stayed briefly, as they are in the 1911 census. All eight of the Rhodes’ are living in Mollacrees Yard. William, a shopfitter, works for George Blakey on Back Lane, Westgate, Wakefield.

Family headstone in Sugar Lane Cemetery ©

William died in May 1945. His wife, Mary, followed in October 1958. The headstone gives the reader one valuable snippet of information – Mary was the sister of Thomas Ward. Thomas, included on the memorial, died in Boston, USA, in November 1946. There is now a link to America. In modern-day traffic, the journey from Boston to Middlesboro, Kentucky, is over 14 hours and a longer and more arduous journey during the first decade of the twentieth century. A visit to Mary’s brother could be the reason for the short stay.

Although I am curious to delve a little deeper into the Rhodes / Ward families, I must tell myself to stop and leave any further digging to the family or someone with another connection – not me!