Harold Coward
Rank Volunteer.
Regiment Home Guard.
Date of death 19th January 1941.
Age 43.
Grave reference Sec. C. 1511.
Howard Coward born 1897, died 19th January 1941. Address at time of death, 26 South Avenue Swinton.
He was a volunteer member of the Home Guard reporting to Swinton "B" Company Home Guard, Moorside Platoon.
Married Amy Broadley (1) born 19th April 1897, died 20th September 1998.
The couple married in 1925.
Harold had been for the last 28 years of his life employed by Messrs. Corn Products Ltd. Trafford Park. Six years prior to his death he had an accident at work injuring his knee, he never fully regained fitness and from then one wore strapping to support his knee.
The morning of 19th January 1941 "B" Company set off on a march at noon from Swinton town centre and made their way up Station Road, conditions were poor under feet, there was a cold wind blowing. The group of men turned onto Bolton Road toward Salford. After marching a further mile or so Coward collapsed, four other Home Guard carried him into a shop whilst a witness telephoned for a doctor. Harold was breathing heavily and seemed to be in a serious condition, his rescuers tried to revive him, sadly by the time the doctor arrived he had died.
A post mortem was carried out by Dr J.H. Moore of Swinton, it revealed Harold Coward was suffering from a grossly diseased heart, died from a heart attack.
A full military funeral was accorded Volunteer Coward. The cortege proceeded with slow pace from his home on South Avenue to Swinton Cemetery. Members of the Moorside Platoon of the Home Guard walked as a guard of honour alongside an open Army Carriage, on which the coffin was carried, drapped with the Union Jack. The service was conducted by Cannon D. Fletcher. Three volleys of gunfire were presented by an armed representative of more than a dozen Home Guard, a further six acted as Pall Bearers. The Last Post and Reveille were sounded by an Army Bugler.
Home Guard Officers present at the funeral
Commanding Officer, Mr Fenton.
Deputy Commanding Officer, Mr Clutterbuck.
Battalion Commander, Captain Webb.
Swinton Platoons represented
Moorside, Mr Grundy and Mr Chardick.
Moss Lane, Mr Jones.
Clifton, Mr Partington.
Gerrards, Mr Goodfellow.
Wreaths were sent from Swinton Company Moorside and Number Two Platoon (Pendlebury).
(1) Amy Broadley born 19th April 1897, died 20th September 1998.
Parents James Broadley born 1859 and Hannah Mary Allen born 1860 Eccles. The couple married 1882 at St. Peter Swinton.
Siblings all born in Swinton, Mary born 1885, Nicholas born 1886, William born 1889, Nancy born 1891, Eliza Ann born 1893, Aice born 1895.
1891 and 1901 census the Broadley family are living at 6 Back Union Street Swinton.
Also buried along side Harold and Amy is Kathryn Hilton, their great niece, she died in 2002 age 39.
© Susan Tydd 2010
Please do not reproduce without permission
Rank Volunteer.
Regiment Home Guard.
Date of death 19th January 1941.
Age 43.
Grave reference Sec. C. 1511.
Howard Coward born 1897, died 19th January 1941. Address at time of death, 26 South Avenue Swinton.
He was a volunteer member of the Home Guard reporting to Swinton "B" Company Home Guard, Moorside Platoon.
Married Amy Broadley (1) born 19th April 1897, died 20th September 1998.
The couple married in 1925.
Harold had been for the last 28 years of his life employed by Messrs. Corn Products Ltd. Trafford Park. Six years prior to his death he had an accident at work injuring his knee, he never fully regained fitness and from then one wore strapping to support his knee.
The morning of 19th January 1941 "B" Company set off on a march at noon from Swinton town centre and made their way up Station Road, conditions were poor under feet, there was a cold wind blowing. The group of men turned onto Bolton Road toward Salford. After marching a further mile or so Coward collapsed, four other Home Guard carried him into a shop whilst a witness telephoned for a doctor. Harold was breathing heavily and seemed to be in a serious condition, his rescuers tried to revive him, sadly by the time the doctor arrived he had died.
A post mortem was carried out by Dr J.H. Moore of Swinton, it revealed Harold Coward was suffering from a grossly diseased heart, died from a heart attack.
A full military funeral was accorded Volunteer Coward. The cortege proceeded with slow pace from his home on South Avenue to Swinton Cemetery. Members of the Moorside Platoon of the Home Guard walked as a guard of honour alongside an open Army Carriage, on which the coffin was carried, drapped with the Union Jack. The service was conducted by Cannon D. Fletcher. Three volleys of gunfire were presented by an armed representative of more than a dozen Home Guard, a further six acted as Pall Bearers. The Last Post and Reveille were sounded by an Army Bugler.
Home Guard Officers present at the funeral
Commanding Officer, Mr Fenton.
Deputy Commanding Officer, Mr Clutterbuck.
Battalion Commander, Captain Webb.
Swinton Platoons represented
Moorside, Mr Grundy and Mr Chardick.
Moss Lane, Mr Jones.
Clifton, Mr Partington.
Gerrards, Mr Goodfellow.
Wreaths were sent from Swinton Company Moorside and Number Two Platoon (Pendlebury).
(1) Amy Broadley born 19th April 1897, died 20th September 1998.
Parents James Broadley born 1859 and Hannah Mary Allen born 1860 Eccles. The couple married 1882 at St. Peter Swinton.
Siblings all born in Swinton, Mary born 1885, Nicholas born 1886, William born 1889, Nancy born 1891, Eliza Ann born 1893, Aice born 1895.
1891 and 1901 census the Broadley family are living at 6 Back Union Street Swinton.
Also buried along side Harold and Amy is Kathryn Hilton, their great niece, she died in 2002 age 39.
© Susan Tydd 2010
Please do not reproduce without permission