William's Story.
Northwich Guardian, 28 July 1916.
William Rathbone was born in Witton, Northwich on 16th January 1890, the supposed son of Henry Rathbone (1848 - 1929) and Margaret Horsfield (1946 - 1923). In the 1891 census, he is shown as their grandson, and there is no mother's maiden name shown on his birth registration, suggesting that he was quite possibly the son of one of Henry and Margaret's unmarried daughters. However, on later censuses, he is described as Henry and Margaret's son. He grew up at 31 Manchester Street, Witton, then at 6 Norbury Street.
On 18th February 1914, he married 21-year-old Clara Bowden (1892–1973) Great Budworth, and they had one child, Gwendoline (1915 - 1980).
At the time his daughter was baptised, he was employed as a clerk. He had begun work as a yardsman at F W Hughes, brick and tile merchant, and was still working for them at the time of his enlistment into the Royal Fusiliers in 1915.
It is likely that William was injured in a Battle of the Somme in northern France. William died of his wounds in the 12th Field Ambulance hospital on 19th July 1916, at the age of 26. He is buried at Warloy-Baillon, a village about 21 kilometres north-east of Amiens along the D919 to Arras.
He left a widow Clara and a daughter Gwendoline, whose address then was 45 Church Street, Great Budworth (at Clara's parents' home).
Researched by Shena Lewington (November 2025)