Roger Brockley was born on the 19th February 1906 according to the 1939 Register and was living at 3, Greenbank Place, Connah’s Quay, Flintshire with his wife Rosina (b. 11th November 1911) and possibly their daughter Joan who was born on the 24th April 1930 and was at school. It is strange as she has not been redacted as most children of that age would have been because of the 100 year Law, so perhaps she goes under the 70 year Law?
Roger was the son of John and Frances Brockley (nee Woods) who, I believe, married in the June Quarter of 1890 at Ashton-under-Lyne (Volume: 8d Page:824) with the names Mary Frances Woods and John William Brockley.
On the 1911 census Roger is seen for the first time living at 32, Princes Street, Connah’s Quay (3 Rooms). This census was usually filled in and signed by the householder, but as John signed with an X, someone else must have filled it in.
John Brockley, 44, a Labourer in the Ironworks, probably John Summers & Sons, states he had been born in Ashton-under-Lyne while his wife Frances, 44 had been born in Liverpool, Lancashire. They tell us that they had been married for 20 years and 11 children had been born to them, all still living. The family living at their home that day was J.W., 20, single, and like his father, worked in the Ironworks as a Labourer, as did James, 17. Both had been born in Ashton-under-Lyne like their father. The rest of the family had been born in Connah’s Quay, May, 15, Rose, 12, Harold, 14, Frances, 8 and Roger, 5, the last 4 were in school. Walter, 3, Arthur, 1 and Peter, 10 months made up the household.
Roger married in St. Mark’s Church, Connah’s Quay :-Page 75 No 150 12th October 1929 Roger BROCKLEY, 23, Bachelor, Marker? 19, Primrose Street, Connah’s Quay, John William BROCKLEY (dec), Ironworker & Rosina CONLIN, 17, Spinster, Domestic Servant, 16, Park Hill Road, Connah’s Quay, Edward CONLIN (dec) No occupation stated. Witnesses:- Peter BROCKLEY & Esther ROBERTS (After BANNS)
His brother John had married earlier also in St. Mark’s Church, Connah’s Quay:- Page 25 No. 45 (or 49, Vicar changed the number) 12th June 1916 John William BROCKLEY, 24, Bachelor, Ironworker, 19, Primrose Street, John William BROCKLEY, Ironworker & Annie TOVEY, 20, Spinster, 363, High Street, Charles TOEY, Ironworker. Witnesses:- Charles Frederick TOVEY & Sarah Ann Elizabeth SMITH.
I do not know when he entered the Army, but he was a Gunner in the Royal Artillery and according to the British Army Casualty Lists 1939-1945 on Find my Past, he was killed on the 25th January 1946, as a result of an accident, after the war ended. (see below). So sad to think he had survived the war only to lose his life accidentley after it.
His death was registered at Willesden, Middlesex in the March Quarter of 1946 (Volume: 3a Page: 576). However his body was returned to his home and he was buried in Connah’s Quay Cemetery.
If anyone has any information to add to Roger’s story, so we can make sure he is not forgotten, please get in touch, it would be gratefully received.
