Elsie Okell (O’Kell ) is also remembered on the Buckley War Memorial, please click on the link to read her story.
Elsie was not the only sibling who attended the school, here are the entries from the Hawarden Grammar School Admissions Register E/GS/1/10
951/1628 O’KELL, Nancy Isobel – Date of birth15th April 1914, Liverpool Road, Farm, Buckley, Father Farmer (Dec.), Date of entry – 14th September 1926. . Mathew’s Buckley, Sch. £6 & £3, Date of leaving – 24th July 1930 – At home.
1217/1861 O’KELL, Eric date of birth – 11th February 1917, Liverpool Road, Farm, Buckley, Father Farmer (Dec.), Date of entry – 17th September 1928, St. Mathew’s Buckley, Sch. £3, Date of leaving – 21st July 1932 – Agricultural.
1173/2070 O’KELL, Mary date of birth – 16th March 1919 Liverpool Road, Farm, Buckley, Father – Dairy Worker (Dec.), Date of entry – 18th September 1930 St. Mathew’s Buckley, Sch. £3, Date of leaving – 22nd July 1936 ST.
1287/2315 O’KELL, Elsie, date of birth 28th March 1921, Liverpool Road, Farm, Buckley, Father – Dairy Worker (Dec.) , Date of entry -13th September 1932, St. Mathew’s Buckley, Date of leaving –26th July 1937 – Killed in Action.
1470/2684 O’KELL, Winifred date of birth – 11th November 1923, Liverpool Road, Farm, Buckley, Father Farmer (Dec.), Date of entry – 17th September 1935, St. Mathew’s Buckley, Date of leaving – 3rd November 1940.
1471/2685 O’KELL, Kathleen date of birth – 11th November 1923, Liverpool Road, Farm, Buckley, Father Farmer (Dec.), Date of entry – 17th September 1935, St. Mathew’s Buckley, Date of leaving – 24th July 1940.
However, just to add, Elsie’s father, Percy Okell died a year and a day after the 1921 census. The 1921 census shows the family living at 37, Liverpool Road, Buckley on the 19th of June 1921 with Percy Okell as the head of the household. He was 36 years and 6 months old and had been born in Barrow, Cheshire. He was a Farmer on his own account at home. His wife, Elsie Okell was 34 years and 5 months old, also born in Barrow, Cheshire and was doing ‘Home Duties.’ Their children were Nancy Isabel Okell. 7 years and 2 months old, Eric Okell, 4 years, and 4 months old, Mary Okell 2 years and 3 months old and Elsie Okell aged 3 months. All born in Buckley Flintshire. A General Domestic servant, Mary Elizabeth Jeffs was 14 years and 11 months old, her parents, both alive, and born in Buckley.
Taken from the CWGC Citation – Probationer Nurse. Daughter of Elsie Okell, of Liverpool Road Farm, Buckley, Chester, and of the late Percy Okell. Died at Salford Royal Hospital.
Reporting authority SALFORD, COUNTY BOROUGH –https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_Blitz
Salford and Stretford
Neighbouring Salford, Stretford and other districts were also badly damaged by the bombing. It is estimated that more than 215 people were killed and 910 injured in Salford, and more than 8,000 homes were damaged or destroyed.[1] Seventy-three were killed in Stretford, and many more were injured.[4] The following month Old Trafford was hit during an air raid that lasted 3 hours. In June 1941 German bombs damaged the original Salford Royal Hospital on Chapel Street at the junction with Adelphi Street, killing 14 nurses.
Elsie is remembered in the St. George’s Chapel In Westminster Abbey – Location: England, London
Of the many civilians of the Commonwealth whose deaths were due to enemy action in the 1939-1945 War, the names of more than 67,000 are commemorated in the Civilian War Dead Roll of Honour, located near St. George’s Chapel in Westminster Abbey, London.
Her family would have been able to attend the unveiling of the Roll of Honour which dedicated at Hawarden Grammar School on the 3rd February 1951 with a Remembrance Service for the 47* former pupils who died in the 1939 – 1945 World War. As recorded in the Chester Chronicle Saturday 10th February 1951. I hope that her family were there to see it as she was very much loved and missed by them all.
*Author’s note, there are 46 names on the Roll of Honour, clerical error by the newspaper.
