I believe that Hubert Postons, Harry’s father, married Evelyn Dodd in the December quarter of 1913 (Wirral Vol. 8a Page 857) and they had 2 children, Evelyn V. Postons who was born in the December quarter of 1915 (Hawarden Vol. 11b Page 364) and Edward Eric Postons who was born on the 1st of October 1917 and Baptised in St. Francis’s Church, Sandycroft, the son of Hubert & Evelyn, H.M. Factory Bungalow, Queensferry. Sadly, Edward Eric didn’t survive, and he died in the March quarter of the following year – 1918 (Flintshire (Mold) HAW/11A/31). Again, Hubert was to suffer bereavement as Evelyn also died in the December quarter of 1918. (Cheshire West EAS/28/7). Her death at the young age of 30 was registered in the Eastham Sub- Registration District, the same district that Childer Thornton is in, the town that Evelyn was born in, so I wondered if she had died at her parent’s home.
I believe that Hubert was to marry again in the December quarter of 1919 in the Church of Holy Ascension in Upton, Chester, however on the Cheshire Marriage Index Hubert’s name is given as Herbert, but on the Free BMD Index his name is Hubert. If this is “our” Hubert, then he married Jennie Hughes (Cheshire West CE51/1/241).
Their first child was Marie Postons who was born in the September quarter of 1920 (Flintshire (Mold)HAW/26A/73) and then in the September quarter of 1921, young Harry was born. (Flintshire (Mold) HAW/28A/18). Both with the mother’s maiden name of Hughes.
The 1921 census, which was taken on the 19th of June 1921, gives us a little insight into the family. They were living at 17, The Cross Way, Mancot Royal, Hawarden, Chester. Head of the household was Hubert Postons, 32 years, and 5 months old, born in Christleton, Chester and a Process Worker (Explosives) at H.M. Factory, Queensferry. His wife, Jennie Postons was 28 years and 11 months old, born in Bagillt, Flintshire. Their children were Marie Postons, aged 1 year, born Mancot, Flintshire and Harry Postons, under 1 month old, born in Hawarden, Flintshire. There was a visitor, Sarah Owens, who was first described as – Mother-in-Law, but that was crossed out by Hubert Postons, according to the colour of the ink and the handwriting, and Visitor was written, so a mystery who this lady was. However, she was 67 years and 5 months old, born in Hanley, Staffordshire, and a widow.
I have no information on the family after that, until the 1939 National Register, which was taken on the 29th of September 1939, especially young Harry’s early and teenage years, so if anyone has any information that might tell his story, so he won’t be forgotten, please get in touch with the website.
On that Register, living at 17 Crossways, Hawarden, Flintshire, we see his parents, Marie and a closed record which could mean that there is another sibling. I don’t think it would have been Harry as he would have been too old to have been included on this register, but it is very confusing as some people who you think would be too young to be added , such as being at school, are on, then other’s, who would fit the criteria are not included This source shows us Hubert’s date of birth as the 21st January 1888 and he was a Fire Service & Tested Public Service Vehicle Driver,(Motor). His wife on this is described as Jane, but I think it is possibly Jennie, who’s date of birth is given as the 11th of July 1891 and as most women with no job is described on this register, she is doing “Unpaid Domestic Duties.” Marie Postons date of birth was the 22nd of June 1920 and although she was single then, she is also described as doing “Unpaid Domestic Duties.” There is a redacted record, which may have been Harry.
Harry was to either enlist or was conscripted into the R.A.F., but I have no knowledge of when or where he was posted, so any information would be gratefully received, but as he was to go on meet and marry Marjorie Boardman in the Manchester Road Methodist Church, Swinton,(Salford A69/2/39) or (Barton Vol. 8c Page 1091), in the March quarter of 1944, I am presuming that he may have been stationed near there, it may have been Barton Hall. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Barton_Hall).
On the British armed forces and overseas deaths and burials Transcription his unit or Regiment was described as 520 Squadron.
He must have been stationed at Gibraltar in 1946 as that was where the 520 Squadron was formed in 1943 according to http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/520_wwII.html and the aircraft he was to fatefully a passenger in was a Hudson 111, which was part of the squadron out of Gibraltar.
According to this website https://www.baaa-acro.com/crash/crash-lockheed-l-414-hudson-iii-gibraltar-1-killed and I quote “At the end of the war the squadron was also given an air-sea rescue role, which it retained until being disbanded in April 1946.” So it was shortly after Harry’s death that the Squadron was disbanded.
I wanted to know how and why Harry was to died, so I contacted the WW2 talk Forum, http://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads/harry-postons-passenger-in-hudson-iii-fh280-stn-flt.76239/
who have been so helpful during my searches to tell these stories, and I cannot begin to thank them enough, and on this occasion, it was Dave who gave me the breakthrough, the link to the website above, so many thanks to him.
On the website http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?21775 Harry is mentioned on Henk’s List of unaccounted Airmen and Airwomen:- MALTA
POSTONS, Harry – LAC – 1306011 – RAFVR – Malta Memorial, Malta – [ Passenger in Hudson III – FH280 – Stn Flt ].
So Harry sadly died as a passenger on a Military flight, on Lockheed L-414 Hudson lll (Reg. FH280) from Gibraltar when the plane was taking off into a climb –“Circumstances: Few minutes after take-off from Gibraltar Airport, while climbing, the aircraft suffered a double engine failure. The captain was able to ditch the aircraft and six occupants were rescued while a passenger died. The aircraft was lost.
Causes: Double engine failure.” 9th April 1946.
Harry’s sister Marie was to go on and marry Phillip Davies in St. Deniol’s Church Hawarden on the 25th June 1949. Marie Postons gave her occupation as a Laboratory Assistant and her address as Mancot Royal, her father Hubert Postons and he was a Firemen. Phillip Davies, 32 and a Bachelor was a Steelworker who lived in Hawarden, his father Thomas Davies was also a Steelworker.
According to the Godfrey Family Tree of Paul Godfrey, Harry and Marjorie were to have 1 daughter, Barbara A. Postons who was born in December 1944 in Barton, Lancashire. She then went on to marry Roy Brampton in Barton, Lancashire in March 1966 when she was 21 years old. Many thanks to Paul Godfrey.
Hubert Poston in the England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 shows: –
POSTON (sic), Hubert of 17, Crossways, Mancot, Hawarden, Flintshire, died 22nd March 1970. Probate Sheffield 22nd April.
I believe that Harry’s mother, Jane, died in 1942 and her death is registered in Hawarden. (Flintshire (Mold) HAW/28A/32).
Harry was sadly missed by his family, and they made sure he would be remembered by adding his name to the Hawarden Memorial.
