Malcolm Webb

Malcolm and his twin sister Miriam were born on the 15th June 1889 in Norton Cottages and they were two of ten children born to Thomas and Sarah Webb (nee Taylor). Sadly two of the children died young.

Their father was a book-keeper and clerk for the canal company.

Malcolm and Miriam’s siblings were Albert aged 16, Louisa aged 15, Florence aged 11, Selina aged 8 and Harry aged 6.

In 1891 another sister, Mary, was born and by 1901 the family lived in the canal cottages at the tunnel mouth in Preston Brook. The family worshipped at the Aston Lane Wesleyan Chapel.

After Thomas Webb died in 1910 the family moved to 4 Bedford Street in Stockton Heath. Only Malcolm and Mary were living with their mother and as Malcolm was the only person working (as a fruitier) his mother took in boarders to help with the finances. In 1911, Henry Williams was staying with them, a 33 year-old toolmaker from Appleton.

In December 1915 Malcolm joined the 24th Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment (service number 34892) and was later transferred to the Royal Welch Fusiliers (service number 93345). His older brother, Harry, was already serving with the R.A.M.C. (Royal Army Medical Corps).

In 1918 Malcolm’s twin sister died and was buried on the 9th May and Macolm was killed in action on the 17th July. He was buried in Le Grand Hasard military cemetery near Morbecque in northern France. Malcom was posthumously awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.