Lives of the First World War

Edgar was born in Runcorn, Cheshire in 1888 to parents Henry Archer and Amy Hankinson (nee Cunningham). Henry and Amy were married in Runcorn in 1881. They lived at 3 Alcock Street. Henry was an aerated water manufacturer. Edgar was the 7th of 9 children. Siblings included Herbert Walter born 1881, William Archer born 1883, Elsie Louisa born 1884, Amy Constance born 1886, Edith born 1890, Roderic born 1891, Dorothy Eleanor born 1893 and Freda Mary born 1895. In 1901 the family were living at 18 Middlewich Road. By now Herbert was an outfitters assistant, William a cashier clerk and Elsie an elementary school teacher. The other children were at school. Sometime before 1911 the family moved to Brookfield House, Manchester Road in Northwich. William and Edgar had joined the family business of aerated water manufacturing called Hankinson and Son and Roderic was an apprentice engineer. Herbert had married in 1909 and was a tailor. Amy and Freda had moved to Lymm. Edgar had diverse interests which included horticulture, football and rowing. He attended Cheshire Agricultural and Horticultural School where he wrote about the cultivation of peaches. His grandson has in his possession a silver cup from the school with Edgar's name dated 1906 however it doesn't say what the cup was for. Also a sliver plated tankard from the Northwich Rowing Club was awarded to Edgar in 1908. It was engraved Scratch Fours (No. 3). On July 20, 1912 Edgar and his brother Roderic, boarded The Megantic in Liverpool bound for Quebec, Canada. They made their way to Winnipeg, Manitoba and worked on a threshing crew for a period of 6 months. Upon their return home Edgar attended an agricultural college again but had to leave as the family was experiencing some financial difficulties in the mineral water manufacturing business. It is believed that Hankinson and Son might have been taken over by N.P. Sandiford & Son Limited, Manchester and Northwich. Edgar's service record does not exist but from the Medal Index Card we know that he was assigned service number 46957 and was a Serjeant in the South Wales Borders. On July 26, 1916 Edgar married Marian Skeath, who worked as a clerk in the post office, the marriage taking place at St. Helen Witton Church, Northwich, Cheshire. Marian's parents were George, an Analytical Chemist in an Alkali Works called Brunner Mond, and Mary Jane Skeath. Their only child, a daughter, Winifred Mary (known as Mary) was born June 28, 1917. Edgar was transferred to the Cheshire Regiment on March 19, 1919. Marian eventually became the Post-mistress at Winnington Post Office which at the time was stationed within their house in Solvay Rd. Post-war Edgar worked as a salesman for various companies including Redex the fuel additives company from which he retired as a sales manager. Along with his passion for horticulture, Edgar also enjoyed riding a motor cycle. His grandson recalls him riding with the family dog called Betty in the front basket. Mary apparently enjoyed motor cycles as well and liked riding fast in the pillion. On one occasion the motor cycle fell and Edgar pulled his back out trying to right it. This resulted in a 2 year stay in the hospital during which some of the disks in his spine were fused. At one point Edgar also took up boxing including a going into the ring with the Mid-Cheshire Champion. Edgar managed to get in a good hit while the champion wasn't paying attention only to be hit back and suffer a broken jaw. Edgar's brother, Roderic age 92 traveled from Canada to holiday for a few days with Edgar then aged 89 in Llandudno, Wales. Roderic had also served in WW1. Marian died while on holiday in Blackpool in 1977. Edgar later moved to sheltered accommodation in Hartford, near Mary and her husband Maurice Kenyon Capper. His last days were spent in the Victoria Infirmary, Northwich. He died in 1985. Edgar and Marian were survived by Mary, Maurice and their 2 sons. 2018 Gail Hankinson, Jonathan and Stephen Capper.

Created by: , Gail68122