21st Battalion Manchester Regiment
John Cunliffe, known as Jack, was the son of W J Cunliffe of 'Hatton Fold' on Brooklands Road. He married Dorothy Smith of of Springfield Road, Sale in June 1914; the couple lived at 'Kilmorey', Brooklands Road, Brooklands. John was educated at Oxford University and employed as a solicitor. His widow may have re-married in 1919 (in Chorlton), taking the surname Davies.
He enlisted with the Manchester Regiment in January 1915 and was killed in action in France in September of the same year. He was 28. The following is from St John’s Church Magazine of October 1916:
In Memoriam
JOHN LEONARD CUNLIFFE, Captain, The Manchester Regiment
Who was killed in action in France, on September 15th, aged 28 years.
The Roll of Honour: It is with sincere sorrow as a congregation that we have learned of the death of John Leonard Cunliffe, Captain in the Manchester Regiment, who fell in action on September 15th during the fierce fighting in Picardy. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to his sorrowing wife and to the members of his family in their sad loss. He was a good and earnest young man, of a happy and engaging disposition – one who had done well at Oxford, and was now laying a good foundation to practice as a solicitor, when he fell in his country's cause, as so many of our fine young fellows of attainment and promise have done, with his earthly course closed. It was a happiness to have known Jack Cunliffe, and our only regret can be the cruel and lamentable struggle which has severed his young life from us.
The Guardian records that he also had two older brothers who served in the War, Harold Hastilow and William Richard, born in 1885 and 1887 respectively.
John’s death is recorded on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France and at Slater Heelis (solicitors), Sale. He is also commemorated on our War Memorial at St. John’s.