Enoch Kinsella

ENOCH KINSELLA.

12947, Private, Enoch Kinsella, 8th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment.

Born 7 February 1882 at Macclesfield, son of weaver, John and Susannah, (nee, Smith), Kinsella Enoch was baptised on 1 June 1885 at Christ Church Macclesfield; at that time his parents lived at Pinfold Street. On 2 April 1890, along with his siblings Ann, Samuel and James, Enoch was baptised into the Roman Catholic faith at St Alban’s Church Macclesfield. The following year the family were living at 87, Pierce Street, Macclesfield. Enoch was educated at St Alban’s School he also attended at the St Alban’s Church, where he was a member of the St Alban’ gymnastic class.

On the 12 May 1900, Enoch married Edith Brocklehurst at St Paul’s Church Macclesfield. They set up home at 1, House, 4, Court, Pierce Street, Macclesfield. At the time of attesting he had six children, Albert (11) Ellen (9) Minnie (5), Jane (3), and Edith (2 month old). Another daughter, Mary, was born on 27 August 1913, and a son, Arthur, was born on the 13 May 1915.

When Enoch attested at Macclesfield, 31 08 1914 he gave his occupation as iron moulder; he had worked for Harlow’s of King Edward Street. His army medical report showed him to be a man of five feet seven inches weighed 132lbs with a thirty six inch chest, grey eyes and fair hair and a fresh complexion. Enoch’s training took place at Seaford, near Brighton, in early 1915 and at Press Heath near Whitchurch, in late 1915. On the 6th September Enoch was to have gone to France with the 12th Cheshire’s, but he sufferered a wound to his left foot and was treated at the Cambridge Hospital, Aldershot from 7th to 16th September 1915.

Once mobile again, on 23rd September he was posted to the 14th Cheshire Regiment. On the 5 November 1915, Enoch was transferred to the 8th Cheshire Regiment and embarked with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, for Port Said in Egypt, 15/11/1915. The Regiment left Port Said on 14 February 1916, arriving at Basra two week later. On
arriving at Mesopotamia, the 8th Battalion were engaged in the attempt to relieve Kut, which took place, 4th January to 24th April 1916. On the 16th and 17th April they participated in the action at Bait Isa and heavy fighting followed. Enoch was killed in action; Wednesday, 19 April 1916, aged 34 years. Total casualties for the Battalion in April, were eighteen officers and 355 men.

Medals: 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Private, Enoch Kinsella has no known resting place and he is commemorated on the Basra Memorial, Iraq.
C.W.G.C. Ref: – Panel 14 and 16.

Also refer to

• Macclesfield Troops pre WWI
• Photos from Macclesfield archive Bollington WW1
• ‘Big Hats, Shorts and Dyb Dyb Dyb’ – a history of Macclesfield and Congleton Scouts by Norman Gosling
• WWI List of Addresses Trevor Druce Macclesfield Reflects