Victory in Europe Day 1945
The Bells Rang Out in Halsall
A radio announcement was made on 7th May 1945 informing the people of Britain that the war in Europe was finally over. It was stated, by way of a news flash, that Victory in Europe Day would be a national holiday and would take place the very next day, 8th May 1945.
During WW2, there had been a ban on ringing church bells unless it was to warn of the threat of invasion. The ban began on 13th June 1940, however, by 1942 this threat was diminishing and bell ringing was permitted for the victory at El Alamein, Egypt in November 1942 and also for the Christmas and Easter festivities of that year. The ban was finally lifted in June 1943.
The bells of St. Cuthbert’s church rang out throughout Halsall on the day of 8th May 1945 – V. E. Day. The relief and joy would have also been met with sadness, mixed emotions and exhaustion, no doubt. Nevertheless, the peal of bells signified the end of war in Europe and an opportunity to celebrate.
So significant was this celebratory ringing of the bells that a commemorative plaque was installed in church to remember those that rang the church bells on this, the most historic of days. The bells were rung for almost two and a half hours on both the 8th and 9th May 1945.
St Cuthbert's Bell Ringers in May 1945
John Rimmer GLYF-K8P was born in Halsall on 19th November 1913 to Elsie Mary Griffiths and Henry Rimmer, a saddler who lived at Bangor’s Green, Halsall. Henry died on 14th December 1918 when John was only 5 years old. John, or Johnny as he was known, became a wheelwright and worked for the Rockliffe family of Rose Cottage, New Street. Unfortunately, on 29th March 1935, John’s mother, Elsie died aged 45. John would have been 21 at this time.
Happily, in 1941, John married Doris Sutton GLYF-YS4 who was born in Adlington near Chorley in 1917 to Jane Edwards GGMD-Y53 and William Sutton GGM8-DWC who was a produce merchant/salesman and they lived on Carr Moss Lane in 1939. John and Doris had a daughter in 1943 and continued to live in Halsall – Carr Moss Lane and then Rose Cottage on New Street where they set up home. John continued to work as a wheelwright but also as a joiner and undertaker; he made coffins and would also refurbish farm trailers and other vehicles.
Johnny Rimmer was a well-known and popular character from the village. He was a member of the local football team, enjoyed performing in the Concert Party and as we can see, one of the local bell ringers. He passed away in 1975.
Robert Critchley (Bob) MHHX-N7W was born in Aughton on 29th August 1878 to Mary Croston MHHX-NWX and Thomas Critchley MHH6-RH5, a labourer. The family lived on Clieves Hills, so Robert was baptised at St. Michael’s Church, Aughton on 22nd September 1878.
In 1909, Robert married Sarah Smith G3C4-D2L and they went on to have two daughters. He was a farm produce merchant and worked at Liverpool Market (Nelson Street). They lived at ‘Florida’ in Barton, Downholland. On 29th August 1948, the church bells rang out in celebration of Bob’s 70th birthday! Robert Critchley passed away in 1956.
Henry Serjeant Junior GLYS-SW4 was born in 1916 in Halsall to Rose Edwardson GLYS-G4W and Henry Serjeant KJ2J-CD4, a farmer from Wharton’s Farm, Asmall Lane, Halsall. Henry (Jnr.) married a local girl, Mary Prescott GLYS-D6R, the daughter of Sarah Abram L2RD-LPK and William Prescott G6T3-17M, a farm labourer from Summerwood Lane.
Henry worked for his father on the farm and in the 1939 census we can see he was a horseman/teamster. Henry and Mary had a son and continued to run the farm once Henry senior had died. Both Henry and Mary were very much involved in village life. Amongst other duties, Henry was a churchwarden, a school governor, and a bell ringer. He died on 7th January 1999 and Mary passed away in 2000. They are buried together in the Halsall Church graveyard.
Also, as part of the war effort, Henry was an ARP Warden (Air Raid Precautions) which would have involved him protecting people during air raids by guiding them to shelters and giving out gas masks.
Henry and Rose Serjeant moved to 84 Carr Moss Lane, Halsall on retirement and their son
Henry took over the running of Wharton’s Farm. Rose died in 1970 and Henry passed away in 1973.
Henry Serjeant Senior KJ2J-CD4 was born in Halsall in 1889 to Elizabeth Ackers 9JN9-Q4D and Henry Serjeant 9JN3-HSY, a farmer from North Moor Lane. Elizabeth and her family lived on Aspinwall Lane (now Asmall Lane) and were also farmers. Henry worked for his father on the farm and later married Rose Edwardson GLYS-G4W in 1912.
Rose was the daughter of Martha Howard 9JN3-T47 and Thomas Edwardson L4XR-G4T who were market gardeners from Cross Lane in Halsall. By 1939, Henry and Rose were living and farming at Wharton’s Farm, Asmall Lane, Halsall. On the 1939 register we can see that they had taken in an evacuee who was a young 12 year old girl named Jean Hughes GGMD-ZBM; she was a scholar at Halsall School.
Cuthbert Ackers GXGX-L7V was born in Halsall to Jane Shaw 9JN9-W85 and John Ackers KJ2G-C5K, a farmer from Asmall Lane. The Shaws were also farmers from Cut Lane, Aughton. Cuthbert’s date of birth was 4th July 1903 and he was baptised on 9th August of that year. His godparents were his father, Henry Serjeant (see above, married to Elizabeth Ackers, Cuthbert’s aunt) and Margaret Bolton.
Cuthbert worked as a farm labourer, marrying Elizabeth Ann Banks GWHV-SFR in 1928. She was the daughter of Mary Jane Moorcroft 9JN9-1H6 and William Banks KJGL-DXK, the innkeeper of The Ship at Haskayne. Cuthbert and Elizabeth lived at Bangor’s Green, they appear on the Electoral Register in 1934 and also on the 1939 Register for England and Wales, (which was taken just after WW2 began) along with a daughter.
Cuthbert died on 3rd February 1969 and the probate record states his
address was ‘202 Summerwood Lane (formerly called Bangor’s Green), Halsall’.
Arthur Mawdsley GNRK-CN3 was the son of Ellen Berry 9JN9-JMH and Richard Mawdsley GNRK-W1D, a cordwainer (shoemaker), both from Halsall. The Berry family lived down North Moor Lane and the Mawdsleys lived and ran their shoe-making business on New Street. Richard’s father, also called Richard, lived down Carr Moss Lane and had also been a cordwainer ( a shoemaker who actually makes shoes from leather, as opposed to a cobbler who repairs shoes).
Arthur was born in Halsall on 8th September 1908 and baptised a few weeks later at Halsall Church on 27th September. His 3 godparents were his father, William Huyton and Mary Aspinwall. By 1911, Richard and his family had moved to Summerwood Lane and he was the Sub Postmaster and an auxiliary postman, with Ellen also working in the post office with him. Richard was also a Sexton at St Cuthbert’s.
As time went on, Arthur and his sister Ethel GNRK-CM5 (neither of whom married) ran the post office after their parents had died. Arthur was also the Sexton at church which meant he had duties such as taking care of the church building, digging graves and ringing the church bells. Arthur passed away on 3rd June 1969 and was buried at St. Cuthbert’s church.
Wilfred Core GLYN-955 was born on 4th January 1913 to Susannah Woodcock GLFY-G99 and Henry Core MG4X-YK8, a blacksmith (who also became a Special Constable). Henry’s father was also called Henry and was also a blacksmith! In 1938, Wilf married Dorothy Eva Townsend GLBB-85W, they lived at Croft Cottage, Barton and went on to have a daughter. In the 1939 Register, Wilfred’s occupation is that of Kennel Man. Incidentally, Wilf and Dorothy were neighbours of Bob (another bell ringer on V. E. Day) and his wife, Sarah Critchley. Wilfred’s grandson became a bell ringer in the early 1980s, continuing the tradition. Wilfred Core died in 1997, at the age of 84.
The Bells of St Cuthbert's Church
There are six bells at Halsall church each with an inscription.
First Bell – “Recast at the expense of John Segar 1786”
Second Bell – “Recast at the expense of Rev Glover Moore 1786”
Third Bell – “Mears & Stainbank Founders London 1786”
Fourth Bell – “Recast by subscription 1786”
Fifth Bell – “John Taylor Founders Loughborough 1887”
Sixth Bell – “J. Rudhall, Fect.T.Hulme, E.Blundell. Church Wardens 1811”
The bells were re-hung in 1887 and then at Easter 1931 they were recast in memory of Alfred Lushington Mather who was killed in action on 7th January 1917 at Ypres. He was the son of Rev. Edward L. Mather, rector of St. Cuthbert’s from 1928 until 1946.
Most of the commemorative plaques that are housed in the belfry of St. Cuthbert’s are there to remember more personal events of some of the people of Halsall. For instance, the bells were rung in celebration of:
● The first peal which was conducted by Arthur Mawdsley on 23rd January 1934.
● The 70th birthday of Robert Critchley, one of the bell ringers on 29th August 1948.
● The Silver Wedding Anniversary of William Gradwell, the Rector’s
Warden on 2nd September 1944.
● The accomplishment of Henry Serjeant, (Snr) having rung the bells
for 25 years – 23rd November 1938.
● To commemorate the wedding of C.E.L. Mather, eldest son of the
rector, Reverend Edward L. Mather on 30th March 1940.
● The Retirement of the rector, Reverend Edward L. Mather as ‘a
farewell token’ on 26th May 1946.
● The Festival of Britain 1951, when the bells rang out on 15th July 1951
