Samuel Dace

This story is shared by the Trust with kind permission from Mavis Williams, Researcher.

Samuel Dace was born 23 September 1917 in the Bolton registration district, the son of Sydney James and Bertha Dace (née Grimshaw), who had married after Banns, on the 24th of May 1902 in St. Clement’s Church, Higher Openshaw in the County of Lancaster. Sydney was a wheelwright and Bertha was a Potter.

We see the young couple on the 1911 census, living at 70, Beckett Street, Chorley Old Road, Bolton. Five children had been born, but sadly 1 had died. The 1921 census, which was taken on the 19th of June 1921, shows the family living at 178, Folds Road, Bolton. It reveals that the family had set up a hardware business as Sydney was now a Hardware Dealer and Employer, Bertha was working as a Retail Hardware Dealer on her own account, and their eldest son, Edward, was a Hardware Dealer's Assistant. Two of their children were at school, their eldest daughter, Beatrice was working as a Cotton Reeler at Victoria Mill Limited, another daughter, Isabella, 13 years, was a Weaver’s Tenter for Richard Bond & Co., Cotton Manufacturers, Mule Street, Bolton and Samuel Dace, 3, was at home.

Sadly, in the June quarter of 1936, Sydney James Dace was to die, aged 51 years, and the 1939 Register shows they had moved up the road, to 240 Folds Road, Bolton and had had closed their hardware business. Most of the children were now self-employed including Samuel who was working as a Painter and Decorator. Reflecting the times, Bertha was a housewife but had signed up to be an ARP Warden as had her daughter, Elsie. We also discover that a seventh child, Joan, had been born in 1922 to complete the family. Samuel Dace married Ruby Dace, of Worthing, Sussex either before or after he joined up

The Royal Welsh Fusiliers Enlistment Registers show that Samuel was attested on the 15th of February 1940. He volunteered for airborne forces when the 10th Battalion The Royal Welch Fusiliers converted to an airborne role in August 1942, becoming the 6th (Royal Welch) Parachute Battalion. He undertook parachute jump training on course 23 from 17-23 August 1942 and went on to serve with them in North Africa and Italy. The battalion was withdrawn to England at the end of 1943 and they were held in reserve at the start of the Normandy landings. He was killed when flying as a passenger on board Albemarle V1774 of 296 Squadron, Royal Air Force. They took off from RAF Brize Norton at 00.15 on the 12th July on a sortie to drop supplies to SOE (Special Operations Executive). The aircraft crashed near Le Havre on its return. He has no known grave and he is commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing at The Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey.

British Normandy Memorial - Additional Information

Unfortunately, we do not have a photo of Samuel Dace. If you are aware of one, or you are related to Samuel, we would love to hear from you so we can add to his story.