Born Gladys Appleton on the 29th November 1913,
the birth being registered during the December
quarter 1913 in the Northwich R.D. - ref: 8a/465
the daugher of George & Martha Appleton (nee
Hodgkinson).

1921 Census - Back Lane, Plumley, Cheshire.  
Daughter - aged: 7 - Scholar - born: Allostock,
Cheshire.   Head of household - George Appleton -
Married - aged: 36 - occ: Farmer - born:
Tarporley, Cheshire.   Also - Martha Appleton -
Wife - aged: 38 - born: Allostock, Cheshire.  
Plus 1 younger brother and 1 farm servant.

Married Peter Sanders during the December quarter
1937 in the Northwich R.D. - ref: 8a/644.  Her
husband and 2 year old son were also killed in
this incident.

1939 National Registration - 43 Moss Lane,
Altrincham.   Peter Sanders - Married - born: 28th
April 1909 - occ: Nurseryman.   Gladys Sanders -
Married - born: 29th November 1913 - occ: Unpaid
Domestic Duties.  Kenneth Sanders - Single - born:
7th December 1938 - Under School Age.

Just before 20.30 hrs during the second night of
the "Manchester Blitz", a bomb fell on the corner
of Oakfield Road & Moss Lane, Altrincham,
destroying four houses and killing 12 civilians. 

CWD Ref No. 12 - Buried by Masonry - Body (fully
dressed) found at 1300hrs, 25/12/1940 - Taken to
A.B. Brookes & Son's Mortuary, Stamford New Road,
Altrincham - Identified by her father-in-Law,
Peter Sanders, Mere Heath Lane, Mere, Cheshire.   
Buried with her husband and young son in
Altrincham (Hale) Cemetery.    Buried 30/12/1940 -
Burial No. 10,777 - Grave ref:  C317.

M.I. - "In death, they were not divided".

CWGC - of 43 Moss Lane. Wife of Peter Sanders.
Died at 43 Moss Lane.

Probate - Administration granted at Manchester on
the 23rd July 1941 to Edna May Appleton, Attorney
of George Stanley Appleton (her brother)..  
Estate valued at £457. 8s. 0d.

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Although not individually named, Gladys is one of
the 12 local residents killed at this site and
around the corner on Oakfield Road who are
commemorated in the Memorial Garden on the corner
of Moss Lane and Oakfield Road.

On Friday 23rd December 2011 a group of local
residents, relatives of the victims and civic
dignitaries attended a wreath laying ceremony at
the memorial garden on Oakfield Road, Altrincham,
to the 12 civilians that died when a German bomb
landed at this site at about 8.30 pm 71 years ago
to the day.

The Sale & Altrincham Messenger sent a
photographer and a short report of the ceremony
appeared in the 5th January 2012 edition of their
newspaper.    The Hale, Sale & Altrincham
Independent Newspaper also reported the event in
their January 2012 edition.

As the articles attracted such interesting
feedback from relatives of victims and those
involved in their recovery, the Messenger's Chief
Reporter Chris Griffin,  researched the event
further and wrote a number of excellent articles
about it and the families involved.   He also
reported about the recent demolition of the nearby
Bridge Inn public house where one of the victims
was raised.    The articles were dated 12th
January, 26th January, 2nd February, 16th
February, 1st March and the 15th March 2012.  
Chris was able to obtain much unknown information
and personal photographs of a number of the
victims from their families.

Four houses from a terrace of six, were destroyed
in this incident - Nos. 87, 89 & 91 Oakfield Road,
plus the sweet shop on the corner of Oakfield Road
and Moss Lane.    The bodies from No. 91 and the
shop were the last to be recovered at 1.0 pm on
Christmas Day.    The land where Nos. 83 to 91
Oakfield Road and the shop were sited is now a
Memorial Garden.