Together Trust Archive

We have often considered the impact of the First World War on the Manchester and Salford Refuges on this blog with solemn remembrances of the care leavers and staff who died, celebrations of their bravery, and the economic effects on the day-to-day running of the charity. Yet the war affected the charity in other ways, as it led to higher numbers of admissions to the charity's residential homes.

Last year the Together Trust held a ceremony to commemorate 100 years since the end of World War I. The occasion was marked with the unveiling of a bronze plaque, engraved with the names of those who had fallen whilst serving for their country. All these names were men who had either worked for the charity, or lived in one of its homes when it resided in Manchester. Commemorative plaque, 2018

Tuesday saw the culmination of many months work with the hosting of our ‘Gone But Not Forgotten’ event.  The commemorative garden at our Central Offices

With only a few days to go until the Together Trust hosts its commemoration event ‘Gone But Not Forgotten’ on Tuesday 13th November, the charity has been looking in more depth into the history of those who fought.    There are a number of historical documents available, which give more information around the men who fought in World War One . Records can range from generic genealogy records such as census data, revealing addresses and family details pre-enlistment, to more specialised documents such as workhouse registers, industrial school files as well as charity records, such as those provided by the Manchester and Salford Boys’ and Girls’ Refuges and Homes. In terms of military papers many soldier’s personnel records remain, including the British Army Service Records . The collection contains a myriad of army forms including attestation papers, medical forms, discharge documents and pension claims. These can be accessed through the genealogical sites such as Find My ...

While we rejoice at the advent of peace and the vindication of righteousness, we remember with awe the price. How many homes in our beloved land will mourn some who will never return! The end of the war has even renewed the sense of loss to many. We have our own sad yet proud record as an Institution. There was a ready response to our country’s need in the early days of the war from officers and boys alike, and we have had the sad tidings time by time of those who have fallen – a member of Committee, three officers in charge of the boys, and 29 of the boys themselves. It is indeed true of these, as of so many others that they, 'Died for us'. - The Children’s Haven (1918) On the 11th November 1918 , the country celebrated the end of World War One. Four long years of fighting had finally come to an end and people spilled out onto the streets, flag waving, rejoicing and singing. But peace had come at a great cost and for many, including our great charity, there were those who ...

The country fell silent on Saturday to mark the signing of the armistice between the Allies and Germany at 11am on 11 November 1918. It signified the end of World War One, after four long years of fighting.  Poppy display outside the Together Trust, 2014

It’s been a while since we thought back to our Refuge boys on the Western Front. In September 1916 the Battle of the Somme was still raging and the Manchester population read the newspapers everyday, to try and gain some understanding into what was happening 400 miles away.  Refuge soldiers

The problem with war is people’s lives become numbers. For those who died in a battle like the Somme , which had as many as 19,000 killed o n the first day alone, the sheer logistics of identifying and burying those who had died, was an overwhelming task. Those who were identified became a plot number, those who didn’t got an unmarked grave. The lives and stories behind those people become lost. For the young people from the Manchester and Salford Boys' and Girls' Refuges and Homes who enlisted in World War One it was yet another adjustment to their ever changing lives. World War One Soldier  Let’s take Arthur as a good example : Arthu r was born in Manchester in 1892. His father was a labourer working in the st arch works.  He was born into a family with 2 older brothers and 2 older sisters. He was admitted into Prestwich Workhouse around 1905.  He was admitted to the Manchester Refuges in 1906.  In May of that year he emigrated to Canada.  ...

Today is the 100th Anniversary of the start of the Battle of the Somme . Lasting over four months and claiming thousands of lives, it was the largest conflict on the Western Front during World War One. Like many other organisations the bloody battle affected the Manchester and Salford Boys’ and Girls’ Refuges and Homes. There were a reported 19,240 British men killed on the first day alone. Albert was one of those men. In memory of all those who died during the battle, we tell his story. 

Over the last few weeks we’ve been bringing you up-to-date with some of the visits we’ve partaken in, in connection with our Young Roots project, ‘ Deep Pockets and Dirty Faces ’. Both Salford Museum and Art Gallery and Merseyside Maritime Museum have been excellent in providing a background context to the project. The information gathered has been integral for the first outcome of the project: a radio script documenting the stories of the children who entered the Manchester Refuge homes and emigrated to Canada. Emigration Party outside Manchester Town Hall, 1897

It’s been a very busy time at the Together Trust Archives over the last few months. Consequently our blog has been sadly neglected but it’s time to remedy that and let you know what we’ve been up to. Over the next few weeks we’ll be blogging about our Heritage Lottery funded Young Roots project – ‘Deep Pockets and Dirty Faces ’ and show some of the activities we’ve been involved in since the project began in January. It’s been a really exciting and revealing time for some of our pupils as they start to delve into the history of the Together Trust . Private Trust performance, November 2014

Over the last twelve months we’ve written several blogs on the Refuge’s involvement in World War One and how it was a ffected, both through the boys that fought for their country and the financial restrictions at home. With 2014 marking 100 years since the outbreak of the War, it has been important to mark the sacrifices made by the charity. However it is not the only war that our Refuge boys have fought in.  Extract from the Children’s Haven, 1900

At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month the Together Trust came to a stop to remember. The Armistice came into being 97 years ago to remember those who had fallen in World War One. It has since become a symbol of remembrance for all those who have fought for  their country.  Together Trust Poppy Display, 2014

On the 9th October 1896 a policeman turned up to the Children’s Shelter on Chatham Street bringing with him a 15 year old boy. After many months tramping around the country Tom had found himself in Manchester, destitute and alone. Originally from Liverpool, the family had moved to Dartford where Tom’s father drove an omnibus. A  ‘very wild character and of loose habits’  Tom was abandoned when his father fell heavily into debt and ran off.   Tom's Application Form

With the 100 year anniversary of the start of the Gallipoli Campaign coming up on Saturday it seemed apt to have a look at this famous campaign and its links with the Manchester Refuges. The Campaign intended to secure the Gallipoli peninsula, a strait which provided a sea route to the Russian Empire. A naval attack was launched with the aim of capturing the Ottoman capital of Constantinople . This was eventually repelled and after eight months of fighting, with many casualties on both sides, the land campaign was abandoned and the invasion force was withdrawn to Egypt. Marines

It’s been a busy few weeks here at the Together Trust . As Christmas 2014 is fast approaching however, it seemed a good time to turn back the clock 100 years and see how our boys were faring in France and Belgium as World War One raged on. Our Boys

On Monday 3rd November young people from the Together Trust’s education services all came together to lay poppies in memory of the 400 men associated with the charity, who had fought in World War One.  Part of the poppy display at Together Trust Centre, Cheadle

Over the last few months the Together Trust has been blogging about the charity during World War One. On Friday 7th November at 2:00pm some of these stories will be told at Manchester’s Central Library as pa rt of its series of Manchester Remembers, WW1 events that runs from 1st – 11th November. “Carrying on for the children” – The Boys’ and Girls’ Refuges in World War One By 1914 the Manchester and Salford Boys’ and Girls’ Refuges and Homes was an established children’s charity and well known within the local community. The outbreak of the First World War however, saw the charity buffeted on many sides. Fighting for donations against the various War funds that were set up, it saw its financial income cut drastically; an increased number of children needing aid and those boys previously cared for head across the seas, some never to return. Despite heavy debt it spent the next four years fighting to continue to provide for those children in Manchester left desolate by the War....

The death of Thomas Johnson in 1915 brings us neatly this week to the financial effects of the 'Great War' on the Refuge during this time. As many stories focus on the individual sacrifices made, it is as important to understand the work that continued at home. It was a fine line between success and defeat for the charity as the inevitable effects of the War took hold. Four years of closures, reduced income and increased admissions saw the charity in its worst financial position since its beginnings. 'In the Refuge'

One hundred years ago today on the 4th August 1914, England declared war on Germany , subsequently becoming a major player in what became known as World War One. Over 400 men associated with the Manchester and Salford Boys’ and Girls’ Refuges and Homes fought in the War. The charity has now produced a roll of honour on its website to commemorate these men.  The Together Trust Roll of Honor, 1914-1918