Mark Magnall was born in 1883 to William Magnall (GM076) and Mary Ann (GM018) in Burnley (Burnley 1883 Q1 8e 230).

At the time of the 1891 Census he was living with his parents and older siblings at 26 Cobden Street in Burnley. He was about 8 years old and described as a scholar.

The 1901 Census shows Mark to be 18 years old living with his widowed mother, his older brother James (who is shown to be married) and James’ son Ernest at 19 Cobden Street in Burnley. Mark was working as a carter for a confectioner.

Mark married Emma Spencer in 1904 (RoM Burnley 1904 Q1 8e 388) and they had the following children:

  • Lily (DM018), born 7th December 1905 (RoB Burnley 1906 Q1 8e 147)
  • Eileen (DM024), born 14th April 1909 (RoB Burnley 1909 Q2 8e 162)

Mark was called up for service on the 28th July 1916 and was enlisted into the Army on the 15th August 1916 in Salop and was assigned to ‘C’ Battery No.2 ATS. The “Descriptive Report on Enrolment” shows him to be 33 years old and 5 foot 4 inches tall. His next of kin was his wife Emma Spencer living at 19 Cobden Street. They had been married on the 5th July 1904 (or possibly 5th January) and had two children, Eileen born on the 14th April 1909 and Lily born on the 7th December 1905.

Mark’s Service record is as follows:

  • called up for Service 28th July 1916. His service number seems to have been 157994 at this time
  • posted to ‘C’ Battery No.2 ATS as a gunner on the 29th July 1916
  • posted to the Royal Field Artillery 68th Division on the 7th September 1916 as a gunner
  • posted to A/343rd Bde as a driver on the 5th June 1917
  • on the 16th April 1918 he looks to have been transferred to the E.L Labour …..? with a new regiment number of 535379
  • on the 17th April 1918 he was posted to the Labour Corps.

At the end of August 1918 Mark was granted leave as a special concession in order to visit his wife.On the 28th August he send a telegraph requesting an extension to his leave as his wife was no better. On the 31st August the doctor sent a message saying that “Mrs Mangnall of 19 Cobden St, Burnley, wife of Pte Mark Mangnall has been ill in bed since August 24th. She is now gradually recovering.” (note the misspelling of the surname!)

Emma died on the 26th December 1918 at home at 19 Cobden Street. She was aged 36 and died of “1. Influenza, 2. Pulmonary Tuberculosis probably miliary tubercle”. Mark was present at her death.

On the 9th January 1920 Mark looks to have been awarded a disability allowance / pension due to bronchitis.

Mark remarried in 1920 to Janet Davis (EM209) (RoM Burnley 1920 Q1 8e 604) and they had a daughter called Joyce (DM059).

n.b. some of Mark’s service record has been difficult to decipher so please accept my apologies for any errors!

[Last updated 26 Aug 2009]