John Sewell was born on 3rd December 1914 at Dalton- in-Furness in Lancashire, the son of John Sewell who was from Parton-in-Cumberland and his wife Margaret (nee Lee) who was from Widnes in Lancashire.
The 1921 Census recorded the Sewell family as living in Napier Street in Dalton -in-Furness. The father was employed as a shipbuilder and boilermaker for Vickers Limited at Barrow-in-Furness. The mother looked after the home and John and his younger sister Margaret were at school.
At some time between the end of World War One and the start of World War Two, the Sewell family moved to Lord Street in Runcorn, near to the River Mersey and the Manchester Ship Canal.
The 1939 Register recorded them as living in Runcorn and that the father was still employed as a ship- and boiler plater. The mother looked after the home. John (junior) was working as a salesman of wholesale woollens. His sister Margaret was a winder at Helsby Cables (BICC).
In 1940 John Sewell married Hilda Evelyn Scragg who was from Preston Brook. They set up home on Canalside in Preston Brook and had a family there.
John’s father and mother passed away in 1949 and 1974 respectively.
John Sewell passed away in 2002 in Stockport at the age of 88 years and Hilda passed away eleven years later.
John Sewell did serve in WW2, but it is not known in which branch of H.M. Forces. His name appeared in the Electoral Roll Service Register for Preston Brook in 1945 and in an article in the Warrington Guardian in June 1946 about Victory Celebrations in Preston Brook.
If anyone has any knowledge of his WW2 service, please contact Daresbury District Heritage Group.
