Photo: Derek Haynes

Derek Haynes has submitted the following:

David’s birth was registered in the March Q 1904 in Sunderland He was the son of David & Jane McAnaney (nee Martin).

To date I have been unable to find a marriage for David’s parents.

The other children from the marriage were:
Patrick McAnaney – March Q 1895
Mary Elizabeth McAnaney – March Q 1898
Jane McAnaney – born December Q 1900 (Spelt McAnany on the GRO birth register)

There was one child who died prior to the 1911 census. I believe this child was also named David McAnaney – born March Q 1903 (Spelt McAnney on the GRO birth register). David died March Q 1903.
Sarah McAnaney – June Q 1907 (Spelt McAneny on the GRO birth Register).
Margaret Ann McAnaney – June Q 1909 (Spelt McEneany) on the GRO birth register).
Matthew McAnaney – June Q 1912 (Spelt McAneny on the GRO birth register)
Kate McAnaney – March Q 1914

All the above took place in the registration district of Sunderland.

The 1911 census shows the family residing in two rooms at 15 Minorca, Sunderland. David’s father gave his employment as a General Labourer.

Between the time of the 1911 census and 1932 there is no information concerning David, then in the September Q 1932 he married Mary Smith, the marriage being registered in Sunderland.

There were three children from the marriage:
David McAnaney – March Q 1933
Gordon McAnaney – December Q 1935
Mary McAnaney – June Q 1942

All registered in Sunderland.

It is not known when David enlisted into the Army, serving as a Gunner in the Royal Artillery with the Regimental no. 1061221. But it must have not been long after he enlisted that he either became ill or was wounded, as the 1939 Register has him recorded as a patient in the General Hospital, Herefordshire. He also spent some time in the Ministry of Pensions Hospital at Dunston Hill, Gateshead, and it was here on the 17th July 1945 aged 41 years he passed away. His body was returned home and he was laid to rest on the 20th July 1945 in Section 2, Grave no. 593 of Southwick Cemetery. A CWGC headstone marks his final resting place.

Mary was left to bring up three young children. At the time of David’s death the youngest child was 3 years and the eldest 12 years. She did not remarry. At the beginning of March 1991 Mary died in Monkwearmouth Hospital, she was 80 years of age. She was also buried in Southwick Cemetery in Section 6, Grave no. 2215. Burial records give her home address at the time of her death as 5 Laburnum Grove, Castletown.

The name of David McAnaney does not appear on any local war memorial.

The CWGC entry for Gunner McAnaney