Critchley children of Knowsley Road, St Helens

Seven of James and Mary Ellen Critchley's children survived into adulthood. Here they all are, photographed early in the 20th century with serious expressions on their faces. They are outside "The Homestead" Knowsley Road, St Helens. On the back row, from the left is my grandfather and Mollie's uncle Thomas, who was born in 1888. He is the eldest of the boys. Next to him is his brother James, known to Mollie as "granny's uncle Jim", born in 1891. William Critchley, is standing on his right. He was born in 1892. Standing on William's right is Phoebe Critchley, known to Mollie as "auntie Pe" because she couldn't pronounce Phoebe as a child. Phoebe was born in 1887 and is James and Mary Ellen's eldest child. In the front row, from the left, is George Critchley, born in 1894. In the middle of the front row is Mary Ellen Critchley, born 1896. She was named after her mother and would would become Mollie's mum. To Mary's right is the youngest of the family Seth, born in 1896. The story goes that he was called "Seth" because he was the seventh child. Mollie knew her auntie Pe and uncles Tom, Jim and Seth. But she never met Private William Critchley and Corporal George Critchley, although they were often spoken of with affection by the rest of the family. William and George were killed in action in World War l.