I was going through the burial registers for All Saints, Daresbury, and came across a strange entry for 12th September 1915.
"Legs of Charles William Roberts taken from canal at Keckwick other portion of Body Buried at Dunham Massey in Altrincham. Late of 2 Dobson St, Warrington".
Keckwick and Dunham Massey are about 15 miles apart. The Warrington Guardian gave the fuller story:
SOLDIER'S TRAGIC END
FOUND DROWNED IN BRIDGEWATER CANAL
The tragic circumstances surrounding the death of Charles William Roberts (35), a private in the Royal Engineers (West Lancashire Territorials), whose home was at 3 Robson-street, Warrington, were investigated by Mr. E.A. White (deputy coroner), at an inquest held at the Institute, Moore, on Saturday. The lower portion of the man's body was found in the Bridgewater Canal at Keckwick on September 8th.
Peter Jones, canal banksman, Pepper-street, Preston Brook, said on September 8th he received a report that the body was in the canal. He and P.C. Collier recovered the body and found that on the feet were a pair of soldier's boots and socks, though there was no other clothing. The body appeared to have been cut by the propeller of a steamer.
P.C. J.H. Hough, of Moore, also spoke to examining the body.
Police sergeant George Kingman, of Bowdon, near Altrincham, said the remains appeared to correspond with the upper part of a man's body found at Dunham Massey on September 6th. In that case an inquest was held at Altrincham by Mr. Yates, coroner. The body was not identified, and a verdict of "Found drowned" was returned.
"GOD BLESS MY CHILDREN"
Annie Roberts, wife of Charles William Roberts, said her husband enlisted two months ago, and was stationed at St. Helens. She last saw him alive on Wednesday, September 1st, at 5 a.m. when he went out of the bedroom. He had been an absentee since the previous Monday, and had been drinking heavily. He kissed the children, said "Good-bye", and went out. Her husband had lately been strange in his manner. He left the paper (produced) on which were the words "God bless my children." on the back kitchen table. The following Tuesday, an escort came for him, but he had not returned. She recognised her husband by a mark on his left leg, caused by his having been run over at one time. His boots, socks and cap (the latter having been found in another part of the canal) were just like her husband's. The photograph, taken in connection with the former inquest also resembled him. She was quite certain the body was that of her husband.
The jury recorded a verdict of "Found dead" and added that there was no evidence of the date, cause or place of his death.