In 1849 Sir John Gerard began a regiment of the "Lancashire Hussars". William Cansfield "The Second Barron Gerard" was an officer in the Second Life Guards and Colonel in the Lancashire Hussars one of the finest Yeomanry Corps in the north of England, mostly drawn from the Gerard Estate. His men took part in the "Boer War", 1899 - 1900 and the local regiment played a brave part in the 1914 / 18 war, where Lord Gerard won the D.S.O.
It was from ‘Lord Gerard’s Hussars Band’ that ‘The Haydock Band’ was formed.
At one time the Gerard's owned a considerable amount of land in various parts of
England more locally named places are Gerards Bridge on the way to St.Helens and
Gerards Hall also in St.Helens. There is also a Gerard Street in Ashton and once
a Gerard Arms. Some of the wealth of the Gerard's came from the coal dug up on their
land and they had been helped by the building of the Sankey Brook Canal in the 18th
Century. Coal was transported by horse railroad from Garswood to Wharf at Blackbrook
and then put on the Canal. You will see that later coal mining became an important
part of "The Haydock Band's" history.
William Cansfield died in 1902 and was taken by gun-carriage of the Royal Horse Artillery
which was attached to a Khaki gun drawn by 4 horses which was followed by the main
company Lancashire Hussars from his Estate at Ashton's Cross. The coffin was covered
in the union Jack and Lord Gerard's sword, Busby and medal lay on top. The band of
the Regiment under Band Master "Batley" played the "Dead March from Saul" followed
by "Chopin's Marche Funebre".
