Heath Town Holy Trinity Graveyard war graves

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Express and Star, Heath Town Cemetery, volunteers

Volunteer Frank Lockley has been researching the soldiers buried at Heath Town Cemetery:

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) website lists 16 graves of those that died in the first world war up to November 1918.

The churchyard is split into two main areas, the “old ground” and “new ground”. The references to the grave locations note which area the grave is located in. Three of the graves have family memorials in place of the standard CWGC headstone.

In some cases there is a little extra information on the CWGC site regarding family members.

Other research has included service records, where these have survived, and medal index cards (both via Ancestry.co.uk) along with census records for family and occupation information.

The website “The Long  Long Trail” has also been used for  background information.

The parish records for burials at Heath Town and the Express & Star at Wolverhampton City Archives provided date of burial, place of death and any other information that may have been reported in the local paper.

Charles Arthur Mander

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Charles Arthur Mander, Charles Tertius Mander, Egypt, Mander Brothers Ltd, Mayor, medal cards, National Archives, Newbridge, Palestine, Queen Square Syndicate, Royal Wolverhampton School, Staffordshire Yeomanry, Syria, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton Council, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC

Charles Arthur Mander and his teammates in the cricket team.

Being from one of the more prominent Wolverhampton families did not excuse military service during the First World War. The 2nd Baronet Sir Charles Mander (seen in this photograph standing on the left) was born on 25 June 1884 at The Laurels, in Newbridge, the eldest son of Sir Charles Tertius and Mary Mander. After being educated at Eton and at Trinity College, Cambridge (where he read Natural Sciences), he joined the family business and eventually became Managing Director of Mander Brothers Ltd paint and varnish manufacturers. On 29 April 1913, he married Monica Claire Cotterill Neame from Kent, and they went on to have three children, Anne Marietta Patience, Corinthia Jill and Charles Marcus, between 1914 and 1922.

Charles Arthur Mander

He joined the Staffordshire Yeomanry in 1906 and saw active service in Egypt, Syria and Palestine. Charles Nicholas Mander’s Varnished Leaves contains a whole chapter on Mander’s service during the First World War, including transcripts from his journal letters home. In 1917 he was struck by shrapnel in the ankle whilst involved in General Allenby’s advance that led to the capture of Jerusalem. He was able to rejoin his regiment in 1918. Mander left the military holding the rank of Major in 1925, and his medal card can be found at The National Archives.

Charles Arthur Mander in later life addressing the Council.

After the war, Mander became a Conservative member of  Wolverhampton Council for 25 years, including serving as Mayor in 1932-1933 and again in 1936-1937. During his mayoral year Mander founded the Good Companions Club at Horseley Fields and he had an interest in many social service organisations. A keen sportsman, he became President of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club and was also a governor and trustee of the Royal Wolverhampton School. He was also a member of the prominent Queen Square Syndicate. There is a blue plaque commemorating his contribution to Wolverhampton in North Street on the front of the Magistrates’ Courts. Mander died in 1951, at his home, Kilsall Hall, Shifnal, aged 66.

The details for this blog post came mainly from the research done by one of our volunteers, Margaret George.

Newspaper articles relating to Wolverhampton

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Express and Star, Molineux, newspapers, recruitment, volunteers, Wolverhampton Wanderers

Our volunteers have been busy looking through the local newspapers for First World War stories related to Wolverhampton, and they have already come across lots of interesting articles. Not surprisingly, the war affected all aspects of everyday life. For example, on Saturday 10 October, there is an article in the Express and Star detailing efforts to recruit men to the armed forces who have come to watch a Wolves Reserves match at Molineux. There are numerous articles about recruitment and fund-raising drives, as well as other issues that have arisen as a result of the international crisis.

We have gathered a selection of highlights of these articles onto the WAVE Flickr site.

More articles will be added all the time, so please look back when you get the chance!

Charles Daniel Wedge continued

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Charles Daniel Wedge, letters, postcards, prisoner of war

This post continues the story of Charles Daniel Wedge, compiled by volunteer, Lisa Gibbons.

Charles’ first letter (in the previous post) was by far the longest communication that was kept (by Mary Jane), no doubt Daniel sent other letters to his married sisters and Mary Jane who had moved back to her childhood home in 1916 following the sudden death of her mother Zillah. She kept house for her father and youngest sister Fanny who was only fourteen at the time. Mary Jane’s own husband was fighting with the 1/6^th South Staffords in France at the time.

This and the following cards are addressed from Zerbst (Anhalt) – a Mannschaftsgefangenenlager (a soldier’s camp, as opposed to an officer’s camp) situated in the centre of the triangle formed by Hanover, Berlin and Leipzig. It is pre-printed with the word Kreiggefangenen sendung – which roughly translated means “Prisoner of War Mail”.

On 16^th October 1918 Daniel writes home,

16 October 1918

“Dear Dad and Sisters,

Just a line letting you know that I am quite well and hope you are the same.

I hope Jim is keeping well just give him my best respects and tell him to keep the ball rolling.

Your ever loving son, Daniel”

21 October 1918

One week later, dated 21^st October he sends a card with similar sentiments, under the date he writes “Germany”.

“Dear dad and Sisters,

Just a few lines hoping this finds you in the best of health as it leaves me at present. Shall send a photo when my regiment sends my clothes

Think I will close now, your ever loving son Daniel

Xxxxxx for Jimmy”

28 October 1918

On the 28^th October he writes,

“Dear Dad and Sisters,

Just a line hoping this finds you in the best of health as it leaves me at present. I have received a card from Dumbell saying a parcel as (sic) left for me. Will let you know if I get it. Will close now,

Your son Daniel”.

The Express and Star Newspaper and Dumbell’s Comfort Fund hosted a dinner at Heath Town Baths and entertainment for the returning Prisoners of War in 1919 – Daniel’s name is on the Roll. The document is kept in Wolverhampton Archives.

As the rest of the world is given the news that armistice had been signed, Daniel and his fellow prisoners were quite obviously unawares, and on 11^th November 1819 he writes:

11 November 1918 page 1

11 November 1918 page 2

“Dear Dad and Sisters,

Just a line hoping to find you quite well as it leaves me at present. Am going on fine. I received Dumbell’s parcels and they were very good. I wrote to thank him very much. Your son Daniel.”

However, on 17^th November he wrote this rather hurried card, brief and heart breaking. The excitement is actually visible in the rushed handwriting!

17 November 1918

“Dear Dad,

Just a line hoping to find you quite well as it leaves me quite well

Expect me home for Xmas

Your ever loving son

Daniel”.

Charles Daniel Wedge returned home to Wolverhampton, he married, raised an extensive family and died on 10^th February 1963.

Charles Daniel Wedge, born Ettingshall, Bilston 1898

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Bilston, Charles Daniel Wedge, Ettingshall, letters, prisoner of war, St Matthew's Church, volunteers, war medal

This post has been contributed by one of our volunteers, Lisa Gibbons.

Charles Daniel Wedge was born in Ettingshall Bilston around 1898. His parents Charles Richard Wedge and Zillah Lippett had married at St Matthew’s Church on 9^th June 1899. Charles Richard (known as Richard) was relatively local, having been born and raised at Gospel End, near Sedgley. His mother Zillah was born in Felton, Herefordshire and had been in service to a family in Kidderminster prior to moving to Ettingshall.

Charles Daniel, known as Daniel, was the only son of Richard and Zillah, can be found living with his parents and sisters Evelyn, Zillah, and Mary Jane in the 1901 Census at 10 Westley Street. Daniel was only two years old – his parents would add a further daughter, Fanny, to their brood in March 1902.

Wedge’s war medal record sheet

There are no records of attestation paperwork for Daniel. His war medal record sheet shows that he fought in the Machine Gun Corps (60008) and the Royal Field Artillery (295299).

The other interesting point is that Charles Daniel Wedge was taken Prisoner of War on 27^th May 1918.

The following letter and cards were sent to his father, Charles, and sisters during his imprisonment. They were found in the 1980s in the box of photographs and cards belonging to his sister Mary Jane Wedge (who married James Maddocks).

Captured soldiers had the right to send two letters (of no more than four pages, though officers could write up to six pages) and four postcards per month. The stationary had to be purchased at the camp – and though these were the regulations the pressure of this mail caused the German captors to regularly withhold the sending and receiving of mail.

How different this is from today’s instant communication. The postcards that follow are just a little longer than a Twitter maximum length. How would today’s twenty years olds feel if they could only send four text or twitter messages a month?

The first card is undated by the Prison Camp and Daniel however there is a London postmark “July 6 18”. (Daniel had been captured on 27^th May 1918)

6 July 1918 page 1

6 July 1918 page 2

Dear Dad and Sisters

Just a line to let you know I am feeling quite well and I don’t want you to take it hard over me being here for I shall take of myself. Will you let Nell know as soon as possible where I am for we can only send a card now and again and when you write can you put a fag or two in the letter for they are very hard to get. I am quite well…… (unreadable, obscured and feint) Will close now…..From your son Daniel.

This card was sent from Langensalza Camp. It is documented that this was not the best place to be, with records of British soldiers being shot after 11^th November 1918. From subsequent cards it would appear that, fortunately, Daniel was moved.

From subsequent communications it would seem that the cards could take over a month (from writing) to be stamped in London, it would take several days, possible over a week to reach Bilston. The delay in communication must have been a source of frustration when a family knew that their loved one was alive and were desperate for news.

4 August 1918

Daniel’s first card was dated 4^th August 1918, in it he tells his Dad that a letter will follow, he writes,

“Dear Dad,

Just a line to let you know I am quite well hope you are in the best of health

Letter will follow later I have wrote to Nell and told her to tell you how things are going on, from your loving son Daniel

The following letter is dated 18^th August 1918, the camp postmark is 30^th August 1918 and the London postmark is 21^st September 1918.

Addressed to Mr C. Wedge,

10 Westley Street,

Off Bilston Road,

Monmore Green,

Wolverhampton,

South Staffs

England

My Dear Dad and Sisters,

Just a line hoping to find you in the best of health as it leaves me at present.

Well Dad I would be very pleased if you would send me a few fags and I shall get them if you will send the money to W.D and H. O. Wills and they will make a parcel of them and send to me.

……………………………………….them       as possible. I hope Jim is quite well I sent him a letter just before I got captured. I hope he knows were (sic) I am. I daresay Mary has wrote to him & let him know. I sent a line to Zill and Eva but I have not had any answer from them yet. I can tell you it seems a bit strange not getting a line from home for 3 months. You need not worry to yourself how I am getting on for we shall be getting a parcel sent to us from the prisoner of war fund so you can see we shall be quite alright when they come. Trusting this letter will find you all well at home I will draw my letter to a close from you ever loving son, Daniel.

For

Xxxxx

Xxxxx

xxxxx

Jimmy

 

From Wedge

          Charles Daniel

Co.:    cPO1

Camp: 5901

Postmark London 12 September 1918      

18 August 1918 page 1

18 August 1918 Page 2

18 August 1918 page 3

18 August 1918 page 4

Notes: Of course W.D. & H.O. Wills were the tobacco merchants who made “Wild Woodbine” cigarettes and as Daniel cheekily points out the company would surely make a packet and send them to him if only his dad would buy them!

Jim is James Maddocks, his brother-in-law, (married to Mary Jane) and by the time this letter was written would have returned to the front line after suffering the effects of a gas attack (he served with 1/6^th Staffords) which caused him to be sent away from the front for a short while.

Zill (Zillah) his sister was married by this time and lived in Wolverhampton.

Eva (Evelyn) was his oldest sister; she was married with four children, the youngest son being named Daniel, presumably after his uncle. She lived in Smethwick.

The kisses at the bottom of the page are for his nephew Jimmy (James Maddocks junior).

Several words have been faded (they were written in pencil) where they fall on creases and folds.

The story of Charles Wedge will be continued in a blog post next week…

Update on Mr Lockley of Brickkiln Street School

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Brickkiln Street Primary, Cumberland, Frank William Lockley, South Staffordshire Regiment, St Mark's C. E. School, St Peter's Collegiate School, volunteers

Our avid volunteers, Christine Irvine and Frank Lockley (presumably no relation!), have done some further research into the Mr Lockley mentioned in the logbook of Brickkiln Street School.

Frank Lockley’s teachers registration certificate

The only Mr Lockley in Wolverhampton listed as a teacher in the 1911 census is a Frank William Lockley, who was 29 and was listed as an Assistant Teacher in Elementary School, living at 34 St Mark’s Road. He was born in Kidderminster and had been married for 3 years to Margaret Lockley, with one daughter called Margaret Fanny, who was aged 1. His wife, Margaret, had been born in Wigton in Cumberland, which is where the couple were married. Lockley’s teacher’s registration certificate on Find my Past confirms that he worked at Brickkiln Street School 1910 – 1921, as well as at two other Wolverhampton schools: St Mark’s C. E. School from 1902 – 1910, and St Peter’s Collegiate School 1921 – 1924.

Frank Lockley’s disability claim

Lockley’s army record on Ancestry details that he was posted to the Army reserve on 12 December 1915, but was not mobilised until 24 June 1918 and was posted the day after to the 3rd Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment. This ties in with the dates given in the school log book. He was discharged on 23 January 1919. The war service clearly did not agree with him, however, as amongst his papers there is also a disability claim, stating that he was suffering from rheumatism as a result of “Rigorous training after leading a sedentary life together with exposure to much damp weather during training.”

Brickkiln Street Primary School

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Brickkiln Street Primary, log books, military service, school records, schools

Brickkiln Street School, 1900

The two school logbooks for the boys and girls sections of Brickkiln Street Primary School offer an interesting contrast, presumably because of the different genders of the teachers.

The girls school logbook contains very little reference to the First World War, other than the school being closed occasionally to allow the teachers to assist with administration work, such as on 12 October 1915, when the book states “School closed to enable members of the staff to assist in filling in Military forms.”

The boys’ school is clearly more directly affected, as at least two of the teachers are called up to military service during the course of the war. On 8 November 1915, there is a note written by the headteacher to say that “Mr Rhodes has joined H.M. Forces. St[andard] VII has now no teacher & must work with supervision from me.” Another teacher, Mr Lockley, was not called up until later on in the war, which presumably means that he was older or married or there was some other reason that disqualified him from earlier call-ups.

There are a few entries in the logbook concerning Mr Lockley, as it appears that he was appealing against his call-up, as he apparently had an issue with his eyesight. As can be seen below, his appeal was clearly unsuccessful. The entries are as follows:

27 May 1918	“Mr Lockley is away morning on business connected with his military inspection.”
12 Jun 1918	“Mr Lockley has not communicated with me nor do I know whether he has joined or not, nor whether he has succeeded to secure work suitable for his eyesight.”
12 Jun 1918	“Mr Lockley has just called in and states he has to appeal before a tribunal at West Bromwich on Friday.”
25 Jun 1918	“Mr Lockley has left to join H.M. Forces.”
9 Jan 1919	“Mr Lockley has returned to duty after war services.”

Without a first name, it is difficult to track down further details of Mr Lockley, but it would certainly be interesting to find out more about his story…

A symbol of cowardice

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architects, Conservative Club, Express and Star, letters, tribunals, Weller & Sons, white feather, William Weller

William Weller was a partner of the prestigious firm of architects known as Weller & Sons, which designed buildings in Wolverhampton in the 19th and 20th centuries. During the First World War, he was sent a white feather letter, which is one of the few that have survived to this day.

White feather letter

White feathers were given to men thought to be dodging military service. The Order of the White Feather was founded before the First World War, and women would hand white feathers to young men who they deemed to be cowards for avoiding military service.

Rather than being sent to Weller’s home address, the letter was sent to him care of the local Conservative Club, presumably for maximum effect. The associated file at the archives also includes information from the tribunal which excused his military service. Mr Weller, who was 41 when the letter was sent, had been excused from service for a number of reasons, namely:

• Medical grounds including night blindness
• playing a key role in providing homes for factory workers at the Wednesfield Weldless Steel Tube Company Ltd, which produced ships’ boilers for the war effort
• Being solely responsible for looking after his elderly mother and poorly sister.

The letter, which was signed ‘A. Chicken Heart, clerk to the council’, includes the line: ‘Your gallant + protracted defence against the brutal attacks of the local tribunal has been brought to the notice of the Supreme Council of the Most Noble Order of The Trench Dodgers.’

William Weller as a young man, c. 1900

The file of papers includes witness statements made at the tribunal, a copy of William Weller’s defence, and various correspondence with the Ministry of Munitions of War and with other departments, demonstrating Weller’s various efforts to achieve military exemption. In 1921 the Ministry of Health decided that all papers relating to individual cases of exemption from National Service, including those on grounds of conscientious objection, should be destroyed, along with every tribunal minute book except those of the Central Tribunal. Thus the vast majority of files were lost, and those of Wolverhampton are among those that have not survived. Although the local newspapers, including the Express and Star and the Wolverhampton Chronicle did report on the tribunals, details of the individuals who came before them were anonymised, so we are unable to ascertain the details of Weller’s case.

It is very unusual for such an item to have survived for nearly a hundred years. They were meant to shame the recipient as they were sent to people who were perceived as cowards. It is now a very rare item giving a stark and chilling alternative view of the war.

Edwin Preston Ltd

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A. Gallenkamp & Co. Ltd, Army Ordnance Depot, Baird & Tatlock (London) Ltd, correspondence, Edwin Preston Ltd, German weights, Jenner Street, letters, weights

Edwin Preston Ltd. was established as a manufacturer of weights, handbells and laboratory apparatus in Kidderminster (Worcestershire) in 1853, later moving to premises in Jenner Street, Wolverhampton. Among other things, Edwin Preston Ltd supplied iron ring weights to the Army Ordnance Depot at Didcot between 1916 and 1917.

One of the difficulties caused by the First World War was obtaining supplies of German weights (especially gramme weights) since the onset of war. German-manufactured weights had dominated the European market up to this point, and Edwin Preston had to try to meet the demand to produce weights on a par with these. In a letter to the laboratory furnishers Baird & Tatlock (London) Ltd dated 28 December 1914, Edwin Preston commented

As Manufacturers we shall endeavour to keep the Country going to the very best of our ability but I expect there will have to be a little give & take until we have learnt our trade. The metric system has been the German standard for many years, practice makes perfect & nothing short of a miracle will enable the English Manufacturer straight off the reel to produce with certainty articles which have taken the Germans so many years to perfect.

Draft letter from Edwin Preston

In some ways, this was obviously beneficial to the company, as they were able to pick up a large volume of new customers. In October 1914, there was, as far as the company were aware, “no firm in this country making the weights”, so this was certainly a lucrative opportunity for further business. However, it proved to be quite a challenge to meet the high demands of their customers. Baird & Tatlock (London) Ltd insisted that

it will not be sufficient to make the weights equal in quality to any which can be procured from other English manufacturers: you must aim at imitation the quality of the German weights.”

Pricing was clearly an issue too. Correspondence from A. Gallenkamp & Co., Limited, challenged the firm.

You stated that you would not be able to supply these Weights quite as cheaply as German Houses. We hope that if you go very carefully into the matter, you will find that you can do so, for we have already received quotations from Birmingham, which compare very favourably with the former German prices.

Nevertheless, Edwin Preston Ltd survived and thrived, continuing to trade until at least 1981. You can view the records of the company at Wolverhampton Archives.

Martin O’Connor

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archives, Bilston Street, Caroline Edwards, Church Street, coroners records, front line, Grenadier Guards, Horse & Jockey, Martin O'Connor, medal cards, Meritorious Service Medal, National Archives, research, Royal Flying Corps

Martin O’Connor

Martin O’Connor (1888 – 1921) joined the Royal Flying Corps in September, 1912, having been recruited from the Grenadier Guards. He became an Air Mechanic 1st Class, with the Regiment number 1085. His medal card can be found at the National Archives. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. To be awarded this medal, an individual must have “good, faithful, valuable and meritorious service, with conduct judged to be irreproachable throughout”.

Martin O’Connor on active service in Lealvillers, France, 1916

Martin O’Connor’s birth was registered in Dudley in March 1888. His father, also Martin O’Connor, was the licensee of the Horse & Jockey public house in Bilston Street. Very little more is known about O’Connor, and particularly about his contribution during the First World War.

However, the story doesn’t end there. Martin O’Connor died aged 34 at 6 Church Street, Wolverhampton, in June 1921, and the official coroner’s verdict was “Natural Causes”. But delving into the papers of the coroners inquest gives a fuller picture, and demonstrates the effect that the First World War had on the man. The inquest found that he “died from sudden heart failure, after being gassed while in the Army.” The witness statement provided by O’connor’s wife, Caroline, on 9 June 1921 explains:

He was a fitter, and was demobilized on Tuesday last. He has been all through the war, and was gassed badly. He had complained sometimes of pains at his heart.”

When O’Connor got up from his supper, he collapsed, and it is believed that he died instantly.

As an interesting aside, although Caroline describes herself as the wife of Martin O’Connor (“I have been married to deceased since last October”), there is a note in the papers from a Sergeant George Bowlby of Wolverhampton Police stating that this was, in fact, Caroline Edwards, and that “the deceased was a single man and lived in appartments [sic] at 6 Church Street, with Edwards, as man and wife.” The fact that there is no marriage registered in their names in the December quarter of 1920 would appear to corroborate this statement.