Leon Richard Wilkes

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Allen Road, Leon Wilkes, Oxley Moor Road, Ranelagh Road, Royal Air Force

Leon was born in Wolverhampton on 29 November 1894, the son of Richard Edwin and Annie E. Wilkes. In 1901 he was living at 43 Ranelagh Road, Wolverhampton, with his parents and siblings Harold E., Harry A. and Gladys. They were at 46 Allen Road by 1911, when Leon was a student.

In 1918, Leon enlisted, serving with the Royal Air Force (service number 260697). He survived the war, but does not appear to have ever married. By 1939, he was living at 60 Oxley Moor Road, Wolverhampton, with a lady called Clara J. Mitchell. His trade by then was given as electric switch fitter. Leon died on 13 March 1978, when his address was still 60 Oxley Moor Road. The value of his effects was £16,356.

George Percy Dawson

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Belgium, Electric Construction Company, George Dawson, Jameson Street, Royal Army Service Corps

The son of William and Matilda Dawson, George was born in Wolverhampton in 1896. In 1901, he was living with his parents at 52 Jameson Street, Wolverhampton, along with his sisters Ada M. and Minnie. They were at the same address in 1911, but had gained an additional two children, Denis and Daisy. By 1911, George was an apprentice in the fitting shop of the Electric Construction Company.

George enlisted as Private in the Mechanical Transport section of the Army Service Corps (service number DM2/190447). He was attached to the 409th Siege Battery Ammunition Column. He was wounded, and died on 26 January 1918 at the 44th Casualty Clearing Station. He is buried at the Nine Elms British Cemetery in Belgium.

Joseph Portman

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Bilston, France, Hatton Street, Joseph Portman, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

Joseph was born in Wolverhampton in 1896, the son of Sarah A. Portman. In 1901 they were living at 1 Hatton Street, Bilston, along with Joseph’s siblings John T., Annie and Ada.

Joseph enlisted with the 1st/5th Battalion of the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (number 2417). He first served in France from 13 April 1915. He died of wounds on 1 July 1916 in France. He is commemorated at the Thiepval Memorial.

Albert George Bennett

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Albert Bennett, Balkans, Gallipoli, South Wales Borderers, St Matthew Street, Turkey, Wales

Albert was born in Wolverhampton in 1892, the son of James and Martha Ann Bennett. In 1901, they were living at 86 St Matthew’s Street, Wolverhampton, and Albert and his parents were joined by his brothers James, Joseph and Frederick. By 1911, the family had moved to Newport, Wales, and Albert worked for the steel sheet mills.

Albert enlisted in the “A” Company, 4th Battalion of the South Wales Borderers (number 12456). He first served in the Balkans on 19 July 1915, but was killed in action at Gallipoli on 11 August 1915. He is buried at the Azmak Cemetery in Suvla, Turkey.

George William Beardsmore

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Bennett Street, France, George Beardsmore, Portobello, Royal Army Medical Corps, Willenhall

George was born in Wolverhampton in 1893, the son of George and Martha Beardsmore. In 1901, he was living on Wednesfield Road, Willenhall, with his parents and siblings Alice, Kate and Arthur Edward. By 1911, they were at 25 Bennett Street, Portobello, and George was a fitting screwer.

George enlisted as a Private in the Royal Army Medical Corps (service numbers 1932, 421077 and 7336409). He first served in France from 4 March 1915. He was discharged on 26 April 1919.

George married Elizabeth Johnson in 1918, and the couple had five sons – Arthur (1920), Harold (1921), George W. (1924), Dennis (1928) and Albert (1933). He died in Walsall in 1966. His name is listed on the war memorial at Portobello.

Gilbert John Browne

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France, Gilbert Browne, Grenadier Guards, Liverpool

Gilbert was born in Wolverhampton in 1884, the son of Robert and Margaret Browne. The family moved to Lancashire, and by 1901 were at 182 Alderson Road, Wavertree, Liverpool, along with Gilbert’s brothers Robert W. and James A.

Gilbert enlisted in the 2nd Battalion of the Grenadier Guards (number 28995), but was killed in action in France on 28 March 1918. He is remembered at the Arras Memorial.

James Patrick Mulloy

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Great Western Railway, James Mulloy, Midland Counties Express, Montrose Street, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment, Westbury Street, Yorkshire Regiment

James was born in Wolverhampton in 1897, the son of Bernard and Winifred Mulloy. In 1901 they were living at 8 Montrose Street, Wolverhampton, along with James’s siblings Sarah Ann, Mary, Catherine, Winifred, Ann, John, Bernard, and Ellen. James’s father died in 1908, so he was living with his widowed mother and brothers Bernard and John at 15 Westbury Street by 1911. He later worked in the permanent way stores deepertmant of the Great Western Railway Company.

On 4 August 1915, at the age of 18, James enlised in the Notts and Derby Regiment (number 28688). Once he had completed his training he transferred to the 13th Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment (number 29453). He was killed in action on 1 March 1917. A notice of his death appeared in the Midland Counties Express on 24 March 1917. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

Daniel Sampson Onions

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Aston, Bridgnorth, Caledonian Street, Daniel Onions, Egypt, Royal Engineers, Sedgley, Silver War Badge, Vauxhall Avenue, Wolverhampton Higher Grade School, Wolverhampton Technical School

Daniel was born in Bridgnorth in 1897, the son of Samuel Thomas and Phoebe Onions. By 1901, they were living at 9 Beacon Street, Sedgley, with Daniel’s brothers James Beaconsfield, John Arthur Balfour, Samuel Thomas, Charles Henry and George Frederick. By 1911 they were at 152 Caledonian Street, Wolverhampton, and Daniel had two additional siblings, Phoebe Sarah and Joseph Edwin. Daniel attended the Higher Grade and Technical Schools in Wolverhampton.

On 22 June 1915, he enlisted with the Royal Engineers (service number 103777). He became a Wireless Operator Learner, and was later a Pioneer and then a Sapper. By June 1915, his trade was clerk. He qualified as a Proficient Telegraphist on 19 May 1916. He served both at home and with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force with the Wireless Section at Giza. On 9 February 1918 he was sent home from hospital as being no longer physically fit for war service following sickness, and was discharged on 2 March 1918. On 16 February 1918 he was issued with a Silver War Badge (number 336114).

Daniel married Alice Lawley in Aston in 1918, and the couple had four sons – Raymond (1919 in Aston), Kenneth (1921), Maurice G. (1923) and Malcolm S. (1931) – the latter three being born in Wolverhampton. Daniel died at St George’s Hospital, Stafford, on 29 July 1965, by which date his address was 6 Vauxhall House, Vauxhall Avenue, Wolverhampton. The value of his effects was £289.

Charles Hood

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Aston, Belgium, Charles Hood, Worcestershire Regiment

The son of Joseph and Eliza Hood, Charles was born in Wolverhampton in 1888. By 1901, the family had moved to Aston, Warwickshire, living at 139 Palace Road. Charles lived with his parents and siblings Joseph H. J., Albert W., Lilian V. and Edith M. Charles married Clarissa E. Dean in Aston in 1910. By 1911, the couple were living at 7 back of 72 Green Lanes, Aston, with their daughter, Edith Lilian. Charles was now a packer for an engineer. The couple also had two further children, Joseph W. and Doris M., in 1914 and 1916 respectively.

Charles enlisted with the 1st/8th Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment (number 204042). He was killed in action on 4 October 1917 in Belgium. He is remembered at the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Joseph Wilkes

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Heath Town, Holy Trinity Church, Joseph Wilkes, Prestwood Road, Royal Field Artillery

Joseph was born in Wolverhampton in 1891, the son of Benjamin and Priscilla Wilkes. They were living at 63 Prestwood Road, Heath Town, Wolverhampton, in 1901, along with Joseph’s siblings Benjamin, Betsy, Clara, Esther, and John Henry. They were at 67 Prestwood Road by 1911, and Joseph had become a general labourer.

Joseph enlisted as a Gunner with the “C” Battery, of the 149th Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery (number L/11222). he was wounded, and died of these wounds on 30 June 1917 at Fort Pitt Hill Hospital, Chatham. He is buried in Heath Town (Holy Trinity) Churchyard.