Arthur Waller

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Arthur Waller, Bank Street, Bilston, Bradley, France, Hall Green Street, South Staffordshire Regiment

Arthur was born in Wolverhampton in 1895, the son of Mary J. and Thomas Waller. In 1901 they were living at 33 Bank Street, Bilston, along with Arthur’s siblings Walter J., Albert, Gertrude, Florence, Thomas, William and Mary. They were living at 15 Hall Green Street, Bradley, by 1911, and Arthur was working as a brass trade polisher.

Arthur enlisted as a Private in the 2nd Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 17089). He first served in France from 25 May 1915, but was wounded and died on 29 May 1916. He is buried in the Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery in France, and commemorated on the Bilston Town Hall Ward Roll of Honour.

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Alfred Harold Flowers

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Alfred Flowers, Belgium, Distinguished Conduct Medal, Graisley Passage, Lichfield, London Gazette, Meritorious Service Medal, South Staffordshire Regiment, Whittington Barracks

Alfred was born in Wolverhampton in 1890, the son of Phoebe and Thomas Flowers. By 1901, Alfred was living with his brother, Ernest, and siblings Phoebe and Isaac, at 2 Graiseley Passage, Wolverhampton. By 1911, Alfred was serving with the South Staffordshire Regiment, based at Whittington Barracks, Lichfield. In 1916, he married Elsie M. Rutter in Wolverhampton.

Alfred served with the 1st Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 8152), attaining the rank of Company Sergeant Major. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (announced in the London Gazette on 18 July 1917) and Meritorious Service Medal (announced on 14 November 1916), but was killed in action on 30 September 1917. The citation for his DCM was :

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion. He continually moved about while an advanced position was being consolidated, in total disregard of heavy and accurate sniping at close range, and owing to casualties finally assumed command, and maintained his position for three days.

He is buried at the Huts Cemetery in Belgium.

Samuel Gough

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Belgium, New Street, Portobello, Samuel Gough, South Staffordshire Regiment, Willenhall

Samuel was born in Wolverhampton in 1897, the son of Ellen and Thomas Gough. In 1901, they were living at 33 New Street, Portobello, along with Samuel’s siblings William Henry, John, Thomas, Elizabeth, Charles and Mary. The family were living in Willenhall by 1911.

Samuel enlisted with the 2nd/5th Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment (service number 202108), and became a Lance Corporal. He was killed in action in Belgium on 27 September 1917. He is buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery and is remembered on the war memorial at Portobello.

Harry Robinson Conduit

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Australia, Durham Light Infantry, Great Western Railway Company, Harry Conduit, Laburnam Street, Mander Street, Northumberland Fusiliers, York & Lancaster Regiment

The son of Selina and James B. Conduit, Harry was born in Wolverhampton on 24 March 1899. In 1901, he was living at Laburnam Street, Wolverhampton, with his parents, and siblings Emma, Ellen Gertrude and James B. By 1911 they were at 16 Mander Street, with additional children Walter Edward, Oliver Edgar, John Roland and Rennie Norman.

On 7 April 1915 he joined the Wolverhampton Division of the Great Western Railway as an engine cleaner, but left voluntary in July that year. He served as  Private with the Northumberland Fusiliers (number 64766), the Durham Light Infantry (number 30262) and the York & Lancaster Regiment (number 52951). He survived the war.

On 16 February 1920, he rejoined the Great Western Railway, first as an engine cleaner and then as a fireman. He worked until November that year, when he resigned to go to Australia, where he arrived in January 1921. He got married in 1922. Harry died in Perth, Western Australia, in 1976.

Albert Edwin Blakemore

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Albert Blakemore, Birkenhead, Cheshire Regiment, Fisher Street, France, St Paul's Church

Albert was born in Wolverhampton in 1894, the son of Annie and Joseph Blakemore. In 1901 they were living at 56 Fisher Street, Wolverhampton, along with Albert’s siblings Ernest and Ann G. By 1911, Albert was a lodger in the Birkenhead home of Edwin Skate. He was working as a seaman’s labourer in the ship building industry.

Albert enlisted with the 1st/6th Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment (number 9860). He first served in France from 2 January 1915, but was killed in action in France on 28 February 1918. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, as well as on the St Paul’s Church war memorial.

William Thomas Guy

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Bilston, Bilston Road, France, Priestfield, Sherwood Foresters, William Guy, Wolverhampton Street

William was born in Wolverhampton in 1883, the son of Isabella and William Guy. In 1901, he was living with his widowed father and brothers Joseph H. and Percy at 96 Wolverhampton Street, Bilston. In 1911, he married Jane Edwards in Wolverhampton, and the couple were living with her parents and siblings at 351 Bilston Road, Wolverhampton. William was working as a filler in the mine at a colliery. The couple had three children – William T. (1912), Elizabeth J. (1914) and William G. (1917)

William enlisted in the 15th Battalion of the Notts and Derby (Sherwood Foresters) Regiment (number 24475). He was killed in action on 17 July 1916. He is buried in the London Cemetery and Extension, Longueval, France, and is remembered on the Bilston Town Hall Ward and the Bilston Priestfield Rolls of Honour.

Charles Bate

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Charles Bate, France, South Staffordshire Regiment, Springfields, Walsall Street, Wordsley

The son of Mary Bate, Charles was born in Wordsley, Staffordshire, in about 1886. By 1911, he was a boarder in the home of George Bills at 147 Walsall Street, Wolverhampton, working as a socket turner for an engineer’s shop.

Charles enlisted in the 2nd Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 11851), becoming a Lance Corporal. He first served in France on 11 January 1915. He was killed in action on 15 November 1916. He is remembered at the Thiepval Memorial in France, as well as on the Springfields Roll of Honour.

Arthur Alfred Plant

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Arthur Plant, Bilston, Bilston Town Hall, France, Green Lanes, Joseph Sankey & Sons Ltd, South Staffordshire Regiment, St Leonard's Church

Arthur was born in Wolverhampton in 1893, the son of Mary Ann and Stephen Plant. In 1901 they were living at 84 Green Lanes, Bilston, along with Arthur’s sisters Minnie and Eva. They were at 103 Green Lanes, Bilston, by 1911, with an additional daughter, Emma. Arthur was working as a tin man at a tin plate works.

Arthur enlisted with the 1st/6th Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 2277). He was killed in action on 13 October 1915. He is remembered at the Loos Memorial in France, as well as on the Sankey War memorials in St Leonard’s, Bilston (so presumably he worked for Sankeys at some point), and on the Bilston Town Hall ward roll of honour.

Christopher Sydney Miller

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Christopher Miller, France, Pattingham, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Wolverhampton Higher Grade School

Christopher was born in Wolverhampton in 1895, the son of Mary Elizabeth and George Miller. They were living in Pattingham in 1901 and in 1911, along with Christopher’s siblings George Enoch, Maud Eva, Edith Mary, Randolph Courtney and Olive Millicent.

Christopher enlisted in the 2nd/8th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment (number 4495, later 306418), attesting on 10 December 1915. He started serving in France from May 1916, but was reported as missing on 7 September 1916. By 30 May 1917, he was “regarded for official purposes as having died on or since” that date. He is remembered at the Loos Memorial in France, as well as on the memorial of the Wolverhampton Higher Grade School (which he presumably attended), and the Pattingham Roll of Honour.

William Henry Worthington

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Lower Green, South Africa, South Staffordshire Regiment, St Michael and All Angels Church, Sudan War, Tettenhall, William Worthington

William was born in Wolverhampton in 1872, the son of Eliza and James Worthington. In 1904, William married Rachel Upton in Wolverhampton. By 1911, he was living at Lower Green, Tettenhall, together with his wife and daughter, Lily. He was working as a domestic gardener.

William enlisted with the 1st/6th Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 4630). He served in the Sudan War in 1896, and in the South African campaign, prior to the First World War. He rose to become Lance Corporal, but died in Wolverhampton on 5 December 1915. He is buried in the Churchyard of St Michael, Tettenhall Regis, and is remembered on the war memorial at St Michael & All Angels.