Walter John Alan Creswell

Tags

Dudley, France, North Staffordshire Regiment, Parkfield Road, Sedgley, Sedgley Road, Walter Creswell

The son of Walter Garrison and Alice Maude Creswell, Walter was born in Sedgley, Dudley, in 1897. By 1911, the three of them were living at 215 Parkfield Road, Wolverhampton, along with Alice’s sister, Ellen Bagnall.

Walter enlisted in the 1st Battalion of the North Staffordshire Regiment, first serving in France from 21 July 1917. However, by 22 August 1917, a small article appeared in the Express & Star to say that Second Lieutenant W. J. A. Creswell, now of Garthowen, Sedgley Road, Wolverhampton, had been wounded in action, and his wounds were reported to be “rather serious”.

However, he did recover from them, as Walter survived the war. He married Lilian Hawthorn in Wolverhampton in 1929, but I have not found any records of any children. Walter died in Exeter in 1968 at the age of 71.

Frederick Jeremiah Bradford

Tags

Frederick Bradford, Summerfield Road

Frederick’s father’s drapers shop in Darlington Street

 

Frederick was born in Wolverhampton in 1894, the son of Frederick William and Elizabeth Bradford. In 1901, they were living at 5 Summerfield Road, Wolverhampton, together with Frederick’s sister Mary B. and cousin Annie Chelnick. By 1911, Frederick was a draper’s assistant at Beauchamp House, Church Street, Great Malvern, Worcestershire.

Frederick enlisted with the Tank Corps (number 206103). A small article in the Express & Star on 15 September 1917 details that his father had received news that he had been taken prisoner. The article stated that a car containing Bradford and seven men had got into difficulties, “but the eight held out all day and night, surrendering the following day.” Frederick’s medal card confirms that he was a prisoner of war from 22 August 1917 until 11 November 1918. The prisoner of war records state that he had received a shot in the right thigh, and was in the Coblenz Fortress Hospital.

However, Frederick survived the war. I have not been able to confirm whether he got married or had children, but he

died in Bilston in 1959 at the age of 65.

Harry Leonard Higgs

Tags

Bradmore, Coventry, Harry Higgs, London Regiment, Penn, Trysull Road, Wolverhampton Higher Grade School

Harry was born in Penn in 1889, the son of Charles and Jane Higgs. In 1901 they were living at 226 Trysull Road, Bradmore, along with Harry’s siblings Florence, Charles A., Elsie, Blanch [sic] V. and May. By 1911, he was boarding in the home of Albert William Stubbs at 18 St Nicholas Street, Coventry. Harry was an electrician for a silk manufacturer.

Harry enlisted with the 5th (City of London) Battalion (London Rifle Brigade) (service number 510). He rose to become a Second Lieutenant, but he was killed in action on 25 March 1918. He is commemorated at the Arras Memorial. He presumably attended the Wolverhampton Higher Grade School, as he is also commemorated on their memorial, as well as on St Phillip’s Memorial in Penn.

Alfred Francis

Tags

Alfred Francis, Chapel Street, France, Moseley Village, Royal Field Artillery

Alfred was born in Wolverhampton in 1895, the son of Edward and Martha Francis. By 1911, he was with his parents at 5 Chapel Street, Moseley Village, Wolverhampton, along with his brothers, Samuel and Henry. Alfred was a pistol riveter in a factory.

Alfred enlisted as a Gunner in the 295th Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery (number 66394). However, he was killed in action in France on 21 March 1918. He is remembered at the Arras Memorial, as well as on that at Heath Park, and on that for Deans Road

John Richard Dodd

Tags

John Dodd, Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire) Regiment, prisoner of war, Wednesfield, Wood End

John was born on 22 September 1898 in Wednesfield, the son of Richard and Elizabeth Ann Dodd. In 1911, they were living at 37 Wood End, Wednesfield, together with John’s brother Alfred and sister Fanny Elizabeth.

On 21 November 1916, John enlisted in the 1st Battalion of the Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) and became a sergeant (number 58994). He was taken prisoner on 22 March 1918 at Morchies, having suffered from shrapnel shots to his right thigh. He died on 7 August 1918 at Hameln. He is remembered at the Niederzwehren Cemetery in Kassel, Germany, as well as on the Wednesfield Village Roll of Honour

James Carter

Tags

Heath Town, James Carter, Moseley Old Hall, South Staffordshire Regiment, Wombourne, Wood Street

James was born in Wombourne in around 1883, the son of James and Mary Ann Carter. In 1891, he was living with his parents at Moseley Old Hall Cottages, alongside brothers Joseph, George, Charles and Herbert. They were at 21 Wood Street, Heath Town, by 1901, and James had become a panner of enamel. He was living with his widowed mother and widowed brother Charles Edwin (along with his nephew, Joseph Edward Carter) at the same address in 1911. By now, James was a railway porter.

He enlisted with the 2nd/6th Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 241138,). He died of wounds at home on 11 May 1918 and is buried at Heath Town Cemetery. He is commemorated at Heath Park.

William Edmund Norman Baker

Tags

Bank Street, Bilston, Coseley, France, March End, Prince of Wales Own (West Yorkshire) Regiment, Wednesfield, William Baker

William was born in Coseley in 1899, the son of John and Mary Ann Baker, and christened on 6 April 1899. He was living with his parents at 171 March End, Wednesfield, in 1901, along with siblings Dorothy May, Harold, and John Rowland. By 1911, William was living with his step-father Thomas Elton, mother and siblings at 8 Bank Street, Bilston. William was a galvanizer.

William (now known as Norman), enlisted in the 15th/17th Battalion of the Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire) Regiment (number 60708). He was killed in action in France on 20 October 1918. He is remembered at the Nechin Communal Cemetery in Belgium, as well as on the Bradley Memorial.

Joseph Alfred Adey

Tags

Bilston, Chapel Street, France, Hussars, Joseph Adey, Suffolk Regiment

Joseph was born in Bilston in 1894. In 1901 he was living with his uncle, Thomas Lunn, at 9 Chapel Street, Bilston. In 1914 he married Mary Ann Saunders in Wolverhampton.

Joseph enlisted first with the Hussars Regiment (number 25058) and then transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment (number 19438). He first served in France from 6 July 1915. He was killed in action in France on 1 May 1917, and is commemorated at the Monchy British Cemetery at Monchy-Le-Preux, as well as on the High Town Ward Roll of Honour.

Walter Carson

Tags

Bilston, Burton upon Trent, Earl Street, Express & Star, France, Market Street, South Staffordshire Regiment, Tramways, Walter Carson

Walter was born in Burton upon Trent in 1886, the son of William and Mary Ann Carson. In 1901 they were at 21 Market Street, Bilston, and by 1911, they were living at 2 Earl Street, Bilston, together with Walter’s siblings William, May Isabella, Leonard, Clara, Edward, Percy, Minnie, Gladys, Victor, Cecil, Elsie and Norman. Walter was a “motorman” with the Tramway Company.

Walter enlisted in the 1st/6th Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 2598 and later 240414), apparently one of the first from the Tramway Company to join the Army. He served in France from 5 March 1915. He was invalided home with trench feet, but went on active service for the second time on Christmas Day 1916. He reached the rank of Lance Sergeant. On 20 August 1917, he was killed in action in France. His officer wrote a letter home to his parents, which was quoted in the Express & Star on 15 September 1917:

It is with my deepest sympathy and grief I write to inform you that your son, Sergeant Carson, has been killed. He was not at al conscious, death being instantaneous. Though this is very pool consolation to you it is much better than lingering for any time. He was exceedingly popular with the men, and was ever ready to help any of them at all times, and was much beloved by me, his officer. I tender my deepest sympathy to you in this your time of trouble.”

He is commemorated at the Philosophe British Cemetery in Mazingarbe, France, as well as on the Bilston Town Hall Ward Roll of Honour.

Sidney Robert Mason

Tags

Bilston, Bradley, Bradley Methodist Church, Express & Star, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, Sedgley, Sidney Mason, Wesley Street

Sidney was born in Sedgley in 1892 (his birth registration has him as “Robert Sidney”). By 1911, he was living with his widowed mother Eva Elizabeth and sister Selina at 67 Wesley Street, Bilston. Sidney was a sheet mill ironworker.

Sidney enlisted with the 10th Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers (number 15249), first serving from 27 September 1915. Unfortunately, he was wounded. Before he died of his wounds on 20 December 1915, as the sergeant was carrying him along the trench, he apparently told him, “If any parcels come from home, share them among the boys.” This was noted in an article in the Express & Star on 19 February 1916. He is remembered at the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, as well as on the Bradley Memorial and the Bradley Methodist Church memorial in Bilston.