Frederick Short

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Aston Street, Express & Star, France, Frederick Short, Leicestershire Regiment, Lord Street

Frederick was born in Wolverhampton in 1888, the son of Charles and Harriet Short. In 1901 he was living with his parents at 13 Lord Street, Wolverhampton, along with his siblings Mary Gertrude, William and Francis. By 1911, they were at 3 Aston Street, Wolverhampton. Frederick was a printer “out of employ”.

On 26 October 1914, Frederick enlisted in the 7th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment (number 15779). Frederick served in France, but died from wounds received in action on 19 July 1917. His personal effects, including a purse, badge, cigarette case and copper coins, were sent to his mother on 13 December 1917. Further items, including a religious book, letters photos and a card, were sent on 15 March 1918. Frederick is buried at the Grevillers British Cemetery. His name is also listed on the Express & Star war memorial, so presumably he worked there at some point.

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Elsie Leonora Corbett

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Elsie Corbett, Special constables, Trysull Road, Waterloo Road, Waterloo Road North

Elsie was born in Wolverhampton on 15 March 1883, the daughter of John S. and Emma L. Corbett. In 1901 she was living with her parents at 21 Waterloo Road North, Wolverhampton, along with her siblings Ernest J., Percy B., and Dorothy M. By that date, Elsie was a pupil teacher. The family were at 155 Waterloo Road, Wolverhampton, in 1911, by which date Elsie had become a Head Teacher, working for the County Council.

Elsie worked as a Special Police woman during the First World War, presumably alongside her teaching role. In 1939 she was living at 150 Trysull Road, Wolverhampton, and was still listed as a Head Teacher, Senior Girls School. Elsie never married, and died in Wolverhampton in 1969.

Francis Benjamin Walker

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Derry Street, Devonshire Regiment, France, Francis Walker, Graiseley Street, St Paul's Church

The son of Albert and Elizabeth Walker, Francis (also known as Frank) was born in Wolverhampton in 1900. In 1901, he was living with his parents in Derry Street, Wolverhampton. By 1911, Frank, his mother, and sisters Rose Emma and Louisa, were boarding in the home of Jane Wood at 27 Graiseley Street, Wolverhampton.

Frank enlisted in the 5th Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment (number 72158), but was killed in action on 12 September 1918. Frank is remembered at the Vis-en-Artois Memorial in Pas de Calais, France, as well as on the memorial of St Paul’s Church in St John’s Church.

James Craven

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Deans Road, France, Heath Town, James Craven, Moseley Village, Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire) Regiment, Weldless Steel Tube Company Ltd

James was born in Wolverhampton in 1899, the son of William Taylor and Mary W. Craven. The family were living in Moseley Village, Heath Town, in 1901, along with James’s siblings Harriet A., Harry, William T. and Frederick. By 1911, they were at 1 Deans Road, Moseley Village, and James had an additional two siblings – Miriam and Charles Granville.

James enlisted as a Rifleman in the 2nd/7th Battalion of the Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire) Regiment (number 57138). He was killed in action on 27 March 1918 in France. He is remembered on the Arras Memorial in France. Although there is no gold cross next to “J. Craven” on the Roll of Honour of the Weldless Steel Tube Company (indicating those who have died), it is likely that this relates to James, and that he worked for this company at some point. He is also remembered on the Wednesfield Village Roll of Honour.

Samuel Deeming

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Brickkiln Street, Labour Corps, Midland Counties Express, Northumberland, Portobello, Samuel Deeming, South Staffordshire Regiment

Samuel was born in Wolverhampton in 1888, the son of James P. and Minnie Alice Deeming. Samuel’s father died in 1896. By 1901, he was living with his widowed mother and siblings Margaret, Minnie, Thomas, Ethel and Gertrude, at Court 1, Brickkiln Street, Portobello. Samuel’s mother, Minnie, married the father of Ernest Eastelow in 1901. By 1911, he had joined the 1st Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 8514), so he was with the military in Arabia, Cyprus and Gibraltar.

During the First World War, he served in the South Staffordshire Regiment and later in the Labour Corps (number 195217). His name was mentioned in the article in the Midland Counties Express on 2 January 1915 about the death of his step-brother. He survived the war, and moved to Northumberland, where he married Florence Allen at Tynemouth in 1916. The couple had a son, James R., at Tynemouth in 1922, but Samuel died in Morpeth, Northumberland in 1925.

Arthur Walton

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Arthur Walton, Brickkiln Street, Cannock, Heath Town, Portobello, Railway Street

Arthur was born in Portobello on 29 October 1898 (registered in Wolverhampton), the son of Alfred and Mary Walton. He and his parents were living at 22 Railway Street, Heath Town, Wolverhampton, in 1901, with his brother George and sisters Beatrice and Lily/Lilian. By 1911, he was at 6 Brickkiln Street, Portobello, with his parents and sisters.

Arthur served during the First World War, but I have not been able to confirm further details about his military service.

He married Janet Pritchard in Wolverhampton in 1925, and they had a son, Arthur E., in 1927. Arthur survived the war, and died in Cannock in 1979 at the age of 80.

Thomas Henry Carter Gough

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Deans Road, France, Heath Park, Lancashire Fusiliers, Nottingham, South Staffordshire Regiment, Thomas Gough

Thomas was born in Basford, Nottingham, on 15 March 1894. He was the son of Mary Elizabeth Slack, who married Alfred Carter in 1899. By 1911, Thomas was a flower pot maker, living with Alfred and Mary and siblings Jack, Polly and Frank Carter, at 3 Roman Yard, Quarry Road, Bulwell, Nottinghamshire. Thomas married Elsie M. Carter in Wolverhampton in 1916.

Thomas enlisted as a Private, first with the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 36327) and then with the 1st Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers (number 38641). He was killed in action in France on 12 August 1918. He is buried at Outtersteene Communal Cemetery Extension, Bailleul, France, and is remembered on the memorials at Heath Park and Deans Road.

The mystery of Rudolph Buckley Lister

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Bridgnorth, Cambridgeshire, Cambridgeshire Regiment, France, Leeds, Military Medal, Rudolph Lister, Suffolk Regiment, Yorkshire

Rudolph was born in Leeds on 1 May 1894 (although his birth registration has his first name as “Randolph), the son of William Holiacher and Alice Lister. He was baptised in Burley, Yorkshire, on 12 July 1899. In 1901, he was living with his grandmother, Caroline Smith, and mother, at 64 Frier Street, Bridgnorth, Shropshire. By 1911, he was visiting the home of Florence Susanna Cooper at 72 Kimberley Road, Chesterton, Cambridgeshire. By this date, the 15-year-old Rudolph had become a stores hand.

Rudolph served as a Private with the Cambridgeshire Regiment (number 3405), and with the Suffolk Regiment (number 32619). He first served in France from 28 September 1915. He was awarded the Military Medal, but he was killed in action in France on 28 August 1918. He is buried at Gomiecourt South Cemetery in France.

The mystery is the fact that his name appears on the Wolverhampton Roll of Remembrance, yet I have so far found no connection to Wolverhampton, either from him or his family. The only assumption I can make is that he moved to Wolverhampton to work in between 1911 and the outbreak of war breaking out. If anybody is able to find out more information I would love to hear it!

Jack or John Moore

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Bushbury Road, France, Heath Park, Jack Moore, South Staffordshire Regiment

John (mainly known as Jack) was born in Wolverhampton in 1891, the son of Harriet Elizabeth and Edwin Moore. In 1901 they were living at 88 Bushbury Road, Wolverhampton, along with Jack’s brothers, William G., Harry, Walter and Albert, and sister, Leah. They were at the same address in 1911, but the only children living with their parents were Walter, Albert, Eric and Jack. By 1911, Jack was a tool fitter.

He enlisted as a Private with the 1st/6th Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 2344), first serving in France from 5 March 1915. He died of wounds on 4 May 1915, and is buried at Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord. Both the Express & Star (18 May 1915) and the Midland Counties Express (22 May 1915) carried the same article, stating that he had been taking food up to the trenches and was shot in the head. He subsequently died in hospital. The article also mentioned that his brothers were also serving – two in France, another in the Royal Engineers, and yet another in the Boy Scouts engaged on military duties. Jack is remembered on the Heath Park memorial.

William Henry (Harry) Bryan

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Agricultural Hall, AJS, Blackpool, Burleigh Road, Caddicks, Drayton Street, France, Haywards, Merridale Street, Royal Army Medical Corps, South Staffordshire Regiment, St Paul's School, William Bryan, Wolverhampton Council

William was born on 21 October 1877, the son of Henry and Harriet Bryan. HIs father was the caretaker at St Paul’s Schools in Merridale Street, and William first worked as an errand boy at a chemist’s shop. He married Alice Gertrude Evans in Wolverhampton in 1899, and they had a daughter, Ada Dorothy, in 1900. In 1901, the couple and Ada were living at 40 Drayton Street, Wolverhampton, when William’s trade was listed as house agent. William worked as an assistant at Caddicks builders, where he learnt carpentry skills. Unfortunately, Ada died in 1904. They had a son, Frank Edgar, born in 1909. By 1911, they were living in Blackpool, where William was a joiner for Blackpool Corporation Tramways. They were boarding the in home of Ellen Lowe at 128 Central Drive. Unfortunately, Frank also died, in 1913. After 1911, they had another son, Harry, but I have not been able to confirm further details.

In 1915, William enlisted with the Royal Army Medical Corps as a Lance Corporal, and was attached to the 2nd/6th South Staffordshire Regiment. He served most of the war in France, putting his carpentry skills to good use. He survived the war and was back home in 1919.

After the war, William continued to work as a carpenter, including working on the Wolverhampton Agricultural Hall. He joined Haywards, who made sidecars for AJS motorcyles, and later worked as a joiner and coach builder for Wolverhampton Corporation on the trams and buses. By 1939, he lived at 111 Burleigh Road, Wolverhampton, along with his wife. He died at the age of 88 in 1964.