Henry Richard Phillips

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Dragoon Guards, General Service Corps, Henry Phillips, Ludlow, North Street, Shropshire, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment), Wednesfield

The son of John and Eliza Phillips, Henry was born in Ludlow, Shropshire in 1892. At some point he moved to Wednesfield, Wolverhampton. By 1911, his parents and siblings Annie, Hubert, May, Gerty and Elsie, were living at 75 North Street, Wednesfield, but Henry was not listed with them.

On 6 September 1914, he enlisted in the General Service Corps (number G/6585), when his trade was given as miner. He served with the 3rd Dragoon Guards (number 21108), and by 29 June 1915, he was posted to the 1st Battalion of The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). He was killed in action on 25 September 1916. He is commemorated at the Thiepval Memorial, as well as on the memorial in Wednesfield.

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George Frederick Sadler

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Balkans, Bloomsbury Street, Gallipoli, George Sadler, Midland Counties Express, South Staffordshire Regiment, St Paul's Church, Turkey

The son of Thomas William and Lucy Sadler, George was born in Wolverhampton in 1878. In 1898, he married Ellen Isaacs, and the couple had a daughter, Alice Maude, in 1899. George served with the army for 17 years, but left in about 1910. Ellen died in 1907, and George remarried, to Martha Smith in 1910, and they had a son, William Thomas, in 1911. By 1911, he was living with his wife and two children at 47 Bloomsbury Street, Wolverhampton, and was working as a bobber for an electrical engineer.

At the outbreak of war, George enlisted with the 7th Service Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment (service number 10369). He first served in the Balkans from 21 July 1915. He was killed in action in Gallipoli on 9 August 1915. His death was announced in the Midland Counties Express on 18 September 1915, which mentioned that he left behind a widow and four children, but I have not been able to confirm details of the other two. George is remembered on the Helles Memorial in Turkey, and on the St Paul’s Church war memorial in St John’s Church. 

George Henry Bignell

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Belgium, Bilston, Border Regiment, Derbyshire, France, George Bignell, Machine Gun Corps, Wood Street

The son of James Bignell, George was born in Wolverhampton in 1884. In 1901, he was living with his father and brother Walter at 4 Wood Street, Bilston, and was working as an iron castings dresser. He later became an actor, and was boarding in the home of Edwin Hallam in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, in 1911. 

George enlisted as a Private, first in the Machine Gun Corps (number 6421), and later in the Border Regiment (number 20845). George was killed in action in France or Belgium on 1 July 1916. He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, as well as on the Bilston Town Hall Ward Roll of Honour. 

Albert Tanner Preece

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Albert Preece, Dale Street, King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, Lincolnshire Regiment, Park Street South, St Luke's Church

Albert was born in Wolverhampton in 1897, the son of Susan Preece. In 1901 he was living with his widowed mother and siblings Bertha, Violet, Arthur, Florence and Isaac at 27 Dale Street, Wolverhampton. On 25 December 1915, he married Florence May Preston at St Luke’s Church, Wolverhampton, and they had a son, Albert John, in December 1916.

On 9 December 1915, Albert enlisted in the Lincolnshire Regiment (number 27027). His address by then was given as 196 Park Street South, Wolverhampton, and his trade was polisher. On 20 September 1916, Albert was transferred to the King’s Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment), but he was killed in action on 3 May 1917. He is buried at the Level Crossing Cemetery in Fampoux.

Thomas Inscoe

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Adelaide Street, Bilston Cemetery, Durham Light Infantry, East Lancashire Regiment, Granville Street, Northumberland Fusiliers, Thomas Inscoe

The son of John and Mary J. Inscoe, Thomas was born in Wolverhampton in 1899. They were living at 82 Granville Street, Wolverhampton, in 1901, along with Thomas’s siblings Solomon, William, Daisy, Eliza, Clara, May and Lily. They were living at 39 Adelaide Street, Wolverhampton, by 1911.

Thomas enlisted first with the East Lancashire Regiment (number 31198), but also served with the Northumberland Fusiliers (3401) and Durham Light Infantry (80383). On 10 Jannuary 1919, he died in hospital in Newcastle on Tyne. He is buried in Bilston Cemetery.

Benjamin Thomas Kitson

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Benjamin Kitson, Bilston, Castle Street, France, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Stourbridge

The son of William and Mary Elizabeth Kitson, Benjamin was born in Stourbridge in 1889. By 1901, the family were living at Castle Street, Bilston, along with Benjamin’s brothers, William Norman, Abraham James and Albert Edward.

Benjamin enlisted in the 1st/6th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment (number 5031). Unfortunately, he was wounded, and died of these wounds on 23 August 1916. He is buried at the Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension in France.

George Henry Bennett

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Bilston, Bradley, Coseley, East Yorkshire Regiment, France, George Bennett, Kings Royal Rifle Corps, London Regiment, Sedgley

The son of George and Sarah Bennett, George was born in Bilston in 1898. The family were living in Beverley, Sedgley, by 1901, and in Coseley in 1911, along with George’s siblings Hannah P. and Job. By 1911, he had an additional two siblings, Sidney and Sarah Ellen.

George enlisted initially with the East Yorkshire Regiment as a Private (service number 30048). He moved to the King’s Royal Rifle Corps as a Rifleman (number 43511), and was later posted to the 1st/16th Battalion in the London Regiment. He was killed in action in France on 27 September 1918. He is buried at Sauchy-Cauchy Communal Cemetery Extension, and is remembered on the Bradley memorial in Bilston.

William Ernest Gibson

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Bristol Street, France, Wales, Welsh Regiment, William Gibson

William was born in 1876 in Wolverhampton, the son of Isaac and Fanny Gibson. By 1901, they were living at 41 Bristol Street, Wolverhampton, along with William’s sisters Elsie and Nellie. William was a tinplate worker. By 1911, William was boarding in the home of Thomas Wilkes in Glamorgan, and was working as a coal miner hewer.

William enlisted with the 15th Battalion of the Welsh Regiment (number 21669), first serving in France from 2 December 1915. He was wounded, and died from those wounds on 30 August 1918. He is buried at Wolverhampton Borough Cemetery.

Thomas William Tomkinson

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Coleman Street, Mander Brothers Ltd, St Michael and All Angels Church, Tettenhall, Thomas Tomkinson

The son of George and Elizabeth Tomkinson, Thomas was born in Wolverhampton in 1876. On 17 March 1900, he married Caroline Yateman in Wolverhampton Registry Office. By 1911, the couple had three children (Lavinia Elizabeth, Thomas and Annie), and were living at 105 Coleman Street, Wolverhampton. Thomas was a cooper working for Manders Paint and Varnish works.

On 26 August 1914, he enlisted with the 3rd Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 9974). He was promoted to Lance Serjeant but was discharged on 21 June 1916 as being no longer physically fit for war service. His pension records indicate that he was found to have carcinoma of the bowel, which was not the result or or aggravated by military service. He died on 25 June 1916. He is buried at Tettenhall Regis (St Michael) Churchyard, and is remembered on the memorial to the employees of Mander Brothers.

James Westwood

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Bilston, France, Holy Trinity Church, Hospital Street, James Westwood, Kent, Silver War Badge, Smith Street, South Africa, Worcestershire Regiment

James was born in Wolverhampton in 1881, the son of John and Catherine Westwood. Catherine died in 1901, when James was living with his widowed father at 7 and 9 Hospital Street, Bilston, with his siblings, John, Elizabeth, William, Thomas and Mary. In 1905, James enlisted with the Worcestershire Regiment (number 9045), serving in South Africa. His trade was given as boiler maker. He had two children with Mary Jones, Edith (1906) and Catherine (1910). By 1911 he was stationed at Dover Castle, Kent, with his regiment. Later that year, he married Mary in Holy Trinity Church, Bilston, and they lived at 39 Smith Street, Bilston. The couple had two further children, John J. (1913) and Violet M. (1915).

James was mobilised with the 1st Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment in October 1914, and served in France. In February 1918, it was recorded that he was suffering from general paralysis, which was aggravated by his war service, “(stress of campaign)”. In April 1918 he was discharged as permanently unfit for military service of any kind. On 20 April 1918, he was awarded the Silver War Badge (number 407267), but unfortunately he died on 22 May 1918. He is buried in Bilston Cemetery and is remembered on the High Town Ward Roll of Honour.