The Bendel family

Tags

All Saints Road, Charles Bendel, Crowther Road, Darlington Street, Hubert Bendel, Islington, Middlesex, Newbridge, Shoreditch, South Staffordshire Regiment, Special constables, Worcestershire

Charles Walter Bendel, the son of Frederick and Jane, was born in Middlesex in about 1866. He married Alice Jane Hodgkinson in Shoreditch in 1891. By 1911, the couple had moved to 69 Crowther Road, Newbridge, Wolverhampton, along with their three children, Elsie, Hubert Frederick Francis (born in Islington in on 22 June 1897) and Barbara. Charles was working as a picture frame maker.

Charles was too old to serve with the armed forces when the First World War broke out, but he did serve Wolverhampton locally as a special constable. His son, Hubert, however, did enlist, with the South Staffordshire Regiment on 29 August 1916 (service number 49601). By that date he was living at 34 Darlington Street, Wolverhampton, and his trade was given as an order clerk. He was promoted to Corporal and survived the war.

Charles died on 14 March 1921, and the value of his effects was £105 10s. Hubert married Elsie K. Turner in Wolverhampton in 1931, and the couple were living with their son, Derek S., at 245 All Saints Road, Wolverhampton, in 1939. Hubert was working as a relieving officer. Hubert died in Malvern, Worcestershire, on 15 January 1974, and the value of his effects was £690.

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Francis Charles Barnett

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All Saints Road, Francis Barnett, George Barnett, Special constables, Vicarage Road

Francis was born in Wolverhampton on 26 September 1886, the brother of George. In 1910, Francis married Clara Bowdler in Wolverhampton, and the couple were living at 74 Vicarage Road, Wolverhampton in 1911. Francis was working as a woodworking machinist at a joinery works. The couple had a son, Charles A., in Wolverhampton in 1924.

Like his brother George, Francis does not appear to have done any military service during the First World War. However, he, too, served the local council as a special constable.

By 1939, the family were living at 265 All Saints Road, Wolverhampton. Francis died on 28 September 1952. The value of his effects was £766 6s. 10d.

Christmas Day in the trenches

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All Saints Road, Birmingham, Christmas, Gloucestershire Regiment, Grand Theatre, Wilfrid Edwards

For Christmas Day, I am sharing one of the letters that Wilfrid Edwards, serving with the 5th Platoon, B company, 1st Gloucesters, sent to Lillian Wiggall in Wolverhampton in December 1916. Among other things, he asks what pantomime is showing at the Grand Theatre this year, and talks of singing carols at her back door. This letter gives an indication of what life was like for some of the men serving overseas during the Christmas period.

We would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our readers and very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Dear Lill

Just a few lines to let you no that I received your cards and papers quite safe. It was a good joke, the youngster with the old chap. The other card was very good. Thanks very much for your kind thought. What sort of weather are you having in Blighty. I see by the papers you are having heavy snow in parts of the country. We are having it very wet and cold out here. I shall be glad when it is over. We shall be in the trenches by the time you receive this. I dont no what you would say if you were to see me like I am dressed now. We do not look like soldiers, look more like rag time rag pickers. Well Dear Lill you will soon have christmas now on you. I wish I could sing carols at you [sic] back door. I would wake all the people up for miles around All Saints road.  Dear Lill look here as I have said before its two [sic] good of you to trouble about me so much. You say you are sending me another parcel. My Dear Lill Will you thank all at home for what they are doing. Give them my best wishes for Christmas, I wished I could send a christmas card or two but there is no shops here, not a house in sight, only what has been blown down. I say Lill, what is the Panto at the grand this time. I used to like to go to the Alex at brum, it’s a real panto out here, I can assure you. Don’t be surprised to see me at your back door one of these days. We get good money out here when we are out of the trenches but you cannot buy what you like, only cigs chocolate and burscuits [sic] so you can tell. My Dear Lill if I should never come back you will know that I think of than any Girl I have ever met. My message is of Love to you. I wait the dove an answere [sic] from you. Dear Lill now doubt you will think me very forward but I cannot help putting it down. Dear Lill do you ever come accross [sic] any Glosters on your travels. Well Lill I think I must now draw to a close thanking you very much for your kindness So Good Night and God Bless you With best Love

I Remain

Yours Ever

Wilfrid Edwards

XXXXXXXXXX

 

 

William Isaac Knowles

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All Saints Road, Aston, Heath Park, Pond Grove, William Knowles

William was born in Aston, Birmingham, on 1 October 1879, the son of Charlotte and William Richard Knowles. In 1901 he married Edith Davies. By 1911 he was living at 122 All Saints Road, Wolverhampton, along with his mother and brother Sidney, and Sidney’s wife and children. William was a metal polisher working for a cycle works. I have not been able to find William living with his wife, either in 1911 or in 1939, but she was certainly still alive when he died in 1949.

William served during the First World War, as his name is listed on the memorial at Heath Park, but I have been unable to confirm details of his military service.

William survived the war, and died on 14 January 1949, by which date his address was 9 Pond Grove, Wolverhampton. The value of his effects was £219 4s. 7d.

Horatio Dunn

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All Saints Road, Horatio Dunn, Special constables

Horatio was born in Wolverhampton in 1876, the son of Harriet Dunn. He married Margaret Alice Edmunds in Wolverhampton in 1900, and by 1901 they were living at 104 All Saints Road. Horatio was an insurance agent. They were at 108 All Saints Road by 1911, and now had five children – Florence Clara, Eric, Cyril, Edna May and Jessie. They went on to have a further three children – George E. (1911), Frank (1913) and Colin H. (1920).

Perhaps because of his age, it does not appear as though Horatio served with the colours. However, he did become a Special Constable in Wolverhampton during the First World War. He died in Wolverhampton in 1928.

Ernest Leonard B. King

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All Saints Road, Dudley Road, Dudley Street, France, Leonard King, Midland Counties Express, South Staffordshire Regiment

Ernest, known as Leonard, was born in Wolverhampton in 1898, the son of Percy James and Emily King. In 1901, they were living at 95 All Saints Road, Wolverhampton, along with Leonard’s siblings Elizabeth, Albert, Ethel and Harrold. By 1911, the family were at 361 Dudley Road, and Leonard had an additional sister, Dorothy.

Leonard enlisted in the 2nd Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 16291), first serving in France from 16 March 1915. He died on wounds on 15 August 1915 in “No 6 Ambulance”. This was announced in the Midland Counties Express on 4 September 1915, by which date his parents were living at 20A Dudley Street. He is remembered at the Bethune Town Cemetery in France.

Edgar Arthur Belcher

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All Saints Road, dentist, Edgar Belcher, King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, Midland Counties Express, New Cross Hospital, Powlett Street, Royal Army Medical Corps, South Staffordshire Regiment

The brother of Joseph Horace, Edgar was born in Wolverhampton in 1898. The 1911 census shows him alongside his parents and brother at 247 All Saints Road.

Edgar was listed in the Midlands Counties Express on 5 September 1914 as another young man willing to serve the Special Service Companies. He served with the Royal Army Medical Corps (service number 147810), reaching the rank of Corporal. Previous to this he served with the South Staffordshire Regiment (service number 36396) and with Royal Lancashire Regiment (service number 41316). Edgar survived the war.

Edgar qualified as a dentist in 1921, and registered on 9 May 1924. He appears on the Dentist Registers for 1930, 1935, 1940 and 1942. He died at New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton on 4 January 1961. His address by this date was 22 Powlett Street, and the value of his effects was £4665 15s. 7d. Apparently, probate was granted to his widow, Eliza Guest, but I have not been able to find any record of their marriage.

The Armstrong Brothers

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All Saints Road, Army Service Corps, Frank Armstrong, John Armstrong, Kings Royal Rifle Corps, Midland Counties Express, Penn Road, Royal Army Medical Corps, Worcester Place

John Bertram Armstrong (born in Wolverhampton in 1886) and Frank Hugh Armstrong (born in Wolverhampton in 1894) were two of the sons of John Sutton and Elizabeth Armstrong. In 1901, Frank is with their parents at 19 All Saints Road, Wolverhampton, along with their siblings George B., Katie, and Walter Ernest. John, however, appears to be staying with grandparents. In 1911, they were living at 2 Worcester Place, Penn Road, Wolverhampton. John Bertram was a bootmaker and Frank Hugh a printer.

Both John and Frank were listed in the Midland Counties Express on 5 September 1914 amongst the men “Willing to Join” the Special Service Companies. I have been unable to find much about John’s service, other than a John Bertram Armstrong listed on the WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, serving with the Royal Army Medical Corps (number 91818). This is presumably the same man. Similiarly in the case of Frank, there is a Frank H. Armstrong who service first with the Army Service Corps (number S4/064604) and then with the King’s Royal Rifle Corps (number A/201874).

I have not been able to trace further information about John. Frank married Dora Sixsmith in Walsall in 1929. He died in Wolverhampton in 1971.

Theodore Francis Ison

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All Saints Road, Express & Star, France, Royal Army Medical Corps, Theodore Ison

Theodore was born in Wolverhampton in 1893, the son of Eli and Alice Ison. In 1901 they were living at 127 All Saints Road, Wolverhampton (Theodore’s birthplace is given here as Dudley, but his birth was registered in Wolverhampton). His siblings at home are Annie, Herbert, Alice, Sidney and Clarrice. They are at 274 All Saints Road by 1911, by which date Theodore is a labourer at an iron foundry.

On 13 August 1914 Theodore enlisted with the Royal Army Medical Corps (number 47691) and first served in France from 25 July 1915. On 12 September 1917, his name was listed in the Express & Star among the local men who had been wounded. Further details appear in his Pension Records. He received a gunshot wound to the head in August 1917, and was admitted to hospital on 26 August 1917, before being sent to England. He was discharged from hospital on 23 October 1917. Although he recovered from the wound, he later complained of “general weakness and occasional pains in the head”. The Medical Examiner found his general condition to be good and confirmed he had no disability as a result.

Theodore married Lily Stanley in Wolverhampton in 1920 and they had a son, Stanley F, in 1933. Theodore died in Wolverhampton in 1971.

Joseph Davis Gascoigne

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All Saints Road, Joseph Gascoigne, Royal Engineers

Joseph Davis Gascoigne was born in Wolverhampton in 1892, the son of George and Sarah A. Gascoigne. In 1901 they were living at number 7 All Saints Road, together with Joseph’s brother, Fred.

Joseph enlisted in the Royal Engineers and became a Sapper (number 167842). He was listed as wounded in the Express & Star on 7 May 1917, but it seems that he did survive the war.

In 1915, he married Rhoda Perry in Wolverhampton, but they do not appear to have had any children. Joseph died at the age of 71 in 1963.