Herbert John Cadwallader

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air raids, British Red Cross, Copthorne Road, First Aid Certificate, Herbert Cadwallader, Horace Cadwallader, Wolverhampton General Hospital

The brother of Horace and son of John and Sophia Cadwallader, Herbert was born in Wolverhampton on 24 October 1865. In 1892, he married Amelia Mary W. Keay in Wolverhampton, and by 1901 they were living with their son, Dennis, at 12 Copthorne Road, Wolverhampton. Herbert was working as a manufacturer’s clerk. They were at the same address in 1911 and Herbert was working as a clerk for a fencing works.

Presumably because of his age, Herbert does not appear to have served with the armed forces during the First World War. However, from October 1917 onwards, he did serve the British Red Cross, doing a variety of duties, including hospital work in the military wards of the Wolverhampton General Hospital, transporting the wounded at Wolverhampton and Lichfield, and air raid duty at Merridale Air Raid Station in Wolverhampton. His address by then was given as 207 Tettenhall Road, Wolverhampton. He was awarded a First Aid Certificate.

Herbert died on 16 November 1943. The value of his effects was £1319 9s. 3d.

Ethel Harriet Barnett

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British Red Cross, cookery, cooking, Copthorne Road, Dudley, Epsom, Ethel Barnett, Kent, London, Mansfield, Roehampton, Staffordshire County Council, Tunbridge Wells

The daughter of Henry Rose and Harriet Barnett, Ethel was born in Dudley in 1884. In 1901 she was a visitor in the home of Sarah Woodall in London. By 1911 she was living with her parents at 19 Copthorne Road, Wolverhampton, along with her brothers Henry, Aubrey and William. Ethel was working as a cookery teacher for Staffordshire County Council.

Ethel put her cookery skills to good use during the First World War, becoming Head Cook with the British Red Cross, supervising and cooking patients and staff food from 2 April 1915 until December 1918. During this period she served as follows:

• From Apr 1915 to Sep 1915: With the University & Public Schools Battalion at Epsom with Surrey 28 Commandant the Lady Margaret Ryder. Then on with the Brigade to Clipston Camp, Mansfield under the Northern Command.
• Oct 3 1915 to Jan 1916: At Bidborough Court Hospital – Kent 74 Commandant Miss Ka Pott Holidays at Clipston 1916 to relieve Cook etc.
• July & all Aug 1916 – at Gifford House Roehampton – Com: Miss Porlock Dobson.
• Dec Holidays 1918 Neville Park Hosp: Tunbridge Wells. Late Bidborough Court.

Ethel died in Wolverhampton in 1967.

Ernest Evans Willoughby Berrington

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Bewdley, Cheslyn Hay, Coalway House, Copthorne Road, Ernest Berrington, Ledbury, Penn, Rosehaugh, Rotherham, Rugby, Sewage Disposal Works, Special constables, Wolverhampton Grammar School

Ernest was born in Wolverhampton on 3 May 1874, and attended Wolverhampton Grammar School 1882 – 1886. He trained as a civil engineer and worked on the new Sewage Dispoal Works for Wolverhampton in the 1890s. He subsequently worked on similar sewage and water supply works in other locations, including Rotherham, Ledbury, Bewdley, and Cheslyn Hay.

Ernest married Sarah Meredith Spencer in Wolverhampton in 1901, and they lived at Coalway House, Upper Penn. By 1901, Ernest was a civil engineer. The couple had a daughter, Vera May, in 1902. By 1911, they were living at Rosehaugh, Penn, Wolverhampton. In addition to his civic works, Ernest also served as an Inspector as part of the Special Constables during the First World War.

Ernest died on 15 October 1928 at the Bungalow, Copthorne Road, Wolverhampton, by which date he was living at Churchover Rectory, Rugby, Warwickshire. The value of his effects was £34180 6s. 9d.

Alfred Oswald Hall

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Alfred Hall, Copthorne Road, Dardanelles, London, Midland Counties Express, Royal Navy, St Peter's, St Philip's Church, Wolverhampton Grammar School

Alfred was born in Wolverhampton on 25 September 1892, the son of Alfred and Prudence Emily Hall. They were living at 7 Copthorne Road, Wolverhampton in 1901, together with his siblings Ethel, John, Cathline, Olive and Charles Hall. Alfred attended the Wolverhampton Grammar School. By 1911, he was in London, at 63 Kingley Street, Westminster, working as a hosiery apprentice for a Gentleman’s Outfitters.

In August 1914, Alfred joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve as an Able Seaman, after three years’ training. He served in the Nelson Battalion of the 1st Royal Naval Brigade. He received wounds in action in the Dardanelles, and died on 3 May 1915 from those wounds. This was announced in the Midland Counties Express on 15 May 1915. As he was buried at sea, he is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, as well as on the Roll of Honour in the Lady Chapel of St Peter’s Church, and on the memorial of St Philip’s Church, Penn

William Raymond Barnett

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Copthorne Road, France, South Staffordshire Regiment, William Raymond Barnett

This blog posting was prepared by one of our volunteers, Frank Lockley.

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William Barnett

The Express & Star of 4^th May 1918 reported the death of Second Lieutenant W. R. Barnett, killed in action.

William Raymond Barnett was born in 1892, the youngest of four children to Henry and Harriet. In 1911 the family is living at 19 Copthorne Road, Wolverhampton and William is a bank clerk at Lloyds Bank.

He joined the South Staffs regiment early in the war as a private, regimental number 3034. He first entered France in March 1915 and was commissioned as an officer in May 1917. At the time of his death he was in the 8^th battalion, attached to the 1/5^th battalion, that in April 1918 was stationed in north east France.

In the early hours of 29^th April 1918 two companies of the battalion were ordered to attack an isolated post known as “Route A Keep” that had been taken by the enemy two days previously. William Barnett was one of 4 officers killed in the successful operation, the war diary records

… After two hours severe fighting, the keep and ruins were entirely clear of enemy. We captured 54 prisoners, 1 heavy machine gun and 2 light machine guns

His parents received a letter from the Major-General commanding the division to which he was attached, that describes him as “… a most gallant, lion-hearted boy and a very promising officer … we are very proud of his memory in the division”

William is buried at the Commonwealth War Grave Commission’s Beuvry Communal Cemetery Extension alongside the others that died in the action.