Joseph Eastelow

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Coventry Street, Joseph Eastelow, Maddox Buildings, Moseley Village, Sherwood Foresters, South Staffordshire Regiment, Willenhall Road, Wolverhampton Railway Station

Joseph was born in Wolverhampton in 1886, the son of Joseph Eastelow. In 1901, he was living at 1 Maddox Buildings, Moseley Village, along with his father and siblings Arthur, Harriet and George. The 15-year-old Joseph was a labourer at an iron works. Joseph married Lily Goodhead in Wolverhampton in 1914.

Joseph initially enlisted with the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 7407), before transferring to the Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) (service number 29918). He was killed in action on 31 July 1917. Lily later remarried, to a John R. Rhodes, and lived at 55 Coventry Street, Willenhall Road, Wolverhampton. Joseph is remembered at the Ypres (Menin Gate) memorial. He is also remembered on the memorial at Wolverhampton Railway Station, where he was employed as a goods porter, and the memorial on Deans Road.

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Frank Dudley

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Coventry Street, Frank Dudley, Penn Road Wesleyan Chapel, Sutherland Place

Frank was born in Wolverhampton in 1887, the son of Thomas Dudley. In 1901, he was living with his widowed father at 104 Coventry Street, Wolverhampton, along with siblings Elizabeth, John, Louisa and Maud. By 1911, he was boarding at the home of Edwin Fieldhouse at 13 Sutherland Place. Frank had become a shovel finisher. Frank married Lydia M. Burslem in Wolverhampton in 1914.

Frank’s name appears on the memorial plate of Penn Road Wesleyan Chapel as one of the local men who served during the First World War and survived. I have not, however, been able to confirm details of his military service.

Frank and Lydia had a number of children – Thomas W. (1915), Frank and John (presumably twins as both register in Jun 1920), May (1922), David (1926) and Joseph (1928). Frank died in Wolverhampton in 1956.

Benjamin Jackson

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Benjamin Jackson, Coventry Street, France, Granville Street, London Gazette, Mentioned in Despatches, South Staffordshire Regiment, Willenhall Road

Benjamin Jackson was born in Wolverhampton in 1891, the son of George and Ellen Jackson. In 1901, they were living at 10 Granville Street, together with Benjamin’s brothers George, Walter, Harry and Frank, and sisters Ellen, Minnie, Olive and Violet. Benjamin’s mother, Ellen, died in 1910. By 1911, they were at 67 Coventry Street, Willenhall Road, and only Benjamin, Harry, Frank, Olive and Violet were living with their widowed father. Benjamin had become a setter in an edge tool works.

Benjamin enlisted as a Private in the 7th Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 9930). At some point, Benjamin married an Edith Ada (maiden name unknown), and they had a child, David, as both of these are given as next of kin in the Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects. Benjamin Jackson died of wounds received on 8 November 1916, but he was posthumously Mentioned in Despatches on 15 May 1917, as reported in the London Gazette on 22 May 1917. He is buried at the Contay British Cemetery in France.

A. J. Lloyd

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Chillington Edge-Tool Works, Coventry Street, Express & Star, prisoner of war, Sherwood Foresters, Thornley Street

Listed under “Local Casualties” in the Express & Star 21 May 1918 is a Private A. J. Lloyd (Sherwood Foresters), of 20 Coventry Street, who has been taken prisoner in Germany. The article also states that he formerly worked at Chillington Tool Works.

There are a number of possible birth entries for this man. If he is the 8-year-old Arthur J. Lloyd living at 4 Thornley Street in 1901, then he was born in 1892. Unfortunately the Prisoner of War records have not been able to confirm any further details about this man. The only Lloyd of the Sherwood Foresters that appears is a John Lloyd. Whilst he may have used his middle name, this particular man appears to have been born in Deptford and his next of kin are in London, so it is unlikely that this is the same person.

Fred Foundling

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Coventry Street, Fred Foundling, London Gazette, Military Medal, South Staffordshire Regiment

Fred Foundling was born in 1896, the son of Frederick and Elizabeth Foundling. In 1901 they were living at the back of 87 Coventry Street, together with Fred’s brothers James, Samuel and William, and sisters Beatrice and Sarah.

Fred enlisted with the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 9625). He was awarded the Military Medal for “gallant conduct”, which was announced in the London Gazette on 20 October 1916. He was therefore one of the local Wolverhampton men invited to the presentation mentioned in yesterday’s blog post.

Fred went on to marry Ava Pillinger in 1918, and the couple had two children, Fred in 1919 and an unnamed baby boy in 1920. The baby boy unfortunately died not long after his birth.