Tags
Battle of the Marne, Dale Street, Distinguished Conduct Medal, Elijah Warrilow, Express & Star, France, Herbert Street, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, Midland Counties Express, Royal Engineers, Royal Fusiliers, South Staffordshire Regiment, St Mary's Church
Elijah was born in Wolverhampton in 1886, the son of George Warrilow. On 16 November 1908 he married Elizabeth Cheshire at St Mary’s Church, Wolverhampton, and they had two children, Albert Edward and Selina Florence. In 1911, they were living with Elizabeth’s parents and family at 68 Herbert Street, Wolverhampton. Elijah was a tinsmith for a hollowware manufacturer. Unfortunately, both children died later that year. The couple went on to have a further two children, Elizabeth Alexandra in 1915 and Florence Lorraine in 1918.
On 24 June 1904 he enlisted in the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (number 8314), by which date he was already serving in the 3rd Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment. On 24 June 1908, he was transferred to the Reserves.
On the outbreak of war, he was mobilised and posted to France. He was Mentioned in Despatches on 18 October 1914. He transferred to the Royal Engineers (number 276054) in 1917.
On 2 January 1915, he is featured in the Midland Counties Express, where the article states that his bravery means that he has been recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal, as well as for a French decoration. By this date, his address is given as 51 Dale Street, Wolverhampton. The Express & Star of 6 April 1915 tells how he was presented with the Distinguished Conduct Medal by Brigadier-General Nugent at Hull.
Warilow had gone into action with his company at Le Cateau and only nine men were left. Warilow picked up a wounded man and carried him to safety, then returned, under fire to rescue a wounded sergeant of the Royal Fusiliers. Despite himself being wounded by shrapnel, he continued to do his duty, rescuing three other wounded men under fire at the Battle of the Marne, before being wounded again at La Bassee and invalided home. On the 8 April 1915, he was featured in the Express & Star again.
He was discharged on 26 March 1919, suffering from rheumatism, French fever and nephritis. He died in Wolverhampton in 1959.
Arthur was born in Wolverhampton on 7 January 1884, the son of Job and Laura Page. In 1891 they were living at 34 Gordon Street, Wolverhampton, with his siblings William Samuel, John, Job, Samuel and Sarah Louisa. Arthur was with his parents and brother Samuel at 5 East Street in 1901. Arthur had a son (Arthur Page Parton) with Olive Parton on 28 July 1905, and he married Olive in 1907. By 1911, they were living in Newport, Wales, and Arthur was an iron worker at a sheet mills.
William was born in Claverley in 1892, the son of Joseph and Jane Nabbs. In 1901 he was living with his parents at 36 Dale Street, Wolverhampton, together with sisters Emily and Florence. By 1911, he was living with his (now married) sister and brother-in-law, Florence and Reuben Bradley, at 64 Herbert Street, with an additional sister, Maud, and brother George. William was a hawker. In 1913, he married Mary E. George in Wolverhampton, and they had a son, William J., in 1914.