Harry Robinson Conduit

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Australia, Durham Light Infantry, Great Western Railway Company, Harry Conduit, Laburnam Street, Mander Street, Northumberland Fusiliers, York & Lancaster Regiment

The son of Selina and James B. Conduit, Harry was born in Wolverhampton on 24 March 1899. In 1901, he was living at Laburnam Street, Wolverhampton, with his parents, and siblings Emma, Ellen Gertrude and James B. By 1911 they were at 16 Mander Street, with additional children Walter Edward, Oliver Edgar, John Roland and Rennie Norman.

On 7 April 1915 he joined the Wolverhampton Division of the Great Western Railway as an engine cleaner, but left voluntary in July that year. He served as  Private with the Northumberland Fusiliers (number 64766), the Durham Light Infantry (number 30262) and the York & Lancaster Regiment (number 52951). He survived the war.

On 16 February 1920, he rejoined the Great Western Railway, first as an engine cleaner and then as a fireman. He worked until November that year, when he resigned to go to Australia, where he arrived in January 1921. He got married in 1922. Harry died in Perth, Western Australia, in 1976.

William Harold Colbourne

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Birmingham, Cherry Street, Kings Norton, Laburnam Street, Royal Navy, William Colbourne

William was born in Wolverhampton on 4 June 1898, the son of William and Emily Colbourne. In 1901, they were living at Laburnam Street, Wolverhampton. By 1911 they were at 38 Cherry Street, Wolverhampton, along with William’s siblings, Winifred Mary, Horace George and Constance Muriel.

On 14 December 1916, William enlisted with the Royal Navy (number J63737). He served on the HMS Victory I and then the HMS Tamar until February 1919, before serving on the HMS Suffolk from March until July 1919.

In 1921, William married Ada Johnson in King’s Norton, and the couple had three children there – Barbara (1921), Betty M. (1923) and Muriel E. (1924). By 1939, they were living in Birmingham, and William was working as an omnibus driver. William died on 17 August 1957. The value of his effects was £990 0s. 2d.

James Edward Sproson

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Belgium, France, James Sproson, Labour Corps, Laburnam Street, Mander Brothers Ltd

The son of Arthur and Mary Sproson, James was born in Wolverhampton in 1877. In 1910, he married Alice Maud Asprey in Wolverhampton, and the couple were living at 37 Laburnam Street in Wolverhampton in 1911. James was a varnish bottler, and he worked for Mander Brothers. The couple had a daughter, Doris E., born in 1916.

James enlisted with the army, and became part of the 67th Labour Corps (number 207936). He was wounded and died in France on 31 October 1917. He is buried at Bedford House Cemetery in Belgium, and remembered on the Mander Brothers memorial, now situated at Wightwick Manor.

 

Samuel Haddock

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Bilston Road, France, Laburnam Street, Mander Brothers Limited, Samuel Haddock, South Staffordshire Regiment

Samuel Haddock was born in 1887 in Wolverhampton, the son of William and Charlotte Haddock. In 1901 they were at 178 Bilston Road, together with Samuel’s brothers Joseph and William, and sister Charlotte. Samuel’s father, William, died in 1903, and his mother, Charlotte, died in 1907. By 1911, Samuel was employed as a printer at an Ink Works. In 1915 he married Lily May Adey, and they moved to 30 Laburnam Street. They had one child, Vera, in 1917.

Samuel enlisted in the 2nd/6th Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 203819). He died on 15 February 1918 and is commemorated at the Mory Abbey Military Cemetery, Mory, France. He also appears on the Mander Brothers Memorial.