John Henry James

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Cannock Road, John James, Lawyer's Field, Lincolnshire Regiment, M & B Springfield Brewery Works, South Staffordshire Regiment, W. Butler & Co Limited

John was born in Coventry in 1884, the son of Walter and Clara James. By 1901, they were living at 21 Cannock Road, Wolverhampton, along with John’s siblings William, Walter, Mary and George. John was a grocer’s porter. In 1908, he married Mary Jane Lewis in Wolverhampton, and they had a daughter, Edith Hannah, in 1910. By 1911, the three were living at 21 Lawyers Field, Wolverhampton, and John was a brewery labourer. The couple had another two children, Clara E. (1913) and John W. (1915). At some point, he worked for W. Butler & Co. Limited

John enlisted as a Private in the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 20267), before transferring to the 10th Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment (number 40929). He was killed in action on 28 April 1917. He is remembered at the Arras Memorial, as well as on the M & B Springfield Brewery Works Memorial.

Patrick Thomas Egan

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Lawyer's Field, North Street, Patrick Egan, South Staffordshire Regiment

Patrick was born in Wolverhampton in 1880, the son of Michael and Frances Egan. Patrick’s father had died by 1901, when they were living at 7 Lawyers Field, North Street, Wolverhampton, along with Patrick’s sister, Margaret. Patrick was a general labourer.

On 1 September 1914, Patrick enlisted with the 3rd Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment (service number 10128). However, on 25 September, a mere 25 days later, he was discharged as he was “Not likely to become an efficient soldier (Med. grounds).” His pension records stated that he had “Tubercle of Lungs”, with both lungs affected. The record also noted that he later died on 19 December 1914. Whilst Patrick does not appear on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website, he is remembered on the Wolverhampton Roll of Honour, presumably because he did enlist on the outbreak of war, so was willing to serve his country.

John McCarthy

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Express & Star, France, John McCarthy, Lawyer's Field, railway, South Staffordshire Regiment

John was born in Wolverhampton in 1897, the son of John and Charlotte McCarthy. In 1901, they were living at 24 Lawyer’s Field, Wolverhampton, along with siblings Mary Ann and Thomas. They were at the same address in 1911, with a further two siblings, Kathleen and Charlotte. Apparently John was employed on the railway at some point, but I have not been able to confirm that.

At the outbreak of war, John enlisted in the 1st Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 9833), first serving in France from 17 December 1914. He was killed in action on 18 March 1915 at the age of only 17, and is remembered at the Rue-du-Bois Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix. An announcement of his death appeared in the Express & Star on 10 April 1915.

George Holden

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France, George Holden, Lawyer's Field, Lower Stafford Street, Norfolk Regiment, South Staffordshire Regiment, St John's Church

The son of George and Elizabeth Holden, George was born in Staffordshire in about 1892. By 1901, they were living at 5 Lawyer’s Field, Wolverhampton, together with George’s siblings Annie Maria, Clara and Alfred. They were living at 93 Lower Stafford Street by 1911, with an additional two children, Sarah and Elsie May. George had become a bobber for a locksmith.

George enlisted in the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 11828), before transferring to the 7th Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment (number 40560). He was wounded, and died of these wounds on 5 May 1917 at the No 6 General Hospital in France. He is buried in the St. Sever Cemetery Extension in Rouen, and remembered on the St John’s Church war memorial.