The Clarke Family

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Beech Road, Bletchley, British Red Cross, Bushbury, Cannock, malaria, Oxley, Royal Engineers, Rugby, Salonica, Sarah Clarke, Selwyn Clarke, Showell Road

Sarah was born Sarah Ann Sudworth in Bletchley, Buckinghamshire on 8 July 1860, the daughter of Mary and William Sudworth. She married William Clarke on 18 April 1888 at Holy Trinity Church, Rugby. By 1911 they were living at 66 Showell Road, Bushbury, Wolverhampton, with their two sons, Claude William and Selwyn Vernon. Claude was working as a motor car engine fitter, and Selwyn was working as an apprentice doing body making for motor cars.

From November 1915 until February 1919, Sarah served the British Red Cross, working from home for the Bushbury Work Party No. 1448, making garments. She was awarded the V.W. Badge. By 1939, William and Sarah were living at 146 Showell Road. Sarah died in Wolverhampton in 1943.

Selwyn was born on 5 February 1895 in Cannock. On 10 December 1915, Selwyn enlisted in the C Company of the Royal Engineers (number 167430). His trade by then was given as wheeler or wheelwright. He served in Salonika, and succumbed to malaria, but did survived the war, and was disposed of and posted home in November 1919. He married Esther Whitehouse in Cannock in 1920, and the couple had three children – Ronald C. (1920), Joyce (1922) and Raymond W. (1923). By 1939, he was living  at 5 Beech Road, Oxley, Wolverhampton, and was working as a coach body builder. Esther died in 1952, and Selwyn re-married to Ellen E. Atkinson in Wolverhampton in 1953. Selwyn died on 6 April 1973 and the value of his effects was £7812.

 

 

William Edgerton

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France, North Staffordshire Regiment, Royal Engineers, Shrewsbury, Southampton Street, William Edgerton

The son of Sarah Edgerton, William was born in Shrewsbury in 1898. By 1911, he was living with his mother at the back of No 12 Southampton Street, Wolverhampton.

William enlisted first as a Private in the North Staffordshire Regiment (number 203461) before becoming a Pioneer in the 6th Railway Survey Company of the Royal Engineers (number 338833, later WR/205509). He died in hospital on 21 March 1919, one hundred years ago today. He is buried at the Longueness (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery in France.

George Sillitoe

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Elm Street, George Sillitoe, Graisley Row, Green Lane, Merridale Street, Royal Engineers, S. J. & E. Fellows Ltd, South Staffordshire Regiment, St Paul's Church, Vulcan Works, Western Terrace

The son of Alfred Sillitoe, George was born in Wolverhampton on 24 June 1884. In 1901, he was living with his father and brother John at 14 Graisley Row, Wolverhampton. George was working as a wire weaver. George married Florence Hill on 21 December 1907 at St Paul’s Church, Wolverhampton. By 1911, they were living with their two children, George and Gladys, at 7 Western Terrace, Elm Street, Wolverhampton. George was working as an iron shearer at a stampers and hollowware manufacturer, presumably S. J. & E. Fellows Ltd, based at the Vulcan Works. The couple had three further children, Ellen (1912), Julia (1915) and Arthur (1918). Unfortunately, Gladys died of influenza and pneumonia on 6 November 1918, and both Ellen and Arthur also died in infancy, in 1915 and 1920 respectively.

on 24 May 1915, George enlisted in the 2nd/6th Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 4235). His trade was then given as machinist. By 1917 he had been posted to the Royal Engineers (number WR/177047), and was able to use his skilled trade proficiencies to become a Fitters’ Mate. On 6 June 1919 he was demobilised to his home address of 90 Green Lane, Wolverhampton.

By 1939 he was living at 121 Merridale Street, Wolverhampton, along with his wife, and children George, Julia (now married), Florence M. (born 1923), Albert H. (born 1926) and Doris I. (born 1928). George was working as a shearer for a stamping and pressing mill. George died in Wolverhampton in 1953.

Horace James Robinson

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Birmingham, Ernest Landucci, France, Francis Landucci, George Landucci, Horace Robinson, Newbridge Street, Northamptonshire Regiment, Royal Engineers

Horace was born in Birmingham in 1896, the son of James William and Laura Kate Robinson. By 1911, they were living at 77 Newbridge Street, Wolverhampton, along with Horace’s siblings Arthur Noel and Florence Irene. Horace was working as a gas fitter. In 1915, he married May Evelyn Landucci (sister to George, Francis and Ernest). in Wolverhampton, and they had a son, Norman J., later that year.

Horace enlisted first with the Royal Engineers (service number 263584), before serving with the 5th Battalion of the Northamptonshire Regiment (number 39794). He was killed in action on 30 November 1917 in France. He is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial.

The Lowndes brothers

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Aston, Birmingham, Bushbury, Cannock, Coventry, London and North Western Railway, Royal Engineers, Royal Field Artillery, South Staffordshire Regiment, The Scotlands, Thomas Lowndes, Walter Lowndes

The sons of James and Harriet Lowndes, Thomas Nathaniel was born in Cannock on 31 July 1892, and Walter Samuel was born in Cannock on 8 July 1898. By 1901, the family were living in Rhowden House, Bushbury, Wolverhampton, and consisted of Thomas, Walter, their parents, and siblings William, Katie, Frederick John, and Lucy Jane. For three months in 1908, Thomas worked as a cleaner for the London & North Western Railway at Bushbury Depot, but was dismissed “thro’ slackness of work”. By 1911, they were living at Albert Villas, the Scotlands, Bushbury, along with an additional daughter, Agnes Edith. Thomas was working as a clay miner in a brick yard. Walter later worked as a dairyman.

During the First World War, Thomas enlisted as a Gunner for the Royal Field Artillery (number 176632), before transferring to the Royal Engineers (number WR/285250). He survived the war. On 27 September 1924, Thomas married Jessie Clara Joiner at SS. Peter & Paul Church, Aston, and the couple had a son, Dennis, born in Birmingham in 1925. Thomas died in Wolverhampton in 1971.

Walter enlisted in the 4th Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 38994). On 3 October 1918, he received a gun shot wound in his left thigh at St Quentin. Although the bullet was eventually extracted, Walter was left slightly lame. He was discharged on 18 February 1919. Walter married Gladys Hartshorn in Wolverhampton in 1922, and the couple had a daughter, Joyce, later that year. Walter died in Coventry in 1991.

Herbert Mellor Lockett

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Bilston Street, Cannock, Herbert Lockett, Iraq, Mesopotamia, Royal Engineers

Herbert was born in Cannock in 1883, the son of John Herbert and Mary Jane Lockett. By 1901, they were living at 52 Bilston Street, Wolverhampton, along with Herbert’s siblings Tom Clark, Matilda Grace, Harry Wallace, Lilian Hilda, Winifred May and Elsie Janet. Herbert was a house painter and decorator. They were at the same address in 1911.

Herbert enlisted as a Sapper in the Inland Water Transport section of the Royal Engineers (number 197052), but died in the No 7 British General Hospital, Basrah, Mesopotamia on 12 July 1917. He is buried at Basra War Cemetery. The value of his effects was £277 4s. 2d.

Frederick “Freddie” John Barratt

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France, Frederick Barratt, Iraq, Limes Road, Manor Street, Royal Engineers, Tettenhall, Waterworks Lane, Wolverhampton Registry Office

The uncle of the Barratt brothers previously featured on this blog, Freddie was born on 25 October 1878, when his home address was Waterworks Lane, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton. He was the son of George and Phoebe Barratt. By 1901, they were living at Limes Road, Tettenhall, along with Freddie’s siblings Charles Henry and Jeanie. On 3 March 1904, Freddie married Alice Cooper at Wolverhampton Registry Office. They had six children – Jeanie (20 Jun 1904), George (10 Nov 1905), Edward (30 Dec 1909), Jessie (20 Dec 1906), William (14 Jun 1912), and Frederick (16 Jun 1914).

On 12 December 1914, Freddie enlisted as a Sapper with the Royal Engineers (service number 32444). His address by that date was 11 Manor Street, Tettenhall, and his trade was given as carpenter (skilled). From 6 May 1915 onwards, he served in France and later Basra, Iraq, serving with the 7th (Meerut) Cavalry Brigade and 7th Indian Cavalry Brigade. Freddie survived the war, and died on 28 August 1970 in Tettenhall.

Thanks to George Clegg for sharing these details about his ancestor.

Percy Enos Randle

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Durham, Glasgow, Heath Town, Percy Randle, Prestwood Road, Royal Engineers, Silver War Badge, tuberculosis

Percy was born in Wolverhampton on 24 November 1888, the son of Enos and Mary Ann Randle (nee Cartwright). In 1901, they were living at 281 (Oscott Cottage) Prestwood Road, Heath Town Wolverhampton, along with Percy’s sisters Isabella and Gertrude E. They were at the same address in 1911, but Percy was the only child still living with his parents. He was working as an engineers clerk. Percy married Kate Eveline Trewhitt in Durham on 26 August 1915.

On 4 August 1917, Percy enlisted in the Royal Engineers at Glasgow (service number 310371, later 292849). By then, his address was given as care of Collins, 115 Renfield Street, Glasgow, and his trade was music hall agent. Collins was Scotland’s first successful Variety Agency. In Percy’s attestation record he is recorded as being 5’ 7” tall, he was given the medical classification of C which is “free from serious organic diseases, able to stand service in garrisons at home” and the subcategory C1 “able to march 5 miles, see to shoot with glasses, and hear well.” His wife Kate was living at 9 Fordland Place, Hylton Road Sunderland. By 5th December 1917 he had been promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal and two days later to Corporal. However, Percy did not serve overseas, as he contracted tuberculosis. On 1 April 1918, he was discharged as being no longer physically fit for war service, and he died at 107 Hill Street, Garnethill, Glasgow on 19 June 1918. There was no family history of tuberculosis, and the medical report concluded that his tuberculosis was attributable to ordinary military service. The value of his estate was £69 6s. 2d. He was posthumously awarded the Silver War Badge (number B270248) on 9 August 1919.

 

 

John Durham

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France, Horseley Fields, John Durham, Royal Engineers

John Durham was born in 1884, the son of Michael and Elizabeth Durham. His father died in 1895, so by 1901 John was living with his widowed mother and brother James at Horseley Fields. John was a hardware enameller. They were living at Court 4, Lower Horseley Fields, in 1911. John was a labourer in an iron foundry.

John enlisted as a Sapper in the Royal Engineers (number 97538). He first served in France from 19 December 1915. Unfortunately he became sick, and died on 1 February 1919 in France. He is buried at the Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille

 

Arthur Samuel Lewis

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Arthur Lewis, Cheshire, Midland Counties Express, Penn Road, Royal Engineers, Royal Orphanage, Shropshire, South Africa

Arthur was born in Market Drayton on 28 April 1893, the son of Robert Fisher and Sarah Ann Lewis. In both 1901 and 1911, he was living in the households of his uncles, John P. Ibbs and John Birchall, first in Shropshire and then in Cheshire. By 1911, Arthur was a joiner. His father, Robert, died in November 1901, which is presumably why Arthur attended the Royal Orphanage, Penn Road, Wolverhampton, for a period.

In May 1911, Arthur joined the Royal Engineers (service number 21571) as a Sapper. After a year’s training, he was sent to Roberts’ Heights, in South Africa. When war broke out he was drafted in to the front in October 1914 with the 55th Field Company. He rose to become Lance Corporal, but was killed in action on 11 September 1916. He was featured in the Midland Counties Express on 3 February 1917, and is remembered at the Thiepval Memorial