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Wolverhampton's War

~ Lost voices from the Great War

Wolverhampton's War

Tag Archives: St Mary’s Church

Elijah Warilow

09 Sunday Jul 2017

Posted by heidimcintosh in Front Line, Men who served

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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

warrilow-1Elijah 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.

warrilow-2On 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.

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Albert George Harris

02 Thursday Mar 2017

Posted by heidimcintosh in Front Line, Men who served

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Albert Harris, Albert Street, Army Service Corps, Bilston, Bissell Street, Express & Star, Joseph Sankey & Sons, St Mary's Church

harris_aAlbert was born in Wolverhampton in 1892, and was baptised at St Mary’s Church, Bilston, on 11 September 1892. He was the son of William and Fanny Harris, and they were living at 2 Bissell Street, Bilston, in 1911. Albert was a press worker in a factory. He later worked as a toolsetter for Sankey’s, in Albert Street. In 1912, he married Beatrice Westwood, and they had a son, Albert W., born in 1913. Albert George also sang in the choir of St Mary’s Church

In August 1914, Albert enlisted in the 114th Company of the Army Service Corps (number T1/1419). On 26 June 1915, the Express & Star carried an article, stating that Albert had received a gunshot wound to the head, and had died of this wound on 18 June 1915. Albert is remembered at the Longuenesse (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery, as well as on the Sankey’s war memorial.

Sydney Colenso Morris

15 Sunday Jan 2017

Posted by heidimcintosh in Front Line, Men who served

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

Balkans, Bushbury, Express & Star, King's Own Scottish Borderers, London Gazette, Military Medal, Oak Street, Royal Scots Fusiliers, St Mark's Church, St Mary's Church, Stafford Road, Sydney Morris

The son of George and Florence Morris, Sydney was born in Wolverhampton in 1894. He was baptised at St Mark’s Church, Wolverhampton on 25 February 1894. In 1901 he was living with his parents at 80 Oak Street, Wolverhampton, together with siblings Walter E. and Hilda F. They had moved to 112 Stafford Road, Wolverhampton, by 1911, and Sydney had two more sisters, Ivy Louisa and Florence N. Sydney had become a carter at a locomotive works.

Sydney served first with the King’s Own Scottish Borderers (number 20454) and then in the 1st Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers (number 43141). He first served in the Balkans from 3 October 1915, and was awarded the Military Medal, as noted in the London Gazette on 19 February 1917. He died of wounds on 25 April 1917. His name appeared in the list of local men who had Died of Wounds in the Express & Star on 21 May 1917, although his surname is incorrectly printed as “Morros”. He is buried at the Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension, and commemorated on the memorial in St Mary’s Church, Bushbury

Richard Arnold

29 Saturday Oct 2016

Posted by heidimcintosh in Front Line, Men who served

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Bilston, Ettingshall Wesleyan Church, King Street, Lancashire, Richard Arnold, St Mary's Church

Richard was born in Wolverhampton in 1872, being baptised on 1 December 1872 at St Mary’s Church, Bilston. In 1881 he was living with his parents, William S. and Susannah Arnold, at 9 King Street, Bilston, along with his sister Sarah and brother Francis. By 1891he was living with his grandparents Martin and Sarah Poole at 14 Milne Street, Chadderton, Lancashire. Richard had become a card room jobber. Richard married Eliza Howarth in Oldham in 1899, and they were living at 21 Slater Street, Chadderton in 1901, and at 237 Block Lane, Oldham, in 1911. By 1911, they had three children – Elsie, Frank and William. By now Richard was a cardroom stripper and grinder for a cotton mill.

Richard’s name is listed on the Ettingshall Wesleyan Church’s roll of honour as a local man who served during the First World War, but I have been unable to confirm details of his service record. He certainly survived the war as he is not listed as having fallen in action.

His wife, Eliza, died in Oldham in 1923. Richard himself died on 9 October 1941 at the Methodist School, Cowhill, Chadderton. The value of his effects was £518 17s. 8d.

 

 

ALEXANDER COBURN

03 Wednesday Feb 2016

Posted by anntenbury in Front Line, Men who served

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Alexander Coburn, Bushbury Crematorium, Fordhouses, HMS Zealander, Liverpool, Northern Ireland, Oxley Golf Club, Royal Marines, St Mary's Church, Stafford Road, West Derby

Betty McCann, a volunteer at Wolverhampton City Archives, carried out the research on this man.

Alexander Coburn was born 16th March 1896 in Portrush, Northern Ireland. His father was James Coburn who was a golf professional and his mother was Rebecca Coburn. In 1901 the family were living at 11 Princess Terrace, Portrush and consisted of father, mother, Alexander age 3, Thomas 1 year and baby George, together with a servant.

By 1911 the family had moved to live in Nursery Place, West Derby. Their child George had died in 1901 aged only a few months and they had another son called Kenneth.  The family subsequently moved to Wolverhampton where James became the professional Golf Coach at Oxley Golf Club, Stafford Road, Fordhouses, Wolverhampton where the family lived in the Club House.

Alexander enlisted in the Royal Marines Naval Division in Liverpool on 6th October 1914 Reg. PO/17953, serving as Acting Cpl on HMS Zealander with the first RM draft for BEF. He was appointed paid acting lance corporal on 17.4.1917, and acting corporal on 19.10.1917. He was killed by enemy action on 29th October 1917. His body was not recovered for burial; his death is listed on the War Memorial at St.Mary’s Church, Bushbury, Wolverhampton.

The Commonwealth War Graves website gives this information “Rank Corporal Service No:PO/17953 Date of Death: 26/10/1917 Regiment/Service: Royal Marine Light Infantry 1st R.M. Bn. R.N. Div. Panel Reference: Panel 1 and 162A. Memorial: Tyne Cot memorial.” His name is listed on the Memorial at Portrush NI and he is commemorated in Holy Trinity Parish Church, Portrush

EDWARD PERCY BURTON

02 Tuesday Feb 2016

Posted by anntenbury in Front Line, Men who served

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Army Training Corps, Arras Memorial, Bushbury, Durham Light Infantry, Edward Burton, Henwick Terrace, Holly Court, Shaw Road, St Mary's Church

Betty McCann, who volunteers at Wolverhampton City Archives at the Molineux Hotel Building, has carried out the research on this man.

Edward Burton was born in Wolverhampton in 1899. His father was Edward Burton, who was a Fitter in the Gas Works, his mother was Emily Burton.

In 1901 the family were living at No.6 Holly Court, Bushbury. By 1911 they had moved to Henwick Terrace, Shaw Road, also in Bushbury, Wolverhampton. By this time the family consisted of father, mother, Edward, Charles 9 years, Frederick Arthur 5 years and  Leonard Francis aged 2 years.

Edward enlisted in the Army Training Corps on 10th October 1916, aged only 17 years, and was given the Reg. No. 3163. After training he was transferred to the Durham Light Infantry and given the Reg. No. 77579.

Edward was posted to France in 1916 and was reported missing in action in the field on 21st March 1918,  and subsequently assumed killed. No further records are available apart from his medal index card. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, and on the Memorial located in St Mary’s Church, Bushbury.

 

THOMAS ROBERT PRICE

23 Saturday Jan 2016

Posted by anntenbury in Home front, Men who served

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Bushbury, Fordhouses, Royal Army Medical Corps, St Mary's Church, Thomas Price

Thomas Robert Price was born at Bushbury in 1889. His baptism was recorded in St Mary’s Bushbury Parish Register on 1st December 1889. His parents were Alfred Thomas Price, a Painter’s Labourer, and Louisa Jane née Burton. The family’s address at the time of the 1901 census was in Fordhouses. The family consisted of 5 boys and 4 girls. In 1911 the family were still living at Fordhouses but Thomas doesn’t appear on this census form. A Thomas Price, age 21, born at Wolverhampton, Occupation Army Private, appears on the 1911 census living at Southampton.

The CWGC entry for him reads “Rank: Private Service No: 4862 Date of Death: 15/11/1918 Age: 29 Regiment/Service: Royal Army Medical Corps attd. Director General Medical Services. Cemetery: Bushbury (St. Mary) Churchyard Additional Information: Son of Alfred Thomas Price and Louisa Jane Price, of Fordhouses, Bushbury”. His name is on the memorial at St Mary’s Church, Bushbury.

He enlisted in the RAMC on 21st August 1914. The Register of Soldiers Effects shows that £32 12s 8d, including War gratuity £25, was authorised to be paid to his father on 1st May 1919. He died in the General Hospital at Wolverhampton on 15th November 1918, presumably of the effects of wounds inflicted during his army service. His death was registered at Wolverhampton during the quarter ended December 1918.

Arthur Simister

22 Sunday Feb 2015

Posted by heidimcintosh in Front Line, Men who served

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Arthur Simister, Bushbury, Cannock, Hednesford, Kings Royal Rifle Corps, Sherwood Terrace, St Mary's Church

Arthur Simister was born in 1898 in Bushbury (his birth was registered at Cannock), the son of George and Mary Simister. In 1901, the family were living at 20 Sherwood Terrace, and the household consisted of Arthur and his parents, brothers Thomas, Frank and Alfred, and sisters Rose and Elsie. By 1911, they had moved to Hednesford in Staffordshire. The only children still living with their parents by this date were Arthur, Alfred and Herbert.

On 22 April 1915, Arthur enlisted with the 15th Battalion of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps (number R/12382). His military records include the fact that he was deprived 10 days’ pay on 19 May 1916 for “Disobedience of Battalion orders re throwing away old clothes.” Later in the year he had a hernia and was admitted to hospital. In August 1917 he was wounded in the arm and leg by bullets. He died on 1 September 1918, and is commemorated at the Vis-En-Artois Memorial. He is also listed on the Bushbury memorial at St Mary’s Church.

John/Jack Sylvester Colbourne

04 Thursday Dec 2014

Posted by heidimcintosh in Front Line, Men who served

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Beckett Street, Bilston, Bilston Urban District Council, Black Country Bugle, Dumbell's Comfort Fund, Elm Street, Express & Star, France, Germany, J. B. Dumbell, John Colbourne, North Staffordshire Regiment, Price Street, Prisoners of War, Queen Street, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, St Mary's Church, Turner Motor Manufacturing Company Limited, Wellington Road

This blog post has been prepared by one of our volunteers, Ann Eales.

******************************************************************

The Minutes of the Bilston Urban District Council meeting held on 26 April 1917 noted that Lance-Corporal J S Colbourne, one of the assistants to the Council Engineer ,”was home on leave awaiting the conferring of a commission upon him.”

Article in the Black Country Bugle

Article in the Black Country Bugle

When Diane Pye wrote in the Black Country Bugle on July 9th 2009, about Letters Home, she mentioned an officer who wrote a reassuring card to his sweetheart, Miss Doris Adams at Tynedale, Wellington Road.

The article tells us that 2/Lt J.S. (Jack) Colbourne, who was serving with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment attached to the North Staffordshire Regiment, was taken prisoner and interned in the Officers Prisoner of War Camp at PFORZHEIM, in the Baden area, on the railway between Stuttgart and KARLSRUHE, near the German/French border. Possibly 2/Lt Colbourne had been captured whilst serving in France, then transported across the border to the nearest officers’ prisoner of war camp. It is impossible to tell from the card how long he had been detained, however he may have been treated relatively well as there was a certain amount of respect for officers in POW Camps. Back home in Bilston, the Colbourne family, like many, would have lived with the daily fear of the black-edged telegram. But, on August 10th 1918 they received this censored card which surely put their minds at rest. Their dear Jack was still safe. The picture accompanying the article (see copy above) shows the neat handwriting addressing the card, and has various printed details, all in German.

His message had been written on July 10th 1918, but did not arrive in Bilston until a month later, and says:

My Dearest Doris, Tons of thanks for your ever welcome letters of 21st May and 7th June, also for the parcel you packed, which was top hole. I am delighted to hear that you are in the pink Dearie and also those at home. The bottom drawer must be getting quite full now and I’m dying to look inside it. Thank you ever so much for letting me know about my valise Dearie. I should like a photo taken at the parcel packing room. Please thank “Mr Dumbell and staff” very much on my behalf and tell them how much their efforts are appreciated and how grateful I am for their kind interest. Please give my best love to Mother and Helen and Dad. Must close now.

With Fondest Love and Heaps of Kisses. Yours for Ever. Jack.

Mr Dumbell and staff refers to the Comfort Fund which had been set up jointly by the Express & Star and James B Dumbell to send troops, and sailors, parcels with the comforts of home. A dinner and entertainments (“Peace Dinner”) organised by the proprietors of the Express and Star was held in March 1919 for returned prisoners of war, at the Baths Assembly Rooms in Wolverhampton. A copy of the Programme can be inspected at Wolverhampton Archives. It includes a list of all prisoners of war on the roll of the Express and Star and JB Dumbell’s Comforts Fund; amongst the names is COLBOURNE, JS, 2nd Lieut., Royal Warwicks, 17, Queen Street, Bilston.

The J B Dumbell of the Comforts Fund was the Managing Director of the Turner Motor Manufacturing Company Limited, car manufacturers. At the beginning of the First World War, Turner’s manufacturing came under the control of the Ministry of Munitions who gave them a contract to produce machine tools.

The name J S Colbourne appears on the Record of British Officers taken Prisoner of War 1914-1918. His rank is shown as 2nd Lieutenant with the 6th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment, attached from the Warwickshire Regiment. Date Missing is 21st March 1918, and Repatriated 11th December 1918. So, he waited a month after the official end date of the War before he was sent back to England. His Medal Index Card shows that his regimental number in the South Staffordshire Regiment as a private was 2950, he entered the Theatre of War on 5th March 1915, his regimental number was changed to 24057, and he subsequently joined the Royal Warwickshire regiment as a 2nd Lieutenant. The card also mentions that he re-applied for the Silver War Badge on 10th June 1920, when he was living at Brooklands, Elm Street Bilston, the medal card having been previously annotated “Ineligible SWB Auth min 2 60/3861”. The final entry is “Further EF/9 20.7.20.” The EF/9 seems to have been some sort of form that had to be submitted for medal requests and presumably for corrections or alterations. The EF/9 reference is frequently to be seen on the medal index cards.

John Sylvester Colbourne’s birth was registered at Wolverhampton in the 4th Quarter of 1894. He was baptised at St Marys Bilston on 4th November 1894, parents James and Edna were present.

At the time of the 1901 Census John Colbourn was age 6, and living at 9 Price Street Bilston with his parents James age 45 who was a Ball Furnace man at an Iron Works, Edna his mother age 40, and 2 brothers James age 8 and Alfred age 4. All were recorded as born in Bilston. The 1911 Census recorded the family living at 72 Beckett Street Bilston. James age 56 was an iron Worker, his wife Edna age 52 was a Housekeeper, James Cecil age 18 was a Pattern Maker, John S age 16 was a clerk at the Urban District Town Hall, and Alfred Leslie the youngest son was a Fitter in the General Engineering Industry.

J S Colbourne’s Marriage to Doris M Adams was recorded at Wolverhampton in the Quarter ended September 1919. The records indicate that the couple had children, as two were born in Wolverhampton whose mother’s surname was Adams. Geoffrey A Colbourne’s birth was registered in the quarter ended December 1926 and Elizabeth A Colbourne’s in the quarter ended March 1931.

There is a probate record for John Colbourne “of Cherry Trees 23 Jeffreys way died age 60 16th April 1963 at The Musgrove Park Hospital Taunton.” Probate at Bodmin on 30th May was to Doris Margaret Colbourne Widow. Effects were £4641 6s 6d.” Doris Margaret Colbourne’s death at age 80 at Taunton was recorded in the quarter ended December 1979.

Edward and Gilbert Wagg

30 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by heidimcintosh in Front Line, Men who served

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Chromographic Enamel Company, Edward Wagg, France, Gilbert Wagg, London Regiment, North Midland Field Ambulance, North Street, Royal Army Medical Corps, St Mary's Church

This post has been prepared by one of our volunteers, Frank Lockley.

******************************************************************

The roll of honour in the Midlands Counties Express of 18th May 1918 includes Private Edward Douglas Wagg of the North Midland Field Ambulance. It also states that his brother Gilbert Arthur had been killed the previous year.

Edward and Gilbert were sons of Arthur and Ada Wagg. They had an elder brother, Harry Clifford, and the family lived at 166 North Street. Fortunately the service records for both brothers have survived.

Edward was born in 1894. He initially enlisted in the territorial force in March 1911, when his occupation is shown as railway clerk. He was posted to the Royal Army Medical Corps and entered France in March 1915. His service record shows that he received a gunshot wound to in the leg and hand in October 1915 but only spent 1 day in hospital. He died on 10th May 1918 from the effects of gas poisoning received in action. He was treated in the Canadian General Hospital at Étaples and is buried in the Commonwealth War graves Étaples Cemetery.

His service record includes the details of his personal effects that were sent to his father. They included letters, photos, a cigarette case, fountain pen, coins and four unopened letters. He is commemorated on the North Midland Field Ambulance memorial in St. Peters church.

Gilbert was born in 1898 and appears to have enlisted on his 18th birthday, 27th May 1916, into the Army Reserve. His record shows that he was a clerk at the Chromographic Enamel Company in Dudley Road. He was mobilized to the 15th battalion London Regiment on 9th June 1917 and landed in France on 25th June. He was reported as initially missing but then killed in action just a few weeks later on 16th August. He is commemorated at the Menin Gate.

There is a poignant letter in his service records from Reverend William Collett, vicar of St. Marys church. It is written to the Officer in charge of Records regarding Rifleman Gilbert Wagg, dated 6th September …

I write in the interests of the parents. A pal of the above has written to say that after being in action with him round the 20th August he has lost him – Gilbert Wagg – . The last letter received was dated 10th Aug.

There is a rumour that he is prisoner of war. Can you give us any information about him or tell me to whom I should write

The newspaper article states that the brothers’ mother Ada had died in January 1918 (aged 43). Their father Arthur died in 1921 (aged 51) and there is correspondence in Glibert’s records between the surviving brother Harry and the Infantry records office in December 1921 to the effect that he was now next of kin and so entitled to receive Gilbert’s medals.

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