John Cook

Tags

Blakenhall, Chapel Street, Crescent Row, Express & Star, India, John Cook, Royal Defence Corps, Silver War Badge, South Africa, South Staffordshire Regiment, St Mary's Church, Woden Road

John was born in on 26 January 1884 in Wolverhampton, the son of William and Elizabeth Cook of 48 Chapel Street, Blakenhall, Wolverhampton. On 2 March 1900, John enlisted in the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 5872), when his trade was given as tube maker. Before the outbreak of war, he served mainly in South Africa and India, and was promoted to Lance Corporal in September 1905. He was transferred to the Army Reserve in March 1908. In 1911, he was listed as a labourer and living with his parents at 9 Crescent Row, Wolverhampton. John married Annie Rudge at St Mary’s Church, Wolverhampton, on 16 April 1911, and they had a daughter, Phyllis, in 1913.

John was mobilised at Lichfield on 5 August 1914. On 25 May 1915, the Express & Star printed details of a letter he had sent to his wife, now living at 87 Woden Road, Wolverhampton:

I am quite safe after a big battle with the Germans. I was never in such a fight in all my life. We shot the Germans down as fast as we could load our rifles, and captured about 550 of them, but we have dropped back at last for a bit of a rest, and it is like being in heaven, for the last day’s fighting was hell on earth.

He was promoted to Corporal in May 1915, and Sergeant in November 1916. In September 1917, he was transferred to the Royal Defence Corps (number 66812). On 14 November 1917, he was discharged as being no longer physically fit for war service due to sickness. He was awarded the Silver War Badge (number 269449) on 10 November 1917.

John died in Wolverhampton in 1963.

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William Kendrick

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France, Rookery Street, South Staffordshire Regiment, St Mary's Church, Staffordshire, Wednesfield, William Kendrick

William was born in Fenton, Staffordshire, in 1872, the son of William and Ellen Kendrick. He married Lilly Giles in St Mary’s Church, Wolverhampton on 24 June 1894. By 1901, he was living with his wife and daughters Susan Hannah and Elanor [sic] at 20 Orchard Buildings, Wednesfield. William was a vermin trap maker. They were at the same address in 1911, with an additional two daughters, Martha and Violet Alice.

On 10 February 1915, William enlisted with the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 3897, later 241044). From 25 February 1917 until 9 May 1919 he served in France, until he was discharged. William died on 6 April 1957, byt which date his address was 3c Rookery Street, Wednesfield. The value of his effects was £172 4s. 4d.

Elijah Warilow

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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

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.

Albert George Harris

Tags

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

Albert 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

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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

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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

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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

Tags

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

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

Tags

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.