John Bellfield Coley

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John Coley, Penkridge, Special constables, Wednesfield Road, Wood Hays

John was born on 31 August 1877 in Wolverhampton, the son of John and Elizabeth Coley. John married Emily Augusta Thornley in Wolverhampton in 1900, and they were living at 94 Wednesfield Road, Wolverhampton, in 1901. John was working as a butcher. The couple were at Oakley Farm, Wood Hays, Wednesfield, Wolverhampton, by 1911, when John was working as a butcher and farmer. They had a daughter, Marjory Mary.

Perhaps because of his age, John does not appear to have served in the armed forces during the First World War. However, he did serve as a special constable for Wolverhampton Council.

John died on 25 January 1962, by which date he was living at Congreve House, Congreve Farm, Penkridge. The value of his effects was £16,771 15s.

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Dennis Bill

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Dennis Bill, Special constables, Springfield Road, Walsall, Wednesfield Road

Dennis was born in Walsall on 13 May 1886, the son of John and Jane Bill. By 1901, he was living with his grandmother and brothers Henry J. and Walter F. at 51 Wednesfield Road, Wolverhampton. He was working as a railway clerk. By 1911 he was listed as a visitor in the home of his uncle, George Charles O’Neal, at 7 Springfield Road, Wolverhampton. Dennis was now working as a grocer’s assistant. Later that year, he married Emma Jones in Wolverhampton, and they had a daughter, Constance, in 1912.

Dennis does not appear to have done any military service during the First World War. However, he served Wolverhampton Council as a Special Constable. Unfortunately I have not been able to confirm further details of Dennis’s life.

William Boddis

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Blackpool, Special constables, Springfield Road, Wednesfield Road, William Boddis

William was born in Wolverhampton on 1 September 1885, the son of Solomon and Patience Boddis. They were living at 92 Wednesfield Road, Wolverhampton, in 1901, along with William’s sister, Hannah. William was working as a commercial clerk. They were at 13 Springfield Road, Wolverhampton, by 1911, and William was a tailor and dealer. Later that year, he married Gertrude G. Blakemore in Wolverhampton, and the couple had four children – twins Mary and Maud (1912), William A. J. (1923) and Arthur B. (1924).

William does not appear to have done any military service during the First World War, but served as a special constable locally in Wolverhampton. By 1939, he was living with his wife and family in Blackpool, working as an engineer gauge maker and coach booking clerk. Gertrude died in 1940, and William remarried, to a Mabel Hallam, in Blackpool in 1953. William himself died in Blackpool on 15 November 1954. The value of his effects was £561 12s. 11d.

Deborah Burton

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British Red Cross, Deborah Burton, Oxbarn Avenue, Wednesfield Road, Wolverhampton General Hospital

The daughter of Tom and Deborah Westwood, Deborah was born in Wolverhampton on 5 November 1889. In 1901, she was living with her parents at 29 Wednesfield Road, Wolverhampton, along with her siblings Tom William, Dennis, Ina and Lizzie. They were at 153 Wednesfield Road by 1911, with an additional child, Eileen. Deborah was now working as an elementary school teacher.

From Jun 1917 onwards, Deborah (whose address was now 60 Wednesfield Road), served as a nurse with the British Red Cross. She also helped out by sewing at the Soldiers Wards at the Wolverhampton General Hospital.

Deborah married Joseph W. Burton in Wolverhampton in 1918. The couple had four children – Dennis W. (1920), Sheila D. (1923), Michael J. (1931) and Mary P. (1935). By 1939, the family were living at 19 Oxbarn Avenue, Wolverhampton. Deborah died in Wolverhampton in 1962.

The North brothers

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Belgium, Bilston, Clifford North, John North, Lincolnshire Regiment, Oxford Street, South Staffordshire Regiment, Wednesfield Road

The sons of John William and Sarah E. North, John Bertram was born in Wolverhampton in 1897, and Clifford was born in Wolverhampton on 30 June 1899. In 1901 they were living in 62 Wednesfield Road, Wolverhampton, along with their brother Victor Nash. By 1911, the family were living at 141 Oxford Street, Bilston, with an additional two children, Madeline M. and David H. John was a coach upholstery trimmer.

John enlisted with the 8th Service Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 11794). He was wounded, and died of these wounds on 1 December 1915. He is buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery in Belgium, and is remembered on the Bilston High Town Ward Roll of Honour.

Clifford served as a Private with the Lincolnshire Regiment (service number 51224). He survived the war. He married Lily Rowley in Wolverhampton in 1932, and they had a son, Derek, born in 1944. Clifford died in Wolverhampton in 1972.

Archibald “Archie” Needham

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Archibald Needham, football, Royal Air Force, Royal Flying Corps, Sheffield, Sussex, Wednesfield Road, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC

The son of William Henry and Sarah Needham, Archie was born in Sheffield on 24 May 1881. He became a professional footballer, playing for Sheffield United, Crystal Palace, and Glossop North End, before joining Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1910. In 1911, he was boarding in the home of William Griffiths at 78 Wednesfield Road, Wolverhampton. In 1911, he moved to play for Brighton & Hove Albion.

During the war, Archie served with the Royal Flying Corps, later the Royal Air Force (number 6666). He married Ethel Margaret Bacon in Horsham, Sussex, on 5 December 1915. Archie survived the war.

By 1939, they were still living in Horsham, and Archie had become a textile engineer, but was retired by that date. Archive died on 29 October 1950, when his address was 17 Hangleton Road, Hove, Sussex. The value of his effects was £13115 8s. 8d.

John Henry Aldridge

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Express & Star, John Aldridge, Wednesfield Road

The son of John and Mary Aldridge, John was born in Wolverhampton in 1893. In 1901 the family lived at 43 Wednesfield Road, and by 1911, he was living with his parents and sister Marian Irene at 118 Wednesfield Road, Wolverhampton. He was working as a clerk in a mercantile office. John married Dorothy G. Day in Wolverhampton in 1916, and the couple had three children – Alfred J. F. (1917), Gladys H. I. (1921) and Desmond D. (1925).

John’s name and address were listed in the Express & Star on 30 October 1914 as one of the many local men who had signed up in connection with the newspaper’s “Comrades in Arms” movement. However I have not been able to confirm further details about his live or his military service, although the dates of birth of his children suggest that he did survive the war.

Charles Hancock Kay

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Charles Kay, France, Germany, High Street, New Street, Portobello, Royal Field Artillery, Wednesfield Road

Charles was born in Wolverhampton on 29 January 1894, the son of Alfred and Eliza Kay. In 1901, they were living at 80 High Street, Portobello, along with Charles’s siblings Enoch H. W., Emily A., Mabel E. L., William W., Alice E., and Phyllis A. By 1911 Charles and four of his siblings (Enoch, Mabel, William and Phyllis) were living at 6 New Street, Portobello. Charles was a baker and bread maker.

On 7 December 1915, Charles enlisted as a Gunner in the Royal Field Artillery (service number 152160). His address by this date was 68 Wednesfield Road, Wolverhampton, He served in France and Germany until September 1919, when he was discharged

Charles married Florence Mabel James in Wolverhampton in 1917. The couple had three children – Joyce E. (1920), Howard C. (1923) and Phyllis C. (1928). Charles died in Wolverhampton in 1974 at the age of 80.

Bertie David Foster

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Bertie Foster, Bright Street, Chubbs, France, Gibbs Street, Midland Counties Express, South Staffordshire Regiment, Wednesfield Road

The son of Thomas and Margaret Foster, Bertie was born in Wolverhampton in 1894. They were living at 18D Gibbs Street, Wolverhampton, in 1901, along with Bertie’s siblings Alice, William, Gladys and George. They were at 117 Bright Street by 1911, and Bertie was an apprentice at the safe works at Chubbs in Wednesfield Road.

He enlisted in the 2nd/6th Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 241054). He was killed in action on 11 April 1917. He was featured in the Midland Counties Express on 12 May 1917, and is buried at Jeancourt Communal Cemetery Extension in France.

Alfred James Evans

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Alfred Evans, Egypt, Harlaston, Royal Navy, Sunbeam Motor Company, Wednesfield Road, Wolverhampton Chronicle

Alfred was born on 19 October 1889 in Harlaston, Staffordshire, the son of Joseph and Mary Ann Evans. By 1911, they were living at 106 Wednesfield Road, Wolverhampton, along with Alfred’s siblings Gertrude and Arthur Evans, and step-brother, William George Hodgkins. Alfred became a motor driver and fitter at the Sunbeam works.

He enlisted in the Royal Naval Air Service (number F/1259) on 2 November 1914. His skills learnt at Sunbeam meant he became a Petty Officer Motor Mechanic, serving first on the Pembroke III. Unfortunately, he became ill and was sent to the 19th General Hospital in Alexandria. On 6 February 1916, he died from paratyphoid, appendicextomy and peritonitis. He is buried in the Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery in Egypt. The Wolverhampton Chronicle carried news of his death on 8 March 1916.