Monthly Archives: September 2016

John William Anthony

20 Tuesday Sep 2016

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John was born in Wolverhampton in 1898. In 1901 he was living with his parents, Frederick C. A. and Emma Jane Anthony, at 42 Brook Street, Stourbridge, alongside his sister Florence E. and Emily and brothers Charles and Alfred. By 1911, he was living with his mother, Emma Jane, at 46 Ward Street, Wolverhampton, along with seven siblings – Charles Aurthur [sic], Alfred, Emily, Phyllis, Earnest, Doris and Edwin. John was still at school but was also a part-time errand boy for what appears to be a “tin + crock shop”.

John enlisted as a Private in the 10th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry (number 24106), first serving in France from 16 December 1915. He was killed in action on 16 September 1916 in France. His entry in the Army Register of Soldiers’ Effects has “Death pres[umed]?” for that date, so it appears that his death was not confirmed straight away. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

Robert Thomas Seager

19 Monday Sep 2016

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Robert was born in Wolverhampton in 1890, the son of Samuel and Elizabeth Seager. In 1891 they were living at 24 Bristol Street, Bilston, together with Robert’s sister, Lilian J. By 1901 they were at 7 Bristol Street, and Robert had an additional sister Nellie and brother Wilfred. In 1911 they were at 8 Bristol Street, with a further four brothers – Frank, Leonard, Edward and Ernest. By this date, Robert had become a roofer for an iron roofing contractor.

Robert enlisted with the 1st/6th Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 3250). He first served in France from 5 March 1915, but was killed in action there on 13 October 1915. He is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, as well as on the rolls of honour for Bilston Priestfield and for Bilston Town Hall Ward.

George Edward Reaney

18 Sunday Sep 2016

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A “G. Reaney” appears on the roll of honour of the Weldless Steel Tube Company, with a gold cross next to his name, indicating that he died during the War. George Reaney was born in Wolverhampton in 1885. By 1901 he was an apprentice boat builder and was living at the back of 21 Chapel Street, Wolverhampton, with his Stepfather James Spence, his mother Ann Spence, and stepsisters Mary and Sarah. George married Beatrice Aston in 1909, and by 1911 they were living at 28 East Street, Wolverhampton, together with their one-year-old son, George Harold. By this date George’s occupation was given as “Carter (Army pensioner)”, so it is unclear at what point he worked for the Weldless Steel Tube Company. The couple went on to have a further two sons, Albert E. and Robert W., in 1911 and 1914.

George enlisted with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers (number 8423). He first served in the war on 22 August 1914. He was killed in action on 25 September 1915 and is buried at the Cambrin Church Extension in France.

 

Josiah Edward Blythe

17 Saturday Sep 2016

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blythe-josiahJosiah was born in Wolverhampton on 2 August 1895, the son of Joseph and Emma Blythe. In 1901, they were living at 18 Herbert Street, Wolverhampton, along with Josiah’s siblings John, Lilly and Lizzie. From 18 August 1909, he worked for the Great Western Railway as an office boy. The family were at the same address in 1911, by which date Josiah had become a boiler maker for the Great Western Railway. He had gained two brothers, William and Harold. As well as working at the Stafford Road Works, he was also an attendant at the Hippodrome.

On 20 October 1914, Josiah enlisted in the 6th Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 3455, later 240827). He was appointed Lance Corporal in 1916 and Corporal in 1917, and served for a month in Egypt and then in France from 1915 until 1918. In July 1918 together with another corporal and a private, Josiah carried out a successful daylight patrol. Having established the position of an enemy post, they forced their way through and effected its capture, bringing its occupants to the British lines. For this action, Josiah was awarded the Military Medal. This was announced in the London Gazette on 21 October 1918, and identical articles appeared in the Midland Counties Express on 5 October and the Express & Star on 2 October. On 7 October 1918 he received a gun shot wound in the thigh, and returned to hospital in the UK. In January 1919 he was discharged.

Josiah died in Shrewsbury in 1974.

Thomas John Laxson

16 Friday Sep 2016

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Thomas was born in Wolverhampton in 1890, the son of Charles and Betsey Laxson. In 1891 they were living at Thomas’s grandparents property at 59 Court, Middle Row. They moved to 4 Bagnall Street by 1901, and by 1911 they were living at 39 Bagnall Street, Wolverhampton, together with Thomas’s brother Joseph, sister Emma-Jane and a boarder, Cecil Simpson Chapman. Thomas was a tin smith.

Thomas enlisted in the 6th Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 2473). He was killed in action in France on 13 October 1915. He is remembered at the Loos Memorial.

Theodore Francis Ison

15 Thursday Sep 2016

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Theodore was born in Wolverhampton in 1893, the son of Eli and Alice Ison. In 1901 they were living at 127 All Saints Road, Wolverhampton (Theodore’s birthplace is given here as Dudley, but his birth was registered in Wolverhampton). His siblings at home are Annie, Herbert, Alice, Sidney and Clarrice. They are at 274 All Saints Road by 1911, by which date Theodore is a labourer at an iron foundry.

On 13 August 1914 Theodore enlisted with the Royal Army Medical Corps (number 47691) and first served in France from 25 July 1915. On 12 September 1917, his name was listed in the Express & Star among the local men who had been wounded. Further details appear in his Pension Records. He received a gunshot wound to the head in August 1917, and was admitted to hospital on 26 August 1917, before being sent to England. He was discharged from hospital on 23 October 1917. Although he recovered from the wound, he later complained of “general weakness and occasional pains in the head”. The Medical Examiner found his general condition to be good and confirmed he had no disability as a result.

Theodore married Lily Stanley in Wolverhampton in 1920 and they had a son, Stanley F, in 1933. Theodore died in Wolverhampton in 1971.

James Ambrose Hancox

14 Wednesday Sep 2016

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hancoxJames was born on 10 March 1890 in Wolverhampton, the son of James Ambrose and Mary J. Hancox. In 1891 they were living at 10 Victoria Terrace, Coleman Street, Wolverhampton, alongside his sister Elizabeth and brother Edmund. They were at 6 Stanhope Street by 1901, by which date the 11-year-old James was already a station assistant. On 20 November 1905 he started working for the Great Western Railway. In 1909 he married Mary Jane Pengelly at Devonport, and they had a child. By 1911 he had enlisted in the 1st Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 8116).

He disembarked on 4 October 1914, but was killed in action on 29 October the same year. He was featured in the Midland Counties Express on 20 February 1915. He is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) memorial, as well as on the roll of honour for Wednesfield Village.

John Albert Field

13 Tuesday Sep 2016

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John Field was born in Birmingham in 1895. By 1911, he was living with his grandmother, Susan Lane, at Stafford Chambers, off Queen Square, Wolverhampton. His mother Jessie and sister Nora were also living there. John was an assistant electrical store keeper.

John enlisted in the Royal Engineers and became a Lance Corporal (number 40361). He first served in France from 31 May 1912.On 7 May 1917 he was listed as wounded in the Express & Star, but he does not appear to have died from his wounds. I have not been able to confirm any additional details on this man.

John Jackson

12 Monday Sep 2016

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On 15 March 1918, John Jackson, aged 55, of Hart Road, Wednesfield, appeared before the South Staffordshire Stipendiary Justice Commissioners at Wolverhampton, charged with being an absentee under the Military Service Act. He stated that he had been a conscientious objector from his youth and “had always been against these things from the very start”. The informant and witness, Lieutenant Allport, had called Jackson up, and received a number of letters in return, and extracts from one of them were printed in the Express & Star:

“Our letter-box is not an ash-tip for your refuse. If you have any you keep them. I have lit my pipe with them till I am sick…I don’t waste my breath with murderers. You treacherous scamp; you dirty dog; you dirty murderer. Go and wash yourself from your iniquity and murder and bloodshed. Kindly remember in future I have no business with murderers. Don’t you blow no more soap-bubbles here, as I don’t reckon to take any notice of fools; and your wickedness is not desired.

Jackson was fined £2 and remanded to await a military escort. He faced the Military Service Tribunal at Wormwood Scrubs and was sentenced to 1 year in prison with hard labour. He does not appear to paid his fine, however. jacksonA note appears next to his entry in the court register, a transcript of which is as follows:

“Numerous letters have been written with unsatisfactory results the later 9/9/19: ‘As this man was discharged a Conscientious Objector” his a/c was bit credited with pay therefore I am unable to comply with your request to remit £2 fine.’ I propose to pursue this matter no further.”

I have so far not been able to find out any further details including family background about this man.

Haden Mostyn Kendrick

11 Sunday Sep 2016

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kendrickHaden Kendrick was born in Wolverhampton on 10 June 1891, the son of the solicitor, Haden Kendrick and Annie Mostyn. He was educated at Wolverhampton Grammar School, and at Wellington College in Shropshire. By 1911, Haden was staying at the house of Thomas Richard Allison at 4 Spanish Place, Manchester Square, St Marylebone, London. Haden was listed as a Law student. According to De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour he was articled to his father, passing his final examination in 1913 and becoming a solicitor himself.

Haden enlisted as a 2nd Lieutenant with the South Staffordshire Regiment shortly after the outbreak of war, initially serving in France. Having served in the trenches for five or six months, he was invalided home in 1915, and was attached to the Royal Flying Corps in July 1916. He was killed in an aeroplane accident in Norfolk while flying solo on 18 September 1916. It appears that there may have been a problem with his plane, as he “struck some trees, causing an accident which resulted in the plane being completely wrecked and his being instantaneously killed.” A report of his death appeared in the Express & Star on 19 September 1916, and an account of his funeral at St Philip’s Church, Penn Fields was given on 21 September. His coffin was accompanied by full military honours from the High Level Station in Wolverhampton. The value of his effects were £191 1s. 9d, and his gravestone appears on this site. He is also commemorated in St Peter’s Church, as well as in the Lady Chapel. A more detailed account of his life also appears on Old Wrekinian Lives Lost.

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