Susan Briscoe Thompson, known as Susie, was born in Wolverhampton on 30 May 1873, the daughter of John and Ann Thompson. They were living at 5 Spring Hill Terrace in Upper Penn in 1881, along with Susan’s siblings James, Clara, Albert, Ann, William John, Stephen John, and Henry Bates. They were at the Uplands in Penn Court in 1891. In 1903 she married Thomas Moore Hickman and they were living at Holmdale, Penn Road, in 1911.
By January 1916, they were living at Oakleigh in Tettenhall Wood, and Susie was engaged by the British Red Cross to do sewing and knitting as a kitchen and parlour maid for the Tettenhall Voluntary Aid Detachment. She served until December 1918. The couple were at the same property in Church Road in 1939. Susan died on 9 May 1945, by which date she was a widow as Thomas had died three years earlier. The value of her effects was £22308 4s. 8d.
John was born in Manchester on 4 March 1883, the son of John and Mary Davis, and was baptised at All Saints Church in Chorlton upon Medlock on 20 April 1883. In 1891 he was living in Chorlton with his parents and six siblings. Unfortunately, John’s father died, and the widowed Mary moved with her children to Sheffield, in Yorkshire, where they were living in 1901 and 1911. In 1911, John married local woman, Theresa Gee. The couple do not appear to have had any children.
It is unclear whether or not John tried to enlist for military service. However, by February 1917, they were living at 44 Victoria Street in Wolverhampton, and John was engaged by the British Red Cross, working in the military wards of Wolverhampton General Hospital, transporting wounded at Wolverhampton and Lichfield, and doing air raid duty at Merridale Street Air Raid Station.
John survived the war, and the couple were still living at that address in 1921, with John working as the manager of a Gent’s Outfitters, S. M. Co. Ltd. By 1939 they were living at 70 Lea Road. John died in Wolverhampton in 1964.
Henry was born in Wolverhampton in 1881, the son of Joseph Henry and Rose Lloyd. On 22 January 1882, he was baptised in St Peter’s Church, Wolverhampton. In 1891, he was living with his aunt, Margaret Smith, in Tettenhall Road. By 1901 he was living with his mother and brother John Percy at 63 Waterloo Road, and Henry was working as a commercial clerk. They were at the same address in 1911, when Henry was working as a sub manager for a cut tack manufacturer.
It is not clear whether Henry ever tried to enlist for military service. However, in March 1917, he was engaged as a volunteer by the British Red Cross. He held two First Aid Certificates, and his duties included hospital work in the military wards of Wolverhampton General Hospital, transportation of the wounded at Wolverhampton and Lichfield, as well as air raid duty at Merridale Street Air Raid Station.
Henry survived the war, and was still living with his mother at 63 Waterloo Road in 1921. Along with his brother, John, he was a Company Directory at the Crown Nail Company Limited, manufacturing nails and tacks. This was a family company, which was eventually sold by the Lloyd family in 1953. Henry does not appear to have ever married. He died on 18 June 1955, when his address was Albert Road, Wolverhampton, and the value of his effects was £73675 17 s. 9d.
Today is International Women’s Day. Wolverhampton Auxiliary Fire Service Women were taking the lead and making the headlines in 1940: #IWD2022
Women of Auxiliary Fire Service have been fully trained to”man’ the fire pumps. Here are one of the crews aboard a fire tender, ready for action. Express and Star 1940.
News Chronicle (London) July 29, 1940
Miss Alice Marshall is under 5 ft. tall takes 3½ in shoes and 4½ and gloves but she can handle an auxiliary fire pump and hose with 80lb. pressure jets as well as a man.
So can four other Wolverhampton girls who under her leadership as patrol officer are working the pumps as a complete section at Wolverhampton AFS. station.
I believe we are the only fire women in the country Miss Marshall told the News Chronicle yesterday, one of the girls is a shop assistant the others are clerks. ‘We were watching the men at the wet pump drill’ Miss Marshall explained ‘ I asked the section officer whether we could have a go at the Jets. He gave us three drills, two in the streets and later sent a test call to headquarters, the commandant had a nice surprise when he saw a woman turn out the tender with the coupled pump and other women inside.
When the Queen inspect the AFS ay Birmingham. Section Officer Marshall drove her unit from Wolverhampton for the parade. They like their uniform of navy blue, peaked cap, Wellingtons and coat of proof gabardine.
‘I wouldn’t say a fire is what we are waiting for’ declared Miss Marshall. ‘but we are ready for it”.
A MIDLAND LEAD THAT FEW WOMEN CAN FOLLOW.
Birmingham Daily Gazette 30 July 1940
From our own correspondent London Monday Precedent has been established by Miss Alice Marshall and four other Wolverhampton girls who are the first women to take part in firefighting practice.
Hitherto activities of women members of the Auxiliary Fire Service have been confined to driving liaison duties, but there must be plenty who have learned other branches of firefighting during their recent months of duty, who would only be too willing to become active in more exciting capacity.
It is possible therefore that we shall soon see fire engines and appliances ‘manned’ as well as driven by women, for I understand that the Ministry of Home Security which controls these things have no objection to women becoming firefighters.
A MIDLAND HONOUR
Unless they change their mind therefore, women throughout the land will have opportunity of joining as pump crews or ‘hosemen’. The Ministry is leaving final decision to local authorities concerned, and does not contemplate that there will be any big move on the part of women to enlist as other than drivers.
But as an official of the Ministry agreed with me today, ‘you can never tell when dealing with women especially nowadays. They come forward quicker than men and before you know where you are they have shown themselves esfficient and clamouring for equality’. Hoses with 80lb. water pressure, heavy fire pumps, and the fatiguing duties of the fire fighter are not for every woman, and feminine firefighters may be few and far between. Nevertheless wherever they appear it will honour of establishing their claim force to 5 Wolverhampton girls his feminine ingenuity and individuality surprised the administrators of Whitehall.
Radio Times July 1940. BBC radio ‘Off your Own Bat” program description: Talks by people who have done things for themselves without being asked. Unfortunately no recording of this radio show has survived it seems.
HOW WOLVERHAMPTON WOMEN A.F.S. PRACTISED THE PUMP DRILL
Birmingham Daily Gazette 29 July 1940
AFS organisations all over the country include women, but there are a few in which women actually handle auxiliary pump themselves and do everything with them that firemen can do.
Miss Alice Marshall of Wolverhampton AFS broadcast yesterday in a program “Off Your Own Bat” she describes how Wolverhampton women I’ve been doing this work for months. She is one of the crew of five whose ages range from 20 to 34. Four of them work in offices and the eldest, who is married married works as a shop assistant.
DRENCHED OFFICER Miss Marshall asked her section officer if the women at the station could learn to use the pumps, because she thought some day they might have to use them. She told the Birmingham Gazette that at first they were not very clever at handling hose. During one practice they knocked off the patrol officers hat and they also drench the section officer, but they continued to practice.
Then one night they turned out in response to a test call from headquarters and gave the commandant Mr HW Hunt a real surprise when they arrived with the pump coupled to the tender “manned” entirely by women. And soon they were drawing water from the hydrant.
READY FOR EMERGENCY. Miss Marshall said “We haven’t been called to a fire yet, I won’t say that’s what we’re waiting for, but I do you say, we’re ready for it.” Pump drill is done by women at all Wolverhampton stations.
The Auxiliary Fire Service
The Auxiliary Fire Service (A.F.S.) was first formed in 1938 in Great Britain as part of the Civil Defence Service. Its role was to support the work of fire brigades at local level.
Members of the Auxiliary Fire Service were unpaid part-time volunteers, but could be called up for whole-time paid service if necessary. This was very similar to the wartime establishment of the Police Special Constabulary. Men and women could join, women were mainly in administrative roles.
In 1942 the Auxiliary Fire Service and local fire brigades were superseded by the National Fire Service.
After the war the Auxiliary Fire Service was reformed alongside the Civil Defence Corps, forming part of the UK’s planned emergency response to a nuclear attack. This was disbanded in the UK in 1968.
Alice Eveline Marshall is on the 1939 register at 412 Prestwood Road, Wolverhampton, where her occupation is listed as a shorthand typist and her ‘civilian role’ as Auxiliary Fire Service. She is living with her mother Edith, a Shopkeeper: Grocer & Confectioner, and her father Gilbert Felim, an unemployed engineering clerk. The family can also be found on the 1911 census at 19 Hawthorn Road, Roan Road, Levenshulme, Manchester, when Alice was just a baby. Her father Gibert is working as an engineer’s estimator with a motor car manufacturer. In 1944 Alice married Frederick Irwin and remained in Wolverhampton after the war.
There are a number of Women listed on 1939 register in Wolverhampton, with Civilian role of Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS):
Marian G Austen (Smith), Birth date 01 Nov 1909, Single, Civilian role Auxiliary Fire Service Address 59 Lea Road, Wolverhampton
Jessie Blunt (Hubball), Birth date 11 Sep 1909, Single, Occupation Shorthand Typist, Civilian role Auxiliary Fire Service, Address 56 Poplar Inn Wednesfield Road, Wolverhampton
Margery E Burgoyne, Birth date 17 Jul 1909, Married, Occupation Unpaid Domestic Duties Civilian role Auxiliary Fire Service, Telephonist Address 12 Crane Terrace, Wolverhampton
Violet Cox, Birth date 04 Aug 1909, Married, Occupation Unpaid Domestic Duties Civilian role Auxiliary Fire Service Address 65 Ash Street, Wolverhampton
Florence H Davies, Birth date 16 Dec 1909, Married, Occupation Unpaid Domestic Duties Civilian role Auxiliary Fire Service Address 18 Beechwood Avenue, Wolverhampton
Alice Deacon, Birth date 04 Oct 1909, Married,Occupation Domestic Duties Civilian role Auxiliary Fire Service Address 46 Green Drive, Wolverhampton
City of Wolverhampton Archives hold a County Borough of Wolverhampton certificate: Air Raid Precautions organisation. Auxiliary Fire Service for Miss HE Bate dated 11th July 1939. However I have been unable to trace other references to Miss Bate apart from a school swimming certificate.
County Borough of Wolverhampton certificate: Member Of The Auxiliary Fire Service for Miss HE Bate dated 11th July 1939.
The Monument in front of the Church will be unveiled at 10.45am by Lt. Col. T. F. Waterhouse, D.S.O., D.L. The brass Roll Of Honour in the Church will be unveiled during Morning Service by Captain Arthur B. Williams. The sermon will be preached by Rev. S. Yelland Richards The Rev. W. J. Holford will also take part in the service and the lessons will be read by His Worship the Mayor of Wolverhampton (Councillor T. A. Henn.) Collection for St Dunstan’s Fund.
Trinity Methodist Church was demolished in the 1960s, but the memorial cross, a 20 foot Gothic cross made of red granite, still stands on the Compton Road at the junction with Larches Lane, and will soon be having some restoration work done, thanks to local community groups fundraising efforts.
The memorial brass listing all the local men who served, is now kept in the Wednesfield Royal British Legion Club, Vicarage Road, Wednesfield, Wolverhampton.
The panel on the memorial cross lists the following names:
In the early days of World War 2, the aircraft carrier HMS Courageous patrolled British waters escorting and protecting merchant ships from German U Boat attack. On the 17th September 1939, HMS Courageous was hit by German torpedoes and sank. There were 1,260 officers and ratings including an air group and two squadrons of Fairey Swordfish aircraft (48 planes) aboard. 519 men were lost including the Captain W T Makeig-Jones. The Veendam a Dutch passenger liner which was passing nearby and a British freighter the Collingsworth helped with the rescue, picking up survivors. This was the first British warship to be sunk by German forces and the incident prompted the Admiralty to change strategy, withdrawing three remaining carriers from the Western Approaches.
Newspaper reports at the time featured several accounts by survivors, two of which were from Wulfrunians. The photographs here are available online, in the recently digitised The Express & Star photo archive. Unfortunately, I have been unable to access the original newspaper article in the Express & Star due to COVID restrictions, but research suggests that the people in photos below are Able Seaman Cadman and Lucas, returned home and with members of their families. We would welcome confirmation of this.
A Bilston man Able Seaman Frederick Arthur Cadman who lived with his married sister Mrs Pritchards at 100 Oxford Street Bilston was on the bridge of the Courageous with the captain when the vessel was struck and was in the water two hours before he was rescued.
Cadman who returned home on Tuesday said he was on watch, three or four yards from the captain, expecting to be relieved any minute, when the ‘tin fish’ hit them. He did not think it was a torpedo at first ‘I made my way down to the lower deck’ he said ‘but could see that no boats were being lowered as the power was not operating, I stripped naked decided to take a chance and dived for it. One boat they did manage to lower, capsized with 60 in it. I grabbed one of the oars which helped to keep me up, but there was no sea running – only a slight swell. I had been in the water about an hour and a quarter when I was picked up by a destroyer’s boat.
‘I helped a friend, Telegraphist Lucas of Wolverhampton, into it, and then I fell out. They tried to hoist me up but I had no strength in my hands and I could not hold on to the rope. After that I was swimming and drifting for about 45 minutes before I was picked up by another boat from the same destroyer. ‘Hundreds were in the water there was absolutely no panic everybody took it calmly some were cracking jokes and those in boats were singing “Boomps A Daisy” and ‘Pack Up Your Troubles’. The captain was still on the bridge when I last saw him. I saw the submarine go up eight or 10 times after we were torpedoed and there was no doubt she was finished. If the Courageous had been torpedoed five minutes later I should’ve been in the mess deck and should not have had a dogs chance.
Albert Lucas of 62 Rugby Street Wolverhampton the Telegraph first referred to by Cadman, said he owed his life to an oar he found in the water. He was in the wireless room at the time of the explosion. It was an hour before he was picked up.
Frederick Arthur Cadman is on the 1911 UK Census living at 102 Oxford St, Bilston, Staffs. living with is parents John and Sophie Cadman, his siblings Edith, Emmie, Kate, Millicent, Ben and John. His father’s occupation is coal miner & hewer and his mother a dress maker. By 1939 the census shows Frederick Arthur Cadman living with his sister Kate and her husband Fred Pritchard at 100 Oxford Street. Frederick is an Able Seaman at HMS Drake a shore establishment naval barracks. Frederick survived the war.
LUCAS
On the 1939 census Albert Lucas is living at 62 Rugby Street Wolverhampton with his wife Gwendoline, his occupation is Telegraph Royal Navy. Albert survived the war
Many Lives Were Lost When HMS Courageous Went Down…
The HMS Courageous was hit by torpedoes from a German U Boat and sank in 20 minutes with heavy losses including Royal Navy Able Seaman Albert Edward Turley D/JX 139674) aged 30. On the 1911 census Albert is living in Willenhall, with his parents Elijah (a key maker), Ellen Turley and his siblings William May, Minnie and Jessie. In 1914 Albert appears on the National Schools Admissions records for Wolverhampton, attending Merridale Street School. I have been unable to find him or his wife on the 1939 census. Albert is remembered in the Commonwealth War Grave Records with additional information note: Son of Elijah and Ellen Turley, husband of Annie Turley, of Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton ‘. Albert is remembered on the Naval memorial at Plymouth.
James Donald Corke was born in Wolverhampton on 23 April 1881, the son of James and Janet Louisa Corke. He was baptised at St Peter’s Church on 15 May 1881. By the 1891 census, he was living with his parents and siblings Maria L., Elsie, Grace D. and Nora L. in Oak Crescent, Wolverhampton. The family had moved to Goldthorn Road, Wolverhampton by 1901, by which date James was working as a Jewellers Assistant. Visiting the house at the same time was James’s future wife, Alice Maud Walton, who was working as a draper’s assistant. On 9 February 1905, the couple were married at St Leonard’s Church in Bilston. They had three daughters – Phyllis Maud (born 1906), Isabelle Marvin (born 1907) and Janet Enid (born 1909). By 1911, they were living at “Woodcote” on Mount Road, Tettenhall Wood, and James was now a Jeweller Dealer. They had two further children, Hazel M. (1913) and William James (1916).
During the First World War, James served as a Special Constable, and his name is listed in the illuminated volume we have at the Archives. James appears to have become a travelling jewellery salesman so on the 1939 Register he appears at the Old Bush Hotel in Albrighton, although the rest of the family appeared to be living in Watford, Hertfordshire by this point. James died on 12 May 1951 at the Ilfracombe and District Tyrill Hospital in Devon. His home address by then was Old Tree Cottage, Lyncombe Lee, Ilfracombe. The value of his effects was £13018 3s. 9d. **********************
Thank you very much to David Ingham, who shared these details with us.
Lieutenant Colonel William Henry Carter’s signature
Research on Lieutenant Colonel William Henry Carter can be found in a previous post. However a more recent find is Carter’s signature in the Mayor of Wolverhampton Visitor’s Book, dated 21 March 1918, during the mayoralty of Mayor John Myatt.
A newspaper article the following year reveals a further celebration of Carter and his Military service. Two Wolverhampton streets, Brunswick Road and Bismarck Road, were renamed because they were seen as having German origins, although a Councillor Evans protested against “carrying this sort of thing to such an absurd lengths”. The former was renamed as Sharrocks Road, after a Labour member of the Council, and the later, Carter Road. There was also some discussion over whether the statue of Prince Albert, the “German Prince”, should also be removed from Queen Square, and at the time of the newspaper article, this issue was undecided. Although it has been moved from its original location several times, the statue remains in Queen Square to this day.
FREE course on how to do research and use an archive.
Made with Wolverhampton Archive staff, these videos include presentation notes to download. There are also useful links for further online research and much more…
Click on the links below to follow the course at your own pace and learn a little bit more about what can be found in our City Archives.
A short video by Jim Barrow about the centenary. For a more in depth account see Jim’s Blog.
BUGS Volunteers, local Councillors and Mayor Claire Darke planting fruit trees in Bantock Park, February 2020 Image: Thank you to Wolverhampton Council
Walford Avenue Wolverhampton, WV3 7AZ, Image: Thank you to Google maps
BUGS Volunteers planting an oak tree as part of Outside Centre’s First World War Centenary Heritage Lottery project Image: Thank you to Paul Darke
Wolverhampton's War 
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