Tag Archives: Blakenhall

Alfred Leslie Garbett

17 Friday Jan 2025

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Alfred was born on 15 January 1918 in Wolverhampton, the son of George Clement and Lucy May Garbett. In 1921 they were living at 9, Knox Road, Blakenhall along with Alfred’s older siblings Ruby and George, maternal grandmother Lucy Johnson and maternal uncle Walter Johnson. By 1939 Alfred was living at 21 Ranelagh Road, Wolverhampton along with his parents and uncle Walter. Alfred was employed as a grocer’s shop assistant.

Alfred enlisted with the 18 Division Petrol Company of the Royal Army Service Corps (service number T/142371) and became a Sergeant. On 17 February 1942, Alfred was captured by the Japanese and Singapore and became a prisoner of war in No 2 camp. Unfortunately he died of malaria and colitis on 3 August 1943. He is buried in Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery in Myanmar. He is also listed on the roll of honour at St Luke’s Church in Blakenhall.

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The research for this blog post was completed by remote virtual volunteer, Doug Lewis.

Joseph Henry Walker

24 Friday Feb 2023

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Joseph was born on 25 November 1888 in Wolverhampto, the son of  Thomas and Sarah Jane Walker, and was baptised in St James’s Church, Wolverhampton on 10 February 1889. By 1901 they were living at 41 Franchise Street in Blakenhall, Wolverhampton, along with Joseph’s siblings Elsie Maud, Louisa May and Sidney. Sarah’s parents, Thomas and Martha Mason, were also living with them. By 1911, at the same address, there was another daughter, Cicely Lois, and Joseph was working as a cycle machinist.

Joseph served as a Lance Corporal (service number D/652) with the 5th (Princess Charlotte of Wales’s) Battalion Dragoon Guards. Unfortunately he was wounded and died on 22 May 1915. He is buried in the Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord, in France, and is remembered on the war memorial for St Luke’s Church in Blakenhall.

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The research for this blog post was done by remote virtual volunteer, Doug Lewis.

Robert Patrick Jones

20 Monday Feb 2023

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Robert was born on 15 October 1887 in Wolverhampton, the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Jones. He was baptised in the Roman Catholic church of St Mary and St John’s in Wolverhampton on 13 November 1887. In 1891 they were living at 12 Chapel Street in Blakenhall, Wolverhampton, along with Robert’s older brother, Joseph and younger brother, Reuben Charles. Robert’s mother died towards the end of 1897. In 1901 the family were living at the same address, and Robert was joined by younger sisters, Elizabeth and Ann. The 13-year-old Robert was working as a labourer in an edge tool works. In 1911 all the family were still together at 12 Chapel Street, Robert was now employed as a ‘bottler’ at the Botanical Brewery.

Robert served with the 9th Battalion of the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (service number 32864). Unfortunately he was killed in action on 22 March 1918. He is remembered at the Pozieres Memorial in France, as well as on the memorial in St Luke’s Church in Blakenhall.

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The research for this blog post was carried out by remote virtual volunteer, Doug Lewis.

Arthur Edward Lester

22 Thursday Sep 2022

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The son of William Thomas and Jane Lester, Arthur was born in Wolverhampton in 1881, and was baptised in St George’s Church, Wolverhampton, on 17 July 1882. In 1891, the family were living at 137 Walsall Street, with Arthur and his parents joined by siblings William Arthur, John Thomas, Jane Maria and George Donlan. Arthur also had three younger siblings, but they unfortunately died in infancy. By 1901, Arthur and his father were boarding in the home of Henry Cutler at 156 Park Street, Wolverhampton. Arthur was working as a brass dresser. Henry was Arthur’s brother-in-law, having married his sister, Elizabeth Annie Lester, in 1889.

A year later, Arthur enlisted with the 3rd Worcesters (service number 9018). His enlistment papers give his trade as brass finisher. He had numerous distinctive marks, including a circular scar on the back of the left shoulder and several tattoo dots on the back of his left forearm. He went on to serve nine years of active service, including 7 years in India, where he managed the mineral water department of his battalion. He later spent three years in reserve, working for Sunbeam for a year and living at 11 Park Street in Blakenhall. When war broke out, he rejoined his regiment without waiting to be called up. On 28 October 1914, he was reported as missing at La Querque. By 26 February 1916, the Midland Counties Express was stating that he was presumed to be dead. He is remembered on the Le Touret Memorial in France, as well as on the memorial in St Luke’s Church in Blakenhall.

Percival William Diment

09 Sunday May 2021

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Percival, or Percy, was born on 4 October 1897 in Exeter in Devon, the son of Walter and Clara Mary Diment. He was baptised at St Thomas’s Church, Exeter on 29 December 1897. The family had moved to Gloucester by 1901, where they were living with Percy’s brothers, Walter John and Wilfred Henry. From 1905 onwards Percy attended St Peter’s Boys School in Worcester. In 1908, the family had presumably moved to Wolverhampton, as Percy started at Dudley Road Primary School. In 1911, they were living at 82 Lower Villiers Street, Wolverhampton.

In 1914, Percy enlisted in the 1st/3rd North Midland Field Ambulance, part of the Royal Army Medical Corps (service number 2466, later 421273). By then Percy was working as a clerk. On 1 August 1916 he received a punishment because when he was meant to be in charge of the boiler at the Russian Baths he “did neglect same thereby causing damage to one of the Boilers and considerable delay to the Bathing of this Brigade”. On 14 July 1917, he was admitted to the 18th General Hospital with pyrexia and severe trench fever, and was discharged back to duty on 1 October 1917. On 22 May 1918, he was killed in action. He is buried in the Houchin British Cemetery in France, and is remembered on the memorial of Wolverhampton Higher Grade School (where he presumably also attended), the RAMC memorial at St Peter’s Church, and on St Luke’s Church memorial in Blakenhall.

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The research for this blog post was completed by remote volunteer Jacky de Escofet.

Fred Baker

05 Friday Mar 2021

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The son of John Jesse and Pamela Baker, Fred was born on 10 February 1917 in Wolverhampton. By 1939, he was working as a clerk for a General Haulage firm and was living at 171 Dudley Road, Wolverhampton, with his parents and siblings Sidney, Thomas, John and Annie.

Fred enlisted with the South Staffordshire Regiment and the No. 3 Commando (number 4923073), with whom he was serving in Sicily in Italy. On 10 July 1943, the island of Sicily was invaded by British, Commonwealth and USA forces. No 3 Commando were given orders to capture the Malati Bridge over the River Leonardo, and they were put ashore in the Bay of Agnone. It was thought that the only resistance would be from scattered Italian defenders, but the commandos ran straight into the 3rd Battalion of the Hermann Goering Regiment. The Italians guarding the bridge were quickly overcome and it came under British control. While the Commandos held the bridge with limited cover, a German Mk VI Tiger tank began firing its heavy machine gun towards them, wounding and killing several men. The remaining commandos withdrew into the hills to the east, but came under heavy fire again. The total casualties from the action were 153 killed, wounded, and missing, and, sadly, Fred was one of them. He was killed in action on 14 July 1943. Fred is buried in the Catania War Cemetery in Sicily, and is remembered on a memorial at St Luke’s Church in Blakenhall

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The research for this blog post was completed by remote digital volunteer, Doug Lewis.

Frederick Thomas Jones

21 Thursday May 2020

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The information for this post was shared by David Jones.

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The son of Thomas and Phoebe (nee Birch), Frederick Thomas was born in Wolverhampton in 1883 and lived at 26 Cobden Street, Blakenhall. The family also lived for a time in Cross Street, Blakenhall. In 1884 the family emigrated to Melbourne, Australia, settling in Kew. Here Thomas had a tailoring business, and later a Mercer and Drapery shop until his death in 1905. Phoebe, Emma and Frederick carried on the business until the outbreak of war in 1914.

Frederick enlisted in the 29th Battalion, 1st Australian Infantry Force, in 1915. In Egypt he transferred to the newly-formed 5th Australian Division Artillery, training as a Gunner and joining the 13th Field Artillery Brigade. Frederick’s first taste of war came in the ill-fated Battle of Fromelles on 19-21 July 1916, when 5,583 casualties where recorded in a 24 hour period, the fledgling Australian Infantry Force’s blackest day in any war. Adolf Hitler also lurked in and around the German ‘pillbox’ stronghold known as the ‘Sugarloaf’, where British and Australian forces were mercilessly mown down by rapid machine gun fire, causing immense losses to the BEF as well.

Frederick was sent to ‘Gas School’ after having been gassed at Fromelles, but he survived the war and returned home to Australia in 1919, returning to his former tailoring trade. He settled in Mildura, Victoria, where he passed away in 1933. In 2014, Frederick and two other First World War servicemen were given a re-dedication ceremony and refurbished grave and headstones at Mildura Cemetry by the Australian Returned Soldier’s League and War Graves Commission.

Robert Beere

12 Wednesday Feb 2020

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The son of George and Sarah, Robert was born in Banbury, Oxfordshire on 23 March 1888. By 1896, the family had moved to Wolverhampton, as Robert was admitted to Dudley Road Primary School. In 1901, they were living at 55 Ranelagh Road, Wolverhampton, along with Robert’s siblings Thomas W., George, Edward, Florence, Horace and Ernest. By 1911 they were at 63 Park Street South, Wolverhampton, and Robert was working as a screw cutter.

Robert enlisted in the 19th Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment), regimental number 43705.  He died on 14 August 1916, and is buried at Sunderland (Bishopwearmouth) Cemetery in Durham. He is also remembered on the memorial at St Luke’s Church, Blakenhall.

Arthur William Keatley

18 Saturday May 2019

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The son of Mary and Arthur Keatley, Arthur was born in Wolverhampton on 24 January 1894. In 1901, they were living at 15 Hawthorn Road, Blakenhall, Wolverhampton, along with Arthur’s sister, Ida. From 1907 onwards, Arthur attended Dudley Road Primary School in Wolverhampton. They had moved to 31 Hawthorn Road by 1911, and Arthur was working as a slater’s labourer.

In 1914, Arthur enlisted in the 1st Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment (number S/16180), but he was killed in action on 15 September 1916. He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, as well as at St Luke’s Church in Blakenhall.

Albert Edward Bowyer

26 Friday Apr 2019

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bowyer-albertThe son of Amy and Albert Edward Bowyer, Albert was born in Wolverhampton in 1893. In 1901, they were living at 66 Knox Road, Wolverhampton, along with Albert’s brothers Thomas, Sidney and Harry. Albert attended St Luke’s School, Blakenhall. They were living at 18B Hall Street, Blakenhall, Wolverhampton by 1911, with additional children Elsie, Hilda, Ernest and Amy. Albert was working as a cycle finisher, and at some point he worked at Sunbeamland, Paul Street, as a motor finisher.

In November 1914, Albert joined the “A” Battery of the 232nd Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery (number 1504, later 810098) as a Gunner. He first served in France in March 1915. He was killed in action on 1 June 1917. The Midland Counties Express on 16 June 1917 quoted from a letter that Albert’s officer had sent to his mother:

Your son was killed instantaneously within a few yards of me. He had just shown great bravery in assisting at the putting out of a fire. He was one of the very last to leave, and died doing even more than his duty. You may well be proud of him.”

He is buried at Klein-Vierstraat British Cemetery in Belgium.

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