Tag Archives: Heath Town

Jesse Reuben Tonks

22 Monday Dec 2025

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Jesse was born in Birmingham in 1867. On 14 September 1896, Jesse married Jane Muchall in Christ Church, Tettenhall Wood. In 1901, they were living in Neachells Lane, Heath Town, with their four sons, and Jesse was working as a builder. They had moved to Willenhall by 1911.

Jesse enlisted in the 69th Brigade Ammunition Column of the Royal Field Artillery (service number 100875). Unfortunately he contracted cholera whilst on active service, and passed away on 11 June 1916 in Mesopotamia. He is buried in the Amara War Cemetery in Iraq.

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The research for this blog post was carried out by remote virtual volunteer Jacky de Escofet.

Daniel John Dunn

23 Wednesday Apr 2025

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Daniel was born in Wolverhampton on 4 January 1923, the son of Daniel and Charlotte Dunn. In 1939, they were living at 26 Smestow Street in Wolverhampton, and Daniel was training as a typewriter mechanic. In 1944, he married Elizabeth Garwood.

He enlisted as a Craftsman with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (service number 4619531). While engaged in his military duties in April 1944, he fell from a military motorcycle on a public highway, facturing his spine and severed his spinal cord. Daniel died on 30 December 1944 aged 21 in The County Hospital Orpington, Kent of septicaemia, due to trophic ulceration of his back. He is buried in the Holy Trinity Churchyard in Heath Town, and is remembered on the Old Intermedians War Memorial.

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

Thomas Swatman

11 Friday Apr 2025

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Thomas was born in Wolverhampton on 17 February 1889, the son of Richard and Elizabeth Swatman. On 15 July 1891, he was baptised at the Holy Trinity Church in Heath Town. He began attending St Stephen’s Church of England Primary School in 1892, when the family were living at 11 Beacon Street. He moved to Dudley Road Primary School in 1900, by which date their address was 56 Pond Lane. On 4 July 1900, the school admission register says “Left Town”. Even so, they were living off Ettingshall Lane in 1901, along with Thomas’s brothers Charles and Richard J. His father, Richard, died in 1909. By 1911, Thomas was living in Newport in Wales with his widowed mother and siblings, and was working as a labourer at a sheet ironworks. Thomas married Elizabeth Masters in Newport in 1912, and the couple had two daughters – Elizabeth (1913) and Florence (1916) in Newport.

Thomas enlisted as a Private with the 10th Battalion of the South Wales Borderers (service number 15258). Unfortunately he was killed in action on 24 February 1918. He is buried in the Erquinghem-Lys Churchyard extension in France.

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The research for this blog post was carried out by remote virtual volunteer, Jacky de Escofet.

Victor Henry Martin

26 Wednesday Mar 2025

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The son of Ernest Henry and Selina Sarah Martin, Victor was born in 1919 in Wolverhampton. In 1921, they were living at 10 Milton Road, Heath Town, Wolverhampton, along with Victor’s sisters Lilian and Ethel.

Victor enlisted with the 1/6th Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment (service number 4916958). Unfortunately he was killed in action on 16 July 1944. He is buried in the Fontenay-Le-Pesnel War Cemetery in Tessel, France, and he is listed on the Wednesfield Village Roll of Honour.

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

John Howard Beebee

13 Thursday Feb 2025

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The son of John Howard and Lilian Gertrude Beebee, John was born on 1 June 1926. In 1939, they were living at 395 Cannock Road along with John’s siblings Lilian E. and Joan G. John was still at school.

John enlisted in the 2nd Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment (service number 14494831). The Regiment’s last significant action of the war occurred on 12 April 1945, when there was an assault across the River Ijssel at Arnhem. Unfortunately John died of wounds received during this action on the 15th April, at the age of only 18. He is buried in the Uden War Cemetery in the Netherlands, and is remembered on the rolls of honour for Holy Trinity Church in Heath Town and the war memorial for Old Intermedians.

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

Samuel Turner

05 Wednesday Feb 2025

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Samuel was born in Wolverhampton on 5 July 1906, the son of James Turner. By 1911, Samuel’s mother had died, and the family were living at Nine Elms Lane in Heath Town, along with Samuel’s siblings Ann Maria, Jane and Thomas. In 1930, Samuel married Annie Trainer, and they had a daughter, Margaret R. J., born in 1938. In 1939, they were living at Deans View, Deans Road, and Samuel was working as a general labourer in an iron works.

Samuel enlisted as a Gunner in the Royal Artillery (service number 1706667). Unfortunately on 3 June 1942 he died at New Cross Hospital, presumably war-related as he is listed on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site. By that date his address was given as Church Dean, Church Street, Heath Town, and the value of his effects was £1245. He is buried in Holy Trinity Churchyard in Heath Town.

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The research for this blog post was carried out by remote virtual volunteer, Ann Eales.

Frank Harriman

31 Thursday Aug 2023

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Frank was born in Stafford on 26 June 1888, the son of John William and Elizabeth Harriman. On 8 August 1888 he was baptised in St Mary’s Church, Wolverhampton. They were living in Spring Valley Street, Wolverhampton in 1891. In 1892, Frank started attending St Stephen’s Church of England Primary School in Wolverhampton. By 1901 they were living at 57 Powell Street in Heath Town, Wolverhampton, and Frank had a younger sister, Elizabeth. Frank became a carriage cleaner for the railway, joining the Wolverhampton Park Village branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants in 1911. Frank was living at 13 Powell Street, and he married Amy Lydia Lucas the same year. They had a daughter, Edna Day, who was born in Wolverhampton in 1912. Frank joined the National Union of Railwaymen in 1914.

Frank joined the Notts & Derby Regiment (service number 89947) and later served with the Infantry Battalion of the Machine Gun Corps (service number 118263). died of influenza on 25 October 1918 while serving in India. He is buried at the Mhow New Cemetery in India.

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The research for this blog post was carried out by remote virtual volunteer, Jacky de Escofet.

Reginald Elwell

24 Monday Jul 2023

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The son of Thomas H. and Ellen or Nellie Elwell, Reginald was born in Wolverhampton on 16 January 1911. In 1933, Reginald married Ada Palmer in Wolverhampton By 1939, he and his wife were living with his parents at 38 Prestwood Road, Wolverhampton, and Reginald was working as a painter.

Reginald served as a Lance Serjeant in the 8th Battalion of the Parachute Regiment, A. A. C. (service number 5120812). He died on 13 June 1943. Apparently he was taking part in exercise “Bluebell” in Fife, in Scotland, and his group of parachutists accidentally jumped over the sea, and it was reported afterwards that the sun had shone on the green light for “Go”. Seven out of the eight men sadly drowned. Reginald is buried in the churchyard of Holy Trinity in Heath Town, although he is not remembered on their war memorial.

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

William Henry Cox

15 Monday May 2023

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William was born in Wolverhampton on 16 February 1878 and baptised at St Benedict Biscop in Wombourne on 30 Oct 1878. His parents were George William and Louisa Matilda, and they were living in Heath Town at the time of William’s baptism. In 1889, William started attending Heath Town Church of England School. In 1891 they were living in Evans Building, 14 Paul Street, Wednesfield with William’s siblings George Thomas, Florence Elizabeth and Louisa. He married Sarah Ann Griffiths in Holy Trinity Church, Heath Town on 15 July 1900 and they were living in 18 Gatis Street, Wolverhampton in 1901. William was working as a corn factor’s carter. The couple had two daughters – Florence (born 1902) and Olive (born 1903). By 1911 the family were living at 77 Craddock Street in Wolverhampton, and William was working as a labourer and bricklayer.

On 5 November 1914, he enlisted in the 8th Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment. Unfortunately after a shell attack in February 1916, his leg had to be amputated. He eventually died of his injuries on 26 April 1916. He is buried in Bilston Cemetery

Samuel Astbury

23 Sunday Apr 2023

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Samuel was born in Wolverhampton on 15 April 1897, and from 1900 onwards attended Heath Town Church of England Infants School. He was the son of Isaac Thomas and Hannah E. Astbury. In 1901 they were living at 236 Prestwood Road in Heath Town, along with Samuel’s siblings Elizabeth, Hannah and William. In 1904, Samuel transferred to Prestwood Road Infant School. The family were at 254 Prestwood Road by 1911, and Samuel had an additional sister, Mary Lee.

Samuel enlisted with the Royal Field Artillery as a Gunner (service number 75743), serving with the A Battery 75 Brigade. In April 1916, he was admitted to the 18th General Hospital with a fibula fracture. He recovered and went back to the front line, but unfortunately he was killed in action on 22 August 1917. News of his death was reported in the Express & Star on 28 September 1917. He is buried in the Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery in Belgium, and he appears on the Heath Park Roll of Honour.

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