Tag Archives: Scotland

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.

James Baillie Anderson

12 Friday May 2023

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James was born in Colmonell in Ayrshire in 1874, the son of Hugh and Maggie Anderson. He attended Creebridge Publuic School in Newton Stewart in Scotland. In 1901 he married Sarah Anne Teal in Warrington. By 1911 he was living at 3A Merridale Crescent in Wolverhampton with his wife, Sarah Anne, and daughters Dorothy Mary, Agnes Teal, Margery and Maggie.

He served with the 9th Scottish Rifles (service number 17899) but was killed by a sniper while on sentry duty in Belgium on 25 February 1916, when his address was 18 Clifton Street, Wolverhampton. The value of his effects was £525. A tribute to him appeared in the Midland Counties Express on 13 January 1917.

Dennis Belmont Akers

12 Friday Feb 2021

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Dennis was born in Wolverhampton on 1 January 1919, the son of George and Lilian or Lily Akers. In 1939, he was living at 123 Bruford Road, Wolverhampton with his parents, and working as a brass fitter and turner. He married Martha Welsh in Gourock, Greenock, in Scotland in 1940.

Dennis enlisted in the 2nd Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment as a Corporal (service number 4917702). Dennis died on 7 July 1944 and is buried at Hottot-Les-Bagues War Cemetery in France. He is remembered on the War memorial at St Chad and St Mark’s Church.

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The research for this blog post was done by one of our remote digital volunteers, Ann Eales.

Andrew Thomson

11 Thursday Oct 2018

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The son of Thomas and Grace Thomson, Andrew was born in Lesmahagowe, Scotland, in around 1883. By 1901, Andrew’s father had died, and the family had moved to 4 Worcester Place, Wolverhampton. Andrew was living with his widowed mother, and siblings George, Maggie, Thomas and Mary. Andrew was a labourer working for a grain store.

On 22 March 1916, Andrew enlisted in the Durham Light Infantry (service number 4722, later 43821). By this date, his address was 15 Bond Street, Wolverhampton, and he was working as a warehouse man. His service records indicate that there was initially some confusion over Andrew’s fate. On 30 November 1917, the Colonel in Charge of the Infantry Records in York wrote to the War Office in London. Andrew’s sister, Mary, had written to them, requesting information regarding the death of her brother. However, the service number she gave was 43807, which relating to Private M. H. Thompson, also of the Durham Light Infantry, who had been killed in action. The service number was corrected, but unfortunately Andrew, too, had been killed in action on 27 October 1917 in France. Andrew is remembered at the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Fenton Webster McKenzie

03 Wednesday Oct 2018

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The official Wolverhampton Council Roll of Honour lists a Fenton Webster McKenzie, of the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry.

The only man by that name anywhere in the country was born in Montrose, Forfar, in 1879, the son of William and Annie McKenzie. In 1904, he married Mabel Emma Norman in London. By 1911, the couple were living with their daughter, Helen, at Bidford-on-Avon in Warwickshire, and Fenton was a foreman flour miller. At some point, they must have moved to Wolverhampton, and they had a son there, Norman, in 1913.

Fenton enlisted as a Private in the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry (number 2056), and first served in the Balkans from 26 September 1915. Unfortunately, he was wounded, and died of these wounds in the General Hospital in Alexandria, Egypt on 8 October 1915. He is buried at Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery.

John Edward O’Hara

08 Thursday Mar 2018

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The son of Patrick and Bridget O’Hara, John was born in Wolverhampton in 1881. In 1901, they were living at No 3 Court, Littles Lane, Wolverhampton, along with John’s sisters Mary Anne, Kate, Margaret and Julia. John was a general labourer. John married Nellie Hadley in 1906, and they had two daughters, Margarite and Nellie. In 1911, they were living with their daughters at 6 House, 1 Court, Grimstone Street, Wolverhampton. John was a bricklayer’s labourer. They had a further two children – John (1912) and Kathleen (1915).

On 7 April 1915, John enlisted with the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 18393). By this date, his address was 10 Montrose Street, Wolverhampton. He first served in the Balkans from 6 October 1915. In 1916, he suffered two instances of Trench foot, and spent time in hospital in Aberdeen and Edinburgh. The second bout on 3 February 1916 also included the addition of “Traumatic psychosis”. On 2 March 1916, he was admitted to hospital in Paisley with “delusional insanity”, although his foot was described as “quite healed now”. By 23 June 1916, it was recommended that he be permanently discharged, and was sent to an asylum due to the “Stress of campaign” and “The result of active service, aggravated by climate”. Unfortunately he died in 1917 in Lichfield. Although he is not listed on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site, he is on the Wolverhampton Roll of Honour.

Carmen Davy Buchanan

10 Saturday Jun 2017

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Carmen was born in Dumbartonshire, Scotland, in around 1899, the daughter of Robert and Agnes Buchanan. By 1901, they were living at 35 Thornhill Road, Handsworth, Staffordshire, along with Carmen’s sisters Mary Madelene and Maggie. Carmen, Margaret and her parents were living at the same address in 1911. Carmen had become a University student, studying Science.

Carmen served as a Special Police Woman for Wolverhampton Council during the First World War., although she was still living in Handsworth by 1939, so it is unclear whether she ever moved to Wolverhampton.

She married Thomas H. Gameson in West Bromwich in 1924, and they had two children – Arthur R. B. and Margaret C. B. – in West Bromwich in 1924 and 1928. Carmen died in Birmingham on 14 September 1959 at the age of 70, leaving effects to the value of £431 1s. 8d.

Ray Taffley Grayson

05 Sunday Feb 2017

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Ray was born in Glasgow on 25 October 1895, the son of Emily Kate (from Wednesfield) and John (from Cumberland) Grayson. Why is was born in Glasgow is unclear, as the rest of his siblings – Gladys Mabel, Robert William, Sarah Elladene Sissie, Edna Elsie Florence, Jack and Myles Alfred Waugh – were all born in Wednesfield. Presumably his parents were visiting or working in Scotland around the time of his birth. His father, John, died in Wolverhampton in 1916 at the age of 44.

In 1911, he was living with his family at 13 Wolverhampton Road, Wednesfield. By this date, Ray had become an upholsterer for a furnishers. On 27 March 1913, he enlisted with the Chatham Division of the Royal Marine Light Infantry. He later joined the 6th Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders (number S/14929). He was killed in action on 31 July 1917. He is commemorated at the New Irish Farm Cemetery in Belgium, as well as on the Monmoor and Victoria Works Memorial (where he presumably worked at some point), and the Wednesfield Village Roll of Honour.

Sydney McNicol

24 Sunday Jul 2016

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Sydney was born in Wolverhampton in 1894, the son of Archibald and Emma McNicol. He was baptised on 25 Jul 1897 at St Mark’s Church, Wolverhampton. By 1901, the family were living in Shettleston, Lanarkshire, along with Sydney’s siblings Helen, Archibald, John and Marion.

In 1917, Sydney enlisted with the 10th Battalion of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (number 22588). His trade was given as machineman. He served in France, but was wounded, and died on 27 March 1918. He is buried at Haringhe (Bandaghem) Military Cemetery in Belgium.

Edward Charles Beddows

11 Sunday Jan 2015

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This posting has been prepared by volunteer, Ann Eales.

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The WW1 Blog entry for WJ Beddows includes mention of a scrap book of WW1 newspaper cuttings at Wolverhampton Archives from 1914 -1915 containing the following article

Wolverhampton Sportsmen on Active Service. A large number of the members of the Wolverhampton Cricket Club, South Staffs Golf Club and Penn Golf Club are now on active service. WJ Beddows a Lt in the Royal Field Artillery and his brother EC Beddows a Lt in the RAMC. The latter was in the retreat from Mons.

This mention of EC Beddows led to some  more research.

Edward Charles and William John were grandchildren of William Beddows who founded the firm of William Beddows & Co, Timber Merchants together with the owner of Albrighton Hall in 1864. The company was situated on the canal on the site of the new Horseley Field flats behind the cheese and butter warehouse that still exists. William built a sizeable business that existed until at least 1962. He married Elizabeth Newell from Llanlwchaiarn in Wales, one of four siblings who came to Wolverhampton and sister to John Newell. William and Elizabeth started married life in Coventry Street but went on to build the Beulah Villa in Tettenhall that is shown on contemporary maps.

In the SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 29 MARCH, 1915. 3097, is an entry about EC Beddows :

ARMY MEDICAL SERVICE

Royal Army Medical Corps

The undermentioned Lieutenants to be Captains : —

Dated 30th March, 1915.

There follows a long list of names, including “Edward C Beddows”

In the SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 30 JULY, 1918. 8132, is mention of the MC being awarded to “Capt. Edward C. Beddows, M.C. 25th Feb. 1918.”

The 1891, 1901 and 1911 census records for the Beddows family are set out in the WW1 Blog entry for WJ Beddows. By the time of the 1911 census, WJ Beddows age 28 was a Timber Merchants assistant, living with his parents, and his 2 brothers, Edward Charles age 24 was a medical student, and George Frederick age 23 was a Timber Merchants assistant.

An obituary for E. C. BEDDOWS, O.B.E., M.C., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., published on page 1166 of the British Medical Journal for November 8 1958, which was found on line, reads as follows:-

Brigadier E. C. Beddows, who had had a distinguished career in the R.A.M.C., died at Gullane, East Lothian, on October 3. He was 72 years of age.

Edward Charles Beddows was born at Wolverhampton on April 27, 1886, and studied medicine at Birmingham, qualifying M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. in 1911. After qualification he held house appointments at Birmingham General Hospital before entering the R.A.M.C. as a lieutenant in 1913. Serving in France throughout the first world war, he was awarded the Military Cross in 1915, and in the same year was mentioned in dispatches. Between the two world wars he served in India, Gibraltar, and Shanghai, as well as at home. By the time the second world war broke out in 1939 he had attained the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and was with the British Expeditionary Force in France soon after the war began. Later he took part in the landings in Italy and Sicily. Promoted colonel in 1940, he was assistant director of medical services at No. 6 Base Area in 1943-4; deputy director of medical services for the North Africa District in 1944-5; and assistant director of medical services for the Berlin District in 1945-6. He was wounded at Bari in 1943.

He was appointed O.B.E. in 1944 for distinguished services in Italy, and an Officer of the Legion of Merit of the United States of America in 1947.

When he retired in 1946 he was granted the honorary rank of brigadier. He leaves a widow.

Brigadier Edward Charles Beddows was commanding officer of the British Military Hospitals in Bareilly, India from 1937 to 1938, Nowshera (now Pakistan) from 1938 to 1939 and Lichfield in 1939. He was commanding officer of the 6th Casualty Clearing Station from 1939 to 1940 and the 31st General Hospital from 1940 to 1941. He became Deputy Director Medical Services British troops in Northern Ireland from 1941 to 1943. In 1946 he married Charlotte Rankin Maule Watson Stevenson, a well documented national golf player for Scotland, in Birkenhead.

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