Tags
Alexander Simpson, Alfred Simpson, Belgium, British War Medal, Lincolnshire Regiment, Merridale Street West, Midland Counties Express, Old Heath Road, South Staffordshire Regiment, St Chad and St Mark's Church, St John's Church, St John's School, Victory Medal
Alfred Edward Simpson was born in Wolverhampton on 27 May 1867, the son of William and Emma Simpson. He married Elizabeth Guy in 1891. By 1901 they were living at 185 Merridale Street West, Wolverhampton, with their daughter, Laley Florence (born 1895), and sons Alfred Evelyn (born 26 August 1896) and Alexander William (born 1899). Alfred (senior) was working as a cabinet locksmith. The family were at the same address in 1911, with an additional two sons, Percy Hector (born 1903) and Harold Raymond (born 1909). Alfred was working as a locksmith and his son, Alfred, was working as a boot repairer. Alexander attended St John’s School and was a member of St John’s Church Choir. The couple had another son, Bernard, in 1914.
The father, Alfred, was apparently on foreign service as a Private during the First World War, but I have been unable to confirm details of his military service.
Alfred Evelyn enlisted on 25 October 1915 in the 9th Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 20276) and served until he was demobilised on 28 March 1919. He was awarded the British War and Victory Medals. He married Elsie Ward in Wolverhampton in 1929. By 1939, they were living at 70 Old Heath Road, Wolverhampton, with their daughter Muriel E., and Alfred was working as 
a shopkeeper in a general shop. Alfred died in Wolverhampton in 1968 at the age of 71.
Alexander enlisted in the B Company of the 2nd/5th Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment (number 53225). He was wounded, and died of his wounds in Belgium on 3 May 1918. Notice of his death appeared in the Midland Counties Express on 18 May 1918. He is buried at Arneke British Cemetery, and is remembered on the war memorial of St Chad and St Mark’s Church, and the war memorial of St John’s Church.
By 1939, Alfred and Elizabeth were still living at 185 Merridale Street with their youngest son, and Alfred was still working as a locksmith. Alfred died in Wolverhampton in 1949 at the age of 81.
William was born in 1892 in Wolverhampton, the son of James Howe. He attended St John’s Schools. By 1911, he was living with his father and two brothers (Alfred and Thomas) at 10 Paradise Street, Wolverhampton. William was a “copper emboster”, working for Loveridge japan and tin plate works in Merridale Street.
Richard Bosworth was born in Wolverhampton in 1886. He worked for Dobbs Brothers in Frederick Street for over 15 years. In 1908 he married Alice Deakin, and the couple went on to have three children – George, Harry and Alice – between 1912 and 1916. They lived at 103 Salop Street.
William Astle was born in 1890, the son of William Charles and Louisa Astle (nee Tonks). By the time of his death, the family were living at 9, Worcester Place, Penn Road, Wolverhampton. According to a small item in the Express & Star on 15 September 1916, Astle had in fact worked for the newspaper concerned prior to the outbreak of war. He was later employed as a manual instructor under the Wolverhampton Education Committee. A report also appeared in the Midland Counties Express on 6 January 1917. This has the additional information that he attended St John’s School for eight years without a single late or absent mark recorded against him. He had worked for the Midland Counties Express as well as for the Express & Star for two years. He then decided to become a teacher and was articled to the Wolverhampton Education Committee, getting a job as assistant master at Walsall Street Council School. A well-known footballer, he was at one time captain of the Old Church Club in Wolverhampton.
Wolverhampton's War 