This blog posting has been prepared by one of our volunteers, Ann Eales.

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The Midland Counties Express edition of 25 November 1916 carries this small article below the Pictorial Roll of Honour:

A discharged soldier named Vinson Beverstock, of 11 Clarence street, Wolverhampton, met with a mishap when entering the West Park by the Chapel-ash gate, being knocked down by a motor, on Wednesday afternoon. He is at present in the General Hospital suffering from injuries to his head. It may be added that Beverstock, in falling, lost a badge, which he would much like to recover.

The Medal index card for Vincent H Beverstock (The original entry was V H, later to amended to Vincent H), shows that he was a private, number 9157, in the South Staffordshire regiment, served in France from 17th December 1914 until discharged 26th August 1916. There is a record of his entitlement to the WW1 Star, and he also appears on a Roll of individuals entitled to the “War Badge,” and was issued with badge number 15/508, cause of discharge being “Wounds”. This must be the badge which he wanted to recover after his accident. We must trust that he did so. The Roll also records that he enlisted on 24th June 1913.

The Silver War Badge was awarded to all serving military personnel discharged from the army under King’s Regulations, usually  392(xvi), on account of being permanently physically unfit. The badge had the words “For King and Empire – Services Rendered” surrounding the King George V cypher, and had a pin so it could be worn like a brooch.

Beverstock’s military records could not be traced so would seem to have been amongst those many records that did not survive WW2 bomb damage.

The birth of Vinson Harry Beverstock was registered at Wolverhampton in the quarter ended December 1893.

No record on the 1901 census of him or his family could be traced. On the 1911 census he appears, age 17, working as a Fish Sales Man, born at St Giles, Willenhall, living at 11 Clarence Street with his father Richard Beverstock age 52, a brass worker, born at Springfields Wolverhampton, his mother Alice, age 50, born at St Ebbs Oxford, and his older brother, John, age 21 a brass worker like his father, also born at St Giles Willenhall. The Beverstocks had been married for 27 years and of their 7 children “born alive”, only 2 (John and Vinson) were still living. There was also a Visitor to the household, Samuel Thompson, unemployed, age 19, born at Harley near Bewdley.

Records of the marriage of Vincent H Beverstock to Mary A Mayo registered at Dudley in the quarter to June 1923, and of the birth of Cynthia M Beverstock, Mother nee Mayo, registered at Dudley in the quarter ended September 1926 were located via the FreeBMD website. Also traced was the record of Vincent H Beverstock’s death at age 53 registered at Rowley Regis in the quarter ended December 1946.