Cyclops Works Memorial

[Jon6640]

I walked past the below plaque yesterday opposite Walsall Manor Hospital.

I've had a go at tracing the men:

John HUTTON http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=732576

George BLAKEWAY http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=584980

Ernest CHALLONER http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=588632

John FORD http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=749482

Fred FORD http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=469054

Daniel SMITH http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=91716

Josiah PRIEST http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1619763

Levi PASCALL http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=81754

George SUTTON

Charles PARISH http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=808044

Leonard MARTIN http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=735845

Frederick MARTIN http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=72017

George THURSFIELD http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=149909

Frank DUNHAM http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3055692

I can't say with any definity that of the three George SUTTON's linked to the South Staffordshire Regiment on CWGC:

Pte 9552 SUTTON - 7th South Staffs

Pte 13012 SUTTON - 1st South Staffs

Pte 27301 SUTTON - 12th South Staffs (Later Pte 112372 of 188th Coy Labour Corps) is the link to Walsall.

Can anyone other any help please.

Jon

[Ed Woods]

Found this - it gives lots of details of all on the memorial

http://forum.planetalk.net/viewtopic.php?t=7723&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=&sid=281e1c5d64db95ec12452f01c2baac55

13012 Private George Sutton served with the 1st Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment. He was the son of Mr R B Sutton, Headmaster of St. John’s School, Pleck, just a few hundred yards from the Cyclops Iron Works. He was killed in action on the 14th of July 1916 and with no known grave is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. The Walsall Observer records (in some detail) the following…. “Officially reported to have been missing since July 14. Twenty-one years of age, and single, he joined the South Staffords shortly after the outbreak of war. He went into the firing line about last Christmas, and was in much heavy fighting at Neuve Chapelle, Givenchy, Cuinchy, and other places. He had some thrilling experiences, and on one occasion was blown up by a mine, but miraculously avoided serious hurt. Later on a shell, bursting near him, wounded him in twenty-two places, but he made a wonderful recovery, and went back to the Front the latter end of June. He would have been entitled to the 1915 Star trio. Those who knew him were very much impressed by his cheerful disposition.” The same issue records the death in action of George’s brother, Private Oscar Oswald Sutton whilst serving with the 15th Battalion, Australian Imperial Forces. Though having no connection with the Cyclops Iron Works, the Observer’s piece regarding Oscar is so moving I include it here for completeness. “Private Oscar Sutton is officially reported to have been killed in action in France on August 8. Twenty-three years of age, he went to Australia some years ago, and when war broke out was on holiday in Queensland. He walked forty miles to enlist, and in a letter to his parents wrote: ‘my prospects were bright, and I was doing well, but I felt it my duty to go and fight for the Motherland.’ He went to Egypt with the Australian Imperial Force, and with the Queensland Infantry went through the desperate fighting at Gallipoli, where he was twice wounded. He went to Egypt and contracted fever, from which he recovered, and went to France about June. Mrs. Sutton has also received a letter from a soldier who describes himself as Oscar’s best friend. He states:- ‘He proved to be one of the best of soldiers, and I am sorry to say he did not get a fighting chance, because he was killed by a piece of shell a mile behind the firing line. Oscar did not have any pain, because he was hit over the left eye and death was almost instantaneous.’” One can only imagine the anguish of the parents receiving the news of the deaths of two of their sons within a month.

[Jon6640]

Ed,

Many thanks. I've looked at the link and have cut and pasted the relevant information below:

Lieutenant John Barnabas Hutton was the son of Mr. A W Hutton, works manager for Cyclops and employed there himself. The family lived at ‘Wayside’ in Sutton Coldfield. He was educated at Malvern College before gaining a BSc in engineering from Birmingham University. He was also a member of the Birmingham University Officer Training Corps. He enlisted in the 5th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment (TF) and landed in France in February 1915. Lt. Hutton took part in the attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt and was killed in action on the 13th of October 1915. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial at Dud Corner Cemetery. The Walsall Observer which contains his photograph has the headline ‘Territorials lost in Gallant Charge.’ John Hutton’s photograph is one of 42 photographs of local men killed in the same action. He was entitled to the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. In addition, his family would have received an inscribed Memorial Plaque (known as a death penny) and a Memorial Scroll. The Plaque and Scroll were issued to the next of kin of every Serviceman who died during the Great War.

15409 Private George Blakeway served with the 2nd Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment. He arrived in France on the 26th of January 1915 and died of wounds received in action on the 19th of May 1915. He is interred in Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez. He was entitled to the 1915 Star trio.

18969 Private Ernest Challoner was born in Swanwick in Derbyshire and came to live and work in Walsall. Ernest Challoner served with the 7th Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment and was killed in action on the 30th of September 1916. He is interred at Pozieres British Cemetery.

20559 Private Patrick John Ford served with the 8th Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment and was killed in action on the 5th of November 1916. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. He was entitled to War and Victory Medal pair. His death was reported in the Walsall Observer and records that Private Ford….. “of the South Staffords, has been officially reported as wounded on November 5, but five or six of his comrades say that he was killed on that date. A married man, 27 years of age, with one child, he enlisted in November, 1915, and was sent to France in March of this year. Prior to joining the army, Private Ford, whose home address was 15, Farringdon Street, was employed at the Cyclops Iron Works, Pleck Road, as a forgeman. A brother-in-law, Private John Dunlavey, is reported to have died of wounds in a Liverpool hospital the day following Private Ford’s supposed death.” In fact, private Dunlavey had served twenty years in the army, including service in the Boer War. He also worked as a caster in a nearby iron works and was recalled as a Reservist. The wounds he died from were the result of complications following the amputation of his right leg. He served with the 1st Battalion, South Staffs. His grave has been lost and he is commemorated on the screen wall at Liverpool’s Anfield Cemetery.

29711 Private Frederick Ford was the son of John and Clara Ford of Wednesbury. He served with the 9th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment and was later transferred (possibly on the grounds of wounds, infirmity or age) to the 223rd Employment Company, labour Corps. It was while he was with this unit that he died, aged 44, on the 26th of January 1918. He is interred in Mont Huon Military cemetery, Le Treport.

955 Private Daniel Smith served with the 1st/5th Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment (TF). His early number indicates pre war service with this Battalion which met at the Drill Hall in Whittimere Street, Walsall. He died on the 26th of June 1916 and is interred in Warlincourt British Cemetery, Saulty. He was entitled to the British War and Victory Medal pair. The Walsall observer recorded the following. “News has been received by his wife that Private D Smith, of the South Staffords, whose home is at Heath End, Pelsall, has died from wounds. He received a bullet wound in the stomach on June 25, and was operated on as soon as possible, but succumbed the following day. Private Smith, who was 26 years of age, worked at the Conduit Colliery prior to enlisting in July of last year. He leaves a widow and one child.”

53475 Private Josiah Priest. The Memorial shows Private Priest as being in the South Staffordshire Regiment. He initially served as 12290 in an unknown Battalion of that Regiment but at the time of his death on the 10th of April 1917, he was serving with the 1st/8th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial. He was entitled to the British War and Victory Medal pair. The Walsall Observer recorded that Private Priest “of 42, Cobden Street, Palfrey, is officially reported to have been missing in action on April 10 with the Durham Light Infantry in France. He joined the South Staffords at the outbreak of war and was wounded while serving with that Regiment in France. When he returned to the firing line last December he was transferred to the Durhams. He is a married man, 26 years of age, with two children, and was employed before enlisting by Messrs. J Russell and Co., Pleck Road.”

17773 Private Levi Pascall served with the 7th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment and was the son of Mr. & Mrs. Pascall of Railway Row, Blue Lane West. Initially served in the Balkans from the 11th of September 1915 and upon conclusion of that campaign transferred with the Battalion to France. He died of wounds received in action on the 30th of November 1916, aged 31. He is interred in Contay British Cemetery. He was entitled to the 1915 Star Trio.

13012 Private George Sutton served with the 1st Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment. He was the son of Mr R B Sutton, Headmaster of St. John’s School, Pleck, just a few hundred yards from the Cyclops Iron Works. He was killed in action on the 14th of July 1916 and with no known grave is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. The Walsall Observer records (in some detail) the following…. “Officially reported to have been missing since July 14. Twenty-one years of age, and single, he joined the South Staffords shortly after the outbreak of war. He went into the firing line about last Christmas, and was in much heavy fighting at Neuve Chapelle, Givenchy, Cuinchy, and other places. He had some thrilling experiences, and on one occasion was blown up by a mine, but miraculously avoided serious hurt. Later on a shell, bursting near him, wounded him in twenty-two places, but he made a wonderful recovery, and went back to the Front the latter end of June. He would have been entitled to the 1915 Star trio. Those who knew him were very much impressed by his cheerful disposition.” 18934 Private Charles Herbert Parish served in the 1st Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment. The husband of Alice Elizabeth Priest, he was killed in action on the 15th of July 1916 and with no known grave is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. The Observer recorded that he was…. “officially reported as having been killed in action in France. A married man with one child, he enlisted in May 1915, having previously been employed at the Cyclops Iron Works. He was 29 years of age and when he met his death had been in France fifteen months. His brother, John, is now serving in France.” He lived just yards from where he worked in Rolling Mill Street.

[GraemeClarke]

Hi

That is the new memorial replacing a worn one a few years ago.

I've researched all the men on it if anyone wants any further details,

Regards,

Graeme

[GraemeClarke]

By the way,

Private 9552 George SUTTON, 7th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment

worked at the Cyclops Works.

I dont believe that Private 13012 George Oldham SUTTON, 1st Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment did

Graeme

[Anthony Whitaker]

My interest is in John Barnabas Hutton who, before going to Malvern College, was at a small prep school in Hertfordshire called Northaw Place School. One of the posts refers to a photograph of J B Hutton in the Walsall Observer. Can anyone tell me how I can get hold of this picture? I am researching all the former pupils of the school. PS I'm a bit new to this so I'm not sure of the etiquette here!

[GraemeClarke]

Hi

here is photo

John was born in Walsall on Thursday 11 June 1891 to Arthur William and Alice Mary (nee Hunt) Hutton of ‘The Elms’, Sutton Road, Walsall and later of ‘Wayside’, Streetly, Sutton Coldfield, his father being employed as a manager for John Russell and Company Limited, engineers of Alma Tube Works, Pleck Road, Walsall. His mother was the daughter of John Hunt of Thursfield.

John was educated at Northaw Preparatory School, Malvern College and at Birmingham University where he took his Bachelor of Science in 1912. Whilst at university he was a member of the Officer Training Corps.

Upon completing his education John began employment at John Russell and Company Limited as an Assistant Engineer. He volunteered for the Army at the outbreak of war and was gazetted Second Lieutenant on Wednesday 26 August 1914, being promoted to Lieutenant in May 1915.

John was drafted to France on Tuesday 2 March 1915 and was killed during his battalion’s charge against the Hohenzollern Redoubt in the Battle of Loos.

He is commemorated on the Walsall RoH, on a plaque in Pleck Road, Walsall to honour those men who were killed in the war and employed at the Cyclops Works and also on the rolls of honour at St. Matthew’s Church, Walsall and St. Peter’s Church, Little Aston and on the Shenstone roll of honour.

The etiquette is now to tell me what I am missing !!!

regards,

Graeme

[GraemeClarke]

Hi

Just noticed, all that in 5 minutes !!

Graeme

[Anthony Whitaker]

Hi, Graeme

Thanks! That's brilliant. Great to have a photograph. I can't add much. The school was called Northaw Place School in the village of Northaw, near Potters Bar in Herts. In 1914 there were only about 40 boys in the entire school. And yet over 60 lost their lives in the Great War. The school moved to Kent in the late 1920s, becoming Northaw School in the process and then moved to its current location in Hampshire in 1953 after a fire badly damaged the building. You probably didn't need (or want) to know any of that! Thanks again for the pic and the excellent potted biography. regards Anthony