Index to Walsall newspaper

[anthony osborne]

Many thanks for looking anyway - looks like you have been able to help many others with their research - very heart warming. Ant

[amt1957]

Dear All (especially Su and Graeme),

Any trace in your indices of : -

1. Sergeant 21 [Army no. 200960] George FLEMING MM, 1/5 South Staffordshire Regt, awarded MM 11/11/1916 (London Gazette 29819, dated 10/11/1916). Lived at The Radleys, Rushall. Banksman at Aldridge Colliery Company. Died of wounds 22/03/1917 (wounded at Bucquoy near Gommecourt on the Somme on 13/03/1917). Taken to 43 CCS at Warlencourt Halte where he died. The family have letter from the padre at 43 CCS saying he was gravely wounded (it infers that he was put in the moribund ward) and the telegram and subsequent letter from TF Records at Lichfield notifying his death. It appears that the local papers may have spelt his surname as 'FLEMINGS'!

2. Pte 977 [Army no. 201413] Frank HENRY, 1/5 South Staffordshire Regt. Originally from Bloomer St, Heath End, Pelsall (the street was opposite the Red Cow PH towards the direction of the Old Bush PH). Miner at Coppice Colliery. Enlisted 1915, Missing on 01/07/1917 at Lens Lievin. pronounced to be dead sometime in early 1918. Commemorated on the Arras memorial to the Missing at Faubourg d'Amiens near the Citadel, Arras. Family history / anecdotage says that Heath End wasn't considered to be part of Pelsall so he ended up being on the Rushall war memorial scroll which used to be on a wooden board outside Rushall Police Station (this is now the car park opposite McDonald's near to Eileen Mason Photographic in Rushall Square. Where the memorial scroll went to is not known - by us anyway!)

The family have no decent photos so if you could point us in the direction I'll go and have a look with camera in hand.

[Sue S]

Hell Alun. Photographs of both men appear in the Walsall Observer. George Fleming on 7th April 1917 and Frank Henry on two occasions 25-8-1917 and 13-4-1918. Neither man appears in the Walsall Pioneer.

Ken Wayman has around half a page on Frank Henry in his book 'The True and Faithful Men. Pelsall Servicemen in the Great War 1914-8. You can contact him via the Forum. Regards Sue

[GraemeClarke]

Hi Alun

APOLOGISE TO SUE FOR YET AGAIN HIGHJACKING HER THREAD

Hope you are enjoying your retirement - GREAT INT IT

HAVE YOU FOUND THAT BLASTED RUSHALL ROLL YET ?

re Fleming I have this, hes on the Rushall RoH (wherever it is)

George FLEMING

Military Medal

Sergeant 200960

“B” Company, 1/5th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment

Died in France on Thursday 22 March 1917

George was a native of Aldridge, born to Herbert and Jane (nee Allport) Fleming of ‘The Radleys’, Rushall, his father being employed as a coal miner.

A single man he was employed pit bank labourer at the Aldridge Colliery when he enlisted in the Army at Walsall during November 1914 with service number 21. He was drafted to France with his battalion on Friday 5 March 1915.

In about October or November 1916 George was awarded the Military Medal when he defended a crater against German attacks. For 45 minutes George maintained his bombing against the enemy until they withdrew, at all times he himself being in great danger.

George was wounded in action during the night of Tuesday 13 March 1917 when he received shell wounds. He was removed to either the 20th or 43rd Casualty Clearing Station at Warlincourt where he succumbed some time later.

His wounding took place during an attack against German positions at Bucquoy, three miles east of Gommecourt. The Germans had abandoned Gommecourt itself and by taking Bucquoy it was hoped to cut off the retreating enemy.

The battalion marched nearly five miles from Souastre to their starting lines at Biez Wood and reached them only one hour before the attack. Although exhausted the battalion was immediately formed up for the attack which commenced at 1am. The order of the Companies for the attack was “A” on the right, “C” in the centre and “D” on the left. Almost immediately they were hit by machine gun fire that caused numerous casualties. The German wire was, by and large, uncut by the preliminary barrage and any gaps that were found caused a bunching up of troops who were immediately cut down. The battalion retired at 6.30am to a trench system between Biez Wood and Square Wood with 160 casualties for no gain.

The War Diary, in part, recalls,

“13/14 March 1917 - The battalion paraded at Souastre at 6pm and proceeded to Fonquevillers reaching Rossignol Wood at about 10pm. The south east corner of Biez Wood was reached about 12 midnight. The barrage was put on the front line German trench. At 1am the battalion advanced to the attack in waves.

The Radfehrer Graben proved to be a bad obstacle. All lines reached the German wire, and there was practically no casualties. The barrage was very satisfactory - there were no shorts and it was effective. At this point the whole was checked by German wire. At no point was it possible to penetrate to the German positions without cutting. Behind Radfehrer Graben the wire was swept by cross fire from machine guns. A large number of casualties were caused by officers and NCOs looking for gaps in this area. These machine guns were reported firing from behind the parades from the flanks, men having to bunch to get through the gaps in the outer wire, or gaps cut in the second belt. One gap in the third belt of wire, which runs up to the German parapet, was gut by one of our Lewis guns. Another Lewis guns got onto the German parapet and engaged 2 machine guns firing from our right flank somewhere in Radfehrer Graben behind the front line. One gun was silenced entirely and another temporarily ceased fire.

Small parties of men succeeded in obtaining a foothold in the German trench, but this took some considerable time owing to lack of touch being kept, they were forced back by advancing Germans and lack of support.

I can give no information regarding the second line, although the Company Commander is known to have advanced in that direction but no one came back.

The centre company found 1st and 2nd belts of wire fairly well cut. Second Lieutenant Frost and about 30 men gained a foothold in German trench. All the officers (except Second Lieutenant Frost) and 13 NCOs were knocked out by bomb and machine gun fire. Second Lieutenant Frost reorganised the company in a sunken road and remained at this point for about 2 hours when recalled by men at daybreak.

The left company advanced on its objective. No gaps were found but a bulk of the company got into the trench without opposition. They were recalled by me at dawn.”

George is buried in Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery, Saulte between Arras and Doullens, in Grave V.E.14. He was 21 years of age.

Newspapers reported that George was awarded the Military Medal for his actions on Wednesday 25 March 1916 however nothing of note occurred this day. It is more likely, bearing in mind he was defending a crater, that the deed took place on Sunday 2 April 1916.

The War Diary records,

“2 April 1916 - 6.50pm. The enemy exploded a mine on the south side of B4. This was immediately followed by a second explosion south west of the same crater. The platoon standing to at the northern end of O.63 immediately rushed up to where the south west entrance to the crater had been but found this blown up and the bombing post there buried. The connecting trench west of the crater to O.64 had also completely disappeared. The fumes from the crater were stifling. Second Lieutenant G.R. Knowles who led the platoon which reached the crater lip found it impossible to enter and several men were in a state of collapse, so he lay down with his party and bombed into the crater. The enemy opened heavy fire with rifle grenades and trench mortars from sap on the right side of the crater also a machine gun from the direction Point 5.

We then established a bombing post and a Lewis gun on the northern lip of the crater and dug a communication trench round to O.64 establishing communication with that trench the passage of which is very difficult at present by day. The platoon standing to at southern end of O.64 when the explosion occurred rushed along Paverne but found the end of the crater blocked and a heavy fire of trench mortars and rifle grenades directed on this point. The Y sap in the Window was attacked by grenades but the enemy could make no progress there. This part of the line was much troubled with trench mortars and a machine gun from the direction of B.6.

The artillery put up a very effective barrage, after half an hour the rate of fire was reduced and everything was quiet by morning.

Casualties Lt. Alfred Smith killed and 2nd Lt. Wilkinson wounded. 5 other ranks killed, 14 wounded, 6 missing, 1 slightly wounded and remained at duty.”

Any chance of a copy of the letter to add to my work please.

Ill have a look at the other in a sec

Graeme

[GraemeClarke]

Re henry

hes on the Rushall (WHERE IS IT) RoH and on an addendum panel at Pelsall War Memorial

Frank HENRY

Private 201413

“C” Company, 1/5th Battalion, South Staffordshire regiment

Died in France on Sunday 1 July 1917

A native of Walsall Wood, Frank was the son of Robert and Mary Ann (nee Painter) Henry of Vigo, Walsall Wood and later of 1, Walsall Road, Walsall Wood, his father being a coal miner.

A coal miner at the Coppice Colliery, he married Edith Annie Copeland at Walsall in 1909 and resided at Norton Row, Heath End, Rushall and later at Bloomer Street, Heath End, Pelsall with his wife and four children.

Frank enlisted in the Army at Walsall in July 1915 with service number 977. On Monday 26 June 1916 he was treated for shell shock, at that time his battalion was in the trenches in front of Fonquevillers.

Frank took part in attacks on Lens commencing Thursday 28 June 1917.

The attack commenced at 7.30pm this date with the battalion’s objective being the Cite de Moulin on the western edge of the town. The battle raged throughout the night and the next few days when the troops had to attack well defended houses. The battalion was relieved during Monday 2 July 1917 by the 22nd Battalion, Canadian Infantry with casualties of 2 other ranks killed, 4 missing and 1 officer and 19 other ranks wounded.

The War Diary (in part) records,

“1 July 1917 - Moved into trenches to the east of Liéven, preparatory to an attack.

About 3pm verbal instructions were received by telephone to move the battalion up to the trenches in support of the 1/5th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment. A message confirming this order was received later, containing instructions to occupy Abode Trench. I took over command of the sector about 5.10pm. The situation then, as reported to me, was that 2 Companies, 1/5th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment were surrounded in Aconite Trench, and that the remainder of the 1/5th North Staffs and 1/6th South Staffs Regiments were back in Ague Trench. After verifying the situation I framed operation orders for an attack with the intention of reaching the 1/5th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment.”

Following this it appears that orders to make the attack failed to reach the respective components and it failed to materialise.

Frank is recorded as being ‘missing’ after the day’s events and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial on Bay 6. He was 28 years of age.

Anything else you can add gratefully received

Regards,

Graeme

NB 'Died' is generic'.

[GraemeClarke]

Found another picture

[biffrocks]

Hi

Would you mind checking if theres anything in your database for 200199 Pte Sidney Moore, South Staffs, enlisted 28/02/1913, discharged due to wounds 20/09/1918 at the age of 24.

Many thanks

Rob

[Sue S]

Hi Rob, Sorry I don't have anyting for him. The only Sidney Moore I have lived at Wolverhampton Street, Walsall and appears in the Walsall Observer 14-9-1918 as killed. There is nothing in the Walsall Pioneer for him either. Regards Sue.

[GraemeClarke]

Alun

(where are you)

Just a though, do you have headstone pictures for George ??

If so could you please post them

Cheers,

Graeme

[amt1957]

Hi Alun

APOLOGISE TO SUE FOR YET AGAIN HIGHJACKING HER THREAD

Hope you are enjoying your retirement - GREAT INT IT

HAVE YOU FOUND THAT BLASTED RUSHALL ROLL YET ?

re Fleming I have this, hes on the Rushall RoH (wherever it is)

George FLEMING

Military Medal

Sergeant 200960

"B" Company, 1/5th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment

Died in France on Thursday 22 March 1917

George was a native of Aldridge, born to Herbert and Jane (nee Allport) Fleming of 'The Radleys', Rushall, his father being employed as a coal miner.

A single man he was employed pit bank labourer at the Aldridge Colliery when he enlisted in the Army at Walsall during November 1914 with service number 21. He was drafted to France with his battalion on Friday 5 March 1915.

In about October or November 1916 George was awarded the Military Medal when he defended a crater against German attacks. For 45 minutes George maintained his bombing against the enemy until they withdrew, at all times he himself being in great danger.

George was wounded in action during the night of Tuesday 13 March 1917 when he received shell wounds. He was removed to either the 20th or 43rd Casualty Clearing Station at Warlincourt where he succumbed some time later.

His wounding took place during an attack against German positions at Bucquoy, three miles east of Gommecourt. The Germans had abandoned Gommecourt itself and by taking Bucquoy it was hoped to cut off the retreating enemy.

The battalion marched nearly five miles from Souastre to their starting lines at Biez Wood and reached them only one hour before the attack. Although exhausted the battalion was immediately formed up for the attack which commenced at 1am. The order of the Companies for the attack was "A" on the right, "C" in the centre and "D" on the left. Almost immediately they were hit by machine gun fire that caused numerous casualties. The German wire was, by and large, uncut by the preliminary barrage and any gaps that were found caused a bunching up of troops who were immediately cut down. The battalion retired at 6.30am to a trench system between Biez Wood and Square Wood with 160 casualties for no gain.

The War Diary, in part, recalls,

"13/14 March 1917 - The battalion paraded at Souastre at 6pm and proceeded to Fonquevillers reaching Rossignol Wood at about 10pm. The south east corner of Biez Wood was reached about 12 midnight. The barrage was put on the front line German trench. At 1am the battalion advanced to the attack in waves.

The Radfehrer Graben proved to be a bad obstacle. All lines reached the German wire, and there was practically no casualties. The barrage was very satisfactory - there were no shorts and it was effective. At this point the whole was checked by German wire. At no point was it possible to penetrate to the German positions without cutting. Behind Radfehrer Graben the wire was swept by cross fire from machine guns. A large number of casualties were caused by officers and NCOs looking for gaps in this area. These machine guns were reported firing from behind the parades from the flanks, men having to bunch to get through the gaps in the outer wire, or gaps cut in the second belt. One gap in the third belt of wire, which runs up to the German parapet, was gut by one of our Lewis guns. Another Lewis guns got onto the German parapet and engaged 2 machine guns firing from our right flank somewhere in Radfehrer Graben behind the front line. One gun was silenced entirely and another temporarily ceased fire.

Small parties of men succeeded in obtaining a foothold in the German trench, but this took some considerable time owing to lack of touch being kept, they were forced back by advancing Germans and lack of support.

I can give no information regarding the second line, although the Company Commander is known to have advanced in that direction but no one came back.

The centre company found 1st and 2nd belts of wire fairly well cut. Second Lieutenant Frost and about 30 men gained a foothold in German trench. All the officers (except Second Lieutenant Frost) and 13 NCOs were knocked out by bomb and machine gun fire. Second Lieutenant Frost reorganised the company in a sunken road and remained at this point for about 2 hours when recalled by men at daybreak.

The left company advanced on its objective. No gaps were found but a bulk of the company got into the trench without opposition. They were recalled by me at dawn."

George is buried in Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery, Saulte between Arras and Doullens, in Grave V.E.14. He was 21 years of age.

Newspapers reported that George was awarded the Military Medal for his actions on Wednesday 25 March 1916 however nothing of note occurred this day. It is more likely, bearing in mind he was defending a crater, that the deed took place on Sunday 2 April 1916.

The War Diary records,

"2 April 1916 - 6.50pm. The enemy exploded a mine on the south side of B4. This was immediately followed by a second explosion south west of the same crater. The platoon standing to at the northern end of O.63 immediately rushed up to where the south west entrance to the crater had been but found this blown up and the bombing post there buried. The connecting trench west of the crater to O.64 had also completely disappeared. The fumes from the crater were stifling. Second Lieutenant G.R. Knowles who led the platoon which reached the crater lip found it impossible to enter and several men were in a state of collapse, so he lay down with his party and bombed into the crater. The enemy opened heavy fire with rifle grenades and trench mortars from sap on the right side of the crater also a machine gun from the direction Point 5.

We then established a bombing post and a Lewis gun on the northern lip of the crater and dug a communication trench round to O.64 establishing communication with that trench the passage of which is very difficult at present by day. The platoon standing to at southern end of O.64 when the explosion occurred rushed along Paverne but found the end of the crater blocked and a heavy fire of trench mortars and rifle grenades directed on this point. The Y sap in the Window was attacked by grenades but the enemy could make no progress there. This part of the line was much troubled with trench mortars and a machine gun from the direction of B.6.

The artillery put up a very effective barrage, after half an hour the rate of fire was reduced and everything was quiet by morning.

Casualties Lt. Alfred Smith killed and 2nd Lt. Wilkinson wounded. 5 other ranks killed, 14 wounded, 6 missing, 1 slightly wounded and remained at duty."

Any chance of a copy of the letter to add to my work please.

Ill have a look at the other in a sec

Graeme

[amt1957]

Many thanks to Sue S and Graeme CLARKE for all their work - off to Walsall Local History Centre we will go (only live in Hazel Slade on the Chase)

Re 1/5 South Staffs at Biez Wood. George Fleming's sister, Beatrice Sylvester, was in a working men's club in Rushall in the 1960s. A man came up to her who she didn't know. He asked if she was George Fleming's sister. When she said yes, he said that he'd helped to pull him off the barbed wire. It would appear that the German shelling hit the advancing troops and most of the casualties were in the officers and NCOs leading the unit. That George was hit by shell fragments and blown into barbed wire is corroborated by the letter from the padre saying he injuries are mainly in the back. That he took 9 days to die possibly indicates tetanus or septicaemia?

At the minute the family are having a bit of a row with the CWGC as they're trying to get more details onto his record. Almost every contemporaneous document has his battalion number i.e. 21. The CWGC only recognise the new Territorial Force numbers issued after March 1917 which George Fleming probably never used. Luckily we have some post war documents that use the new number.

[GraemeClarke]

Hi Alun

have PMd my e-mail address to you

Graeme

[theodore]

Hi Sue

Do you have any information on the following two Walsall born men?

Pte 7557 Alfred COWLEY

Pte 8435 Joseph COWNLEY

Regards

Peter

[GraemeClarke]

Afternoon

Apologies to Sue, but while Im on the computer,

Is these they ???

Regards,

Graeme

[theodore]

Hi Graeme,

Many thanks for the pics.

The photo of A. Cowley is what I'm after and much appreciated. However the other soldier I'm seeking is Joseph COWNLEY (not Cowley). Both men served with the 2nd Worceseters.

Regards

Peter

[GraemeClarke]

Peter,

Sorry about that, got all excited.

No Cownley, neither is there a bio for A. Cowley,

Regards,

Graeme

[theodore]

Graeme,

Thanks for checking again.

I'm still working on my database for 2nd Bn. Worcestershire Reg. men (1914 Star) so any new material/info is most appreciated.

Regards

Peter

[GraemeClarke]

Peter

How about

Lance Corporal 8316 George Henry PEACH

Regards,

Graeme

[theodore]

Hi Graeme,

Thank you for the photograph of L/Cpl Peach. You have posted a copy for me previously however I appreciate you taking the time and trouble looking for 2nd Bn. Worcesters and all info/photos are most welcome.

Regards

Peter

[Welsh Salopian]

Hiya Sue,

If possible could look for a William Kendrick, he survived the War, he was possibly in the Royal Warwicks but cant be sure, i know that he was in La bassee France in 1915.

Many Thanks for providing us all with this wonderful service.

Gwyn

[Sue S]

Hi Gwyn, I am sorry but there is no photograph of a William Kendrick in either the Walsall Observer or the Walsall Pioneer.

Thanks for your kind words. I have received a lot of very useful information from the Forum and am only too happy to help if I can. Kind regards Sue

[Welsh Salopian]

Thanks for taking the time Sue for looking it up for me. Its unclear whether my William Kendrick had moved to Wednesbury shortly before signing up for service and im sure when he returned home he was in living in Wednesbury, so I will have to chase up if anyone has done a similar thing for there as you have for Walsall.

Just one extra thing, while my Gt Grandad William K was in active service in Labassee France, October 1915 he got word that his Wife Mary had given birth to a Daughter, he sent a letter back asking to call her Jean Labassee Kendrick, a lovely thought in many ways, dont you think?

Thanks Again!!

Gwyn

[Sue S]

Hi Gwyn, A group of people in Wednesbury did a lot of work a few years ago to get a war memorial in the town. It might be worth contacting either them or Wednesbury library about William K. There are 4 Kendricks on their war memorial so there is a possibility that they are related. Try www.wednesburywarmemorial.org.uk

I bet Jean had to explain her middle name on many occasions! We had a VC from our village, Charles George Bonner who was awarded the VC whilst in action on HMS Dunraven. When his son was born later that year he called him Gordon Dunraven Bonner, a tradition which still continues in the family. I think that the latest Bonner with the middle name of Dunraven is about seven years old. Good luck with your research. Sue

[Welsh Salopian]

Sue, Many thanks for that info on Wednesbury, iwill check that out. Thats wonderful story about the Duraven name and how Charles George Bonner memory lives on after all these years.

Thanks, Gwyn.

[GraemeClarke]

Hi

On the Walsall RoH is Driver Arthur Redferm WANT.

He died after serving in Salonica and christened one of his sons

James Salonica Want

Regards,

Graeme