WW1 Anniversary 21-0ct-19 with background

LICHFIELD METHODIST CHURCHREMEMBRANCE OF MEN CONNECTED WITHTHIS CHURCH WHO DIED INTHE GREAT WAR 1914-1918Short Biographies ofEric Stanley ArnoldJohn AdamsRobert BarnettFrank EvansAlfred GrantJames Henry GilliverFrederick SuttonJames Henry ThorpeHorace WrightCharles Wright

GUNNER / FITTERERICSTANLEYARNOLD61352, 17 Bty, 41 Brigade Royal Field ArtillerythstEric Stanley Arnold was killed in action on 22 October 1914 aged 19 and it is not known where hisndbody lies. His death is commemorated on panels 5 and 9 of the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres,Belgium. His death is also commemorated on a plaque in Lichfield Methodist Church.Eric Arnold was born in Lichfield in 1895 and by the time of the 1911 census he had enlisted as aBoy soldier and was living in the P.O. College at Woolwich Barracks. At the time of his death hewas a gunner/fitter, service number 61352, in the 41 Brigade Royal Field Artillery.stDuring the first world war a whole new form of artillery, the trench mortar, was developed to meetthe unusual conditions of war on the Western Front. The lighter weapons were manned by theinfantry, the Royal Field Artillery provided the manpower for the heavier mortars.Eric was the eldest son amongst at least five children of his parents; Jonas born in 1854 and SarahJane born in 1865, died in 1921. His siblings included Gertrude, Ena, Cyril and Enid/Amy. He camefrom a military family and was born at Whittington where his father Jonas was the Barracks Warden.Latterly some members of the family lived at Standleigh, Levetts Fields, Lichfield.

PRIVATE 1206 OHNJBOYCE ADAMS14 Battalion A’ Company Platoon 111 Royal Warwickshire RegimentTHJohn Boyce Adams enlisted at Sutton Coldfield with the 14 Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regimentth. He died on 23 July 1916 in France aged 20. He is buried in the Caterpillar Valley Cemetery,rdLongueval, Somme, France.Caterpillar Valley was the name given by the army to the long valleywhich runs West to East, past \"Caterpillar Wood\", to the high ground at Guillemont. Caterpillar Valleywas captured during a successful night assault by the 3rd, 7th and 9th Divisions on Bazentin Ridgeon 14 July 1916. After the Armistice, this small cemetery was hugely increased when the graves ofmore than 5,500 officers and men, including John Adams, were brought in from other smallcemeteries, and the battlefields of the Somme. The great majority of these soldiers died in the autumnof 1916 and almost all the rest in August or September 1918.The death of John Adams is commemorated on a plaque in Lichfield Methodist Church and possibly(as J R Adams) on the Men of Lichfield Memorial in the City’s Garden of Remembrance, officiallyopened on 22 October 1920 and on a plaque inside St Michael’s Church, Greenhill.ndWhen John Adams enlisted he left behind his parents John Ralph born in Uttoxeter 1859 and Kate,nee Holland, born in Walsall 1859. He appears to be the only child, born in July 1895, of his fatherand second wife Kate who were married on 22 January 1894. His father John had previously beenndmarried on 15 August 1883 to Kate’s sister Elizabeth who was born in Walsall in 1854. Accordingthto the 1891 census Kate was already living with the family at 8 Tamworth Street and was an assistantdraper. Elizabeth was buried on March 9 1892 aged 36 in St Michaels Churchyard, Greenhill. Inththe 1901 census John’s siblings are listed as; Sarah, Lillia, Edith and Ada (the children of Elizabeth)and “George” - Kate’s child. (John Boyce is missing from the list but may have been erroneouslylisted as George Boyce). By the 1911 census John Boyce is listed with the rest of the family, althoughGeorge is missing from the list.In 1901 and 1911 the family were living at Cherry Orchard, Lichfield. At that time his father was themanager of Sander’s drapery business in Tamworth Street. John was an employee of Bridgeman’sin Dam Street when he enlisted and by then the family were living at 23 Sturgeons Hill, Lichfield.His paternal grandfather Ralph was a maltster and his maternal grandparents were Maria, nee Eaglesand Henry - a grocer.

LANCECORPORALEDWINROBERTBARNETT9853, 1 Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own)stThe WW1 remembrance plaque displayed in Lichfield Methodist Church makes reference to RobertBarnett. This is believed to be Edwin Robert Barnett, born in Lichfield in 1892. There is also amonumental inscription inside St Chad’s Church, Lichfield which mentions the name E R Barnett,an Anglican. This name is also included on the Men of Lichfield Memorial in the Garden ofRemembrance, Lichfield.He was baptised as Edwin Robert on 29 August 1892 in St Michaels Parish, Lichfield and his motherthSarah Ann Barnett is recorded in the baptism register as living in George Lane, as does the rest ofthe Barnett family – there is no mention of Edwin’s father.Edwin Robert Barnett enlisted with the 1 Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment (the Prince ofstWales’s Own) and by the time he died he was a Lance Corporal (service number 9853) in the 1stBattalion, 72nd Brigade / 24th Division. It would appear from the records that, although he waschristened Edwin and appeared in the 1901 and 1911 census as such, the army’s paperwork refersto him as Edward throughout his service. However, he was commonly known as Bob. Theremembrance card that his mother had printed following his death on 31 August 1916 refers to himstas Edwin Robert Barnett.He embarked for France in September 1914 and was wounded shortly afterwards. However hereturned to duty and was killed in action on Thursday 31 August 1916 aged 24 and was buried instDelville Wood Cemetery, Longueval, France. His death occurred during the Battle of the Sommeand according to the Regimental History the 24 Division was fighting during 30 August on theththNorth-Eastern edge of Delville Wood and on 31 August, the day he died, there was a German attackstleading to the loss of a part of Edge Trench.In the 1901 census aged 8 years he is shown living with his grandparents - Abraham aged 60 bornin Walsall and Mary aged 55 born in Colton and their son John aged 23. Abraham is a shoeing smith(blacksmith) and the family live at 32 George Lane, Lichfield. His mother Sarah, born 24 Octoberth1869, is not living with them at this time. In the 1911 census Edwin Robert Barnett (19) is living withMary (67) his grandmother, by now a widow. They are still living at 32 George Lane. He is a labourerworking for a brewery company.Horace and Samuel Charles Wright who are also commemorated on the LMC plaque may be hiscousins. In 1891 their mother Mary Jane Wright, nee Barnett, and father Henry lived next door toher parents Abraham and Mary in George Lane.

PRIVATE (BANDSMAN) (7793)FRANCISWILLIAMEVANSRoyal Welsh FusiliersFrancis William Evans survived war service abroad during WW1 and returned home only to beaccidently killed whilst at work. His death was marked by an insertion in the Lichfield Mercury whichreported that he was working in his military uniform in a siding at Hednesford railway station. Thispresumably explains why his death was registered in Cannock District although he lived in Shingler’sRow, Lichfield. He died aged 29 on 17 July 1919. The funeral took place at St Chad’s Church aftertha service at the Wesleyan Methodist Church and was of a semi-military character with a firing partyand a bugler. He is buried in St Chads churchyard, Lichfield in a grave marked by a CWGCheadstone. His name is included on a plaque in Lichfield Methodist Church commemorating thosewho died as a consequence of WW1.Francis Evans had been in army service for a number of years before he returned home. His servicerecords in the British Army are quite comprehensive and they give an indication of someone whohad a chequered career and perhaps shed some light on his character and the events that formedthis.He enlisted, aged 14 on 2nd June 1903 as a Boy, service number 7793 with the 3 Battalion, RoyalrdWelsh Fusiliers. He became a bandsman in 1906 and progressed to the rank of Private when hereached 18 in 1907. He originally signed up for a specific number of years : 7 and 5 = 12 years intotal, and then in 1916 was retained in the service (presumably because the war was then inprogress). During some of this time he was based in Cork & Dublin (1907 onwards), Portland Devon(Dec 1913 onwards) and when WW1 broke out he was posted to both Malta and then France in1914. In December of that year he fell into German hands and was held in a number of PoW camps– Gustrow, Altdamm and Schneidemuhl, Germany. In 1915 the War Office exchanged a number ofBritish PoWs for German ones and he was reserved to England and admitted to a London hospital(possibly for a check-up). In his case it may be that his transfer was effected because he hadserved as a stretcher bearer. At this time (Oct 1915) he gave his home address in England as 136,Sandford Street, Lichfield.On his return to England he was interviewed by an examiner for his opinion on the standards thathe found in each of the PoW camps. The examiner summed up the interview; “An intelligent andreliable witness. He had few complaints. He was well supplied by his friends at home with parcelswhich contained comforts and he had money when he was captured. He seemed to be a fortunateindividual according to his own account and did not have as many hardships as some of the others.”In May 1915 the Battalion moved to Litherland, Liverpool and then in November 1917 moved toLimerick, Ireland. During February and March 1919 Francis caught influenza and double pneumoniawhilst in Limerick. In May he was transferred, via Portobello Edinburgh, to the Reserves in Englandwith an allowance, due to the debility brought on by his illness. His army papers record that he hada number of illnesses from 1903 to 1910 which required a stay in hospital, although never for verylong, to treat variously rheumatism, a sore throat, gonorrhea, a sprain and lice.During his army service his conduct seems to have been marked by a number of recorded events.There were 2 cases of drunkenness in 1910 and in 1913 he was charged with both walking aboutin a slovenly manner whilst in Portland one evening and for not complying with an order (for the latterhe was confined to barracks for 8 days). In January 1916 he was required to forfeit 6 day’s pay.However, those who interviewed him after the time he spent as a PoW in German hands, seemedto deem him an intelligent and reliable witness.On a personal note. Shortly after his birth he was baptised on 9th July 1890 as an Anglican at StMary’s Church, Lichfield. In later records, linked to the army, he suggested that he was a Catholic.

His baptismal record shows that his father was William Evans, a blacksmith, and his mother wasElizabeth (nee Wall) and they lived in Sandford Street, Lichfield. By the 1891 census the family isliving at 57, Gresley Row, Lichfield and shows father William b 1853 at Wheaton Aston and motherElizabeth b 1863 at Tryangle Terrace, Chase Town. By the 1901 census, however, William is nolonger included on the household’s census since he had died; possibly in 1894. Francis and hismother are now living at 5 Burtons Yard, Wade Street, Lichfield. Elizabeth remarried in 1895 to apostman, George Stockley, and Francis and his brother John Evans are listed as his stepsons.So when Francis Evans enlisted he left behind his mother Elizabeth, his natural brother John, a stepbrother Edwin and his stepfather George Stockley (who was now a general labourer at theWaterworks).When Francis returned home he married Lucy Bott (b 28.3.1894) on May 10 1919 at the WesleyanthChapel by the Revd W. Homer. Their son Francis William (Frank) was born on 27 January 1920.thAfter his death Lucy remarried in early 1924, this time to Frank Padmore, and they continued to liveat 5, Shingler's Row, Stowe Street, Lichfield.So his home life; the death of his father and his mother’s remarriage may have led him to join up ata young age. Although there may have been some blemishes on his conduct record he seems tohave been a resilient chap (he survived service at the front and as a PoW), but was unfortunate inthat he was accidently killed whilst at work on the railways.

PRIVATE AMESJHENRYGILLIVER40003, 1 /6th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own)stJames Henry Gilliver enlisted in October 1915 at Burton on Trent as a private, service number 40003,with the 1 /6 Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s). James was killed in actionstthaged 22 on 3 October 1918 and his death is recorded on the memorial at Vis-En-Artois, Pas derdCalais, France – near Arras.His death is commemorated on a plaque in Lichfield Methodist Church. The name J H Gilliver isalso included on the Men of Lichfield Memorial in the City’s Garden of Remembrance, officiallyopened on 22 October 1920 and on a plaque in St Michael, Greenhill Church. The name J Gilliverndis also included on a plaque in St Chad’s Church, Lichfield – but this may refer to a different person.He was formerly a labourer – possibly with the Lichfield Brewery since his name is included on itsWW1 memorial.The North Staffordshire Regimental history and Wikipedia suggest that during 1918 the 1 /6stthBattalion was engaged in the Battle of the St Quentin canal, the Battle of the Beaurevoir Line, theBattle of Cambrai, the Battle of the Selle and the Battle of Sambre. They crossed the St Quentincanal to break through the strongest sector of the Hindenburg Line during the Battle of St Quintincanal in September 1918. By October 11 1918 the Battalion ended its part in the war in France atthSains du Nord, S.E. of Avesnes.When James Gilliver enlisted he left behind his parents: Charles born in 1858 and Eliza, neeHollinshead, born in 1869. He appears to be the middle child and only son, born in 1896, of hisparents, the other children being his sisters Lily and Sarah Elizabeth.In 1911, when James was 14, the family were living at 184, St John Street, Lichfield. His father wasa hawker / pedlar of haberdashery. The name Gilliver is said to be a derivation of \"Gilly Flower.\"

PRIVATE FREDERICKHYDESUTTON61358, North Staffordshire Regiment; G/63045 7 London RegimentthFrederick Hyde Sutton enlisted in Lichfield; originally in the North Staffordshire Regiment with theservice number 61358. Later he transferred to the Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge’s Own)and was posted to the 7 London Regiment and was given a different service number: G/63045.thHe was killed in action on 9 September 1918 aged 20 and it is not known where his body lies.thHis death is commemorated on panel 8 - 9 of the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, France.This Memorialbears the names of over 9,000 men who fell in the period from 8 August 1918 to the date of theArmistice in the Advance to Victory in Picardy and Artois, between the Somme and Loos, and whohave no known grave.His death is also commemorated in Cannock Cemetery by a headstone whichwas put up to honour him and his paternal cousin Alfred Woollaston who died on 25 October 1918thaged 19 days. He is also remembered on the Cannock War Memorial, erroneously as J H Sutton.It is possibly his death which is commemorated on a plaque in Lichfield Methodist Church.Frederick Sutton was born in Cannock in 1898 the son of Nathan William Sutton , born in Cannockin 1870 and Mary Jane Sutton, nee Shore, born in Bilston in 1868.In 1901 they all lived in New Hall Street, Cannock where his father was employed as an iron moulder.In 1911 they were living at 18 New Hall Street, Cannock and his siblings were listed as Susan,Thomas and Nathan William. By then his father was now an edge tool handler fitting the handleson tools.

SERGEANT AMESJHENRYTHORPE7646, “A” COY 1 BATTALION SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE REGIMENTstJames Henry Thorpe enlisted with the South Staffordshire Regiment and by the time he died hewas a Sergeant (service number 7646) in the 1 Battalion ‘A’ Company. The 1 Battalion landedststat Zeebrugge as part of the 22 Brigade in 7 Division on 6 October 1914 for service on thendththWestern Front and then moved to Italy in November 1917.He was killed in action in Belgium on 26 October 1914 aged 26. His death is commemorated onththe Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium – panels 35 and 37. His name is also included on theMen of Lichfield Memorial in the City’s Garden of Remembrance and on a plaque in LichfieldMethodist Church. There is also a monumental inscription at St Michaels Church, Greenhill forthe name James Henry Thorpe who died in 1914 and the Parish Burial records him as an anglican.A further memorial in St Marys Church, Market Place, Lichfield also includes his name.When James Thorpe went off to war he left behind his parents and 5 siblings who, according to the1901 census, were living at 39 & 41 Wade Street, Lichfield. He was born in 1888, the fifth of sixliving children (all born in Lichfield) and appears to be the child of parents with a background inmilitary service. By the time of the 1891 census his father, John Henry, was an army pensionerwho was born as a British subject in Gibralter on 21 January 1857 – a military fortress at that time.stHis mother Catherine(nee Godwin) was born on 16 April 1850 as a British subject in Raulpindi,thIndia (now Pakistan). In 1851 Raulpindi became the largest garrision town for the British IndianArmy – perhaps Catherine’s parents were linked to the garrison before she returned to the UK.James Thorpe’s parents seem to be well-to-do and aspired to improve their lot in life. According tothe 1891 census the family were living at 48 Wade Street, by 1901 they had moved to 39 and 41Wade Street, Lichfield and by 1914 were living at 55 Walsall Road, Lichfield (by this time his motherCatherine had died). In 1891 his father was employed as an Assurance Agent. The 1901 censustells us that he was now the District Manager for the Royal Liver Society and James’ five siblings –Alexander W, Lillian, Prisshanner O, Alfred Edwin and Sarah Elizabeth were variously employed asagents for the Society (the boys) and operators for the national telephone system (the girls). Partof the address at which they lived in Wade Street housed the telephone office and they had a live-ingeneral servant. James was educated at Frog Lane School and then took up employment as anoffice clerk at Walmsley’s Builders before enlisting.

PRIVATEHORACEWRIGHT59157, 5th BATTALION SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE REGIMENTHorace Wright enlisted with the 5 Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment as a Private, servicethnumber 59157. He died aged 18 on 23 November 1918 at Northern General Hospital, Lincolnrdfollowing a bout of pneumonia. He is buried in the churchyard of St Michael, Greenhill, Lichfield andhis grave is marked by a CWGC headstone.It is possibly his death which is commemorated on a plaque in Lichfield Methodist Church. His nameis also included on the Men of Lichfield Memorial in the City’s Garden of Remembrance, officiallyopened on 22 October 1920 and on a plaque inside St Michael ‘s Church, Greenhill. He is includedndin their records as an anglican. There is also a memorial to war dead in the churchyard of StMichaels Church, Greenhill which includes the name of Horace Wright.The South Staffordshire Regimental history and Wikipedia suggests that during 1918 the 1/5thbattalion was engaged in the Battle of the St Quentin canal, the Battle of the Beaurevoir Line, theBattle of Cambrai, the Battle of the Selle, the Battle of Sambre. They crossed the St Quentin canalto break through the strongest sector of the Hindenburg Line during the Battle of St Quintin canal inSeptember 1918. By October 11 1918 the Battalion had ended its part in the war in France at Sainsthdu Nord, S.E. of Avesnes. The 2/5 Battalion had been disbanded in France by 30th January 1918.thWhen Horace Wright enlisted he left behind his parents Henry b.1865 and Mary Jane, nee Barnett,b.1867. ** Born in 1900 he appears to be the seventh or eighth child of his parents. In the 1911census his living siblings are listed as; Mary Jane, (Elizabeth may have died post 1891 census),Henry, Frank, William Ernest, Samuel Charles, Dorothy Beatrice, Gwendoline Doris and Lily. Twoof his older brothers, including Samuel Charles, had already been killed in action.In 1911 the family were living at 43, Rotten Row, Lichfield. His father was a domestic gardener. Itisn’t known in what employment Horace was engaged.** Co-incidentally Mary Jane Wright nee Barnett appears to be the aunt of Edwin Barnett anotherof the men commemorated on the LMC plaque.TheWorld War OneMemorialPlaque, here dedicated toHorace Wright, was made fromBronzeand hence it waspopularly known as the “DeadMan's Penny” among front-linetroops

PRIVATESAMUELCHARLESWRIGHT240309, 6 BATTALION NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE REGIMENT (PRINCE OFth,WALES’S OWN)The WW1 remembrance plaque displayed in Lichfield Methodist Church makes reference to CharlesWright. This is assumed to be Samuel Charles Wright, the brother of Horace Wright who is alsopossibly commemorated on the plaque. He enlisted with the 1/6 Battalion , North StaffordshirethRegiment (Prince of Wales’s) and was killed in action aged 21 on 1 July 1916. He was reburiedstin Gommecourt Wood New Cemetery, Foncquevillers, Pas de Calais, France with some 284casualties in total. He served as a private, service number 240309 (formerly 2174).His name is also included, as Samuel Charles, on the Men of Lichfield Memorial in the City’s Gardenof Remembrance, the Guildhall Memorial Board and on a plaque inside St Michaels Church, Greenhillwhere records show him to be an anglican.The North Staffordshire Regimental History suggests that the 1/6 Battalion was moved from Francethto Egypt in January 1916. In February 1916 the Battalion returned to France and the Divisionengaged in various actions on the Western Front including the diversionary attack at Gommecourt,on the northern flank of the Battle of the Somme.When Samuel Wright enlisted he left behind his parents Henry b.1865 and Mary Jane b.1867 neeBarnett**. Born in 1896 he appears to be the fifth child of his parents and his siblings; Mary Jane,Henry, Frank, William Ernest, Dorothy Beatrice, Horace, Gwendoline Doris and Lily were also livingat home at this time. Two of his other brothers also joined up and one of his older brothers waskilled in action as was his younger brother Horace.In 1911 the family were living at 43, Rotten Row, Lichfield. His father was a domestic gardener andSamuel was a tinsmith.**Co-incidentally Mary Jane Wright (nee Barnett) appears to be the aunt of Edwin Barnett anotherof the men commemorated on the LMC plaque.TheWorld War OneMemorialPlaque, here dedicated toSamuel Charles Wright, wasmade fromBronze and hence itwas popularly known as the“Dead Man's Penny” amongfront-line troops