Hi

I am new to this foroum. I have for some years been compiling a data base of war memorials in & around Birmingham. I now have information on about 6500 men from Birmingham. In addition, I have the names, rank & regiment of some12500 men & woman from Birmingham who died in the Great War. Please contact me if you need any information.

Tony

Tony, welcome to the Forum. As someone whose entire family on both sides was from Birmingham, I am really pleased to hear of your work. So let me begin with this one:

Private 13261 Albert Baker, 7th South Staffordshire Regiment. A Gallipoli veteran, he was killed in action at the age of 19 in the Battle of Messines Ridge on 7 June 1917. Lived at 31 Burlington Street in Aston. My grandfather's cousin.

Hi Tony

This seems a very interesting project, Tony. I have all Royal Warwicks who were killed in the Great War in my database and am currently entering nearly 3000 who are listed in the Birmingham Roll of Honour, 1925. I also have over 300 on the Bham Roll who cannot be identified from CWGC and SDGW. Can you identify other Royal Warwicks from other memorials apart from the ones I know about like the various Corporation Departments. I am more than happy to do some data swapping. I am in Access but can export any data into Excel.

Hi Tony

Welcome to Great War Forum. As you can see Chris does an excellent job running this Forum. Unlike my poor effort in trying to keep the Pals Forum free of spam etc.

Keep in touch Tony.

Terry

Hi Chris

Many thanks for the information. I have not come across a war memorial for Albert Baker yet. He is recorded in "The Roll of Birmingham Men & Woman Who Gave Their Lives In The Great War",book. The book was produced for the opening dedication of the Hall of Memory on the 4th July 1923. During my research it is clear that a good many Birmingham men for what ever reason may not be recorded in the Hall of Memory, further research required.

I will update my records to include the information for Albert.

Many Thanks

Tony

Hi Alan

Thanks for the reply. I do have a number of records for war memorials other than churches. These include most of the Birmingham Council memorials, some works, school memorials,Masonic Halls & Clubs etc. I see you have a copy of the Roll of Honour for "The Birmingham Men & Woman Who Gave Their Lives in The Great War". I have found however that not all Bham men are recorded. Please feel free to email me on subotone@blueyonder.co.uk.

Tony

Hi Terry

Great to hear from you. This forum is great. At last someone to talk to ref mutual interest. By the way you did a great job with the Bham Pals Forum. Its a pity it no longer seems to get much interest.

Had a great time at Avril,s in September & am going to send off for a plaque for Fredrick Mason from the 1/8th RWR, the one who's picture I sent you a while a go.

Speak again soon.

Tony

Hi Tony,

do you know if either of these two are on any memorials in the Birmingham area?

Geoff



John WILLIS
Private 12153 6th Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment.
Died of wounds on Thursday 5th August 1915.

George Watkin JELFS
Lance Corporal 15/1313 15th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Killed in action France and Flanders on Sunday 4th June 1916

Hi Geoff

Although Soldiers Died shows John Willis as being born & lived in Selly Oak Birmingham, I have no record of a memorial for him. He is not even mentioned in "The Roll of Honour of Birmingham Men & Woman Who Gave Their Lives in The Great War" which is the original list of names in Birmingham Hall of Memory.

Soldiers Died shows George Watkin Jelfs as being born in Birmingham but living in Bromsgrove. Again not in the Bham Roll of Honour or on any memorial I have.

Sorry I cant be more help.

Tony

Hello Tony

Wondering if there in any mention on a local memorial of my great uncle Ernest Gordon Bennitt, of the 15th Royal Warwicks, killedin June 1916. I already know from Terry he is not on the roll of honour. His family lived at Harborne.

Thanks and cheers Martin B

Tony, as we have all drawn a blank so far, are you able to tell us which memorials (or pehaps which areas of Birmingham) you have covered?

Tony,

Thank you for looking.

geoff

Hi Martin

No look either except he is listed in the book "The Roll of Honour of Birmingham Men & Woman who gave Their Lives in The Great War." This means that his name will be in the Bham Hall of Memory.

Tony

Thanks Tony

I thought he wasn't on the roll. Thanks for looking

cheers Martin B

Hi Chris

Sadley a lot of memorials were destroyed during WW2. Since then there has also been the closure of many of Bham churches resulting in their memorials being moved & often lost. Most of the memorials I have been able to record are within the Bham area. I have also memorials for Solihull, Knowle, Meridan, Hockley Heath etc. The problem within Bham is gaining access to the churches. If any one has any records please let me know as this will save me from hours of greif getting into them. For information I have listed below some of the memorials already recorded.

My ambition. My ambition is to record all existing Bham memorials & create a data base containing as much information about those Bham men who died duing WW!. This I realise is an almost impossible task. According to the Roll of Honour for Bham Men & Woman who Gave Their Lives In The Great War, there are over 12500. Any help members of this Forum can give would be a great help to acheiving this particulary in the Smethwick are.

So here are some of the memoeials already recorded.

St John & Peters Edgbaston
St James Handsworth
St Giles Sheldon
St Cyprians Hay MillsSt Augustines EdgbastonSt
Ann's Mosley
Raddlebarn J.I. School Selly Oak (WW1)
Shard End R.B.L
Mosley School (WW2)
Ivy Leaf Sheldon
Friends Institute Highgate
Elim Pentecostal Church Sell Oak
Dorridge R.B.L
Bham CentraL School
Avery Soho Works
Aston Old Edwardians
St Marys Washwood Heath
St Mary & St Ambrose
St Nicholas Elmdon
St Nicholas Kings Norton
St Saviours Saltley
St Saviours J & I School
St Stephens Ladywood
St Thomas-in-Moors Balsall Heath
Stechford Cross Stechford
TA Barracks Sheldon
Bham Education Dept City Centre
Austin R.B.L
All Saints Church Four Oaks
Sutton South Parade Methodist Church
Memorial O/S Sutton Town Hall
St Giles Church Packwood
St Thomas Church Hockley Heath
St James the Great Church Shirley
Kingswood Meeting House Wythall
R.B.L Wythall
St Peters & St Pauls Aston
Our Lady of the Rosary Saltley
Christ Church Yardley Wood
Hockley Heath Memorial
Meridan Oberlisk
Solihull Council Civic Suite (WW2)
Central Sec School
Holy Trinity Church Birchfield
St Edburghas Church Yardley
St Margarets Church Olton
St Christophers Church Mosley
St Margarets Church Ward End
Quinbourne Cebtre Quinton
Castle Bromwich Alter of Remberence
Magnet Centre (LOST)
St Pauls Hamstead
Richmond Public House (WW2) Demolished now lost.
Chester Rd Baptist Church
Edgbaston Old Church
Edgbaston Cricket Club
St Alphege Solihull
Immanuel Church Kings Heath
St Mary's Church Hamstead
St Georges Church Edgbaston
All Saints Church Four Oaks
All Saints Church Small Heath
St Mary's Church Acocks Green
Lichfield Rd Wesleyn Church Aston
Meridan memoial cross Meridan
St Johns Church Sparkhill
Emanuel Church Sparkhill
St Beads Church Sparkhill (Demolished)
St Marys Church Selly Oak
BSA memorial Small Heath
Bham Police Roll of Honour
Bham Fire & Ambulance Service (WW2)
Acocks Green Methodist Church
All Saints Church Kings Heath
Bham City Tramways Kinks Heath
Bham Council House Treasures Dept
Bham Public libaries memorial's
Bishop Vesey School Sutton Coldfield
Bournville Social Club Stirchley
Cadburys Swimming Pool Bournville
Cambridge Rd Methodist church
Clareden Suite Edgbaston
Council House Belgium Exciles (WW2)
Council House Public Works Dept

I do have a number of other memorials but my finger is getting tired & it is after all Boxing Day.

Regards

Tony

Marti

The Rool does not give much information except for the following,
Bennitt E G L-Cpl RWar R.

Regards Tony

Hello,

I dont suppose you could have a look and see if either of these two are commemorated in Birmingham?

Horace Edward Stait, Private, 890, 15th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Died 26th September 1916, aged 24, Commemorated at Thiepval.

or

Henry Samson George Stait, 11929, Northern Command Depot (Ripon), Fitter, Royal Field Artillery, died in Ripon on 11th March 1917, aged 47.

If it helps they were from the Handsworth area I believe.

Any help would be appreciated.

Hello - I'd be much obliged if you could have a look to see if you have a record of:
ADAMS, ARTHUR HENRY Pte 311018 , 1/1 Warwickshire Yeomanry
Date of Death: 08/11/1917 GAZA WAR CEMETERY. apparently a Birmingham native.

Thanks in advance
Chris

Hi

I have no records of memorials for either Horace or Henry. Neither are listed in the Roll of Honour for Bham Men & Woman Who Died In The Great War.

I have found some information about them that might be of help.

Horace Stait. Soldiers Died shows him as being born in Aston Bham, Enlisted Bham, Living in Handsworth Bham & KIA.
The 1901 Cencus shows Horace aged 9 living at 32 Nett Inn Rd Handsworth Bham. Quite a large familey, Father William aged 52 a Carpenter & Joiner, Mother Elizabeth aged 52. Brothers & Sisters Ellen 29, William 25, Edith 22, Jessie 21, Elizabeth 19, Walter 17, Leonard 15, Cecely 12, Horace 9 & Beatrice 7.

Henry Stait, Soldiers Died & his Medal Card Index show him as Harry same number. He was born in Bham, enlisted in Southhampton & Died at Home. The CWGC show him as the son of William & Elizabeth Stait. However, only the CWGC shows him as Henry. The 1871 Cencus shows him as Harry aged 1 living with his parents William a Carpenter & Joiner & his mother Elizabeth at 9 Woodbourne Terrace Edgbaston Bham. I am unable to locate him on the 1901 Cencus but had moved away from the familey.

The only Stait I have listed is Fredrick Stait on the St James church memorial Handsworth. Possible relative.

Hope the above is of some help

Tony

Hi Chris

Adams Arthur Henry is listed in the "Roll of Honour of Birmingham Men & Woman Who Gave Their Lives in The Great War".
He is listed as Adams A H J, Tpr War, Yeo. He is therefore remembered in the Birmingham Hall of Memory. Soldiers Died list him as born, enlisted & living in Birmingham, Killed In Action 08/11/1917.

Hope this is of some help.

Regards

Tony

Many Thanks Tony.
Much appreciated.
Chris

Many thanks for the information. It seems a shame that neither are in the Roll of Honour for Birmingham Men & Woman Who Died In The Great War. Still there memories are not entirely forgotten.

As to Frederick Stait, thank you for that. I will look into it as there was a very strong Handsworth connection, though we know not of Frederick.

Thank you,

Hugh (a descendant of Edith Emily Stait, Horace and Henry's sister).

Tony
Please will you have a look to see if Private John William Perry 37206 1st Bn. Worcestershire Reg. appears on any of the Birmingham memorials. He was married to Harriett Amanda Perry 191, Bromfield Lane, Erdington, Birmingham and was a resident of Birmingham where he enlisted. He was killed in action 31st July 1917.
Myrtle

Hi Myrtle

I have no records for John William Perry. He is not listed in the Birmingham Roll of Honour. I am surprised thet having lived in Bromford Lane Erdington he is not remembered on the St Barnabas Church Parish memorial which is just around the corner (sadley recently involved in a serious fire).

Is it possible that the familey moved back to Wales following his death as I see his parents lived the Elan Village Rhayadar Radnor Wales & that John was born in Bala. This would account to there being no records. Bham Hall of Memory was not opened until 1923. It may be worth trying Elan Village to see if he is on their war memorial.

Regards

Tony

Tony,

Having earlier giving us your impressive Bham area memorials covered list until your typing finger ran out of energy what about a list of the rest? It would be much appreciated.

Thank you Tony
I hoped that Pte Perry would appear on one of the Birmingham memorials as he seems to have been a resident of the city for a number of years. His name is listed on the Rhayader Memorial in Mid Wales as his father lived locally but Jack Perry, as he was known, was resident and enlisted in Birmingham according to SDGW and his widow Harriet Amanda Perry's address (note she hadn't remarried) was in Bromford Lane (Mistype in my last post) Erdington in the 1920s when CWGC compiled their details. Harriet Amanda Tanswell (family from Stourbridge) and Jack Perry married in Aston in 1906 so it would appear that they had been residents of Birmingham for at least 10 years at the time of his death.
Another intriguing omission.
Regards
Myrtle

I have a list of 26 names from the war memorial in St Mary's church Selly Oak. Can you drop me a PM with your email addie rather than wasting bandwidth posting the list on here?

Any help you could provide would be gratefully recieved.

Tony - Is the Hall of Memory the nice building in the big square by the concert hall?

I have visited Brum several times recently on business and wandered from Brindley Place to the City centre. I think it's a really nice place now.

Well done on your important work for our second city.

Hi

Yes that is the place part of what is now Centenary Square. An impresive building. Have a look in next time you are passing. It is well worth it.

Regards

Tony

Hi Matt

I have the names off St Marys Church Selly Oak. I am having problems with 5 of the names. Sydney Barton, William Price, Leslie Shield, Sidney Smith & Andrew Warrener. Perhaps you can help me identifey them.

Please feel free to contact me subotone@blueyonder.co.uk

Tont

HI Tony,

I have a feeling we have met before......Selly Park Tavern?

Regarding William Price:

Lance Corporal William Price, 8190 1st Bn Kings Royal Rifle Corps. 2nd son of John and Mary Price, New Summer Street, Birmingham, born 12th May 1883, and educated at St Mary's School. He was employed as a metal polisher for the British Hub Company, Weaman Street, Birmingham. He enlisted in December 1914 and went to France on the 16th May 1915. He was killed in action at Loos on the 19th September 1915, and is commemorated on the Dud Corner memorial.
He married Florence Minnie Grove of 9 Park Place, Elkington Street Birmingham, on the 1st November 1902, at St Mary's Church Selly Oak. They had two children Jack, born 5th October 1905 and May Florence Ivy born 19th May 1908.

Tony - I never seem to get to the Hall of Memory during opening hours - work always gets in the way! Maybe when I next come up in January.

Regards Ian

Hi Alan

I have about another 60 memorials to list + about 75 Roll of Honour from Bham companies. I am mindful of Chris's request to keep down the amout of space being used. If Chris has no objection to me listing these then please let me know.

Tony

Hi Matt

Thanks for the information. Yes you are right. Nice pint at the Selly Park Tavern. Great to hear from you again. Please keep in touch as I know you have done some work on memorials in Bearwood or Smethwick area!!. I would appreaciate any information pictures & name lists you may have for these memorials.

Regards

Tony

Martin

Some time ago you were asking if I knew of a Birmingham war memorial with the name of Bennitt Ernist Gordon. If you are still interested I have found him listed on the Memorial Cross outside St Peters Church, Harborne. The address is Old Church Road, Harborne, Birmingham.

Tony

Martin

Some time ago you were asking if I knew of a Birmingham war memorial with the name of Bennitt Ernist Gordon. If you are still interested I have found him listed on the Memorial Cross outside St Peters Church, Harborne. The address is Old Church Road, Harborne, Birmingham.

Tony

Hello Tony,

I have just found your information and work on the Birmingham memorials. I have researched mine and found some links to the city and am I adding any other memorials that I can locate them on. Therefore do these appear in your research:

Barrett, Arthur
Died on July 23rd 1916 as a private in Royal Warwickshire regiment. He worked for Fisher, Randle & Fisher chartered accountants in Birmingham.

Wakelin, John
Private in the South Staffs 1st Battalion was KIA on September 25th 1915 .He was born in Lichfield but resided in Birmingham

Warmington, Cyril
died on July 30th 1915 serving as a Lance Corporal with the Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry. He resided at 71 Mason Road, Erdington with his parents Henry and May since 1909.

Butler, Frank
died on August 17th 1917 as a private in the Royal Warwickshire 1/8th Battalion. his parents were living at 20 Beech Road Erdington.

Judd, Eustace
Born in Handsworth. Prior to the war he worked for the General Electric Co as an engraver , Witton He died on July 23rd 1915 aged 32 or 33 in South Staffs 2nd Battalion

McCoy, Harold
Born in St George’s, Aston, Warwickshire and KIA on November 5th 1916. he had worked in Birmingham as a lamplighter.

thanks for taking the time to check

John

Hello John i have this from the Birmingham weekly illustrated Mercury dated 27 Jan 1917

Private John Wakelin (South Staffs) second son, killed in France 25th September 1915.

Kevan

Kevan,

thanks for posting that image.I never seen a photo and the local paper only had the newspaper reports. Is it worth me perusing that newspaper for other information

John

Hello John here is full article from newspaper, which also has Cpl Alfred Wakelin Kings Shrop Light Inf, Henry Wakelin Gren Guards, Arthur Wakelin RFA prisoner of war Turkey, Edward J Wakelin Prisoner of war Turkey.
if you would like a better copy please pm with email address and i will send you copy.
Kevan

Hi there

I wonder if 15/1594 Pte John Heath 14th Royal Warwicks dow 29/8/1916 appears in any memorial other than the book of remembrance?

Cheers

Cannot answer the question but he is mentioned in the Bham Weekly Post Sept 16 1916 with a bit of extra detail - left a widow and 5 children at 8 back, 9, Don Street, Winson Green.