Trinity Wesleyan Church Compton Rd
This Memorial is all that remains of Trinity Methodist Church Compton Road, that was demolished in 1976. As you can see it is now in front of a block of flats that replaced the chapel.
The memorial which was in the Church is now kept in the Wednesfield Royal British Legion Club Vicarage Road Wednesfield Wolverhampton.
© Copyright Ian Hughes
© Copyright Ian Hughes
Thank you to Ian Hughes for allowing me to use his photographs.
Roll of Honour
Austin Frederick Hubert Second Lieutenant
1st Bn Essex Regiment.
Austin was born in April 1899 in Chelmsford, Essex the only child of Frederick North Austin and Nellie Austin. In 1911 the family were living at Springfields Villas 70 New Town road Bishop Stortford where he was educated. At some point the family moved back to Wolverhampton his father being born in Bilston and his mother Coseley. The family were living at 2275, Coleman St., Wolverhampton.
Austin continued his education at the Higher-Grade School, Wolverhampton. He enlisted in February 1915 and was Gazetted as a 2nd Lieutenant.
Austin died of pneumonia in the First Rest Camp hospital Cherbourg 12th November 1918 aged 19.
He was buried 14 November 1918 B.3 Tourlaville Communal Cemetery and Extension, France.
Bannister Marmaduke Wellesley Lance Corporal 4460
Marmaduke was born 18th January 1889 in Netherton, Dudley the son of Thomas and Frances Bannister. In 1891, the family were living in Cradley Road, Dudley along with Marmaduke' siblings Sarah, Edith, William, Hewey, Charles, Frank, Annie, Elsie and Dora. Marmaduke attended Dudley Grammar School from 1900 onwards. The family were at Spring Hill in Dudley by 1901. Marmaduke’s father, Thomas, died in 1906, and he was living with his widowed mother and sisters Sarah and Frances in Clent, Worcestershire, by 1911, where he was working as a bank clerk .At the time of his death his home address was 17 Clarke Road, Wolverhampton. He was employed as a bank clerk.
Marmaduke enlisted at Birmingham as a Lance Corporal with the 20th Royal Fusiliers.
The 20th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers was fighting in the Croisilles sector, south east of Arras, during May 1917. They were engaged in the aftermath of a series of costly attacks against German positions on the Hindenburg Line.
Marmaduke was killed in Action 25 May 1917.
Bay 3. Arras Memorial, France.
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Bevon, William Victor Lieutenant Royal Flying Corps
Orfordness Armament Experimental Station Suffolk.
The Experimental station was established on Orfordness April 1916 and became a centre for fundamental research and experimentation into aerial combat. Engineers, pilots and observers ran systematic trials across fighters, bombers and reconnaissance systems. They tested fuzes that timed detonations by altitude, tuned instruments for accurate observation and developed camouflage and clothing suited to the new three-dimensional battlefield. The station’s work fed directly into front-line tactics and equipment, accelerating innovations that shaped later aerial operations.
Victor was born in early 1893 in Wolverhampton the son of Samuel H. W. and Frances Mary Bevon. In 1901 they were living at 15, Haden Hill, Wolverhampton with William's younger siblings Amy, Herbert and Frances. William's father was employed as a school master. By 1911 the family were living at 43 Lea Rd., Wolverhampton and William was a student studying at home for a scholarship, his father was now a head teacher and employed a servant Elsie Beale.
William attended the Wolverhampton Higher Grade School, and Wolverhampton Municipal Science and Technical School in Garrick Street, where he was 'chief student' of his year. (Birmingham Daily Post 19/11/17). He went on to The University of Birmingham where he Graduated with a degree in Engineering in Summer 1916. Sir Oliver Lodge, Vice Chancellor and Principle, described him as, “A brilliant student, one of the best we have had.”
William died 17th November 1917 in Ipswich Military Hospital of heart faliure following an illness aged 25.
Grave reference: 11805 Wolverhampton Borough Cemetery.
Botwood Thomas Samuel Private 41851
A Company 7th Bn. Leicestershire Regiment.
Thomas was born in Wolverhampton on 11th September 1898 son of Samuel James and Sarah Botwood. He was baptised in St Mark’s Church on 1st October 1898. In 1901 the family were living at 12 Ash Street, Wolverhampton along with Thomas’s younger sister, Lily. From 1904 onwards, Thomas attended St Mark’s Church of England Infants School in Wolverhampton and then from 1912 Bingley Junior School. They were at the same address in 1911, and Thomas had additional siblings Daisy and Harrold.
Thomas died in the Casualty Clearing Station 11.10 am 20th September 1918 aged 20 of a gunshot wound to his chest which he received two days earlier. He was brought to the Casualty Clearing Station by 63rd Field Ambulance.
XIII.D.13. Grevillers British Cemetery, France.
Colley Isaiah Harold Private 2404
1st/3rd (North Midland) Field Amb Royal Army Medical Corps.
Isaiah was born in Wolverhampton in 1896, the son of Isaiah and Ada Emma Colley. He was baptised 13th December 1896 at St. Mark Church, Wolverhampton.
In 1901 Isaiah and his parents were living at 23 Middle Vauxhall, Tettenhall along with his older brother James and younger sister Florence. Isiah's mother died June 1909. By 1911 the family remained at the same address.
Isaiah's father married Caroline Rhodes 13th May 1913 and they had two children Isaiah's half-siblings Jack and Laura; Isaiah was employed as a warehouse man.
Killed in Action 1st July 1916 initially he was reported missing, but his remains were found with his respirator marked with his initials I H C.
I.L.47. Foncquevillers Military Cemetery, France.
Colley James Reginald Private 421096
1st/3rd (North Midland) Field Amb Royal Army Medical Corps.
James was born in 1895 at 1 Court, Middle Vauxhall Wolverhampton, the son of Isaiah and Ada Emma Colley. He was baptised 28th April 1895 at St. Mark Church, Wolverhampton.
In 1901 James and his parents were living at 23 Middle Vauxhall, Tettenhall along with his young brother Isaiah and sister Florence. James' mother died in June 1909. By 1911 the family remained at the same address.
James' father married Caroline Rhodes 13th May 1913 and they had two children James' half-siblings Jack and Laura.
By 1914 James was employed as a warehouse man at Mander Brothers Varnish Works.
Killed in Action 27th June 1917
XIX.D.16. Loos British Cemetery, France.
Evans Charles Lance Corporal 11848
8th Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment.
Charles was born in 1889 in Wolverhampton son of Thomas and Jane Evans; he was educated at St Luke’s Schools, Blakenhall.
Charles married Jane Blower in 1913 in Wolverhampton. At the time of his death, she and their daughter Edith were living at 32 Derry St, Wolverhampton. Prior to enlisting he had been employed at Messrs Holcroft of Ettingshall.
He enrolled into the South Staffordshire Regiment 31st August 1914 and landed in France 4th August 1915.
Charles died 12th July, 1916 of wounds he received 9th July 1916 aged 27.
II. C. 10. Daours Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France.
Frith Harold Gordon Abberley Private 72308
2nd/4th Bn The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regt.)
Harold was born in March 1900 at 110 Great Brick Kiln street son of William Robert and Clara Frith. Harold was baptised 18th March 1900 in St. Mark's Church, Wolverhampton. In 1901 they were living at 129 Lord street along with Harold's older sister Elizabeth and their paternal grandmother Mary Frith. William was a self-employed house painter. By 1911 the family were living at 77 Oak Street, Wolverhampton, Mary remained living with them. At the time of Harold's death, the family home was at 84 Raby Street.
Harold joined the Army in early 1917 at some point Harold was wounded (no further information) as he was entitled to wear a wound stripe as recorded 1st October 1918.
After the Armistice of 11th November 1918, the Allies imposed a military occupation of the Rhineland, the German territory west of the Rhine centred on Cologne which is where Harold was stationed.
On the 20th of June 1919 Harold was admitted to No. 64 Casualty Clearing Station with a fever and subsequently died of an acute intestine obstruction.
Died 27th June 1919 aged 19.
I.C.11 Cologne Southern Cemetery, Germany.
Hill Stephen Private 514328
1st/14th Bn. London Regt (London Scottish).
Stephen was born in 1892 in Wednesbury son of George and Mary Ann Hill. In 1901 they were living at 14 Ash street Wolverhampton along with Stephen's older siblings Lilian and George Henry; George senior was employed as a house carpenter.
By 1911 the family had moved along the road to 82 Ash street and had been joined by another son Reginald. Stephen was employed as a Railway Clerk.
Stephen enlisted into the Army 26th November 1915, he was 23 years old and remained living with his parents at 82 Ash street. He was immediately put on the Army Reserve and was not mobilised until 21st September 1916. Posted to France 12th January 1917.
Stephen's sister Lilian was now married and was living at 79 Edwards Road Erdington, Birmingham. Stephen's brother George Henry also served during the war and survived.
Stephen was killed in action on the evening of 11th May 1917 aged 25 during his regiments attacking of Tool Trench, a German position just east of Guemappe on the Arras–Cambrai Road. Stephen has no known grave.
Bay 10 Arras Memorial, France.
Hodson Edward (unable to identify)
Jolliffe Hylton Rodney Gunner 931411
“C” Battery, 291st Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.
Hylton was born in April 1892 in Ivybridge, Devon son of the Reverend Ebenezar and Eliza Jolliffe; Hylton's sister Edith was born 1st September 1893 in Cardiff. By 1901 the family were living at 89 Victoria road Horwich, Bolton along with Hylton's older siblings Gladys and Cecil.
By 1911 Hylton was boarding at 3 Lordship Lane, Elsden Rd, Tottenham and was employed as a bank clerk at London City and Midland bank. Hylton Enlisted into the army 25th October 1915. At the time of his death his home address was 20 Shopden road, Lordship Lane Tottenham. He left £318 to his mother in his will.
Hylton was killed in action 26th September 1917 during the opening phase of the Battle of Polygon Wood (26–27 September 1917), part of the Third Battle of Ypres. Hylton has no known grave.
Panel 4 to 6 and 162 Tyne Cot Memorial
There is no recorded link to Wolverhampton but given the transient nature of Ebenezar's job as a vicar and his and Eliza's home address of "Buena Vista" Dial Hill Clevedon, Somerset there is a strong possibility that he was ministering at Trinity Wesleyan Church, Wolverhampton at some point hence Hylton's name being recorded on this war memorial.
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Middleton Donald Private 300867
"C" Sqdn. 4th Troop Staffordshire Yeomanry
Donald was born 28th June 1897 in Perry Barr, Staffordshire, the son of William Samuel and Lavinia Middleton; he was baptised at Perry Barr Methodist Church 22nd August 1897.
In 1901, the family were living at 23 Prestbury Road, Aston Manor, Birmingham, together with Donald’s sisters Mary, Iris and Margaret. By 1911, they had moved to Wolverhampton and were at Avon House, Castlecroft Road, Finchfield. By this date, the parents had had a further six children – Gerald, Kathleen, Olive, Hilda, Dennis and Christina. Donald had become an apprentice solicitor.
Donald joined the army and landed in Egypt 10th November 1915.
Following the Battle of El Mughar on 13 November 1917, the dismounted Staffordshire Yeomanry advanced with General Allenby's forces into the rugged hills west of Jerusalem. By 20th November they had reached the strategic heights around Nebi Samwil, where they endured harsh conditions, difficult terrain and repeated Ottoman and German counterattacks. Between 23 and 25 November, the regiment defended exposed positions under heavy artillery and machine-gun fire. It was during this fierce fighting, on 25th November 1917, that Donald was killed. Initially reported as missing, he was later confirmed to have been killed in action The regiment's determined defence helped hold the vital high ground, contributing to the eventual capture of Jerusalem on 9th December 1917.
Killed in Action 25th November 1917 aged 20.
Panel 2 Jerusalem Memorial.
The picture of Donald Middleton was kindly sent to me by his great niece.
Neal Alfred Bengough Private 35198
8th Bn King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.
Alfred was born on 2 February 1895 at 2 Ash Street, Wolverhampton, the son of Alfred and Ada Neal. He was baptised on 14 March 1895 at St Mark’s Church, Wolverhampton.
By 1901 the family remained at 2 Ash Street, where Alfred lived with his elder sisters Meriam and Annie and his younger siblings Harry and Nellie. His father, Alfred senior, was employed as a gas fitter.
In 1911 the household was still at the same address. Meriam and Annie had moved out, and the family had grown with the arrival of Dorothy, Gladys, Ena and John.
On 2 January 1911 Alfred began work as a cleaner for the Great Western Railway at Oxley. He remained in that post until 20 June 1914.
At some point Alfred was wounded (no further information) as he was entitled to wear a wound stripe as recorded 24th January 1917.
Alfred was killed in action 29th August 1917 aged 23. The 8th Bn King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry were holding the line east of Ypres, in the sector of the Battle of Polygon Wood, positioned just north of the Menin Road
Panel 108 to 111 Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.
Price Thomas (unable to identify)
Reade Reginald William Lieutenant
9th Bn Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Reginald was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Gould Reade, Mornington Place, 57, Tettenhall Rd. The family owned Reade Bros, a firm of manufacturing chemists in Wolverhampton. Reginald was educated at Brighton College and Emmanuel College, Cambridge, graduating in 1914 with a B.A. (Cantab.). Instead of taking up a post as classics master at Glenalmond School he joined a territorial battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment as a private and, in January of 1915, was gazzeted second lieutenant in the 9th battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
He was badly wounded at Gallipoli in August of 1915 during the attack on the Sari Bair ridge and did not return to his unit until January of 1916. August of that year saw the 9th in Mespotamia fighting for the relief of Kut. On the evening of 10th August the Falahiyeh positions were attacked. In front of these trenches was an open stretch with no cover, swept by direct and enfiladed fire. It was here that Reginald Reade, now a temporary lieutenant, was killed.
A fellow officer described his death as follows, 'After a hard day's fighting we were ordered to carry out a night-attack against an entrenched position. We had to advance across 1300 yards of perfectly flat ground without cover of any kind, and under heavy rifle and machine gun fire. He was in command of a company and led his men most gallantly right up to the enemy's trench, which was taken by us. He was killed at the moment we entered the trench. He was killed instantly and was spared all suffering…We all loved him for his steadfast, cool courage and unruffled good fellowship at all times'.
Killed in Action between 4th April 1916 and 5th April 1916 aged 25.
XIII. L. 13. Amara War Cemetery, Iraq.
Shields Henry Wallace Lance Corporal 2216
6th Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment.
Henry Shields was born in October 1897 in Wolverhampton, the son of John Wallace Shields and Sarah Ann Shields. He was baptised on 26 May 1898 at St Philip’s Church, Penn Fields. In 1901 the family was living at 33 Victoria Road, Upper Penn, together with Henry’s younger sister Josephine and his maternal aunt Mary Wedge. By 1911 the household had moved to 18 Oak Street, Wolverhampton, and had grown with the arrival of Constance, Annie, Nellie, John, and Edna.
Henry enlisted in the 6th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment on 18 March 1914, then a Territorial battalion. At the time he was employed as a safe maker at Chubbs and still residing at 18 Oak Street. He joined his battalion in France on 19 August 1915.
On 28 November 1915, Henry received a gunshot wound through his right shoulder which paralysed him from the waist down while the battalion was holding front line trenches in the Hohenzollern Redoubt sector, near Loos. The 6th South Staffords had suffered devastating losses six weeks earlier during the failed assault on the Redoubt on 13 October 1915, and the battalion remained in this shattered and dangerous sector throughout November. Family photographs showing him lying in a wheeled invalid cart. He was discharged from the Army on 30 May 1916 because of his disablement. Henry was cared for at The Star & Garter Home, Richmond later the Royal Star & Garter Home which opened on 14 January 1916 to provide long term care for the severely disabled young men returning from the battlefields of the First World War.
Henry, known within the family as Harry died of septicaemia on 2 January 1918, aged 20.
ZZ. 5918 Richmond Cemetery, Surrey.
Stirling Alan Rifleman A/204366
12th Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps.
Alan was born 7th August 1895 in Walsall son of William and Emma Stirling. In 1901 the family were living at 225 Chapel Street Pelsall Walsall along with Alan's older sisters Emma, Alice and Maggie and younger sister and brother Annie and Donald. By 1911 the family had moved to Station Road, Aldridge and were joined by Florence, Connie, William, John, Beatrice and Mary. Alan was employed as a grocers errand boy. Alan's younger brother Norman was born in 1912.
At some point the family moved to live at 78 Ash Street which is why Alan is remembered on this memorial.
On 21st March 1918, the 12th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps was engaged in the opening day of the German Spring Offensive (Operation Michael), fighting in the rear zone, southeast of St Quentin, as part of the 14th (Light) Division. The German attack began at 5.30 a.m. with a massive bombardment across a fifty-mile front, followed by infantry infiltration through the British forward and battle zones. Amid the confusion and collapse of the line, Alan was reported missing, his body never recovered. He is presumed to have been killed in action on 21 March 1918.
His name is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, Panels 61–64, France.
Tildesley Harry Norman Rifleman 371281
8th Bn. London Regt (Post Office Rifles)
Harry Tildesley was born in July 1896 in Wolverhampton, the son of Roger and Mary Tildesley. He was baptised on 16 July 1896 at St James’s Church, Wolverhampton. By the time of the 1911 Census, the family was living at 29 Ash Street, Wolverhampton, together with Harry’s younger brothers Arthur, William, and Albert, and a 53-year-old servant, Sarah Evans. Roger Tildesley was employed as a flour mill foreman.
Harry was working as a telegraph messenger in his teens, and in September 1912 he entered the Postal Service as an assistant postman.
By 21–23 March 1918, Harry’s battalion was engaged in the opening phase of the German Spring Offensive (Operation Michael).
On 21 March, the battalion was positioned south of St Quentin, close to the Oise River and La Fère, with orders to defend the canal crossings.
At 04:30 a.m. on 22 March, the German assault struck the sector with overwhelming force.
Fighting continued through 23 March, with the battalion conducting a fighting withdrawal under intense pressure as German units broke through the armies forward and battle zones.
Casualties were extremely heavy approximately 300 men killed, wounded, or missing during the fighting of 22–25 March.
Unfortunately, Harry was one of these casualties, he was killed in action 23 March 1918 aged 21.
B.3. Iwuy Communal Cemetery, France.
Weaver Richard Corporal 8084
2nd Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment
Richard was born 7th August 1890 in Wolverhampton, the third son of Abraham and Alice Weaver of 30 Cleveland Street Wolverhampton. In 1901 they were living at 97 Ash Street, together with Richard’s brothers John and William and sisters Alice, Dorothy, Maud and Nellie. He attended St John’s School and later worked for Messrs. James Gibbons of Church Lane.
Richard enlisted in the Army 4th September 1907, before he enlisted, he was employed as a ‘brass caster. Richard served for four years in South Africa and Gibraltar; he was due to leave the Army in September 1914. However, he travelled to France with the BEF and was involved in the retreat from Mons and the battles of Marne and Aisne. He was wounded at Ypres on 25th October 1914 and died of his wounds three days later. 28th October 1914 aged 25.
A2.18. Ypres Town Cemetery, Belgium
Webster Jesse Petty Officer 201748
H.M.S. Cressy Royal Navy
Jesse was born 5th February 1883 in Wolverhampton son of Job and Maria Webster. Jesse had four older siblings Frank, Job, Maria and Polley and a younger brother harry.
Jessie joined the Royal Navy 20th October 1898 as a boy saloir, his first ship being HMS Impregnable. Jessie was promoted to Petty officer 27th September 1909, before his death Jessie had completed 16 years' service.
On the morning of 22 September 1914, three elderly cruisers of the Royal Navy’s 7th Cruiser Squadron HMS Aboukir, Cressy and Hogue were patrolling the North Sea.
U-9, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Otto Weddigen, spotted the British ships and moved to attack. She fired one torpedo at 06:20 at Aboukir which struck her on the starboard side; her captain believed she had hit a mine and called her sister ships to assist.
As HMS Hogue approached, her captain, Wilmot Nicholson, realized that it had been a submarine attack and signalled Cressy to look for a periscope although his ship continued to close on Aboukir as her crew threw overboard anything that would float to aid the survivors in the water. Having stopped and lowered all her boats, Hogue was struck by two torpedoes around 06:55 and capsized about ten minutes after being torpedoed and sank.
Cressy attempted to ram the submarine but failed and resumed her rescue efforts until she too was torpedoed at 07:20. As the other two ships had done, HMS Cressy took on a heavy list and then capsized before sinking at 07:55. Several Dutch ships began rescuing survivors at 08:30 and were joined by British fishing trawlers.
From all three ships 837 men were rescued and 62 officers and 1,397 ratings lost, 560 of those lost were from HMS Cressy, sadly Jesse being one of them.
Jessie was killed in action 22nd September 1914 aged 31.
Memorial Reference:1. Chatham Naval Memorial.
Whitlock Stanley Frederick Humphrey Private 28053
1st Bn Grenadier Guards
Stanley was born on 13 February 1889 at 13 Clark Street, Wolverhampton, the son of Frederick and Henrietta Whitlock. He was baptised on 10 March 1889 at St Mark’s Church, Wolverhampton.
In 1891 the family was still residing at 13 Clark Street, together with Stanley’s elder sister Hetty, his younger sister Ida, and fifteen-year-old Mary Williams, employed as the family’s servant. Frederick Whitlock was working as a printer’s manager.
By 1901 the household had moved to 19 Crawford Street. Ida had sadly died in 1892, but another daughter, Gladys, had been born in 1893. Mary Williams was no longer with the family and had been replaced by sixteen-year-old Mary Edwards. At some stage Stanley attended Wolverhampton Higher Grade School on Newhampton Road, where he is commemorated on the school’s war memorial.
In 1911 the family had moved again, this time to 15 Bath Road, Wolverhampton, and were assisted by a new servant, eighteen-year-old Nellie Chapel. Stanley was employed as a chartered accountant’s clerk.
Stanley married Elsie Lillian Taylor in Wolverhampton in December 1912. The couple lived at 21 Avondale Road, Wolverhampton, and had a daughter, Margaret Freda, born on 21 February 1917. Stanley left £355 to Elsie in his will.
On 12 October 1917, the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards was engaged in the First Battle of Passchendaele, operating in the Poelcappelle–Houthulst Forest sector as part of 3rd Guards Brigade, Guards Division, advancing over flooded ground against entrenched German positions.
Stanley was killed in action 12th October 1917 aged 28
Panel 9 Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.
