Kidderminster Town Memorial

[Kevin Lynott]

The main war memorial in Kidderminster was renovated two years ago and as a continuation there is an interested group who appeared in the local paper back in April asking for information about the men on the memorial. I have been researching the names on the memeorial and I have unearthed over 150 Kidderminster born men who are not commerated- as you know it was not compulsory to have a name put on the memorial.

I have had contact tonight with the interested group who tell me that the names of the previously unlisted Kidderminster born men will be commerated on the roll of honour including a high proportion of Worcestershire Regiment men.

I have reread this and it looks like I am bragging but it is meant in honour of the men of Kidderminster each of whom was better than me.


Kevin

[peter]

Hi Kevin,

Well done on researching those 150 extra names not on the war memorial. I would be interested to know if you have any 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment men amongst those you have found or on the Kidderminster War Memorial itself.

Regards

Peter

[Kevin Lynott]

Peter,

the following 2nd Bn men are named on the memorial

16.9.14 LEA Gerald
21.10.14 THOMASON John
24.10.14 PAYTON William
14.11.14 PUGH James
16.11.14 MILLICHAP William
20.11.14 ROBERTS George
5.12.14 CURTIS William
12.3.15 EVANS John
15.5.15 CHATTERTON Frederick
16.5.15 WALL Alfred
20.5.15 MASON Ernest
26.9.15 GRIFFITHS Archibald
26.9.15 HARRIS Charles
26.9.15 JONES James
26.9.15 MOULE Sidney
26.9.15 PRICE Benjamin
4.10.15 BARBER George
7.10.15 CHATTERTON Charles
9.4.16 LEIGH William
2.7.16 HARRISON Edmund
15.7.16 MORAN Alfred
21.8.16 HARRIS Ernest
18.2.17 WATKINS John
21.5.17 DIXON John
21.5.17 ROBERTS Cyril
21.5.17 STRIDE Charles
21.5.17 WALDRON Sidney
26.9.17 BROOKE Stanley
22.10.17 COSS Samuel
29.12.17 EVANS John
14.4.18 WYER Francis
15.4.18 CARPENTER George
17.4.18 DYAS Stanley
17.4.18 JORDAN Henry
29.9.18 BOULTER William



The following are Kidderminster born but not listed

26.10.14 MATTHEWS Frederick William
10.3.18 JASPER Arthur James

Regards

Kevin

[peter]

Kevin

Many thanks for the names and good luck with the rest of your research.

Regards

Peter

[peter]

Kevin

I have a number of the names you have supplied on my database and one of interest is Captain Gerald Ernest Lea. What connection did he have with Kidderminster? Also of interest is Pte. 5720 Alfred Wall, CWGC give a date of 15.5.15 for his death but Soldiers Died give a date of 16.5.15.

Regards

Peter

[Kevin Lynott]

Peter,

Gerald Lea was from a local business family. He was the youngest son of His Honour Judge Harris Lea who died in February 1915 and Marion Lea. He was commissioned in 1897 and served in South Africa. He was originally posted to the 1st Bn in India but because of his wifes ill-health he was posted to the home Bn the 2nd. He had married Brenda Wafworth in 1912, she later remarried becoming Mrs Baily and lived at Breinton Court, Hereford. He had 3 brothers, one of whom served as a Major and Percy the second son who was a director of Lea Ltd.

Reference Alfred Wall, you are right his date of death was the 15th May. Thank goodness you enquired, it highlighted an error in my original recording of the information from over 11 years ago. My brow is furrowed with the thought that should I be rechecking the dates of deaths of over 600 men I have have identified from the memorial?................because of two names you enquired about I have got one wrong....argh.

Kevin

[peter]

Kevin

Many thanks again for the additional information.

Regards

Peter

[allanp]

Hi Kevin

I read your post with great interest. Well done researching these names. To have them perminatly recorded is excellant. You should be very proud.

I have just looked through my Casualty database to see how many men are shown as living/coming from Kidderminster. I have no idea how many of the 631 names were born in Kidderminster. I have not checked how many are duplicates ie. wounded more than once or missing, died. Let me know if you want me to make a list for you.

Regards Allan

[Kevin Lynott]

Allan,

thankyou, I managed to get through all of the Kidderminster Shuttles for 14-18 about 10 years ago so I have managed to pad out a lot more on each of the named.

I have just handed over my research on the 600 odd names I have identified to the committee, bit of furrowed brow situation with the committee because: for example the memorial commerates ANDREWS W. There are in fact two, being Walter Pte 16917 10th Bn RWF 76th Brig 3rd Div KIA 13.11.16 and William Pte 201860 MM 2-7th Bn Worcs Reg KIA 24.10.17 both having very strong Kidderminster links and there are 11 other instances.

Kevin

[smith1944]

Hi Kevin

Following recent correspondence I will look with delight to see Cpl W W Hartwell on your list. I have received some information from Allan that Walter W Hartwell's name was mentioned in the Worcester Herald and he has kindly sent me a copy. So delighted to get these wonderful responses from the forum. Keep up the good work. The Hartwell family were all born and living in Kidderminster and I still have a relative in the Wolverley Area so would be pleased to see Walter' s name.

Do you know any details about Genetta M Webb whom Walter was married to. I see they were married in April 1915 but do not know where she was born etc. Any information on this would be good.

Doreen
Smith1944

[Kevin Lynott]

Doreen
no sorry I do not have any any more information. There is another Hartwell on the memorial, David of the 1st Bn Worcs Reg who DoW on 23rd November 1917.
Kevin

[Simon_Fielding]

Hi Kevin -

There used to be a list online of all the men mentioned in the Kidderminster Shutle 1914-1918 - I can't find it anywhere - do you have a link??

Simon

[Kevin Lynott]

Hello again Simon,

I know the list you are talking about, a fellow with more patience than me, went through all the microfilms of the Kidderminster Shuttle 1914-18 and did an index of all Kidderminster men mentioned in it who had been KIA/DOW or died on active service. I can't remember the source whether it was from his own website or was appended to another website sorry. Have you searched for it on this forum?

Regards

Kevin

[Simon_Fielding]

Hi Kevin -

I think it was on this website which doesn't seem to be working:

www.smilodon.plus.com/WarMems/#WOR

Wish I'd cut and pasted it now!!

Simon

[corona]

Hi Simon,
This may be of some value, or not, in your quest to find the Index Of Great War Casualties from the Kidderminster Shuttle.
It was compiled by ROBERT MICHAEL PUGH IN 2001 and could be found on the website you indicate.It has not been available for some time.
He may have been the Robert Pugh who was on the staff of Franche Middle School in the early 1990s.
Perhaps he deposited a copy in Kidderminster library or with Kidderminster and District Archaeological and Historical Society.
Don Gilbert, a member of the Society, has produced a number of military booklets on local military topics.
Regards,
corona.