• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team
  • HI folks the server that hosts the site completely died including the Hdd's and backups.
    Luckily i create an offsite backup once a week! this has now been restored so we have lost a few days posts.
    im still fixing things at the moment so bear with me and im still working on all images 90% are fine the others im working on now
    we are now using a backup solution

Old Contemptibles

I had a great uncle, George Haylor who was with the Worcesters, and was killed at Hooge Belgium on June 16th.1915.
 
John

Your Great Uncle Pte. 8490 George Haylor is not on my database (he went to France on 24th November 1914 and is entitled to the 1915 Star, had he gone a few days before he would have been a 1914 Star man and one of the men I am researching). He enlisted in Brimingham aged 17 years 6 months on the 27th August 1909. He was also entitle to the British War and Victory Medals.

Regards

Peter
 
Peter, we have this letter sent to my wife's Grandmother about the 1914 Star that her husband had been awarded he was in the 3RD Battalion Worcesters1914.JPG
 
Hi Nick,

Thanks for the photo, George is one of the 2nd Battalion I am researching. He went to France with the 2nd Battalion in August 1914 later joining the 3rd after he had been wounded (1914) and was killed in action during the attack on Spanbroek Mill, Lindenhoek, Belgium.

During the attack on Thursday 12th March 1915 the men of the 3rd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment suffered heavy casualties with 9 officers and 77 other ranks killed. All but two of the officers are burried at Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery. All but four of the other ranks are remembered on a panel at Menin Gate Memorial at Ieper (Ypres).

Do you have a photograph of George in uniform?

Regards

Peter
 
Peter thanks for the reply, we don't have any pictures of him, and sadly the 1914 Star was stolen in a house robbery.
We do have his 'Small' book also his mobilization papers, and notification of his death, would be happy to send pictures of them if you're interested.

Nick
 
Nick,

Thanks for your offer, but just checked his folder and you have sent these to me already.

You may want to look at the following website

www.worcestershireregiment.com

Take a look on the forum under general enquires and you will find a Gemma with an interest in George (her Great Grandfather).

You may have to register.

Regards

Peter
.
 
Was pleased to spot this plaque in St. Martin's Church. Viv.
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    904.3 KB · Views: 20
Hello

Nice memorial plaque and not one I have seen before. I have been to the Old Contemptible's PH a few times and they have paintings of soldiers on their walls and the old contemptible sign hanging above the door. I have been told that soldiers using the old Snow hill train on their way to War and those returning often used the pub. Well worth a visit.

Steve R
 
The meetings of the Birmingham Branch of the Old Contemptibles Association were held at the Albion Hotel in Edmund Street and in 1953 Mitchells & Butlers renamed the Albion Hotel the "Old Contemptibles" in their honour.

Terry
 
Terry

I didn't know that, interesting fact and a great thing to do to honour the soldiers. It is a popular place, I go there a few time a year, steeped in history.

Steve R
 
My grandfather, Joseph Ashford should be on the list. He was with the 2nd Worcestershires and has the 1914 Star. He was from Aston.

Lilla
 
Hi Lilla,

Pte. 8465 Joseph Ashford is on my list. Can you give me any details regarding your Grandfather (birth date, when and who he married etc.) and if you have a photo of him in uniform. I do't have a great deal of information on him other than his MIC which gives the date 19th September 1914 when he went to France. He was entitled to the 1914 Star and British War and Victory Medals. Any info would be very much appreciated.

Regards

Peter
 
Hi Lilla,

Pte. 8465 Joseph Ashford is on my list. Can you give me any details regarding your Grandfather (birth date, when and who he married etc.) and if you have a photo of him in uniform. I do't have a great deal of information on him other than his MIC which gives the date 19th September 1914 when he went to France. He was entitled to the 1914 Star and British War and Victory Medals. Any info would be very much appreciated.

Regards

Peter


Hello Peter

I have the National Archive download of Joseph's medals, and as you say, he has the 1914 Star, War and Victory Medals.

Joseph was part of the BEF, although I have no idea what year he joined the army. He was a signalman.

I am not exactly sure of his date of birth. I think it was 28 March either 1885 or 1887. He married Lilla King.

At some point during the war he was wounded (shot in the foot) and was sent back to the UK. Nobody seems to know a date for this but of course he was sent back to the front. In May 1918 Joseph was captured at Pont Avers and eventually ended up in Dulmen camp in Westphalia. He had to work down the coal mines. He made it back home to Birmingham about a year after the war ended - everyone thought he was dead and he just turned up in Ladywood one day!

Joseph and Lilla went on to have 8 children, but when Joseph was missing his wife bought a coal merchants- L Ashford and Sons, based at the wharf in Icknield Port Road.

Sorry but the only photo I have of grandad is at a wedding I the fifties. I think my uncles all have the other photos.
Hope this is useful but if you discover anything else I would be grateful to know,

Lilla
 
Hi Lilla,

Many thanks for the information and I will be in touch should I find any more details regarding your Grandfather Joseph.

Regards

Peter

Just done a little more searching and your Grandfathers year of birth is 1887. Check the following for details of his PoW record (Red Cross).
https://grandeguerre.icrc.org/

Just type in his surname and scroll down to his records.

Again many thanks

Peter
 
My grandfather, Joseph Ashford should be on the list. He was with the 2nd Worcestershires and has the 1914 Star. He was from Aston.

Lilla
Hi I don't know if you'll get this but I'm married to Dave Ashford his dad was Frank Ashford you both share the same granddad. We're doing the family tree at the moment so if you need any information or just want to talk please get in touch. Thanks lovely.
 
Back
Top