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Balsall Heath memorial

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W

wam

master brummie
Mystery plaque.jpg
This memorial was found by someone in a skip and has been passed to other people who are trying to find out where it came from so that it can be relocated. Although most of the people listed come from Balsall Heath there are some on there from Bordesley and Kings Heath. From the picture itself, the plaque seems to have been made after the second world war (the piece at the bottom reads 1939-1945 Mason).

The plaque measures 80 cm by 55 cm, or 32 inches by 22 inches.


Edit. Work by the Balsall Heath History Society is ongoing to find out the memorial’s original home and to secure a new place for it in the future. BHF has also started to look into it’s history, as well as looking into the lives of the men named on the memorial, to support the valuable work already done.

This thread records any findings by BHF about the men listed.
 
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Edit. The collated document attached below gives details about the men named on the memorial . As BHF discovers any further information it will be recorded on this thread in a single post dedicated to the named soldier for future reference. Thank you to all those contributing to this research.

If you can add any further information about the men or the memorial, please post your comments on the original discussion thread via the link here. https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?threads/memorial-found-in-a-skip.49169/page-8

Thank you for your help.
 

Attachments

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Pte Leonard Glen Allder

Posted by Sospiri:
........... Leonard Glen ALLDER, a tram conductor who worked at Birmingham Gun Factory......

Posted by Viv:
b. 1895 Sparkbrook d. Age 22 Roeux France 1917 Killed in Action
Was with the Royal Warks 1st Battalion, service number 2365 so an early number. Became Lance Corporal. He enlisted in Birmingham
Son of Albert and Emily Allder of 111 Brunswick Rd

Posted by Pedrocut:
Birmingham Daily Post 11 May 1915... As it is listed that Leonard died in April 1916 and lies in Roeux, does it mean he returned to the Front ? RIP

31EA3961-19E1-4E77-A1ED-6731255A0277.jpeg
 
Bombardier Raymond Henry Bennett

Pedrocut posted:
May 1917 Birmingham Daily Post
image.jpeg

Mikejee posted
Company (R H Bennett was employed by) was William Sames Ltd, 21 Ombersley Road, pianoforte manufacturers
 
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Lt Harold Beresford

Viv posted:
810CD941-CE73-4DEE-99F5-56D72B96A75F.jpeg
From the Birmingham Mail June 1918
 
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Pte Charles Edwin Booton

He was a railway porter in 1911.

Viv posted:
b.1879 Kidderminster
service #2243 in 11th Battalion Royal Warks
d.11/7/16 age 37. Died of his wounds at the Somme.
Married to Lissie with 3 daughters and one son. Living at 53 Malvern St Balsall Heath in1911.
 
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Pte Harry B Boucher

Pedrocut posted:
In the Birmingham Daily Post for July 1918 Harry is posted as missing. The list says he died in June, so maybe later than July they received the sad news. RIP

E1FF1638-B7F2-4221-B9EC-0905CFFE775C.jpeg
 
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2nd Lt George William Bowater

Sospiri posted:
........... died after an operation. He's buried at Key Hill, but no mention of a previous occupation.

Viv posted:
George’s service number was #1029
 
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Cpl Fred Cross

Pedrocut posted:
Birmingham Daily Post July 1917 RIP
image.jpeg
 
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Sgt David Vaughan Evans

Posted by Pedrocut:
Birmingham Daily Post Dec3mber 1917

9945F53B-7BEE-4A7F-97C5-138609DD68F2.jpeg
 
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Pte Edward Sidney George

Viv added:
Also served with the RASC service #229811
b. 1896 Aston, Birmingham. Mother's maiden name Taylor
 
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Pte Albert James Giles

Posted by Viv:
He also served with the Kings Own Yorks Light Infantry (#25520). And when he was with the Machine Gun Corps (#9412) he was with the infantry.
His wife was Daisy Amy Wilkinson (formerly Giles - so married again after his death) of 283 Highgate Road Sparkbrook
He is buried at Hamel Mil Cemetery Beaumont Hamel
 
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Bombardier George Henry Giles

Viv posted:
........ was in the 307th brigade of the Royal Field Artillery (two service numbers: 3055 and 836443) He was born in 1893 and died 14/12/17. He was the son of E. J Giles of 78 Clifton Road Balsall Heath.
 
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Pte William Thomas Hanson

Posted by Pedrocut:
Birmingham Daily Post December 1917

19323DB0-A4CA-44BD-BB9D-671C969715E1.jpeg
 
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Sgt John Edward Hardman

Viv posted:
b1895 Balsall Heath. In 1911 he was living with his parents Edward and Martha Jane Hardman at 73 Edward Road Balsall Heath. He was a tailor's assistant.
He tried to join the Royal Worcesters (his number was 23459) but was discharged on the basis that he was unlikely to become an efficient soldier. It was said he had poor physique. At this point he describes himself as an 'agent' and his documentation states he was CofE.

It seems following discharge from the Worcs he was approved for the 16 Battalion Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry Manchester regiment. His number was 20053. The family address had by then changed to 24 Tindal Street Balsall Heath.
He was killed in action in France on 23/4/1917. At this point in time his mother was his next of kin living at 15 Cox Street West Birmingham.

Posted by Sospiri
........... last employed by Mr Hopkins of Long Street, Sparkbrook - it doesn't say in what capacity.

Pjmburns posted:
On the spreadsheet there is no cemetery for John Hardman here are the details from CWGC. He was 22 when he died.
724917BF-4D0A-4EB6-A53A-A03EDF6328E9.png
 
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2nd Lt Sidney Hirst

Viv added:
Served in the Royal Engineers and the RAF
Service #28240
 
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Pte Sidney Hutt

Viv added:
Sidney had two older brothers, was the son of Kate and Walter Edward Spurgeon Hutt. He was born in Weymouth. He married Elizabeth (Carter) in 1913. Their address was 100 Cox Street West, Balsall Heath. Before enlisting Sidney was a clerk for a hardware merchant. He served with the 6th battalion Princess Charlotte of Wales (Royal Berks)
 
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2nd Lt Frederick George Pearson

Posted by Pedrocut:
Birmingham Daily Post November 1918
9771A2DD-3A1F-451D-93FC-DBCF4E14191C.jpeg
 
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Alfred Pepperill/Pepperell (possibly incorrect spelling on memorial)

Pjmburns posted:
Alfred Pepperell gives his religion as Cong. on his enlistment papers. He served with the RAMC and was missing believed drowned.

He was a member of St John's ambulance which might explain why he was in the RAMC

Jonny posted:
An article in the Birmingham Mail of Wednesday 28 November 1917 states that Alfred Pepperell worked for the Birmingham Branch of the Liverpool, London and Globe Insurance Co. It also states that he was a member of the St. John's Ambulance Association.
 
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Wilson Stanley

Viv added:
Wilson had two older brothers; Wilfred and Herbert.
 
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Pte Leslie Edwin Smith

Posted by Pedrocut:
Birmingham Daily Post March 1917
D23E61B2-B192-4BD8-B6A4-2EC719C5ED6B.jpeg

Posted by Viv:
Leslie also served with the Oueens Own (Royal West Kents)
 
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Lance Crpl William John Stone

Viv posted:
William had two service numbers. In the Kings Royal Rifle Corps when he was a Private it was Y/220 and as Lance Corpl in the Rifle Brigade it was B203553
 
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