Tags
Belgium, Cobden Street, France, Graiseley Row, Halletts Row, John Lees, Midland Counties Express, S J and E Fellows, South Staffordshire Regiment, Vulcan Works, work experience
The research for this blog post was conducted by work experience student, Erik Regan.
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John was born in Wolverhampton in 1891, the son of Thomas and Mary Ann Lees. In 1901, he was living with his parents at Court 1, Halletts Row, together with his sisters Margaret and Mary Jane. His mother died in 1905, so by 1911, he was living with his widowed father at 16 Cobden Street, Wolverhampton. John had become a labourer in a stamp shop in the hollowware trade, working for S. J. and E. Fellows at the Vulcan Works, Graiseley Row. His father remarried, to Emily Glenys Williams, in Wolverhampton in 1912.
In September 1914, John enlisted with the 8th Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 18920). He first served in France from 14 July 1915, but was killed in action on 11 December 1915 in Belgium. John is buried at Menin Road South Military Cemetery in Belgium. Notice of his death appeared in the Midland Counties Expresson 29 January 1916.
Samuel was born in Birmingham in 1883, and attended Dartmouth Street Schools. He married Kate Harwood in Aston in 1906, and by 1911, they were living at 13 Church Street, Wednesfield with their daughter, Alice, and son, Samuel. Samuel (senior) worked as an Axle Box Railway dresser for the Patent Axle Box Company, where he was employed for nine years. He briefly worked at James’s Metal Works in Wednesfield.
Cyril John Ingram: a sailor who died at the young age of 21. Cyril also known as Frederick was born on the 14th April 1894, he was an “enthusiastic” child according to The Express and Star of whom his parents were very proud of. He was educated in St Andrews Church of England Infant and Junior school and then became a sailor through his later years. Being a sailor, he sailed [on boats which included the] Ganges, Weymouth and the Thetis. He sailed on the majestic vessel “The Princess Irene” and served as a general seaman for the Royal Navy. His parents (Frederick Ingram and Beatrice Ingram) raised Cyril in a substantially large family which contained Cyril’s 4 siblings. His siblings were named Henry G., Frederick, Frank C. R. and Florence J. Ingram. His family resided within Wolverhampton, Court Road, Whitmore Reans. Cyril however sadly died through internal explosion of the vessel he worked on [the Princess Irene] in 1915 on the 27th of May.
Wolverhampton's War 