The name of Harry Ibberson appears on the Bushbury roll of honour and, unlike many other local men who served, there is no other information on the roll of honour about this man. The roll lists all local men who served, not just those who died.

The only possible local link I have been able to find is in the 1901 census, where I found a Harry Ibberson, born in London in about 1886, as a boarding in the home of James Malkin at 77 Merridale Street, Wolverhampton. The 15-year-old Harry was working as a clerk in a hardware factory. By 1911, however, this particular young man was listed as an inmate in the Church Army Homes at 187 Marylebone Road, London, where his former occupation was given as Clerk to the Corporation. The Church Army homes appear to have provided residential care and support for those facing unemployment. The same Harry Ibberson had also been admitted to the workhouse in Mile End, London, on 22 August 1895, listed as the “stepson of Sarah”.

I have not been able to confirm much further details, but at some point he must have returned to Wolverhampton to have appeared on the roll of honour. By process of elimination, I believe he is the Harry Ibberson who enlisted initially on 10 December 1915 in the North Staffordshire Regiment (number 164558), and later transferred to the Labour Corps. On 12 December 1918 he was discharged due to sickness, and was awarded the Silver War Badge (number B171623) on 28 April 1919. There is a Harry Ibberson of about the right age who died in Cannock in 1921, so this again may be the same man.

If anyone can fill in some of the gaps in this man’s life, I would greatly appreciate it!