Arthur Carr as a boy soldier not long after enlistement

Arthur Carr was born on 20th February 1889 in Kingsley, the son of Mary Jane Carr, a Domestic Servant; his father is unknown. (Birth Certificate).  Arthur was raised by his Grandfather Benjamin Carr and Grandmother Lydia Carr with their own children, James (b1851), William (b1856), John (b1858), Emila (b1860), Phoebe Ann (b1862), Mary Jane (b1864) and Abel (b1867).  In 1891 the family were living in High Street, Kingsley, near the Swan Inn.  (1891 Census Record).

By 1901 Arthur, then aged 12years, was at ‘The County of Stafford Certified Industrial Boys School’ at Caverswall, where he is described as a ‘Scholar and Shoemaker’.  (1901 Census).  Certified Industrial Schools were provided for vagrant, pauper or orphaned children aged 7 – 14 years to provide a basic education and some occupational skills.

In 6th February 1905 Arthur Carr, then aged 15 years and 11 months, enlisted in the Seaforth Highlanders for a period of 12 years.  During his initial medical examination he was described as 4 feet 11 inches tall, weighing 82 lbs (less than 7 stone) with a 30 inch chest. His physical development was considered ‘Good’ and he was endorsed as ‘Fit for military service’.  There is no record of a parent or guardian being required to agree to his enlistment.  (Army Records)

Private Arthur Carr, Service No. 9163, was allocated to the 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, based at Fort George, near Inverness, Scotland.  It would appear that he spent the early years of his army service at various Scottish / UK barracks.

Arthur Carr (rear row standing centre)

In August 1914 the 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders were deployed to France / Belgium as part of the British Expeditionary Force and saw action during a number of early campaigns.  Arthur Carr saw active service during the 1914 battles of Marne and Aisne. (Personal Pipe Inscription).

An undated 1915 article in the Staffordshire Weekly Sentinel titled ‘Men from Kingsley Serving’ states, ‘Bandsman (Private) Arthur Carr of the Seaforth Highlanders has a long service to his record.  His letters home have always been of the cheeriest disposition and only a short time ago he said he would not be surprised if one of his chums, Fred Cope, arrived in the trenches with British Fleet as at that time there was enough water to float the ships.  He has been in several engagements and fortunately he came through them alright’.

On 24th May 1915 the regiment were in front line action at Ypres when Arthur Carr was shot in the left knee causing him a serious injury.  He was returned to the UK as a war casualty three days later.  (Army Records).

During a later medical examination Arthur Carr was diagnosed as ‘Hit by bullet in the left knee.  Injury to sub tibial nerve.  There is ankle drop.  No active movement of the ankle or toes’.  Arthur was discharged from the army on 17th November 1915 aged 26 years as being ‘No longer physically fit for war service’. He was awarded a disability war pension of 12 shillings and 6 pence per annum.  At this stage Arthur gave next of kin as Grandfather Benjamin Carr, Grandmother Lydia Carr, Uncle Abel Carr and his ‘Intended Place of Residence’ as 44 High Street, Kingsley, (Army Records).  The Old Smithy at 44 High Street, Kingsley, was the then home of William Carr and his family. (Same surname but apparently unrelated).

During December 1915 a charity football match and other fund raising events were held in Kingsley to raise funds for Arthur, a total of £10 was collected for his benefit.  (Cheadle Post and Times 24th December 1915).

It is believed that Arthur Carr was fitted with some sort of footwear / apparatus to assist his walking, he initially walked with a limp and used a stick.  It is believed he remained in the area for some time possibly at 11 Hazles Cross Road, (1918 Voters List).  During the period 1916 – 1922 he attended a number of pension related medical examinations in Stoke on Trent.

On 15th February 1923 his case was considered by a Special Medical Board at Birmingham who concluded, “Walks well without a limp. T & T and operation scar left leg. Practically no movement of ankle joint.  Foot held in position.  Slight plantar flexion.  No voluntary movement of toes.  No wasting of of the thigh or calf. No secondary deformation of foot or toes. Slight general wasting of the foot. No anesthesia.  Finding:  GSW Left leg. 25% Pension.  Signed  (Illegible)”

On 4th November 1922 Arthur Carr married Elsie Annie Mills, born Kingsley 1891, at St Werburghs Church, Kingsley, at that time Arthur was living in Kingsley Holt.  (Marriage Certificate).  It seems highly probable that in the period October – December 1924 they had a child Jane Carr who sadly died aged about 12 months. (Birth and Death Registers).

At some stage Arthur and Elsie Carr moved to the Manchester area living at 4 Abbey Road, Droylsden.  Arthur worked at Richard Johnson & Nephew Ltd, Forge lane, Bradford, Manchester, a local specialist engineering company.  Arthur and Elsie had a daughter called Millie. (Marion Wilgar). Elsie Carr died in the period April – June 1955 aged 64 years.  Arthur Carr died in the period April – June 1964 aged 75 years.  (Ashton under Lyne Deaths Register).  Millie never married nor had any children, she herself died some years ago.  It would seem that Arthur Carr has no living descendants. (Marion Wilgar).

Footnote 1:  The Seaforth Highlanders was an historic infantry regiment of the British Army, mainly associated with large areas of the northern Highlands of Scotland. The regiment served in Britain’s later colonial wars, in Egypt (1882), Sudan (1885), India (1895) and the Boer War (1899-1902). The Seaforth Highlanders have varied in size from two battalions to seventeen battalions during the Great War. After several mergers, with the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders they formed the Queen’s Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons), which later amalgamated with the Gordon Highlanders to form the Highlanders (Seaforth, Camerons and Gordons), they have existed since 2006 as 4th (Highlanders) Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.  (Wikipedia)

Footnote 2:  At the outbreak of the Great War the 2nd Battalion was sent to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). As part of the10th Brigade, 4th Division, it took part in the retreat from Le Cateau, the Battle of the Marne and the subsequent chase of the German forces to the River Aisne. In mid-September 1914, the battalion was heavily involved in the Battle of the Aisne, suffering heavy casualties.  (Wikipedia)

Footnote 3:  In November 1915 prior to his medical discharge from the army, Arthur Carr gave his ‘Next of kin’ as his Grandfather Benjamin Carr, Grandmother Lydia Carr, and Uncle Abel Carr.  This is curious given his Grandfather Benjamin had died in 1905 and his Grandmother Lydia had died in 1906. (Army Records and Ancestry)

Footnote 4:  In November 1915 prior to discharge from the army, Arthur Carr gave his ‘Intended Place of Residence’ as 44 High Street, Kingsley, (Army Records), the then home of William and Annie Carr and their family.  Arthur was apparently taken in by the family.  Dorothy Carr (born 1921) was the youngest of William and Annie’s five children. Dorothy later married and became Dorothy Gibson.  She and her husband and brother William Carr remained living at 44 High Street, Kingsley, until about 1996.  Dorothy, now aged 94 years, is presently at The Vicarage Care Home, Vicarage Road, Tean.  (Family History).

Footnote 5:  A number of artefacts were given by Arthur Carr to William Carr, these included a ceremonial silver embossed stick, a brass Princess Mary Box and contents, (a 1914 Christmas present from public funds based on an idea initiated by the 17 year old Princess Mary) and a pipe which is believed to have been personally inscribed by Arthur Carr with the Seaforth Highlanders regimental crest and brief details of his war campaign ‘1914 – Marne – Aisne’.  These artefacts were later passed on to William’s oldest son, Roland Carr, and later to his grandson Donald Carr, who retains the items as treasured family heirlooms.

Arthur Carr’s Princess Mary Tin and contents (Very rare)

Arthur Carr’s Walking Cane and Inscribed Pipe

James Millward was born in around 1891 in the Dilhorne area to parents James and Elizabeth. He was ultimately one of 7  brothers and he also had 5 sisters. Three other children died after birth.

In 1901 at the census the family were still resident in Dilhorne with his father’s occupation given as a below-ground coal miner, ten years earlier he had been a general labourer.By 1911, the family had moved to the Wagon and Horses Public House where James senior was listed as the Innkeeper on his own account. James junior was employed as a coal miner more than likely at Foxfield Colliery.

James who was unmarried volunteered to join the army it is thought in 1914  following Kitchener’s call for volunteers. Family history tells us he went to join with a good friend named Clifford Salt who turns out to be the brother of John William Salt who died in November 1918 whilst serving in the Leicestershire Regiment. The Cheadle and Tean Times newspaper dated 2nd October 1914 refers to James Millward as having joined up.

James signed up first but then Clifford had second thoughts and didn’t! James seemed to get over this as he remained friends with Clifford after the war.

Whilst what we know about James is that he served with the East Yorks his family believe that he joined the North Staffordshire Regiment first. It was often the case that men would join their local regiment but then find that they were transferred soon after as replacements after heavy losses.

This seems the case with James as after the war his regiments medal roll shows that several men whose  number’s preceded or proceeded his and were killed are referred to as ex-North Staffs. The East York’s war diary refers to being reinforced by men from the North Staffordshire Regiment following heavy losses during the second battle of Ypres which took place between 22nd April 1915 and 25th May 1915.

Unfortunately James nor the others service records survive to confirm this for sure.

James’ medal record shows he entered France on 8th May 1915 as a member of the East Yorkshire Regiment.

He saw action on the Western Front up until January 1916 when the battalion was transferred to modern day Salonica in Greek Macedonia where they fought the pro German Bulgarian forces.

James Millwards Mention in Dispatches Certificate

During his time in Salonika he was mentioned in dispatches indicating that he had performed to a high standard worthy of mention in a Generals Dispatch from the front

Disease and illness accounted for many casualties during their time there, indeed more than those caused by the fighting.

It was during this period that James was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

At the end of the war James returned home and in 1921 married Violet Harrison who’s father was Adam Harrison one of the wardens at St John’s Church Kingsley Moor.

He returned to work at Foxfield Collery whilst later taking on the licence at the Wagon and Horses public house just as his father had  some years before him.

In 1954 the family had set up home at nearby Victoria Cottages and James was still working at Foxfield Colliery to which he cycled.

Tragically in 1954 when aged around 64 years he was killed whilst cycling to work.

He and Violet had ten children one of whom is the mother of Martin Clewlow a good friend to the project who had a very keen interest in the first world war and militaria in general.

James Millward is remembered on the tablet unveiled in 1920 at St John’s Chapel  and dedicated to all the men who served in the war and were from the Kingsley Moor area.

In addition to James two of his brothers Bertie and Alfred also served in the war and are likewise on the tablet although little is known of their service.

George Wheawall is the man wit an X above his head. Harry Woodhead is more than likely on this photo.

Informing  a loved one of a death even by letter is very difficult and receiving such a letter even though the official telgram would have come through must have been unimaginable. We are grateful to the family of George Wheawall who have shared with us the letter sent to his mother by his best friend.

Harry Woodhead joined the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment like George – their service numbers were within 400 of each other. Harry joined a few weeks before George as in September 1915 he saw action in Gallipoli whilst it was two months later that George arrived in Egypt more than likely as a replacement following losses.

They transferred at some point to the 7th Batallion Linconshire Regiment with them having servive numbers very close to each other suggesting they moved at the same time.

His letter speaks highly of George and the plans they both had after the war.

When transcribing the letter I wondered what became of Harry Woodhead ? Well as often during the First World War there was a sad end to the story as Harry Woodhead died of wounds weeks before the end of the war on 21st August 1918.

No 43186 A Company
7 Lincoln Regiment
BEF 9/8/1817

Dear Mrs Wheawall

It is with sad regret that I write these lines to inform you of the death of your son George who was killed on the morning of the [illegible – but might say by sniper ] might I [illegible] consolation to you to know that his death was instantaneous & he suffered no pain & and he is buried a good way behind the line along with another comrade who was killed same morning.

I have known George for over two years & a better chum I never had he had promised to bring me to Kingsley after the war & he was was coming to have a week with me down in Derbyshire & I can tell you he was practically like a brother to me & to all the boys in the platoon.

After he came back off leave his greatest wish was that the war would soon be over so that he could come home to his little lads & make men of them.

If there is anything that I can do to help you heal ? This sad burden I will only be too willing to do it for you hoping you will allow me & all the boys of the platoon to express our deepest sympathy in the great burden you have to bear & I sincerely hope that you will not take it too much to heart & I trust the Lord will give you strength to bear this sad loss.

[illegible line]
All his personal belongings which have been handed over to our Guard Room.

Hoping you will allow me to be yours sincerely

[initial illegible] Woodhead No 43186
A Company 7th Lincoln Regt
BEF France

Over the last few month’s Pauline King one of our volunteers has been transcribing as series of letters written by Ernest from the front. Some of his letters are mundane others describe what it was like to be shelled and shot at.

Towards the end of 1916 the letters covered a span of 12 months and the effects of life at the front were beginning to show. His writing had become less legible and neat with poor grammar. He had spent time in the hospital and had no envelopes to send his letters in, had run out of cigarettes and due to constant moves could not post his letters.

The changes Ernest experienced were perhaps symptomatic of how the country and the armed forces had been worn down by over 2 years of war.

Hos last letter is written just before Christmas 1916. He clearly would have written more – did they get sent ? We will never know but what we do know was that on 9th April 1917 Ernest was killed by a shell whilst repairing a road.

His story is HERE

Sept 1/1916

Dear Freda,

Just a few lines hoping this will find you all in the best of health as it leaves me at present. I received your letter today Aug 1st, and was very pleased to hear from you and to hear that all are going on well at home, we are having some very wet weather over here and it makes it rather bad for us. I hope it will soon clear up again we have had very near two weeks of it now. I am sorry about those silk cards I promised you. I have not yet been where I could buy any for a long time, but I won’t forget you, just where I am now there is no chance of getting any helmets. Two or three weeks ago I could have had plenty of them and all kinds of relics belonging to the Germans, but I did not store any up. You see it’s very awkward to carry any extra things on us in this job. When we get where helmets are flying about it takes us all our time to look after ourselfs, its generally a hot shop, still I may be able to get you one before this war is over. Remember me to your Mother and Dad also to Reg and the children, perhaps I may be able to come over to see you soon, but I’ll let you know more later on. That bit of poetry was very good that you enclosed. I am all right for tobacco and pipes at present thank you very much. I must close now soon more this time hoping to see you all again soon with best love from E Upton

Sept 26th 1916

Dear Freda,

Just a few lines hoping this will find you all in the best of health as it leaves me at present. I am sorry I have not wrote to you before but the reason is I thought I should get a letter from you any day. I expect it has been held up at the Batt. I have been down here at a nice sea side place now for two weeks, and had a good enough time of it, plenty of food and nothing to do only enjoy myself on the sands. Our doctor sent a few of us out of the Batt for a rest we were a little run down. When the sea is clear we can see the coast of old England quite plain, it looks as if one could cross it. I think we are leaving for the Batt again tomorrow Wednesday 27th. I shall not be sorry in one sense because I believe the passes have started and there is only one to go before me on the roll, so that looks alright for me. I should very much like to see you all again. Remember me to your Mother and Dad also to Reg and the children, tell them I may be strolling round their way soon. There are plenty of fish here of all kinds I wish I could send over a few samples with this letter. There is a fishing village here too it’s very interesting to watch the old fishermen with their boats, also the women young and old stooping under great baskets of fish. We have had some grand weather while we have been here. I bet when the boys see us again at the Batt they will think we are recruits for we look so well and getting fed up. It’s surprising what it will do for you when in a quiet spot out of the noise of the guns. I bet we shall jump a bit when we hear the first she’ll or two after this. I must close now so no more this time with love to you all From E Upton Hoping to see you soon.

Nov 14/1916

Dear Freda,

Just a few lines hoping this will find you all in the best of health as it leaves me at present. I received your letter today the 13th and was very pleased to hear from you. You must excuse me being late in answering, you see it has taken your letter a week to reach me, our letters are delayed a lot lately for some reason or another, I shall be glad when its all over. We are having a lot of rain over here now, night and day it makes it bad for us fellows. Remember me to your Mother and Dad, Reg and the children, also to Miss E Austin in fact give my love to all the girls at the Mill. There’s not many there but what knows me, I wish I was rushing one or two of them to the Town Hall now instead of being  here, when you write again would you mind putting a envelope or two in your letter. I have plenty of writing paper but no envelopes. Remember me to all my friends there are a few I have not wrote to yet. I cannot get an envelope to post my letters in. Remember me to Arthur Spooner when you see him. He works in the same Mill as you tell him I am going on all right at present, I must close now so no more this time with best love, from E Upton Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx I don’t like asking you but I am completely without tobacco, I wish you would send me a bit of any kind would save my life

Dear Freda

Just a few lines hoping this will find you all in the best of health as it leaves me at present. I received your letter on Saturday night and was very pleased to hear from you. Please excuse me being a little late in answering your letter, but I am rather pressed for time just at present, I hope things are all going on well at home. Remember me to your Mother and Dad and the children. You wish to know when I am coming over to see you. It will be some weeks yet perhaps just nine weeks time. Luton has not writen to me yet. I sent him a card the other day. That police job will just suit him. Remember me to my Mother when you call in. I hope she keeps in good health. Tell her I shall not be alway before I am over now. I don’t think there is anything I want thank you, without its a bit of bacca I run short of that at times, when you write please, put an envelope in the letter. The mice have eaten all the lot up that you sent me some weeks ago. I must close now so no more this time with best love from E Upton Xxxxxxxxxxx

Dear Freda,

Just a few lines hoping this will find you all in the best of health as it leaves me at present. I received your letter today the 13th and was very pleased to hear from you. I have been in the hospital now for three days but I hope to be out again soon. Don’t be alarmed its nothing serious in fact I believe I shall be out again in a few days and quite well again. Remember me to your Mother and Dad also to the children. We have had some very hot weather out here lately, we are getting as brown as bricks. I hope to see you soon my turn for the leave is very close now, I am glad you like Green Dale it’s a very nice place. I wish I was there now. I am glad your Brothers are not old enough for soldiers for this war is a little bit off, it is no picnic I am tell you. We get some very hot times of it. I have not written home since I have been in this hospital I don’t think I shall tell them at all, for I shall be out in a few days and it’s no use upsetting my Mother over a trifle like this. Please address letters as usual, I shall get them if I do stay here for a day or two. I must close now so no more this time with love to you all, from E Upton Xxxxxxxxxxx Excuse paper this is all I have got

Dear Freda

Just a few lines hoping this will find you all in the best of health as it leaves me at present, I am going on fine again now and have been out of the hospital for some days now with my Batt, you must excuse me being late in writing to you, but we been in the March now for some seven days and are still on the move, we cannot post any letters till we get settled down, that may be a day or two yet, but I am writing this ready to post when we do get to the end of our march, this is Sunday 17th December. I have several letters in my pocket that I wrote a week ago and could not post them, remember me to your Mother Dad Reg and the children tell them I am going on very well at present, also to all my friends thank Miss Austin  for her letters tell her I will drop her a line as soon as I get the chance, the weather over here is very cold, but it’s better than rain, I got your letter dated Dec 8th alright and was very pleased to hear from from you, I am sorry to hear E Fairbanks getting wounded, I must close now so no more this time with love to you all from E Upton

Wishing you all a merry Xmas and a happy new year.

Previously we have published two other sets of letters written by Ernest Upton from the front starting in 1915. This third series takes us from the spring of 1916 to the summer of that year. His letters are shorter and gone are the proper addressing of where he is with just a basic date and Dear etc.

He mentions coming home on leave and missing out on a pass. There is quite a jump from April to August – the assumption is he was still sending letters but that they have no survived.

To read about Ernest Upton’s story click HERE

The two previous Letters from the Front can be found HERE and HERE

We are once more very grateful to Pauline King one of our volunteers for taking the time to transcribe Ernests letters.

23/3/16

Dear Freda,

Just a few lines hoping this will find you in the best of health as it leaves me at present. I received your letter today 22nd and was very pleased to hear from you. I am going on very well, we have moved back from the firing line now for a rest, so we are taking things easy for a bit. The passes have started again now so I shall not be long now before I am over for a few days. Remember me to your Mother and Dad and the children, also to my Mother and Dad and Ethel, Jack and Doris. We are having a bit of good weather now the sun shining is a treat; it’s a nice change from the frost and snow we have been having. Remember me to Luton when you see him, as he got that Police job at Alton yet. I must close now for I have got to be on parade in a few minutes time so no more this time with love From E Upton

26/3/16

Dear Freda,

Just a few lines hoping this will find you in the best of health as t leaves me at present. I received your letter today sun 26th and was very pleased to hear from you. We are down for our rest now, well out of the noise. I think the passes will increase now, and send a larger number over at a time. If they do I shall be over in a few weeks time, remember me to my Mother and Dad also to Ethel Jack and Doris when you call in. I will send you a few silk worked post cards the next time I write. I cannot get any just now or I would send you some in this letter, remember me to your Mother and Dad also the children, tell them I hope to see them soon. I must close now so no more is time Best love From E Upton Xxxxxxxxxx Excuse writing I have had to write this in a hurry.

4/4/16

Dear Freda,

Just a few lines hoping this will find you in the best of health as it leaves me at present. I received your letter this morning and was very pleased to hear from you. I am sorry to hear of your mother’s illness it came quite a shock to me. I could never think of your Mother being ill some how, she was always so healthy and strong. I hope this letter will find her much better and some thing like her self again. Remember me to her, and your Dad also the children, the passes have started again so I shall be out in about six weeks time if they keep on. It is a good thing for your Mother that you are growing up, you will be a great help to her, for there is plenty of work to do on a farm, remember me to all my friends at Alton. I must close now so no more this time with love to you all From E Upton Trusting this will find your Mother better

April 13/1916

Dear Freda,

Just a few lines hoping this will find you all in the best of health as it leaves me at present. I received your letter to day the 13th and was very pleased to hear from you. I am very pleased to hear that your Mother is better. I hope she will soon be her old self again, I am going on very well, we are still on our rest and having a decent time of it, remember me to your Mother and Dad also Reg and the children also to Will Burton and Luton. I shall not be very long now before I come over to see you all that is all being well. I should like to see you all again remember me to my Mother and Dad Jack and Doris, Ethel when you call in.

I must close now, I have to be on parade in a few minutes so no more this time with love to you all from E Upton Please excuse short letter

April 23rd 1916

Dear Jack, Bella and Freda

Just a few lines hoping this will find you in the best of health as it leaves me at present. I received letter from Freda dated 19th April and was pleased to hear from you, I am very pleased to hear that you are mending. I hope you will soon be well and fit again. I am writing to you this time, Freda says she is leaving Miss Barnett’s on 1st May so its no use directing my letter there. Our rest is about up now so I expect we shall start business again now anytime. I believe it will be a little brisk too this time, the passes have been suspended again for how long, I don’t know, its just my luck I am only four off now on the roll for leave, if they had kept up I should have been home and back again by now. Remember me to Reg and the children, tell them I shall see them some time all being well. We have had a lot of heavy rain this last week I hope it will clear up very soon, everywhere is up to the ankles in dirt. I must close now I have to be on parade in a few minutes time, so no more this time with love to you all from E Upton Please excuse short letter Freda asked for one of my photos I am afraid I cannot get any taken out here and I have none by me, I will have some taken when I come over

Aug 22/1916

Dear Freda

Just a few lines hoping this will find you in the best of health as it leaves me at present. I received your letter and photo quite safe today the 21st of August and was very pleased to hear from you, thank you very much for the photo, I think it is a very good one of you, I notice you have not got the old smile on, by jove you seem to have grown quite a woman, since I saw you last. Remember me to your Mother and Dad also Reg and the children. We are having some very nice weather over here, it seems a shame that men should kill one another for its a treat to live on such days as these, I hope this was will end soon, so that I may get back to the old country once again, and be amongst you all again. Remember me to my friends also to Mother and Dad Jack Doris Ethel when you see them, I must close now so no more this time with best love From E Upton Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Please excuse short letter

(Left to Right Back to front) Colin Capewell, Frederick, Ernest and William Bradshaw

Whilst this project is mainly focused on researching the deaths and lives of the 28 men on our memorial it also has a lesser but equally important aim to record those men who served and survived the war to return home often with scars both physical and mental.

One of the pleasures of our work has been meeting people  who are justifiably proud of their relatives. One such man is Peter Capewell who is the nephew of Colin Capewell. We first became aware of Peter after he had a story published in the Cheadle and Tean Times newspaper. Unfortunately, his contact details were not known other than he lived in Tean.

Undeterred a scan of the telephone directly revealed a possible link with the same name and he was duly called and it was our Peter Capewell. Peters father was Ernest Capewell.

Another relative of Colin Capewell was found quite by chance. Yvonne Eady lives in Northampton and is the granddaughter of Frederick Capewell who was the brother of Colin and Ernest Capewell. We got to know Yvonne after one of the project team met her in Kingsley looking for the war memorial.

Both Yvonne and Peter have provided a wealth of background information to the project and we are very grateful for their help.

At the turn of the twentieth-century families were still large and potentially there would be several brothers. The Great War saw many brothers joining the forces and tragically families losing more than one son or brother was very common.

The Capewell brothers all served in the war. Colin and Ernest joined on the same day and had sequential army service numbers. Colin served right up until 1918 when he died as the result of a poison gas attack. His story is recorded Here.

Ernest served in the 9th Batallion North Staffordshire Regiment , the 1st Battalion and then back to the 9th Battalion. Colin served in just the 9th Battalion. We do know  that he entered the France on 28th July 1915 on the same date as his brother and both saw active service.

He served throughout the war but in December 1917 he was injured receiving a shrapnel wound to the leg and at the time of Colin’s memorial service was recorded as being in hospital in Blackburn still recovering from it indicating how severe a wound it was.

Peter tells how his father never talked about the war or his service in it never mind his injury. Peter has the piece of shrapnel that was removed from Ernest’s leg in a gauze bag. It was apparently pinned to his pillow after the operation. The 9th was a pioneer battalion engaged in building defensive works and tramways. It was not an easy life and men were exposed to danger from enemy action. At the end of 1917 the commanding  officers report listed that 7 officers and 54 other ranks had been killed during the year with 1 officer and 25 other ranks missing and over 300 wounded. He added that 500 men had been sent to the infantry during the year being replaced by Scottish Royal Engineers. He concluded  that the battalion was no longer representative of the area it came from. During the year the battalion had been involved in action at Neuve Chappelle, Loos, Arras, Messines Ridge and Ypres.

We don’t know when Ernest moved to the 1st Battalion but its likely he could have been one of those transferred to the infantry. His casualty record merely records his regiment and not the Battalion he served in.

Peter has his fathers medals and also a Princess Mary Tin that was issued to all troops on active service for Christmas 1914. The tins contained  tobacco for smokers and there was also a non-smokers tin.

The younger brother was Frederick, who joined the Duke of Cornwalls Light Infantry according to the Cheadle and Tean Times in April 1916. Prior to that he worked at Brittains Paper Mill in Cheddleton which he to returned to after the war. His service record does not survive but we know that on 30th November 1917 he was taken prisoner by the Germans  at Cambrai and was held in prison camps for the rest of the war. Prior to this he was wounded in December 1916 with his name appearing on the January 1917 casualty list.

The war diary for the 7th Batallion Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry makes very interesting reading. Not only does the diary lists numbers killed, wounded and missing it actually names them and dates the entries. It records that Joseph Capewell was wounded on 15th December 1916 during a German attack. On the evening of the 14th December their  lines were shelled and the Germans were seen to be coming out of their trenches, but were driven back by counter shell fire. The diary lists two men were wounded however the appendix of those wounded only shows one on 14th and then J Capewell (See later on re this name difference)  on the 15th – he was either wounded after midnight or was one of the two men wounded referred to but did not report his wound until the next day. It does state he was in C Company.

On 30th November 1917  the Duke of Cornwall’s were subject to a fierce German counter-attack which is well documented in the War Diary. They were in trenches at Gouzeacourt south-west of Cambrai when attacked. The battalion was on either side of a valley and after a barrage further along the front it was noted that troops in front of them were withdrawing. This suggests that they have been part of a secondary line of defence. The Germans then attacked in strength and the battalion commander was killed leading a party of men to reinforce one of the companies. A, B and C companies held their front with the Germans around 50 yards away but were forced to withdraw as they were in danger of being outflanked and cut off. The  battalion reformed and there was some enemy movement on their front but no direct attacks. As evening drew in the Germans attacked via a connecting trench they held and bombed the Cornwall’s but were driven off by counter bombing. Prior to this engagement, the casualty return for November numbered around 100. For this one action, the casualties were 2 officers and 13 other ranks killed, 4 officers and 50 other ranks missing believed killed and 3 officers and 90 other ranks wounded.

41 men are recorded on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site has having died on the day whilst serving with the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry. All bar 2 are commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial at Louverval. The other 2 are buried in cemeteries possibly used by Casualty Clearing Stations having died of wounds. Most men came from the 7th Batallion.

Unfortunately, the casualty record for this day is handwritten and difficult to read but Pvt 28107 Capewell J is there recorded as Missing believed Killed. We know now of course that he was taken prisoner. The assumption is that as the battalion withdrew he could not get away and was captured. It is noted that both his casualty reports have him as J Capewell but it is Frederick as we know, the service number is correct and elsewhere in daily the casualty report and POW records he is F Capwell.

During the war the Red Cross Society of Switzerland visited British prisoners of war and kept records which are now available to researchers. Fredericks record has been located and one of the documents is adjacent to this text.

On his return from the war Frederick purchased a former army war hut that he and Ernest collected from Cheddleton station and transported by horse and cart to Blakely Lane on Kingsley Moor where it stood for many years being his family home. Details of it including a photo and a plan of its construction have been passed onto a group who are researching the history  of the war hut and its subsequent use. More information can be found at www.greatwarhuts.org/ and at their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/greatwarhuts/?fref=ts

Ernest also had a wooden cottage built further long on the A52 which was thought to have been a army hut but it is not as confirmed  by Peter. It still stands to this day.

Frederick died in 1954 aged 60 years following an accident with a chainsaw and his funeral was reported upon in the local papers detailing how well liked he was and  that he had been a British Legion member for the previous 16 years. He also served in the Home Guard during World War 2 as well as being a fire picket at Brittains Paper Mill where he worked.

After the war Earnest married May  Bradshaw in 1920. Ernest died in 1973 aged in his mid seventies having worked as a miner at Foxfield, New Haden and Florence collieries up until 1941 when an accident that left him with a badly broken arm  saw him discharged from the pit. He then sought employment at Brittains Paper Mill at Cheddleton.

May Capewell’s brother was William James Bradshaw also from Kingsley Moor.  He was born 24th September 1897 to William and Alice Bradshaw and in 1901 the family were shown as living at Harewood Hall near Cheadle.

In 1911 William was living at a farm in Bottom Houses near Leek where he was working as a farm labourer.

On the 11 December 1915 aged a little over 18 years old he volunteered for service and joined the Royal Artillery under number 213177. His occupation was given as a cow farmer.

His address at this time was Hazlewall Cottage Kingsley Moor which was also given as his fathers address. Having joined he was transferred to the reserve before actually joining up in January 1917.

Following his training he was transferred to the 466th Howitzer Battery of the Royal Field Artillery and crossed over to France in May 1917 via Le Havre. He was a driver in the army more than likely driving the horse’s tasked with pulling the guns and limbers.
His nephew Peter Capewell has in his possession the army cloth badges that look like horse shows. We are grateful to Martin Clewlow who has been a constant source of help to the project, and suggests these are farrier badges worn by a soldier who shod the horses etc. There is nothing in William’s record to suggest he was a farrier but there is a good chance this is where they came from.

In August 1918 he was admitted to hospital suffering from Pyrexia and after 5 days treatment had 2 weeks in a rest camp after which he was transferred to the 277 Brigade although it unclear exactly which unit this was.

He was demobbed in 1919.

After the war he was believed to have returned to farming and was also employed by John Smith father of Reg Smith (Kingsley Moor Garage) where he was employed hauling bricks to building sites by horse and cart.

Following the initial publishing of our research we have uncovered the War Diary for the 7th Battalion of the North Staffordshire Regiment and have included that into Thomas’s entry as well as a family tragedy that befell his wife’s family weeks after his death. Read the story HERE

Prior to 2nd March 1916 the British armed forces engaged in the war were made up of volunteers who were professional soldiers or  who  joined as a result of the patriotic fervor that swept the country at the wars beginnings.

Men could still be exempt from military service either temporarily or long term for a variety of reasons and tribunals were set up around the country. Cheadle had one and the local papers reported on a  regular basis as to the outcome of the hearings. Whilst the  men’s names were no divulged sometimes enough detail was given so that most who knew the man would know it was referring to him.

An example of this was reported in the Cheadle Herald of 10th November 1916  when two Kingsley men appealed against conscription. Neither were named with one described as a tenant farmer who had no help on his farm but milked 12 cows each day and then walked 2 miles to the local station with the milk. He was exempted from war service until 25th March 1917 when in all likelihood he would have had to join the armed forces.

Another was that of an 18 year old Kingsley farm labourer who’s employer said he has no one to employ into the role and applied for substitution (u clear what this meant) – his request turned down and he would more than likely had to join up.

The Reverend Mayne who was the priest at St Wergburghs throughout the war years sat on many of the tribunals and from other press articles clearly supported the war and encouraged the men of the parish to sign up.

As a result  of further research as well as a visit to the National Archives at the end of last year we have been able to update the entry for Robert Heywood.

This update includes where the was in the 1911 Census, his signing up in 1914 as well as more detail around his death.

The read the updated entry click HERE

One aspect of the project that we have wanted to do is to try to list all those men who served and survived the war. Some say they were the lucky ones but many came back will both physical and mental scars.

The dead men are easy enough to research, there are monuments to them and they were often in the paper or known about locally over the generations. However many did not talk about their experiences and their names were lost as they passed on.

Using a number of resources we have drawn up a list of at least 103 men with links to the village who served and survived the war.

Some we have quite a bit of information on, men like James Millward, Arthur Carr and brothers Frederick and Ernest Capewell, others as you can see from the list below are just a name and an initial.

Sadly we do not have the capacity to devote as much time as we have to the 28 men who died during the war but we will do some research to try and give a full name and a regiment where possible.

If anyone has information on these men here or indeed on anyone who served from the parish and is not listed here  then we would welcome any information regardless.

Please do bear in mind that this is far from a complete list as in 1918 the Rev Mayne stated that somewhere near 150 men had served on active service with more in training.

With the 28 men and the list below we have 131 so there is upwards of 20 plus men absent from our research.