This arises from my son’s homework. This term he has been studying the First World War, which is a bit of a hard subject to get your head around when you’re 13, and the selection of reading material suggested by the school was of limited help. So we’ve watched a few films and TV programs to try to get the feel of it; Gallipoli (the seven part Australian TV series made in 2015), 1917 (the 2019 Sam Mendes film), The First World War: The War To End All Wars (1991 TV documentary series), and Blackadder Goes Forth (1989 TV comedy series). We also visited the graveyard at St Peter’s Church in Harborne, Birmingham, where there are a number of Commonwealth War Graves dating from both World Wars. What we found contributed to a project for his schoolwork. Some of it may also be of interest to others, and is presented (in a slightly different format) here.
The oldest war grave at St Peter’s is that of Corporal John William Pountney (Service Number 2157), of the 2nd North Midland Divisional Field Ambulance of the Royal Army Medical Corps. Pountney died on 28 August 1915, aged 27, and appears not to have served abroad (RAMC in the Great War). He is identified as having been born in Harborne (CommonwealthWar Graves), to have enlisted at Handsworth in Staffordshire (now part of Birmingham) (RAMC in the Great War). He was married to Gertrude Pountney of 62 St. Mary's Street, Ladywood, Birmingham (Commonwealth War Graves, RAMC in the Great War).
John William Pountney was born in 1988, the son of William Pountney, born 1856 in Kidderminster, and his wife Emma Pountney, nee Tupman, born circa 1859 in Birmingham. He had four siblings, including Ada Nellie Pountney and three others. John William Pountney married Gertrude Field, a milliner, in 1915. Gertrude born on March 26 1888, in Birmingham. (MyHerritage).
The 1911 census lists Emma Pountney, the widow of William Pountney, postman in Birmingham, as having five surviving children (a sixth having died); Ada Nellie Pountney, aged 25, a dressmaker (working on her own account), John William Pountney, aged 23, Corporation Clerk for Birmingham Gas Department, Sydney Pountney, aged 20, Gas burner cleaner for Birmingham Gas Department, Elsie Pountney, aged 14, Cocoa packer, and Philip Gordon Pountney, 6. Philip was born on 4 August 1906, and married Irene Wales, (born 24 August 1908 in Birmingham) in Birmingham in 1935. Philip and Irene later emigrated to New Zealand, with Irene dying on 24 November 1972 and Philip on 17 July 1980. They were survived by their daughter, Diana Patricia Carter, nee Pountney, born on 20 February 1937. Diana died on 25 April 2010. (WikiTree).
The name John William Pountney is
also found on the on the City of Birmingham Gas Department Memorial, which is
dedicated ‘To The Glorious Memory Of The Men Of The Birmingham Gas Department
Who Gave Their Lives In The Great War 1914-1919’, strongly suggesting that
Corporal John William Pountney was indeed the gas corporation clerk. The memorial was unveiled by Mr G R Warr on
the 19th November 1921 and dedicated by the Lord Bishop of Birmingham, the Rt
Rev Henry Russell Wakefield. The memorial originally stood in the Gas Hall in Birmingham
(now part of the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery). It was later moved to the
grounds of the British Gas Social Club (now the Hollyfields Sports Center). A
metal statue of Victory which stood on top of the memorial was stolen in 1999,
and the memorial is currently in pieces in the collection of the Birmingham
Museum Trust Collection Centre. The War Memorials Trust has raised concerns
about the condition of the memorial. (War Memmorials Online).
The second oldest grave belongs to Private E. Cooper (30840) of the 2nd Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own), who died on 18 April 1916 (Commonwealth War Graves). Everard Wyrall’s The West Yorkshire Regiment in the War 1914-1918 records Private Ernest Cooper (30840) as having died due to hostilities on 18 April 1916, and notes that he had formerly served in the South Staffordshire Regiment with the service number 9220. (Military Archive). According to the same publication, the 2nd Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment would have been deployed at Picardy in April 1916.
The third oldest grave belongs to Private W.H. Stevenson (435390), M.M. (Military Medal) of the 10th Battalion Canadian Infantry (the Alberta Regiment), who died on 24 October 1916 (Commonwealth War Graves). 435390 Private Walter Harold Stevenson, M.M. is listed as having died of wounds on 24 October 1916, and being buried at Harborne on the Battle of the Somme Roll of Honour. The Canadian Virtual War Memorial identifies Private Walter Harold Stevenson (435390), of the 10th Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment) as having been born in Birmingham, England on 14 January 1891, and enlisted at Calgary, Alberta, on 21 July 1915. The website of the Calgary Highlanders records Private Walter Harold Stevenson, Military Medal, of the 10th Battalion Calgary Highlanders, part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, as having been wounded in action on 13 April 1916, and again on 26 September 1916, and as having died of his wounds in England on 24 October 1916. Battle of the Somme Roll of Honour notes that on 26 September 1916 the 10th Canadian Infantry were involved in the attack of Zollern Graben and Hessian Trench. Wikipedia lists Zollern Graben and Hessian Trench as German fortifications on Thiepval Ridge attacked by the 1st and 2nd Canadian Divisions on 26 September 1916. According to the Vimy Foundation the 1st and 2nd Canadian Divisions attacked the German trenches on Thiepval Ridge, which overlooked their positions, on 26 September 1916, advancing under heavy bombardment in broad daylight in an attack that commenced at 12.35 pm. They reached the German trenches and captured most of them within three hours, but were forced to withdraw due to a lack of reinforcements, which made it impossible to hold the trenches against German counterattacks. It is estimated that 2800 soldiers were killed, wounded, or went missing in action on that day.
Walter Harold Stevenson shares a grave with Frederick John Stevenson, E. Stevenson, who died in April 1939 aged 55, and his wife Adelaide E. Stevenson. This would make Frederick John to young to have been Walter Harold’s father; possibly the two men were brothers.
The fourth oldest grave at St Peter’s Churchyard belongs to Lance Corporal William James Exon (330213) of the 18th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, who died on 27 September 1917, aged 32. William James Exon was born in Worcester, and was the son of Mr & Mrs William James Exon and the husband of Nellie Gertrude Exon of 29 Margaret Grove, Harborne. His headstone bears the inscription ‘A Good Soldier of Jesus Christ’ (Commonwealth War Graves).
According to a post made on the Harborne Community Facebook Page by John Yendall in November 2019, William James Exon was born in Worcester to William Exon, a painter and decorator from Hereford, and Fanny Done, of Cheshire. By 1911 he was working as a cashier at a hardware merchants in Harborne, having previously been employed as an architect’s clerk. He married Nellie Gertrude Withers of Selly Oak at the Baptist Chapel on Harborne High Street in 1910, and they had two daughters, Gwyneth Kathleen, born 1911, and Nancy Joan, born 1912. William James and Nellie Gertrude lived at 72 Grosvenor Road when they married, and moved to 1 Wentworth Gate in 1911, which was the address given when William James enlisted on 27 October 1916. Private Exon first trained in the 5th Battalion Royal Warwickshires, before transferring to the 18th Battalion as a Lance Corporal, where he trained as part of a Lewis Gun team. He was due to be transferred to the 15th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment, for deployment to the Western Front, but instead was admitted to the Colchester Military Hospital on 26 September 1917, suffering from head and neck pains, delirium, and sensitivity to light. His condition worsened and he died at 4.00 am the following day (27 September 1917). A post-mortem examination discovered he was suffering from a brain tumour, which had caused hydrocephalous (water on the brain). William James Exon was buried at St Peter’s Cemetery on 2 October 1917.
The fifth oldest grave at St Peter’s Churchyard belongs to Air Mechanic First Class F Wainwright (28508) of the Royal Naval Air Service at Westgate in Kent, who died on 28 November 2017. F Wainwright was survived by his wife, Mrs M. Wainwright of Lunns Building, Metchley Lane, Harborne, Warwickshire (Commonwealth War Graves). Air Mechanic First Class Frederick Wainwright (F 28508) is recorded as having died on 28 November 2017, of injuries sustained in an accident at RNAS Westgate (Naval History).
Seaplanes were based at St
Mildred’s Bay at Westgate from June 1914, which were used to patrol the English
Channel looking for enemy ships and U-boats, carrying with them messenger pigeons.
By the end of that year it had become clear that the site was vulnerable to air
raids, leading to the construction of an air field atop the cliffs at the bay,
from which fighter planes could defend the site, which opened on 9 April 1915.
The sixth oldest grave at St Peter’s cemetery is recorded as belonging to Corporal William Howard Reeves (S4/146832) of the Army Service Corps, who died on 31 December 1917 (Commonwealth War Graves), although this could not be located. William Howard Reeves is recorded as being the son of Amos Reeves, and the husband of Anne Reeves of 16 North Gate, Harborne.
The seventh oldest World War I grave at St Peter’s Cemetery is that of Lance Corporal George Joseph Davis (486093), of the 20th Territorial Force Division of the Royal Engineers, who died on 16 October 1918 (Commonwealth War Graves). The 20th Territorial Force Division of the Royal Engineers were based at Pier Road in Gillingham, Kent, and held administrative for several artillery units in Kent. This was mostly staffed by soldiers who had been injured on active duty and sent back to England (Great War Forum).
The headstone also bears a memorial to Rifleman William Thomas Witts (B/1741) of the 9th Battalion, Riffle Brigade, who is recorded as dead September 15th 1916, and commemorated at the Thiepval Memorial in France. William Thomas Witts is recorded as having been the son of Mrs Lucy Mary Day, of 30 Hampton Court Road, Harborne (Commonwealth War Graves), implying he was Edward George Day’s half-brother. William Thomas Witts is recorded as having died at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette on the Somme (Worcestershire World War 100). The Battle of Flers-Courcelette lasted from 15-22 September 1916, and was the first battle in which tanks were deployed. During the battle British troops captured the villages of Courcelette, Martinpuich and Flers, advancing a total of 4100 m, but were unable to take advantage of this as the French, on their right flank, were unable to advance notably (Wikipedia).
The eighth oldest World War I grave at St Peter’s Cemetery is that of Private D. Gilligan (15995) of the 5th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, who died on 8th November 1918, aged 23 (CommonwealthWar Graves). A Private Domnick Gilligan (15995) of the Worcestershire Regiment, is recorded as having been awarded the Silver War Badge (Worcester Regiment), which was given to servicemen who had been honourably discharged due to wounds or sickness (The Long, Long Trail).
The eleventh oldest World War I grave at St Peter’s Cemetery is that of Private F. Howe (T4/197748) of the 58th Divisional Mechanical Transport Company (2/1st London) of the Royal Army Service Corps, who died on 20th January 1919 (Commonwealth War Graves).
The twelfth oldest World War I grave at St Peter’s Cemetery is that of Corporal Joseph Hodges (778430) of the Canadian Railway Troops, who died on 31st January 1919, aged 30. Joseph Hodges is recorded as having been the son of Walter and Sarah Ann Hodges of Harborne, and husband of Maria J. Hodges, of 3 Summerville Terrace, Harborne Park Road, Harborne. He is recorded as having died of pneumonia (CommonwealthWar Graves).
Joseph Hodges is also listed on his enlistment papers as having been married to Mrs Jennie Hodges of New Toronto, Ontario, which was also given as his address at his time of enlistment, on 17th January 1916. His occupation being listed as a gardener. He is recorded as having been fair skinned, with blue eyes and dark hair, to have been five foot seven and a half inches tall, to have had a chest measurement of 36 inches, and to have been a member of the Church of England. His pension was paid to a Mrs M.J. Hodges of Sixth Street, New Toronto, suggesting that Maria J Hodges of Harborne and Jennie Hodges of New Toronto were in fact the same woman (although his will identifies this woman as Maria Jane Hodges of New Toronto).
Joseph Hodges arrived in England on 30 August 1916 abord the S.S. Olympic, as part of the 127th Battalion (12th York Rangers) and to have been stationed to Witley Camp (Surry). He was later transferred to the Canadian Railway Troops and stationed to Rippon in Yorkshire.
The thirteenth oldest World War I grave at St Peter’s Cemetery is recorded as being that of George Alfred Rose (58695) of the Devonshire Regiment, who died on 2 March 1919, aged 34. George Alfred Rose was the son of Arthur and Fanny Rose, of Regent Road, Harborne; and the husband of Rose Hannah Rose of 11 The Grove, Broadyates Road, Yardley, Birmingham. George Alfred Rose was transferred to from the Labour Corps of the Devonshire Regiment to the 174th Labour Corps on 2nd March 2019, under the service number 104162 (Commonwealth War Graves). The grave of George Alfred Rose could not be located.
The fourteenth oldest World War I grave at St Peter’s Cemetery is that of Chief Engine Room Artificer Philip Port (270243) of HMS President, who died 14th March 1919, aged 40. Philip Port is recorded as being the son of William and Ellen Port, of Burton-on-Trent, and husband of Ellen Mary Port, of 10 Stanley Place, Prince Rock, Plymouth (Commonwealth War Graves). Two deaths are recorded at HMS President (an onshore base of the Royal Naval Reserve near Tower Bridge in London) on 14 March 1919, the other being Lieutenant Basil Robert Cochrane (NavalHistory); however Cochrane died of cerebro-spinal meningitis in the 1st Eastern General Hospital, Cambridge (Surry in the Great War), implying that these deaths were recorded at HMS President, but weren’t necessarily based there.
The sixteenth oldest World War I grave at St Peter’s Cemetery is that of Private Joseph Rose (41980) of the Royal Army Medical Corps, who died on 22nd May 1920, aged 36. He is recorded as being the husband of Emma Rose, of 21 Archdeacon Crescent, Cockerton, County Durham. (Commonwealth War Graves).
The seventeenth oldest World War I grave at St Peter’s Cemetery is that of Private F. Newman (CH/17728), of the Chatham Division of the Royal Marine Light Infantry, who died on 23 July 1920 (CommonwealthWar Graves).
The eighteenth oldest World War I grave at St Peter’s Cemetery is recorded as being that of Air Mechanic 2nd Class Ernest Harold Hedges (85504) of the Royal Air Force, who died on 20 August 1920 (Commonwealth War Graves). Ernest Harold Hedges’ grave could not be located.
The nineteenth oldest World War I grave at St Peter’s Cemetery is that of Private Robert Greensmith (17555) of the 10th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment, who died on 26 December 1920, aged 24. Robert Greensmith was the son of John William and Margaret Greensmith, of 5 North Gate, Harborne. His grave bears the inscription ‘He did his best’. (Commonwealth War Graves).
The twentieth oldest World War I grave at St Peter’s Cemetery is that of Serjeant Charles Vickerman Severs (14/1480) of the 14th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment, who died on 24 January 1921. Charles Vickerman Severs is recorded as having been the husband of Margaret Severs, of 9, Regent Rd., Harborne. His headstone bears the inscription ‘At Rest’ (Commonwealth War Graves).
Serjeant Charles Vickerman Severs is recorded as having been born in York on 28 April 1884 to David Severs (1850-1918) and Elizabeth Precious (1858-1919) and to have married Margaret Elise T Dutoit (1868-1949), of Brixworth, Northamptonshire, a marriage that produced one child, Stanley Alfred Severs (1914-1980) who was born in Kings Norton in Worcestershire (now part of Birmingham). Charles Vickerman Severs died in Kings Norton (ancestry).
The twenty first World War I grave at St Peter’s Cemetery is that of Gunner Percival Harry Whitehouse (110296) of the 322nd Siege Battery of the Royal Field Artillery, who died on 6 February 1921 aged 32. Percival Harry Whitehouse was the son of Harry and Sarah Whitehouse, of Stourbridge, Worcestershire, and husband of Nellie Whitehouse, of Fern House, Crackley Hill, Kenilworth, Warwickshire. His headstone bears the inscription ‘Thy Will Be Done’, and he is recorded as having died of ‘sickness’ (Commonwealth War Graves).
The 322nd Siege Battery of the Royal Field Artillery was deployed on the Salonika Campaign (SalonikaCampaign Society). Percival Harry Whitehouse is thought to have been enlisted on 2 August 1916 at Plymouth and discharged on 2 February 1919. He may have been in the village of Debellis on the Carso Plateau in Italy, close to the border with Slovenia, before being deployed to Salonica (Great War Forum).
The final World War I grave at St Peter’s Cemetery is that of Private Cyril Albert Charles Jones (356535) of the 2nd/4th Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment, who died on 17 February 1921, aged 23. He is recorded as having been the son of Charles and Rose Jones, of 67 North Rd., Harborne. His headstone bears the inscription ‘Death divides but memory clings worthy of remembrance’ (Commonwealth War Graves).
