As part of the commemorations marking 100 years since the outbreak of the First World War, we’re trying to get together a definitive list of individuals from places now within the Solihull borough (or in the former Solihull Rural District) who died as a result of war service.
We’re aware of the following war memorials that bear the names of those killed:
- Baddesley Clinton
- Balsall Common (St Peter’s Church)
- Barston (Memorial Institute, and plaque in St Swithin’s Church)
- Berkswell (St John Baptist churchyard, and Berkswell Village Hall)
- Bickenhill
- Castle Bromwich (Altar of Remembrance on the Green (unveiled 18th July 1948) and WW1 plaque inside SS Mary & Margaret’s Church)
- Catherine-de-Barnes (font cover, St Catherine’s Church, unveiled 22nd May 1921)
- Chadwick End
- Chessetts Wood
- Copt Heath Golf Club
- Dorridge (St Philip’s Church)
- Earlswood (St Patrick’s Church, Salter Street)
- Elmdon (outside St Nicholas’s Church, dedicated on 20th September 1920)
- Hampton-in-Arden (plaque inside SS Mary & Bartholomew’s Church, and war memorial on the Green, unveiled 24th July 1921)
- Hockley Heath and District , unveiled 2nd April 1921
- Hockley Heath (St Thomas’s Church)
- Knowle (Avenue Bowling Club, Downing Hall, Knowle FC, Knowle & Dorridge Cricket Club)
- Knowle (Soldiers’ Chapel (unveiled 5th June 1921), and parish cross with memorial stones)
- Lapworth
- Marston Green (Garden of Remembrance)
- Marston Green Cottage Homes
- Meriden (Calvary shrine, and plaque inside St Laurence’s Church, (the plaque was dedicated on 14th December 1919)
- Meriden Forest Hall (Woodmen of Arden)
- Olton (St Margaret’s Church (dedicated 14th December 1920) and former United Reformed Church)
- Olton Cricket Club
- Olton Golf Club
- Packwood
- Robin Hood Golf Club
- Shirley (outside St James’ Church and roll of honour inside the church). The two stone panels commemorating those who died in the Second World War were unveiled on 3rd May 1953. Part of the churchyard wall was lowered to enable better viewing.
- Solihull (outside St Alphege Church (unveiled 19th June 1921) and St Augustine’s Catholic Church)
- Solihull School
- Temple Balsall (unveiled 28th May 1921)
- Umberslade Baptist Church
In addition, there are memorials that do not include any names at:
- Dickens Heath
- Dorridge
- Lloyds Bank Sports Club, Shirley
- Meriden (national cyclists’ memorial)
- Olton (Royal British Legion, and former Red Cross Auxiliary Hospital)
- Woodlands Cemetery Forces Memorial
There are Second World War memorials at:
- Castle Bromwich (inside SS Mary & Margaret’s Church)
- Civic Suite, Solihull
Are there any that we’ve missed? Please let us know by leaving a comment here, emailing heritage@solihull.gov.uk or tweeting @SolihullLife
Tracey
(Heritage & Local Studies Librarian)
We’ve also been told of a memorial plaque at Downing Hall, Knowle – if anyone has a photo of it, please let us know.
Tracey
I believe there is some duplication of names between the Elmdon and Solihull (St. Alphege) memorials.
Richard Huss
(Churchwarden, Elmdon Church)
Many thanks for your comment – we are finding that there is some duplication. The record so far seems to be commemoration on four memorials in the borough – we have two people who seem to be commemorated on memorials in Knowle, Dorridge, Hockley Heath and Solihull School and two commemorated on memorials at Knowle, Dorridge, Hockley Heath and Packwood.
any one know of a war memorial 1st world war with the name Herbert Fowler onit
He’s not on our database as being on a war memorial anywhere in the present Borough of Solihull or in the old Solihull Rural District.