Private Bertram Matthews, 1st/7th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment, died on 21st August 1916 and is buried at Blighty Valley Cemetery, Authuille Wood, France. Born in Walsall, he was baptised alongside his older brother, Harry on 24th November 1878 at St Mark’s Church, Birmingham. Their father’s occupation was given as “traveller” and their abode was 9 Bridgeman Street, Walsall. By 1881, the family had moved to Aston, and they then moved to Olton c. 1885.
The family was still in Olton in 1901, with father Harry working as a gardener, whilst the eldest son, 24-year-old Harry, was working as a railway labourer. The next two children, Alfred (22) and William (19) were wire workers, with younger sons, 23-year-old Bertram (recorded as Bertrand) working as a postman, and 15-year-old Ernest working as a gardener (non-domestic). The baby of the family, 13-year-old daughter, Lily, was working as a domestic nurse.
Bertram is commemorated on the war memorial is St Margaret’s Church, Olton.
If you have any more information about the family, please let us know.
Tracey
Heritage & Local Studies Librarian
tel: 0121 704 6977
email: heritage@solihull.gov.uk
Solihull Life 
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