Sergeant Humphrey George Moseley, “D” Battery, 23rd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, was wounded in action in France on 2nd March 1917. He died at No. 6 General Hospital, Rouen, nine days later as a result of a gunshot wound to the head and thigh.
He was the eldest child and only son of parents George and Mary Ann (née Richards) who had married at Coleshill on 8th April 1890. The couple also had seven daughters: Ellen (born 1892); Bertha Mary (born 1894); Edith Annie (born 1895); Elsie Louisa (born 1897); Lilian Alice (born 1899); Blanche Fanny (born 1903); and Gladys May (born 1904).
The family seems to have moved around frequently between Temple Balsall, Berkswell, Coleshill, and Solihull. In 1891 newlyweds George and Mary Ann were living with George’s widowed mother at Balsall Street Farm, Temple Balsall, where George was acting as farm labourer for his farmer mother. Humphrey was born at Balsall in 1891 and baptised at Coleshill, his mother’s home parish. From at least 1893 until at least 1896, the family lived in Berkswell, moving back to Balsall between 1898-1900 and then to Yew Tree Farm, Solihull, by 1901, where they appear to have remained until at least 1905. By 1911, they had moved to Maxstoke Mill, Coleshill, moving to Bacons End by 1915, Yardley by 1917, and Sharmans Cross, Solihull by 1920.
Humphrey’s service record has survived, showing that he volunteered for the Army in January 1915, aged 23 years and six months, giving his occupation as a labourer. He was appointed acting Sergeant in December 1915.
Humphrey George Moseley is buried at St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen and is also commemorated locally on war memorials at Coleshill and Solihull.
If you have any further information, please let us know.
Tracey
Heritage and Local Studies Librarian
tel.: 0121 704 6977
email: heritage@solihull.gov.uk
Solihull Life 
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