sharing Solihull's local history
Three local men lost their lives on active service on 9th October 1917:
21-year-old John Henry Upton died of wounds on 7th October 1917, serving as a Private with 1/6 Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He was the second of the four children of parents John Garfield Upton (a cab man) and Caroline (née Briscoe) who had married in Birmingham in 1894.
Private Trevor William Moseley, 5th Battalion Dorset Regiment, was killed in action on 6th October 1917. He was born in Beoley, Worcestershire in 1897 and was the second of the three children of parents William Henry (a farmer) and Sarah Matilda (née Benbow) who had married in Oswestry, Shropshire in 1893. He had an older sister, Gladys (born 1895) and a younger brother, Robert Watkin Moseley (born and died in 1901).
Private Horace James Davis, 9th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment died on 5th October 1917. He was born in Solihull and baptised at St Alphege Church on 26th February 1893. He was the seventh of the eight children (six daughters, two sons) born to parents, James (a labourer) and Harriett (née Clifford) who had married in Solihull in 1875. One of the children – Alice Mary – didn’t survive infancy – being born and dying in 1878. A younger sister was born ten years later and named Alice Mary after her deceased sibling.
Nine local men lost their lives on 4th October 1917 whilst on active service:
Private Keith Garraway Chatfield, 1st Battalion Australian Infantry, Australian Imperial Force, died on 3rd October 1917. We’re not absolutely sure that this is the same Keith Chatfield who is commemorated at Bickenhill, as there seems no obvious link. However, this is the only Keith Chatfield listed on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website, and there doesn’t seem to be another Keith Chatfield mentioned in the local area.
27-year-old Driver Albert Neville Reeve lost his life on active service on 2nd October 1917, serving with the 3rd Division, Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery. He was the eldest of seven children and was born in Wollaston, Stourbridge in 1890. The family moved around, including Hartlebury, Wolverley, Sparkhill and Shirley, before settling in Golden End, Knowle sometime between 1906-1911.
Private Frank Holland was killed in action on 1st October 1917 whilst serving with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Aged 36, he was the youngest of the nine children (four sons, five daughters) of parents James (a jeweller) and Hannah (nee Kiffin) who had married in 1859 and set up home in Aston and then in Handsworth.
Solihull Life 