22-year-old Corporal David Jelfs, 26th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment was killed in action in the Balkans on 13th September 1918. Born in Bretforton, Honeybourne, Worcestershire in 1895, he was the third of the eight children (two sons, six daughters) of parents Harry (a stockman on a farm) and Matilda (née Gillett).
The family moved to Bickenhill by 1903, but were living in Redditch at the time of the 1911 census. It seems they had moved to Kings Norton by 1915 and Marston Green Lane, Elmdon by 1919.
David had left the family home by 1911 although we haven’t been able to find him on the 1911 census. He enlisted in the Army on 19th December 1915, giving his occupation as a carter and his address as Lifford Lane, Kings Norton, which was his parents’ home at the time.
He was promoted Corporal on 8th June 1918 and went for Lewis Gun training in August 1918. He rejoined his battalion on 7th September 1918 and was killed less than a week later.
He is buried at Karasouli Military Cemetery, Greece and is also commemorated locally on Elmdon war memorial.
If you have any further information, please let us know.
Tracey
Heritage & Local Studies Librarian
tel.: 0121 704 6977
email: heritage@solihull.gov.uk
Solihull Life 
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