Capturing, preserving and sharing Solihull's history. Also commemorating local casualties from the First World War #SolihullRemembers
Three local men died on 27th May 1918 whilst on active service.
All three have no known grave and are commemorated on the Soissons Memorial, France.
Major Frank Northey Harston MC was killed in action on 22nd April 1918 serving with the 11th Brigade, East Lancashire Regiment. He was born in Blatchinworth, Rochdale, Lancashire in 1890 and was the second of the three sons of parents John Edwin (HM Inspector of Factories) and Bessie Anne Northey (née Plucknett) who had married in Devon in 1886. The youngest son, Lionel Brunyee Harston (1893-1894), died as an infant.
Four local men lost their lives on 14th April 1918 whilst on active service. Private George Bellamy, Labour Corps; Gunner Francis Thomas East, 83rd Battery, 11th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, Lance Corporal Walter Mucklow, 4th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment and Private John Tonks, 2nd/7th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
Two local men died on 10th April 1918. Second Lieutenant Percival Horace Batchelor, Royal Warwickshire Regiment attd. 2nd/6th Bn. North Staffordshire Regiment and Private Thomas Teerheege, 3rd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment.
Private Maurice Edwards died on 8th April 1918 serving with the 28th Battalion, Australian Infantry, Australian Imperial Force. Born in 1896, he was the younger of the two sons of parents, John (a coachman) and Alice (née Johnson) who had married in the Dudley area in 1892.
Private (Acting Corporal) Arthur Llewellyn Cooper, 6th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps, died of wounds on 19th March 1918 after having been gassed. He was born in Acocks Green in 1897 and was the second of the three children of parents John (an upholsterer) and Mary Elizabeth (née Llewellyn) who had married in 1895.
Private Edward Richards died of wounds on 21st December 1917. Aged 42, he had been called up in June 1916 and, although expressing a preference to serve in the Artillery, he was posted to the Royal Irish Fusiliers. He was then transferred to the 87th Company, Labour Corps. 18-year-old John Shirley, lately a Private with the 7th Reserve Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, died of rheumatic fever on the same day.
Three local men lost their lives on 28th November 1917 whilst on active service:
All three have no known grave and are commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial.
Second Lieutenant James Henry Cremonini was killed in action on 18th October 1917, aged 18. He was the only son of parents Anthony Lewis Cremonini (a stockbroker) and Fanny (née Cockill), who also had four daughters – Monica Marie (1896-1978), Edith Magdalen (1897-1985), Veronica (1900-1981) and Sylvia May Selina (1902-1995). James Henry was born on 22nd October 1898, so was just four days short of his 19th birthday when he was killed.
Two local men died on active service on 10th October 1917. Both have no known grave and are commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
Solihull Life 