Private Walter Charles Taylor of “C” Company, 7th Battalion, the South Lancashire Regiment died on 5th July 1916. He was recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as being 18 years old, although his service record gives his age on enlistment on 23rd April 1915 as 19 years and three days. It seems that he lied about his age as, although 18-year-olds could enlist, soldiers couldn’t serve overseas until they had reached the age of 19.
2nd July 1916
Four local men are known to have died on 2nd July 1916, all serving with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment:
- Private John Franklin, of Olton
- Drummer Frank Nash, of Shirley
- Private William Richard Pittom, of Shirley
- Second Lieutenant Cyril George Williamson, former pupil of Solihull School
1st July 1916 – Olton
Five men with a connection to Olton are known to have lost their lives on 1st July 1916:
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- Lance Corporal John Herbert Hockley, Royal Newfoundland Regiment
- Second Lieutenant Horace Birchall Jones, North Staffordshire Regiment
- Lieutenant Donald George Harding Truman, Royal Warwickshire Regiment
- Private Leslie Waters, Royal Warwickshire Regiment
- Private Albert Weale, Royal Warwickshire Regiment
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16th June 1916
Three local men lost their lives on 16th June 1916:
- Corporal Henry Elliott, Royal Warwickshire Regiment
- Bombardier Edward Henry Prince, Royal Field Artillery
- Sergeant Leonard Wilson, Royal Field Artillery
Henry Elliott is buried at the Fauborg d’Amiens Cemetery in Arras, France. Edward Prince and Leonard Wilson are both buried at Hebuterne Military Cemetery in the Pas de Calais, about 20 km south-west of Arras.
29th March 1916
Private Harry Bradford Kerbey, 2nd/6th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment, died in the Military Hospital, South Tidworth, Hampshire, on 29th March 1916 and is buried in Sutton Road Cemetery, Southend-on-Sea.
He was born in Charmouth, Dorset and was the second-youngest of the nine children of a General Practitioner, Dr William Holman Kerbey, and his wife, Fanny (née Bradford). Dr Kerbey died in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex on 28th June 1908. His widow, who was born in Leominster, Herefordshire, and her youngest daughter were recorded as visitors in Birmingham in 1911. Harry Kerbey doesn’t appear to be on census returns in 1911 but Soldiers Died in the Great War gives his residence as Olton and his place of enlistment as Birmingham.
24th February 1916
20-year-old Sergeant Alfred Rabone, the only son amongst the four children of parents Alfred Harry (who seems to have been known as Harry) and Jane Rabone, was killed in action on 24th February 1916, serving with the 10th Battalion, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.
According to the 1901 census Alfred was born in Olton in 1896, although baptism records show that he was baptised at Knowle parish church, aged 3 months, at which time his parents were living in Chessetts Wood and his father was working as a brickmaker. Soldiers Died in the Great War, and the 1911 census, both give his place of birth as Knowle.
25th January 1916
On 25th January 1916, two local men died as a result of their war service:
- Temporary Captain, John Harry Hartill, aged 52, General List
- Private William Lovegrove, aged 23, 1st Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment
8th December 1915
Three men with a local connection died on 8th December 1915:
- Second Lieutenant Cyril Talbot Burney Croft, who died in a flying accident at Castle Bromwich
- Private Charles James, who was born in Olton
- Lieutenant Sidney Smith, who lived in Castle Bromwich
2nd December 1915
There is a discrepancy in records as regards the age of Squadron Sergeant Major William Bloomer, who died on 2nd December 1915 whilst serving with the 3rd Regiment, Canadian Mounted Rifles. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission lists his age at death as 42, suggesting a birth year of 1873. However, an announcement in the newspaper gives his age as 40, which fits with census returns, and gives a suggested birth year of 1875:
Information has been received in Birmingham that Squadron-sergeant-major William Bloomer, of the 3rd Canadian Mounted Royal Rifles, has been killed in action in France. He was the second son of Mr and Mrs Giles T. Bloomer, of Dorridge, and was forty years of age.Birmingham Daily Mail, 11th December 1915
However, Canadian records give his date of birth as 11th December 1879. All records agree that he was born in Halesowen, and that his father was Giles Thomas Bloomer.
13th October 1915
Four local men lost their lives on 13th October 1915. They have no known grave and are commemorated on the Loos Memorial:
- Second Lieutenant Ostcliffe Harold Beaufort, North Staffordshire Regiment
- Private Donald Ewen, London Regiment (London Scottish)
- Private Joseph Frederick Harding, Gloucestershire Regiment
- Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) Harley Raymond Russell, Gloucestershire Regiment
Solihull Life 