WEST MIDLANDS POLICE GREAT WAR MEMORIAL SITE
THOMAS CALDICOTT
Thomas
was born in 1892 in Polesworth, Warwickshire. The son of John and Mary
Caldicott, nee Allsop, Thomas was the oldest of 6 children: Thomas, Ethel May,
Mary, Charles, William Arthur and Emma. In the 1901 and 1911 census he is
living in the family home in Gilsow, Coleshill and in the 1911 census Thomas was
working alongside his father as a plate layer for the Midland Railway.
Later that year, however, on 17th July 1911, Thomas joined the City of
Birmingham Police. He served on the ‘E’ Division with warrant number 7865,
collar number 167.
He resigned on 15th November 1915 to join the army. In the middle of his
training, in April 1916, Thomas married Dorothy Nurse at Gilson Hall.
Thomas finished his training and went to France with the Coldstream Guards in
December 1916.
At 3.50 am on Tuesday 31st July 1917, the first day of the Battle of Pilckem
Ridge, Thomas's battalion attacked towards Langermarck from the trenches
situated just north east of Boesinghe, supporting 1st Battalion, Grenadier
Guards and 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards. All initial objectives were taken with
ease, with the supporting battalions taking over the advance at 7.15 am.
Thomas's battalion then successfully took Fourche and Captain's Farms and
consolidated the positions gained. From this time onwards rain fell without
cessation for 4 days and nights effectively cancelling any further advances due
to the ground being turned into a bog.
On
the night of 5th/6th August Thomas and his platoon were leaving the front line
trenches when a shell burst amongst them, severely injuring Thomas and several
others. He was taken to Bleuet Farm dressing station, where he was
confirmed dead. He was buried at Bleuet Farm Cemetary, near Ypres.
Thomas's two younger brothers also served in the Coldstream Guards.
Charles joined in June 1915 and was wounded and discharged in 1917, he died in
1977.
William joined in November 1915 and served until he was discharged in 1919, he
died in 1965.
GEORGE CHETWOOD
Details of life and service to follow...
JOHN HENRY CLASPER
John
was born in 1892 at Amblecote Stourbridge, to Richard and Sophia Clasper, to
10th of 13 children: Richard, Mary, Charles, Edward, George, Fanny, Margaret,
Sophia, Mabel, John, Wilfred, Albert and Joseph. He was baptised,
alongside his younger siblings Albert and Jospeh, at Holy Trinity Amblecote on
15/05/1902 when he was 10 years old The family resided at 24 Enville St,
Stourbridge. John's father was a 'Gas House Retort builder' and the 1911 census
shows that his brother, George, was also in this profession while John was in
the related trade of brick maker.
John joined Birmingham City Police on 17th December 1913, at the age of 21.
He served on the ‘A’ Division, with Warrant number 8424 and his collar number
was A39. He resigned on 21st May 1915 to join the Army and enlisted at
Birmingham, being assigned to the Coldstream Guards, private 16162.
Birmingham City Police records dated 20th November 1916 shows 5 ‘A’ Division
Constables having been wounded including John CLASPER, however John recovered
and returned to his regiment.
The
1st December 1917 saw a Brigade attack on the Quentin Ridge and Gauche Wood,
north of Epehy, France. The attack was led by 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards and
3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards at 6.20 am, with John's battalion acting as
support. The attack was to have been preceded by an advance of 20 tanks however
these were late and arrived 10 mins after 'zero hour'. After being initially
halted by machine gun fire, the leading battalions rushed Gauche Wood and
managed to take the wood and fight off two counter attacks. All of the tanks
assisting the attack were put out of action, however their crews brought up
Lewis Guns which proved invaluable. The positions gained were consolidated but
were found to be susceptible to enemy sniper and shell fire from Villers -
Guislain, this causing many casualties in the battalions. Relief took place
during the night. Casualties in John's battalion amounted to 30 men killed,
including John Clasper, and 100 wounded. John's body was not recovered and
he is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial at Louverval.
WALTER GORDON COATES
Walter
Gordon Coates was born in Crumpsall, Lancaster in the first quarter of 1889.
His Parents were Walter and Emma Coates, Nee Broughall, he also had an older
brother, William, and a sister, Marguirite.
Later that year the family must have fallen on hard times as the family were
registered at Manchester Workhouse. The father’s profession is stated as a farm
bailiff, but he was unemployed. By the 1901 census the family are lodging with
another family in Littleover Derby. His older brother William is no longer with
the family, but there is now a younger sister, Annie. By 1911 Walter has joined
the army, serving in the 2nd Battalion of the Grenadier Guards and, at the time
of leaving, was an Army Chef.
On 6th October 1913 Walter joins the Birmingham City Police on E Division,
warrant number 8337, but on the outbreak of war he is recalled to the colours
and rejoins the 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards, alongside his colleague from B
Division, Horace Weedon. Horace becoming Private 14903 and Walter, Private
14909.
Their battalion is immediately drafted to France aboard the SS Cawdor Castle,
arriving at Le Havre on 13th August 1914. The battalion were in reserve at
Mons, falling back with the BEF until they reached the Aisne.
On 14th September, Walter and Horace’s battalion crossed the Aisne at Pont Arcy
and advanced under shellfire to La Cour de Soupir Farm which they reached at
1030am. The Germans immediately attacked the the battalion’s positions but
were repulsed. Heavy fighting continued throughout the remainder of the
day with the battalion successfully defending the positions but at a cost of 500
men killed, missing or wounded. The following day the battalion dug defensive
trenches and held the positions although continually attacked and shelled by the
Germans until relieved on 17th September 1914.
In
the maelstrom of the battle, both Horace and Walter are killed and their bodies
lost. A newspaper article quotes Walter's father saying Walter had been
captured, but alas this does not appear to have been the case. Horace and
Walter are both recorded as killed on 16th September 1914 and are commemorated
on the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial, Seine-et-Marne.
JOHN CONNOR
John
Connor was born in Oldham in September 1884, son of Martin and Kate Connor, of
26 Mort St, Oldham, with two brothers, John and Charles, and two sisters,
Mary(Polly?) and Annie. His father was a spindle maker and in 1911 John was
living at home and was an apprentice clogger.
John joined Birmingham City Police on 11th December 1914, he served on the ‘E’
Division, with warrant number 857 and his collar number was E260.
He resigned 5 March 1917 to enlist as Private 21916, 3rd Battalion Coldstream
Guards. After training John would have reached France in late 1917.
With the German Spring Offensive, launched on 21st March 1918, in full swing,
John's battalion was moved up to hold positions just north of Merville in the
valley the Lys and stem the German advance. 
On 12th April 1918 the battalion took up defensive positions from I'Epinette to
le Cornet Perdu. At first light the following morning the German artillery began
bombarding the battalion's lines, this being followed at 8 am by an infantry
attack which was beaten off. Orders were then given for the battalion to make
an advance at 11 am. At the allotted time the battalion moved forward,
being immediately hit by a cross fire of machine guns situated in houses in le
Puresbecques and in an orchard south west of Vierhouck. In spite of numerous
casualties the battalion made an advance of 400 yards where they dug in. At
4.30pm, after an artillery barrage, the Germans again attacked the battalion's
lines but were again repulsed with huge loss of life. The positions gained were
held overnight until they were relieved on 13th April. Casualties in the
battalion amounted to 1 officer and 115 other ranks killed, including John,
recorded as killed on 13th April. He is buried in Aval Wood Military
Cemetery, Vieux-Berquin.
PETER CRAWLEY
Peter
Crawley was born in Holbourn, Middlesex in 1888 to John and Marie Crawley.
Peter had two older brothers, Dennis and Jeremiah, an older sister, Margaret,
and a younger sister, Marie. Peter's father died when he was young and, by
1901, his mother was working as a Costermonger (Hawker) to provide for the
family. Peter started working life as a newsvendor but, in 1905 at the age
of seventeen, he joined the army, signing up for 6 years with the 7th Btn King's
Royal Rifles. His Service number was 8750.
Upon leaving the army, Peter worked as a porter before joining Birmingham City
Police on 19th May 1913. He served on the ‘E’ Division, his warrant number was
8317.
At the outbreak of war, Peter was recalled to the army, joining the 1st
Middlesex Regiment, number L/10885 and arrived in France on 23rd November 1914.
By mid-1915 Peter had been promoted to Corporal. Peter's battalion spent
July and August 1915 either in billets in Gispot, near Steenwerck at Laventie or
in the front line trenches in the Laventie sector. Relieved on Sunday 15th
August 1915 by the 11th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps, the battalion moved
back to billets in the area of Vieux Berquin- Neuf Berquin-Doulieu and from here
moved into billets at Annequin.
Most of September 1915 was spent in training for the forthcoming Battle of Loos.
On Thursday 23th September 1915 Peter's battalion relieved the 2nd Battalion,
Royal Welsh Fusiliers, taking over trenches between the Vermelles-La Bassee
railway and the Vermelles-La Bassee road. The battalion's objective on the
first day of the attack was to assault and capture Railway Trench. At 5.50
am on the morning of Saturday 25th September 1915 the British released
asphyxiating gas towards the Germans lines, however instead of drifting as
desired it hung lifeless in the air or blew back to the British trenches from
which it had been projected, in many places with disastrous effects. At
6.30 am the order to attack was given. 'A', 'B' and 'C' Companies of the
battalion led the assault with the remaining 'D' Company acting as reserve.
Almost immediately the battalion was cut down by German machine gun fire, the
enemy gunners being unaffected by the gas. The War Diary merely records, "At
5.50am a gas attack was opened on the German trenches for 40 minutes. This was
not, however successful, and did not have much effect. At 6.30 the battalion
attacked with three Companies in the front line and one Company ('D') in
reserve. The Battalion was all flung into the battle line, but failed to get
further forward than 100 yards and were then hung up. Gunners again shelled the
hostile line, but no further advance was made. At 12 noon the Battalion was
ordered to withdraw to Brigade Reserve, having lost very heavily in both
officers and men. A large proportion of N.C.O.s, were casualties." At 1.15 pm
what was left of the battalion was ordered into reserve at Siding No.3 and
Braddel Trench. A role call at this time mustered just 85 other ranks although
others did return from the battlefield during the hours of darkness. Casualties
for the day were 10 officers killed and 7 wounded, with 73 other ranks killed,
290 wounded, 66 missing 7 gassed and 2 suffering from shell concussion, a total
of 445 men. Peter was one of the 290 wounded ORs and was transferred to a
Casualty Clearing Station at Chocques, just North West of Bethune where he
succumbed to his injuries on 27th September 1915. He is buried in Chocques
Military Cemetary in the Pas-de-Calais.
ARTHUR BENJAMIN CROFT
Arthur
Croft was born on June 7th 1891 in Stone, Staffordshire and baptised at Christ
Church in Stone. His parents were Benjamin and Mary J Croft, his father
was a butcher. Arthur was the fifth of eight children: Martha, Alice,
Elizabeth, Mary, Arthur, Thomas, John, James. In 1901 the family were living at
33 Old Road, Stone but by the 1911 census his father had died and the family
were living at 5 Arthur Street in Stone, Arthur by this time was working as a
wood sawyer.
Arthur joined Birmingham City Police on 4th March 1912, serving on the ‘C’
Division, with warrant number 8195. His collar number was PC C 284.
On 21st May 1915 he left the police to join the army, being assigned to 9th
Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment, regimental number 12103.
After training he entered the Balkan theatre of war on 11th December 1915.
By November 1916 Arthur, now a Corporal, was in training at Amara following his
battalion's abortive attempts to relieve Kut. On Friday 1st December 1916
the battalion commenced operations on the right bank of the Tigris River and, on
Thursday 14th December 1916, seized a Turkish position on the Shatt-el-Hai.
There followed a month of small engagements, during which the battalion fought
its way to within 100 yards of the main Turkish lines. At 10.30 am on the 25th
January 1917 the 9th Worcestershire and 7th North Staffordshire regiments
attacked the enemy lines in the Hai
Salient, seizing the positions which they then began to consolidate. When
Turkish counter attacks threatened to drive these battalions back, Arthur's
battalion was sent forward to assist. At noon the position became critical when
the Turks recaptured a portion of their old lines held by the Worcester’s.
Arthur's battalion attacked with fixed bayonets across open land and routed the
Turks, re-establishing the line. During the afternoon the Turks continued their
counter attacks and, at 3.15 pm, by sheer weight of numbers, forced the
battalions to retire. Casualties in Arthur's battalion amounted to 5 officers
killed and 7 wounded with 52 other ranks being killed, 118 wounded and 11
missing. Arthur is commemorated on the Basra memorial on Panel 9.
JOSEPH ISON CUFFLEY MC
Joseph
Ison Cuffley was born on 19th January 1888 in Radford, Nottingham. He was baptised on
1 September 1889 in St Paul Hyson Green Radford, Nottingham and was the second
child of Joseph and Fanny Cuffley. His father was a boot maker and in 1891 the
family were living at 132 Noel Street, Radford, with Joseph's older sister,
Alice Gertrude, and a younger sister Francie Beatrice. By 1901 the family had
moved to 111 Burford Road Nottingham and Joseph was working in the printing
trade, as a guillotine cutter. By 1911 Joseph had left home and was boarding
with Mr & Mrs Ponberth at 2 Weston Cottages, Prospect Street, Nottingham,
however he moved to Birmingham and joined the Birmingham City Police on 17th
July 1911, eventually moving to 38 Hampton Court Road, Harborne and worked out
of Harborne Police Station. His warrant number was 7867, collar number 105
on B Division.
By 1915 Joseph was living with Alice Mary Matthews, at the house in Hampton
Court Road and on 15th November 1915 Joseph resigned to join the army.
After initial training he joined 3rd Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers as Acting
Corporal, 36729, but on 25th January 1917 he transferred as Temporary 2nd
Lieutenant to the Machine Gun Corps. On 8th March 1917 Joseph went to
France with the 61st Battalion Machine Gun Corps (Infantry).
Joseph presumably came home on leave in November/December 1917 as, by early
March 1918, Alice was three months pregnant and Joseph came back to Birmingham
and the couple got married at Kings Norton, before immediately returning to
France! For Joseph's 30th birthday, in January 1918, he was given a silver
cigarette case, which remains with the family, images below.
Joseph rejoined his battaltion while his division, the 20th Division, was in
reserve at Beaumont-de-Beine, but by 13th March Joseph had been wounded,
possibly during the action for which he was subsequently awarded the Military
Cross. This award was posted in the London Gazette on 5th July 1918:
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty On the enemy gaining a
footing in one of our trenches he at once organised and led a party and ejected
the enemy. He later went in search of ammunition and delivered it across ground,
heavily swept by machine gun fire to two machine guns whose supply had run out.
Throughout the attack he displayed great courage and marked energy."
Joseph was being treated for his injuries at Dury, possibly 48th CCS, between
Arras and Cambrai, when the German Spring Offensive swept through, capturing the
whole area and Joseph fell into German hands. He subsequently died of his
wounds on 31st March 1918 and it is likely he was one of five British dead
buried originally in Dury Churchyard. After the war his remains were then
moved to the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetary at Grand Seraucourt.
On the right is a touching photograph of Joseph Ison Cuffley’s son, Joseph Lynn
Cuffley, at the grave of the father he never knew, as his father died six months
before his birth.
This photo is courtesy of Joseph's grandson, David Ison Cuffley, who also
provided the images below of Joseph's silver cigarette case, received on his
30th birthday, with a poignant single cigarette left unsmoked...
