Community News
Remembering World War One at National Trust Packwood House
To commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World War, there will be a ‘sea of poppies’ in the parlour at Packwood House.
Around 2,200 poppies have been made by volunteers, staff and the public and they will be on display until 1st January 2019.
Remembering World War One at The Core Library, Solihull
Find out how the First World War impacted on local people who lived, fought and died during the conflict.
Visitors can read stories and view photographs of soldiers from the locality (including Lapworth), and also women’s contribution to the war effort.
The exhibition will be on display in the Heritage Gallery of The Core Library in Solihull until Saturday 2nd February 2019.
The First World War had a great impact on all of those who lived through it. By its end, there were very few people in the countries that took part who remained unaffected. Men enlisted, or were called up in their millions; women took up work in industry and agriculture as the men went off to fight.
Almost all family histories will include someone who took part in the War. Here is mine . . . . .
Two of my great uncles fought and died in the First World War. Two brothers, John and James. John, married, with an infant daughter, worked at the local colliery as a coal miner; and James, unmarried, employed at the brick works as a brick machine minder.
Their service numbers indicate they enlisted together joining the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI).
John was a Private in the 6th Battalion of the KOYLI and was killed in action on 14th January 1916 on active military service in Ypres and is buried in New Irish Farm Cemetery, Ypres.
James was a Lance Corporal in the 2nd Battalion of the KOYLI. He was wounded fighting in the Third Battle of Passchendaele and died of his wounds on 26th November 1917. He is buried in Duhallow ADS Cemetery, Ypres.
The brothers are both listed on the UK’s Roll of Individuals entitled to a Victory Medal and a British War Medal granted under Army Orders.
I have visited their graves in Ypres and the area where they “fell” on the battlefield.
It is not known where or what has happened to their medals and the brothers are not recorded on any War Memorials in their home town of Leeds.
I would dearly love to achieve the recognition and honour my two great uncles surely deserve by way of adding their names to a War Memorial in the area in which they were born, lived and worked in, until WW1 interrupted and stole their lives.
However, since making enquiries to achieve the acknowledgement of their sacrifice, information has come to light that the family were so grief stricken by the loss of John and James that they did not want their medals nor did they want their names adding to a War Memorial. So be it. – Editor
