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History and Heritage Projects in Wolverhampton
World War 1
Connecting, Exploring, Remembering Wolverhampton
For this project Digital Disability in association with WCHS, worked with a group of disabled people to research and explore their connection to World War One.
The project researched and explored war memorials, visiting and taking photographs, looking at the way the 'Fallen' are remembered on memorials in Wolverhampton, UK and in Loos, France.
The memorial at Loos commemorates over 20,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers who fell in the battle : a memorial that has significant connections with Wolverhampton: the number of the the soldiers buried there are from Wolverhampton; the sculptures at the memorial are by Wolverhampton's famous son Sir Charles Wheeler KCVO, PRA; and significantly, the unveiling ceremony was led by Rudyard Kipling who's son John died at Loos (the Kipling family also have strong family connections with Wolverhampton - Kipling's mother Alice MacDonald grew up in Wolverhampton - for whom Wolverhampton has a Blue Plaque).
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission appointed Rudyard Kipling as their literary advisor consequently he composed the inscriptions on the memorials and graves. Our project group trained with Wolverhampton Archives, learning how to use archives and how to do historical research. The group attended regular supported research sessions at a number of venues thoughout the project. The project group learned how to share their research by developing their IT, publishing and social media skills with tuition by professionals. The research and process of the project was shared through Wolverhampton Civic and Historical Society website and their social media. The project group took an active role in designing, planning and organising and displaying their photographs and other materials identified by project at the Wolverhampton City Archives History Fair. and unveiled the new memorial to mark the sacrifices made by Wolverhampton people.
WAR MEMORIALS OF WOLVERHAMPTON
War Memorials of Wolverhampton commemorates the war dead of the city from all wars, on stained glass windows, marble sculptures, bronze figures and grave stones. These memorials can be found in churches, work places, in the streets and even a local bank. They are a moving expression of the loss and the grief felt by the people left behind from many wars. To commemorate 100 years since World War One, This map has been produced to help people discover the beautiful war memorials scattered throughout the city and help ensure the sacrifice of the fallen is never forgotten.
VICTORIA CROSS MEMORIALS
The Victoria Cross is the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. There will be two commemorative paving stones in the city honouring George Onions VC from Bilston, and Roland Elcock VC from Heath Town, whose brave actions earned them this esteemed award. The paving stones will be unveiled during commemoration ceremonies to mark the anniversaries of when both men received their VCs:
George Onions VC – 22 August 2018 Bilston Oxford Street Memorial, WV14 7PG
Roland Elcock VC – 15 October 2018 Servicemen Memorial, St. Peters Square, WV1 1RT
COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES
Established in 1917, by Royal Charter, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) honours the 1.7 million men and women of the British Commonwealth who died fighting in the First and Second World Wars. CWGC ensures they will never be forgotten by maintaining their graves or memorials, throughout the world. There are many CWG situated in Wolverhampton and these are highlighted in brackets, along with the number of graves at each site.
CEMETERIES AND MEMORIALS
ALL SAINTS • All Saints Church, All Saints Road, WV2 2AR ✢
BILSTON • Bilston Cemetery, Cemetery Street, WV14 6BN (CWG: 111) ✢
• Bilston Oxford Street Memorial, WV14 7PG
• George Onions VC, Victoria Cross Plaque Bilston Oxford Street Memorial, WV14 7PG
• Bradley Methodist 89 Hall Green Street, WV14 8TH ✢
• Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Oxford Street, WV14 7BU ✢
• Coronation Park, WV14 8PS • St. Leonard Church, Walsall Street, WV14 0AT ✢
• St Michael Neighbourhood Church, Wolverhampton Street, WV14 0LT ✢
BLAKENHALL • St. Luke, 122 Goldthorn Hill, WV2 3HU ✢
BUSHBURY • Bushbury Recreation Ground, Bushbury Lane, WV10 9TX ✢
• Holy Trinity, Bushbury Road, WV10 0LY (CWG: 54)
• St. Mary Churchyard, WV10 8JP (CWG:33)
CHAPEL ASH • Compton Road / Crawford Road, WV3 9QZ
• Electric Club, St Mark's Road, WV3 0QH ✢
EAST PARK • Deans Road / Tyburn Road, WV1 2PU ETTINGSHALL
• Ward Street / George Street, Ettingshall, WV2 2PA
FINCHFIELD • Bantock Park Museum, WV3 9LQ ✢
HEATH TOWN • Heath Town Park, Bushbury Road, WV10 0LY
• Royal Mail, Sun Street, WV1 1AA ✢
MERRIDALE • Jeffcock Rd Cemetery, WV3 7AE (CWG: 200) ✢
• St. Chad & St. Mark, Lime Street, WV3 0EX ✢
• St. Columba URC Church, Castlecroft Road, WV3 8BZ ✢
PENN • Penn Footpath, Woodall Rd / Ashley Road, WV4 4DL
• St. Bartholomew, Church Hill, WV4 5JB (CWG: 6)
PENNFIELDS • Beckminster Church, 127 Birches Barn Road, WV3 7BQ ✢
• St. Philip Remembrance Garden & Churchyard, WV3 7EN (CWG: 39)
• United Reformed Church, Lea Road, WV3 0LW ✢
SPRINGFIELD • St. Stephen, Hilton Street, WV10 0LF TETTENHALL
• Christ Church, Church Road, Tettenhall Wood, WV6 8NR • Danescourt Cemetery, Coppice Lane, WV6 9BS (CWG:1) ✢
• Cricket Club, Danescourt Road, WV6 9BJ ✢
• St. Jude Parish Church, Tettenhall Road, WV6 0EB ✢
• St. Michael, Church Road, WV6 9AJ (CWG:25)
WEDNESFIELD • Royal British Legion Vicarage Road, WV11 1SF ✢
• St. Thomas Church, Church Street, WV11 1SS ✢
• Wednesfield Churchyard Extension, Memory Lane, WV11 1SD (CWG: 22)
1. Servicemen Memorial: Soldier, Seaman, Airman and George & The Dragon
*Roland Elcock VC, Victoria Cross Plaque
Location: St. Peter’s Square, WV1 1RT
2. Memorial Plaques (inside) ✢
Location: City of Wolverhampton Council Building, St Peter’s Square, WV1 1RT
3. Memorial Plaques, stained Glass ✢
Location: St Peter’s Church, Lich Gates, WV1 1TY
4. Memorial Cross and a bust of DM Harris
Location: St Peter’s Memorial Garden, Lichfield St., WV1 1DU
5. 'He is Risen' memorial from Queen St. Congregational Church
Location: Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Lichfield St, WV1 1DU
6. Memorial Plaque (inside) ✢ National Provincial Bank of England
Location: NatWest Bank building, Queen Square, WV1 1TL
7. Women’s Memorial ✢
Location: Mander Shopping Centre Lower Floor. Victoria Arcade, WV1 3QD 11 ✢
8. Memorial Plaque (inside) ✢
Location: Darlington Street Methodist Church, School Street, WV1 4LF
9. Memorial Plaques (CWG: 1) ✢
Location: St. John’s Church, St John's Square, WV2 4BZ
10. Memorial Plaques ✢ Location: St Mary and St John Church, Snow Hill, WV2 4AD
11. Commemorative trees: Mayor Henn’s tree scheme 1920 Henn’s Jewellers is still in Princess Street Location: Old Hall Street, WV1 3AU
12. Memorial Plaque by R.J. Emerson ✢
Location: Express & Star Building, Queen Street, WV1 1ES
13. Memorial Plaque
Location: Old footbridge to platform 2, Railway Station, Railway Drive, WV1 1LE
14. Street Shrine The only remaining Street Shrine
Location: Thornley Street, WV1 1JP
15. Wolf sculpture: ‘the Fallen’ (November), Rolls of Honour in archives, great for family research ✢ Location: City Archives, Molineux Hotel Building, Whitmore Hill, WV1 1SF
✢ Please check opening hours before travelling
(CWG) Commonwealth War Graves: Number of Casualties
* Victoria Cross recipient plaque
Wolverhampton"s Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC)
and the Loos Memorial (Dud Corner Cemetary)
CWGC - formerly the Imperial War Graves Commission - Became the CWGC in 1960
Fabian Ware / Edwin Lutyens / Herbert Baker
Also Tate Gallery & Kew Directors
Commonwealth War Graves Commission The Loos Memorial
At Dud Corner Cemetery OPENED in 4th August 1930
Loos Memorial 20,602 Casualities Memorial Wall – as no Body to identify
Loos-en-Gohelle in the Pas-de-Calais – Near Lens
Designed by Sir Herbert Baker (South Africa House) - 1862 -1948
Stone of Remembrance by Sir Edwin Lutyens (1000 or more dead)
Cross of Sacrifice by Sir Reginald Blomfield (40 or more dead)
The Loos Memorial and Wolverhampton ’Wolverhampton’s Somme’
October 13th & 14th & 15th 1915– South Staffordshires 91 Dead – only 6 identified for Burial (One Day)
417 South Staffordshire Regiment - 448 Total Dead Panels 73-76 (After main battle) – incl. Kipling’s son John
City of Wolverhampton
Commonwealth War Graves
ST. JOHN CHURCHYARD
St John's Square, Wolverhampton WV2 4BZ
Number of Casualties: 1
WOLVERHAMPTON BOROUGH CEMETERY
Merridale Cemetery 56 Jeffcock Rd, Wolverhampton WV3 7AE
Number of Casualties: 200
HOLY TRINITY CHURCHYARD HEATH TOWN
Bushbury Rd, Wolverhampton WV10 0LY
Number of Casualties: 54
ST. PHILIP CHURCHYARD PENN FIELDS
128 Church Rd, Wolverhampton WV3 7EN
Number of Casualties: 39
ST. MICHAEL CHURCHYARD TETTENHALL REGIS
Church Rd, Wolverhampton WV6 9AJ
Number of Casualties:25
ST. THOMAS CHURCHYARD EXTENSION WEDNESFIELD
Church St, Wolverhampton WV11 1SF
No. of Casualties: 22
BILSTON CEMETERY Cemetery
St, Bilston WV14 6BN
Number of Casualties: 111
DANESCOURT CEMETERY WOLVERHAMPTON
5 Coppice Ln, Wolverhampton WV6 9BS
Number of Casualties: 1
ST. MARY CHURCHYARD BUSHBURY
380 Bushbury Ln, Wolverhampton WV10 8JP
Number of Casualties: 33
ST. BARTHOLOMEW CHURCHYARD PENN
Church Hill, Wolverhampton WV4 5JB
Number of Casualties: 6
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission founded 1917, commemorates the 1.7 million men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died in the two world wars.
Wolves in Wolves project helps fund memorial to WW1 heroes
A blue plaque to honour thise killed in the first World War is due to be unveiled later this year.
The plaque will commemorate the lives of more than 2,00 servicemen from Wolverhampton who lost their lives in the conflict.
Special
It will be placed on a wall at the Wolverhampton City Archives and is due to be officially unveiled at a specialceremoney to mark the centenary of the end of the war in November.
The Lumley Designs – produced plaque has been funded by the city’s Outside centre, a Disability Arts Charity that was responsible for the Wolves In Wolves project which saw 30 wolf sculptures placed at sites around the city.
CEO Dr Paul Darke said ”At the end of the project we had an auction of the sculptures and decided to use some of the money for this very special blue plaque”.
“A lot of plaques are often for significant people who have had opportunities in life to excel. “
“We belive the forgotten thousands of ordinary people who fought in the war are just as important for helping to give the rest of us the opportunities we have had”
The plaque reads: “2018 Wolverhampton remembers. Over 2000 Wolverhampton citizens killed between 1914-1918”
It will form part of a Wolverhampton City Archives First World War memorial, which will also see the Wolves in Wolves ‘White Wolf’ permanently placed in the garden on Whitmore Hill.
Unanimously
The plans for the plaque were unanimously backed by the city’s Civic and Historical Society, which oversees the blue plaque scheme in Wolverhampton. Secretary Barry Hodgson said ”This was a wonderful idea for a plaque that will serve as a fitting tribute to those who lost their lives in in the First World War
Report by Peter Madeley
Express & Star
Summer 2018
Heritage Projects
Wolverhampton War Memorials
Tree planted in Bantock Park with Friends of Bantock Park
Plaque reads
" Red Oak 100 years Commemoration of the end of World War One
Friends of Bantock Park November 2018 and Outside Centre"
Restore Wolverhampton War Memorials CrowdFunder Project2018
To commemorated the 100th anniversary of the end of World War 1, Digital Disability working closely with Wolverhampton Civic and Historical Society (WCHS) identified 3 World War 1 Memorials in in the City desperate need of repair and restoration. Working together with with Digital Disability, The City of Wolverhampton Art Gallery and The City of Wolverhampton Archives funds were raised and memorials were repaired restored ensuring the future of these Memorials, including restoring Wolverhampton’s only remaining street shrine thanks to crowdfunder.co.uk
WCHS owe particular thanks to Outside Centre/Digital Disability for their support in this venture, gifting Wolves in Wolves products to help raise this restoration fund. We also thank the City of Wolverhampton Council (Archive and Art Gallery) in particular, for their support.
