Holy Trinity
Amblecote
We have a number of “War Graves” in Holy Trinity Churchyard and some casualties have been buried in, or are commemorated on, family plots.
Mr. Ian Williams has located memorials in the Churchyard to the fallen of The Great War (1914-
Private Percival Sydney Barker
2nd/6th Btn. South Staffordshire Regiment, 10.12.1917.
Died at a military hospital in Etaples from the effects of being gassed. Buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. He was 21 years old and had been a server here at Holy Trinity.
Airman 2nd Class Daniel Johannes Burger
Royal Flying Corps., 27.9.1916.
Served with the South African Railway Engineer Corps. Until 1913 and then the South African Engineers until 1915 when he became an air mechanic with the Royal Flying Corps. He died from anaemia in Connaught Hospital in Farnborough. Aged about 28 years. He is buried with his wife.
Private Edward Clasper
9th Btn. Worcester Regiment, 5.5.1917
A casualty of the campaign in Mesopotamia where he took part in the attack on Kut-
Guardsman John Clasper
2nd Btn. Coldstream Guards, 1.12.1917
Was killed when a shell landed in the trench he was occupying. He is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial and, like his brother, at St. Thomas, Stourbridge and his parents' grave.
Guardsman Joseph Clasper
1st. Btn. Grenadier Guards, 5.4.1918
The third son of Richard and Sophie Clasper died during an artillery barrage during the German offensive in Artois aged 20 years. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial and with his brothers at St. Thomas, Stourbridge and on his parents' grave.
Private Charles Alfred Friday Davies
Machine Gun Corps. (Inf), 6.11.1918
Died in the 30th Military Hospital at Alnwick in Northumberland from septic pneumonia/influenza after being gassed. He was 30 years of age and had been a chorister and was married at Holy Trinity.
Clerk 3rd Class John Henry Davies
Royal Air Force, 23.2.1921
His sudden death was reported in the County Express although no cause of death was recorded. He was 45 years of age.
Rifleman Charles Harry Green
1st/6th Btn. The King's (Liverpool Regiment), 31.7.1917
He was killed by shellfire aged 30 years. He is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial and also on his parents' grave at Holy Trinity.
Sergeant (Air Gunner) John David Greensmith
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 24.8.1944
Died as the result of a flying accident aged 19 years and is buried in the Churchyard at Holy Trinity
Private Horace Edgar Guest
2nd/8th Btn. Worcestershire Regiment, 18.4.1918
A casualty of "Operation Georgette" killed instantly when a shell exploded near him when he was carrying rations to the front line. He was buried at Berguette Churchyard, Pas de Calais aged 41 years
Sergeant William Basil Hale
Machine Gun Corps. (Inf), 25.6.1918
Was admitted to hospital in France in May 1918 suffering from pains in his right side caused by abscesses on his kidney. He was transferred to St. Georges Hospital in London but contracted influenza and died. He is buried in the Churchyard at Holy Trinity.
Private Charles Howell
4th Btn. Worcestershire Regiment, 30.11.1915
Charles died from exposure in Gallipoli and was buried in Hill 10 Cemetery, Gallipoli leaving a widow and five children all under the age of 12.
Able Seaman Kenneth Ralph Jukes
H.M.M.L.558, Royal Navy, 5.5.1945
Died of internal injuries following amphibious landings in Northern Italy. He was just 19 years of age and is buried in Udine War Cemetery in Italy.
Private Kenneth Alfred Thomas Lane
4th Btn. Dorsetshire Regiment, 13.7.1944
Was wounded in the head fighting in Normandy during or after the D Day Landings. He was brought back to a hospital in Oxford where he subsequently died aged 21 years.
Private George H. Leighton
Royal Army Medical Corps., 9.4.1919
The younger son of Alfred Leighton is buried in Holy Trinity Churchyard.
Private Edward Lowe
London Scottish/Gordon Highlanders, 9.4.1921
Discharged from military service on 24th December 1918 after suffering from the effects of gas poisoning in France. He was given a Military Funeral and is buried at Holy Trinity where he had been a choir boy and altar server.
Company Sergeant Major (W.O.II) Joseph Nicholls M.M.
4th Btn. Worcestershire Regiment, 30.1.1919
He had completed 21 years army service and seen much fighting in France. Wounded once and gassed on two occasions he had been in England for 6 months and had been in hospital in Essex. On leave to visit his married sister in Amblecote he appeared depressed, was in ill health and frequently vomited blood. He complained of chest pains and retired early to bed. He was discovered the next morning lying in the garden with his throat cut. He had committed suicide.
Captain D'Arcy G. St. Clare Roberts M.C.
4th Attd. 1st Btn. Worcestershire Regiment, 26.4.1918
Fought in the Gallipoli campaign of 1915 but caught malarial fever. Evacuated to Malta and then to England for recovery. In 1916 his Battalion was stationed on the Somme. After further sickness and injury he returned in time for the battle of Arras in April 1917 and was wounded again in May. He recuperated in England and returned to France just before the German Spring offensives of March 1918. The Germans were finally halted at Villers-
Corporal Herbert Roberts
4th Btn. Worcestershire Regiment, 1.2.1917
He was wounded in July 1916 and again in October at the Somme and was invalided back to England where he died in Worcester aged 24 years.
Gunner Edward Charles Smith
256th Siege Bty. Royal Garrison Artillery, 4.10.1917
Enlisted in December 1915 he is buried in Buffs Road Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium and commemorated on his parents' grave at Holy Trinity. He was aged 20 years.
Private John Ernest Whiteman
2nd/6th Btn. South Staffordshire Regiment, 9.5.1917
Killed in action aged 24 years. He was engaged in the suppression of the Irish rebellion before serving in France. He was buried in Hargicourt British Cemetery, Aisne.
Entries in blue are listed as ‘buried at Holy Trinity’ on the Commonwealth War Graves website.
