The local men or the Parish who have lost their lives in The Great War.

The Memorial was unveiled in April 1923 and is situated on the North wall of the Lady Chapel in St. Peter's Church, Upper Gornal.

A Memorial plaque in Ruiton Congregational Church, Upper Gornal. commemorates eleven names associated with that Church..

A new Memorial opened in 2018 situated in the Arcade, Kent Street for the men of Upper Gornal who lost their lives in both wars.
The work was completed in 2021, the new memorial wall which features the names of those lost.
See foot of page.

Reginald John Aldington.
72012 Private; Devonshire Regiment, 5th Battalion.
Died on 29th August 1918, age 18 years.
Son of John and Mary Jane Aldington, of 7 Tudor Place, Upper Gornal.
[Vis-en-Artois Memorial, France. Panel 4]

Joseph Thomas Beale.
51228 Private; Lincolnshire Regiment,. "C" Coy. 2nd Battalion.
Died on 29th September 1918, age 23 years.
Son of Joseph Thomas and Emma Beale, of 9 Cricket Meadow, Upper Gornal.
[Gouzeaucourt New British Cemetery, France. VIII.H.12]

Thomas Bird.
9254 Private; Worcestershire Regiment, 1st Battalion.
Died on 1st December, 1914.
Son of William and S.P. Rebecca Bird of 48 Badger Street, Upper Gornal.
[Le Touret Memorial, France. Panel 17 and 18]

William Blackham.
36027 Private; South Staffordshire Regiment, 4th Battalion.
Died on 26 April, 1918.
Of 6 Cricket Meadow, Upper Gornal.
Also named on the Lower Gornal Memorial.
[Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. Panel 90 to 92]

Edmund L. Brookes.
2140004 Sapper; Canadian Engineers.
Died on 29th December 1918, age 30 years.
Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Brookes, of Kent Street, Upper Gornal.
[Fernie (St. Margaret's) Cemetery, Canada. B.4. S.D. G.4 ]

William Brownhill.
14609 Private; Worcestershire Regiment, 2nd Battalion.
Died on 5th May 1915, age 18 years.
Son of Edward and Elizabeth Brownhill, of 61 Jews Lane, Upper Gornal.
[Le Touret Memorial, France. Panel 17 and 18]

Joseph Bullock.
15826 Private; South Staffordshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion
Died 12th June, 1917 age 27, 'Killed in Action'.
Husband of Mary Bullock of 19 Clarence Street, Upper Gornal
Joseph left 3 children, Joseph Henry; Charles David; Mary Maria.
[Arras Memorial, France. Bay 6]

Arthur Clarke.
47777 Serjeant; Worcestershire Regiment, 4th Battalion.
Died on 1st October 1918, age 34 years.
Husband of Mary Ann Clarke (formerly Fownes) m.1906, of 28 Inhedge Street, Upper Gornal.
[Haringhe (Bandaghem) Military Cemetery, Belgium. III.B.41]

Walter Cox.
3818 Private; South Staffordshire Regiment, 1st/6th Battalion.
Died on 13th October 1915, age 28 years.
Son of Thomas and Mary Cox, of Brook Street, Gornal Wood; husband of Mary Anne Cox (formerly Nicholls) m.1906, of 7 Rock Street, Upper Gornal.
[Loos Memorial, France. Panel 73 to 76]

Joseph Darby.
Of Parkes' Hall

James Day.
M/316506 Private; Army Service Corps, Mechanical Transport.
Died on 5th November 1917, age 24 years.
Son of George and Jane Day, of Old Park Farm, Upper Gornal.
[Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium. III.B.41]

John Edwards.
9276 Private; XI Army Cyclist Corps.
Died 13th November, 1916, age 22 years.
Son of John and Sarah Jane Edwards of 3 Vale Row, Upper Gornal.
[Thiepval Memorial, France. Pier and Face 5 C and 12 C.

John Edwards.
Of Holloway Square, Upper Gornal.
This probably was the Son of Daniel and Mary Edwards of 5 Holloway Square, b.c1894.
Confirmation or further information required.

Herbert Evans.
Of 8 Inhedge, Upper Gornal.

Moses Fones.
73099 Private; Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment), 11th Battalion.
Died on 8th September 1916, age 23 years.
Son of Isaac and Annie Fones, of 34 Hill Street, Upper Gornal.
[Thiepval Memorial, France. Pier and Face 10 C 10 D and 11 A]

James Sidney Green.
39718 Private; Leicestershire Regiment, 2nd Battalion.
Died 9th April, 1919 in the 2/1 Southern General Hospital, Birmingham.
Buried at Ruiton Congregational Chapelyard.
Husband of May Green (nee Oakley married 1914 St Peters, Upper Gornal. [Son of Isaac Thomas Green and Sarah Green (nee Hyde)?]

William Guest.
18430 Private; 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys)
Died 8th October, 1918 (Missing).
Son or William Guest of 6a Clarence Street, Upper Gornal.
[Ramicourt British Cemetery, France. C. 17]

Arthur Hale.
Of 12 Cricket Meadow, Upper Gornal.

David John Hale.
24842 Private; Lincolnshire Regiment, 8th Battalion.
Died on 22nd October 1916, age 20 years.
Son of Ambrose and Clara Hale, of 12 Windmill Street, Upper Gornal.
[Thiepval Memorial, France. Pier and Face 1 C]

Isaac Harper.
79163 Private; Durham Light Infantry, 15th Battalion.
Died on 29th May 1918, age 19 years.
Son of William and Eliza Harper, of 19 Windmill Street, Upper Gornal.
[Soissons Memorial, France]

Joseph Harper.
39293 Lance Corporal; South Staffordshire, 4th Battalion.
Died on 26th April 1918, age 22 years.
Son of Charles and Mary Harper, of 32 Ox Street, Upper Gornal.
[Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. Panel 90 to 92 and 162 to 162A.]

Thomas Harper.
3681/201431 Private; Worcestershire Regiment, 2/7th Battalion.
Died on 24 October 1917, age 27 years.
Son of Charles and Mary Harper, of 32 Ox Street, Upper Gornal. Husband of Eliza Jane Harper, of 4 Court, 1 House, Salop Street, Dudley.

Thomas St. Clair Horton.
2696 Private; South Staffordshire, 1st/6th Battalion.
Died on 27th August 1915.
Of Eve Lane, Upper Gornal. Son of Thomas and Eliza Horton.
[Larch Wood (Railway Cutting) Cemetery, Zillebeke, Belgium]

Joseph Hickman.
251718 Gunner; Royal Field Artillery.
Died on 11th August 1921.
of 38 Pale Street, Upper Gornal. [Son of William and Martha Hickman?].
[Buried Ruiton Congregational Church, Upper Gornal]

Isaac Hickman.
117926 Private; Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) 1/5 Battalion.
Died on 17th October 1918, age 24.
Son of Fanny Hickman of 25 Jews Lane, Upper Gornal, husband of Martha Jane Hicman (nee Baines), 68 Inhedge, Upper Gornal..
[Busigny Communal Cemetery Extension. IV. A. 11.]

Joseph Hyde.
2093 Private; Monmouthshire Regiment, 3rd Battalion.
Died 2nd May 1915, age 25 years.
Son of Mary Ann Hyde of 21 Holloway Square, Upper Gornal.
[Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. Panel 50]

F. Hyde.

Thomas John Hyde.
110096 Private; Durham Light Infantry, 52nd Battalion.
Died on 7th April 1919, age 19 years.
Son of Thomas and Annie Hyde, of 30 Ox Street, Upper Gornal.
[Cologne Southern Cemetery, Germany. II. E. 21]

William Hyde.
16449 Private; South Staffordshire Regiment, 4th Battalion.
Died 26th April, 1918.
Son of Thomas and Annie Hyde of 30 Ox Street, Upper Gornal.
[La Clytte Military Cemetery, Belgium. IV. B. 27]

William Henry Hyde.
4440 Private; Worcestershire Regiment.
Died on 12th August 1917, age 20 years.
Son of Mr and Mrs John Hyde, of Vale Street, Upper Gornal.
[Adinkerke Military Cemetery, Belgium. C.15]

Harold Jeavons.
46315 Corporal; Royal Scots, 12th Battalion.
Died on 21st October 1918, age 24 years.
Son of Jane Jeavons of 2 Parkes Hall, husband of Annie Jeavons of 2 Brook Road, Woodsetton.
[Harlebeke New british Cemetary, Belgium. V.D.16]

Gershom Marsh.
17081 Private; Grenadier Guards, 4th Battalion.
Died on 25th March 1918, age 24 years.
Son of Mr and Mrs Samuel Marsh, of 21 Inhedge Street, Upper Gornal.
[Ruiton Congregational Chapelyard, Upper Gornal]
N.B. Name not included on St Peters Memorial.

Joseph Matthews.
Of Eve Lane, Upper Gornal.

Edward Mills.
251757 Gunner; Royal Field Artillery, "B" Bty. 86th Bde.
Died on 1st September 1918, age 27 years.
Son of Isaac John and Alice Mills, of 12 Clarence Street; husband of Sarah Ann Mills (formerly Jeavons) m.1913, of 58 Clarence Street, Upper Gornal.
[Vis-en-Artois Memorial, Belgium. Panel 3 and 4]

William Mills.
Of 2 Burton Road, Upper Gornal.

William Naylor.
10063 Private; South Staffordshire Regiment, 8th Battalion.
Died on 16th May 1917.
Son of William Thomas Naylor (deceased) & Sarah Ann Harris (re-married), now of 13 Hermit Street, Upper Gornal;
[Arras Memorial, France. Bay 6]

Samuel Nicholls.
202670 Private; Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) 1st/4th Battalion.
Died on 3rd September 1916, age 21 years.
Of 6 Rock Street, Son of William and Ann Maria Nicholls, of 2 Garden Walk, Lower Gornal.
[Thiepval Memorial, France. Pier and Face 6A and 6B]

Richard Oldfield.
39363 Private; South Staffordhire Regiment, 8th Battalion.
Died on 27th November 1917.
Of 21 Clarence Street, Upper Gornal. Son of Richard and Rachel Oldfield of Upper Gornal.
[Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. Panel 90 to 92.]

Arthur Oliver.
Of Jews Lane, Upper Gornal.
[? b. c1887]
[? Son of John E. and Maria Oliver]

Stephen Parker.
23639 Private; South Staffordshire Rregiment, 2nd Battalion.
Died 17th February 1917.
Son of John and Martha Jane Parker of 27 Jews Lane, Upper Gornal.
[Adanac Military Cemetery, Miraumont, France. III. H. 30.]

Arthur Price.
17238 Private; York and Lancaster Regiment, 8th Battalion.
Died on 9th April 1917, age 22 years.
Of Inhedge, Upper Gornal. Son of Solomon and Sarah Jane Price, of Upper Gornal.
[Railway Dugouts Burial Ground (Transport Farm). VII.L.4.]

Herbert Price.
16291 Lance Corporal; King's Own Scottish Borderers, 1st Battalion.
Died on 30th April 1916, age 19 years.
Of 6 Hermit Row, Upper Gornal. Son of Samuel and Elizabeth Price, of Upper Gornal.
[Auchonvillers Military Cemetery, France. II.D.14 (Coll.)]

James Sadler.
2633 Lance Serjeant; South Staffordshire Regiment, 1st/6th Battalion.
Died on 1st July 1916, age 30 years.
Son of Richard and Eliza Sadler of Mill Bank, Sedgley. Husband of Louie Maria Sadler (formerly Nicholls) m.1910, of 14 Inhedge, Upper Gornal.
Killed in Action during an unsucessful attack on German trenches at Gommecourt Wood, North East France.
[Thiepval Memorial, France. Pier and Face 7 B.]

Daniel Simmonds.
49599 Private; Lincolnshire Regiment, 1st Battalion.
Died 21st March, 1918.
Son of Herbert and Matilda Simmonds, of 6 Club Row, Upper Gornal.
Pozieres Memorial, France. Panel 23 and 24]

William Joseph Sydney Stanton.
203742 Private; Lincolnshire Regiment, 2nd/4th Battalion.
Died on 26th September 1917, age 21 years.
Of Parkes' Hall. Son of William and Rebecca Stanton, of 117 Dudley Road, Sedgley.
[Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. Panel 35 to 37]

William Smith.
3115 Private; Worcestershire Regiment, 2nd/7th Battalion.
Died on 4th December 1916, age 30 years.
Of 2 Windmill Street, Upper Gornal. Son of James and Sarah Smith; husband of Esther Stanley (formerly Fellows) m.1913, of 4 Duke Street, Upper Gornal,.
[Aveluy Communal Cemetery Extension, France. L.38]

Richard Smout.
16411 Private; Worcestershire Regiment, 1st Battalion.
Died on 13th March 1915, age 18 years.
Son of Edward and Emma Smout, of 5 Eve Lane, Upper Gornal.
[Le Touret Memorial, France. Panel 17 and 18]

Alfred Tench.
6477 Private; South Staffordshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion.
Died on 1st April 1918.
Son of Mrs J. Tench, of 79 Kent Street, Upper Gornal.
[Hedauville Communal Cemetery Extension, France. C.6]

Simeon Tighe.
17790 Private; South Staffordshire Regiment, 7th Battalion.
Died 9th June, 1917.
of 17 Burton Road, Upper Gornal, [widow - Mary Eliza Tighe formerly Massey m. 1913 at St. Peter, Upper Gornal].
[Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. Panel 37]

James Ernest Watchorn.
242231 Lance Corporal; Worcestershire Regiment, 2nd/8th Battalion.
Died on 21st March, 1918.
Of Kent Street, Upper Gornal.
[Pozieres Memorial, France. Panel 41.]

John Watton.
8440 Private; South Staffordshire Regiment, 1st Battalion.
Died on 7th November 1914, age 26 years.
Of 23 Ox Street, Upper Gornal. Brother of Henry Watton, of 2 Stone Street, Upper Gornal.
[Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. Panel 35 and 37]

Samuel Thomas Westwood.
72827 Private; Durham Light Infantry, 5th Battalion.
Died 21st December, 1917.
Of 2 Vale Row, Upper Gornal, Son of Edward and Fanny Westwood.
[Nine Elms British Cemetery, Belgium. XIII. B. 1.]

Richard Westwood.
Of 13 Pale Street, Upper Gornal.

Walter Williams.
41382 Private; Norfolk Regiment, 9th Battalion.
Died on 15th April 1918, age 20 years.
Son of John and the late Julia Williams, of 28 Clarence Street, Upper Gornal.
[Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. Panel 34 to 35]

John Benjamin Worton.
28057 Private; Grenadier Guards, 3rd Battalion.
Died on 20th September 1917, age 22 years.
Of The Holloway, Upper Gornal. Son of Mr and Mrs John Worton, of Quarry Cottage, Upper Gornal.
[Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. Panel 9]

Ralph Edgar Worton.
32029 Private; South Staffordshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion.
Died on 3rd December 1917.
Of 9 Burton Road. Upper Gornal. Son of James Henry and Louisa Worton, Jews Lane, Upper Gornal.
[Cambrai Memorial, France. Panel 7]

Arthur Worton.
25594 Private; Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, 1st Garrison Battalion.
Also served with 37019 South Stafforshire Regiment, 2/5th Battalion.
Died on 15th January, 1919, Malta.
Of 19 Pool Street, Parkes' Hall, Arthur had married Edith M Clarke in 1914.
[Pieta Military Cemetery, Malta, B. XX. 5.]

The above named men were researched from the existing Memorial list unless otherwise noted.
The additional comments have been researched from existing public records.
Any corrections, additions, pictures or stories welcomed, please contact me.

Decorated military personel who served in The Great War.

Samuel Smout.
Distinguished Conduct Medal.
200388, Sergeant, Worcestershire Regiment, 1/8th Battalion.
Son of Edward and Emma Smout, of 5 Eve Lane, Upper Gornal.
Engagement: Piavé [Italy]
"For conspicuous gallentry and devotion to duty during an enemy attack. While leading a party to clear the enemy from in front of our wire, he observed an enemy post fourteen strong, including an officer. He rushed his party at them, calling on them to surrender, and brought in the whole lot. He displayed fine courage and leadership."
Before the war Samuel was working for Mitchells & Butlers, the Smethwich brewery as a Stableman. He signed up in 1913 at the age of 19. He was awarded the DCM in October 1918.