I am once more indebted to David Evans (who’s not having a great time at the moment, so I’d like to wish him the very best and invite readers to join me in doing so) for finding and compiling this astounding list of Walsall Wood’s Air Raid Wardens.
David was inspired in his research by the recent article about the huge air raid shelter built in Stubbers Green at the outbreak of World War Two, the record of which I think surprised many of us. Since then, he’s been beavering away with Council minutes and other paperwork to bring us this remarkable list.
Are any of your relatives listed? There are also some wonderful occupations listed, including a local farmer’s chauffeur!
For a taste of what life was like in the area at the time, this article from a few years ago gives a taste.
Thanks to David for a remarkable addition to the historical record, and I hope his situation improves soon. Hang in there old chap.
If you have anything to add, please do: Comment here is welcome, as is mail to BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com and tapping me on the shoulder on any social media I hang out on.
David Evans Wrote:
Background
Compiled from Brownhills Urban District Council minutes:
On 26 May 1938 Air raids precautions committee held a meeting. It would now be possible to commence the training of Air Raid Wardens. The number of volunteers so far enrolled:
| Brownhills central Ward | 57 |
| Walsall Wood Ward | 153 |
| Shelfield and High Heath Ward | 41 |
| Norton Canes Ward | 62 |
| Total | 313 |
This number rose to 446 that summer. Auxiliary fire stations were approved for Norton Canes and Walsall Wood. In January 1939 the number of ARP volunteers had risen to 591 in the borough. In February 1939 a total capacity of shelters for 19,000 persons was recorded. In March 1939 the Air Raid precautions committee recorded that ‘…a further 60,000 sandbags would be received shortly.’
In July 1939 the council approved the ARP committee’s recommendation to build 8 permanent Warden’s Posts, including one ‘Near Conveniences, Walsall Wood’ and another ‘Corner House, Walsall Wood.’
I believe Walsall Wood’s Permanent Post was built near Brookland Road/ High Street junction, now a car park, and that the Auxiliary fire Station was built by this Post. The Corner House Post may have been at Shire Oak Junction, possibly on the covered reservoir (two sources, oral tradition). [This remains a bone of contention between me and David – Bob, laughing].
On 6th September 1939 the ARP committee held a meeting. ‘Evacuation. A letter dated 25 August 1939 was received from the Ministry of health stating that reasonable expenditure may now be incurred for evacuation purposes and that plans for reception should be pushed forward with all speed.’
Who were Walsall Wood’s Air Raid Wardens?
Fortunately the 1939 register is now accessible and, despite the corrections and annotations that this hastily complied register contains, we can find most of the Air Raid Wardens in the area.
The register was compiled on 10 October 1939 and has some blacked out entries as these people were still living a few years ago. We also find reference to First Aid, St Johns Ambulance and Auxiliary Fire Service in this register.
Lichfield Road, Walsall Wood
15 Charles Burns, engine driver at brickworks, ARP Warden
7 Robert Hayes, school attendance officer, ARP warden
49 Abraham Holyman, sheet metal filer, Auxiliary Fire Service
55 Enoch Painter, concrete maker, air raid shelters, Auxiliary Fire Service
55 Norman Painter, colliery hewer, AFS, Brownhills
Coppice Road
10 George Kemp, colliery fireman, ARP Ambulance, Staffs
30 Joseph Parr, coal miner ARP First Aid reserve
40 George Horobin, railway porter (van man) ARP, LMS Rly
42 James Lydall, bricklayer, ARP demolition (Aldridge)
66 John Parr, edge tool glazer, St Johns Ambulance Brigade
68 William Williams, colliery hewer, AFS BUDC
70 Alfred Clarke, colliery surface worker AR Warden (BUDC)
Lindon Road
129 John Halligan, colliery dispatch clerk and balloon barrage A.A.F
Brownhills Road
54 David Rowley, colliery wharf labourer AFS (colliery)
26A James Hollender, foreman (brickworks) First Said Superintendent BUDC
24 Sidney Collins, general labourer, colliery ARP (ambulance)
18 Arthur Hancox, plasterer, AFS volunteer
14 Samuel Warrington, colliery worker ARP ambulance driver
Occupation Road
21 William Lees(?), butcher and National Pigeon Service
25 Clifford Perrins, mechanic, colliery service, ex RAF Officer (see military records;David)
25 Annie Perrins, First Aid volunteer
25 Bessie Perrins, record clerk , ARP BrownhillsUDC
27 Fred Arnold, ARP Instructor, Aldridge Brickworks, ARP Instructor BUDC
27 Gladys Arnold tailoring machine button-holer, First Aid Services
31 James Langford, colliery boiler fireman . AFS Walsall Wood colliery
35 Robert Ruddock, colliery wagon repairer, St Johns Brownhills, ARP
Friezland Lane
80 Frank Walker, Ambulance driver and ARP Service, BUDC
Commonside
48 Thomas Swain, assurance agent, enumerator
46 Francis Broadhurst, plastic moulder, AFS Streetly works
Lindon Road
49 Clifford Perrins, coach painter. Ambulance voluntary, BUD
63 Philip Pope, senior canal toll clerk, Birmingham Canal ARP scheme
65 Alfred Jackson, senior canal clerk , Birmingham canal ARP scheme
50, Nellie Foster, unpaid domestic duties, ARP First Aid volunteer
56 Harry Heath, colliery hewer, ARP First Aid BUD
Pauls Coppice Post Office
Arthur Horobin laundry manager , ARP emergency ambulance driver
Silver Street
George Bywater, colliery shot firer, special constable no 3119
ORIT register:
Salters Road
56 Jabez Shaw, burner in brickworks, ARP warden BUDC
70 Jim Arblaster, coal hewer, AFS Brownhills UD
94 Joseph Harrison, heavy lorry driver, AFS Brownhills UD
100 William Freeman, Co-op milk deliverer, Auxiliary Fire Service Brownhills UDC
102 Sidney Arrowsmith, coal hewer, Auxiliary Fire Service, Brownhills UDC
Brookland Road
100 Thomas Percival, motor haulage contractor, Staffs CC Special Constable no 854
116 Victor Nicholls, builder’s labourer, Auxiliary Fire Service Brownhills UDC
Coronation Road
14 Percy Bickley, navvy on air raid shelters, Air Raid Warden at no x Post Brownhills UDC
23 Randolph Mycock, coal hewer, ARP Warden
38 William Evans, master window cleaner, ARP whole – BUDC
57 Harold Dunning, plastic moulder at Bakelite factory Brownhills –
61 Leslie Jones, labourer at steel works, ARP First Aid Post, BUDC
Stewart Road
2 Charles Mills, colliery worker ARP voluntary worker BUDC
Oak Road
19 Thomas Danks, labourer at brickworks, Air Raid Warden
20 Clive Lydell brickworks labourer, ARP First Aid, Brownhills UDC
Brook Lane
49 Elizabeth Remblance, chauffeuse, ARP ambulance driver, BUDC
59 Thomas Belton, butcher, constable in Staffs special constabulary
65 Thomas Dixon, motor haulier, ARP, Auxiliary Fire Service
54 Thomas Arnold, gardener, First Aid section ARP, BUDC
Lichfield Road
18 Charles Higgs, newsagent ARP warden, BUDC
32B Austin Walker, insurance agent. ARP warden, County of Stafford
48 Frank Litherland, engine fitter, ARP Auxiliary Fire Service BUDC
58 Clifford Jones, bricklayer burner ARP Auxiliary Fire Service BUDC
64 John Lewis, bricklayer’s labourer, ARP, BUDC
84 William Yeomans, wireless dealer, ARP warden, BUDC
86 Joseph Blakemore, excavator driver. special constable in Staffs Constabulary no 853
96 James Bayley, electrical engineer, part-time ARP ambulance man and driver BUDC
ORIA register:
Shire Oak
Lichfield Road, Sandhills (from Chester Road down to Barracks lane)
6 Harold Brooks, drapers collector, ARP warden, Brownhills UD
51 Henry Harrison, chauffeur (to Mr Lane) special constable no 1752
Chester Road, Shire Oak
177 John Bywater, milk roundsman, AFS BUDC
131 Harold Blakemore, Lancashire boiler stoker, ARP decontamination Aldridge UDC
Lindon Road
254 Thomas Glenn, mechanic, full time ARP Warden ( motor mechanic)
Friezland Lane
61 Mary Curley, AFS 40 company roll w/6382
ORIS register:
Salters Road
27 Harry Whitby ARWarden BUDC
67 John Wright, painter, Air Raid warden, Brownhills UDC
153 Elizabeth Jolly, (69 yrs ) Air Raid Precaution decontamination squad, Staffs CC
161 William Oakley, labourer, air raid warden BUDC
165 Thomas Cross, gravel digger, air raid precaution demolition squad, BUDC
169 Arthur Parr, auxiliary fire service, BUDC
Brookland Road
42 Harry Roberts, Stafford County Constabulary
48 Walter Pinches, pork butcher, Police War reserve
76 Bernard Stokes, haulier, special constable
Vigo Road
26 Arthur Doody, labourer, Police War reserve
26 Evelyn Doody, first aid volunteer
Aldridge Road
26 Samuel Hyde, miner, ARP volunteer
28 Harry Reynold, brickworks, Auxiliary Fire service BUDC
Castle Road?
10 – Aspley, colliery, Police War reserve
Castle Road?
11 James Woollaston, miner, ARP volunteer
69 Grace Jillings, ATS 1stSouth –
69 Dorothy Jillings, 21stCompany WAAF
Castle Road
2 Wilfred stokes, ARP volunteer
16 Reginald Cope, labourer, brickyard, Voluntary ambulance driver, ARP, BUDC
44 Annie McDonaugh, St Johns Brigade, Walsall Nursing driver
50 Roland Percival, painter, voluntary AFS BUDC
50 Evelyn Percival voluntary AFS worker
Holly Lane
59 Edward Langford, colliery, voluntary air raid warden BUDC
51 William Bowker, miner, air raid warden, BUDC
7 William Richard, assurance agent, special constable
1 John Clayton, colliery electrician, auxiliary fire service
1 Ronald Clayton, transport driver, ambulance driver ARP, BUDC
Lichfield Road
124 William Bullock, miner, First Aid volunteer, BUDC
ORIR register:
Beech Tree Road
45 Joan Kirk, part-time ambulance driver
47 Norman Cooper, brass founder, voluntary first aid at ARP Post
47 Ethel Cooper, voluntary first aid at ARP Post
51 Henry Wagstaff, planning engineer in plastic works, ARP
21 Jarvis Beswick, Police Constable
21 Peggy Beswick, volunteer first aid, Walsall Wood
28 Reginald Morrey, Police constable no 174
Beech Tree House, Beech Tree Road
Francis Roberts, medical practitioner, ARP Staffs County Council
56 Charles Cope, coalminer, special constable, Wednesbury
60 William Jones, insurance superintendent, Air Raid Warden, BUDC
79 Albert Maguire, assurance agent, special constable
77 Percy Foster, electrician, ARP first aid volunteer
63 Harry Morgan post office junior clerk , ARP telephonist and messenger
King Street
9 Agnes Davies, nurse ARP first aid post, BUDC
Queen Street
36 Clarence Hollender, works ARP warden Aldridge tool and engineering, Aldridge
26 Bernard Leese, motor driver, auxiliary fire service Brownhills UDC
Boatman’s Lane
21 Alfred Mason, girder plater, ARP, St Johns ambulance brigade
High Street, Walsall Wood
5 William Woollaston, hairdresser, ARP warden
? Joseph Crutchley, blacksmith, ARP warden part-time
Jerusha Crutchley, ladies’ hairdresser, first aid voluntary
29 Arthur Whitehouse, outfitter, tailored goods, boots and shoes, First aid Post duties, Stafford County Council
45 Cyril Thacker, air raid shelter constructor, ARP warden
Hawthorn Tree Inn, Benjamin Bailey, publican
Walsall Road, Walsall Wood
79A Agnes Jacques, ARP BUDC
83 John Nicholls, labourer, ARP, Stafford CC
109 Hosea Sylvester, Police War reserve
ORIO register:
Walsall Road, Walsall Wood
112 George Wall, colliery hewer, ARP senior warden BUDC
100 George Litherland, AFS no 108600, leading fireman BUDC
Hall Lane
36 John Baker, miner, voluntary ARP warden, Staffs CC
52 John Harper, bricklayer, ARP warden BUDC
151 Arthur Till, bricklayer, Bhills AFS
High Street, Walsall Wood
Red Lion Inn William Burton publican, ARP warden, Brownhills UDC
30 Frank Harrison, wholesale tobacco traveller, ARP, first aid, Walsall Wood
40 Patricia Barratt, St Johns Ambulance brigade
58 William Hall, miner, ARP no 6 Post Walsall Wood
Coppice Road
75 Arthur Craddock, wholesale master grocer, AP volunteer, BUDC
81 James Hodgkiss, bricklayer, Brownhills ARP warden
Camden Street
3 Arthur Stanley, brick and tile setter, Brownhills ARP ( P.T.)
7 Fred Weston, wholesale grocery deliveries, part-time ambulance driver, BUDC
41 Samuel Nutting, bricklayer, ARP Brownhills UDC
26 Harry Eardley, miner AFS no 108601 Brownhills
30 Joh Harrison, rail layer in coal mine St Johns Ambulance, no 358411
34A John Riley, Brownhills UDC plumber and Staffs Police special constable
34A Winifred Riley, ARP driver BUDC
Black Cock Inn
William Thorpe, licensee, ARP warden
Green Lane
22 William Merrick, coal hewer, ARP warden BUDC
34 William Rowley, cowman at farm, special constable
Grange Farm, Green Lane
William Ward farmer, ARP work voluntary
David Evans, November 2018
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Would be interested in the Norton Canes list.
Hello Christine
you will need to access the 1939 register..say, through one of the ancestors sites, If you know the name of any person living in Norton Canes around then, and know how to use the ancestors sites etc, this will open up the whole BUDC register, You will have to read through all the names of people in Norton Canes to compile the names of ARP etc members..Look for addition ARP written on the right hand column . There is no discrete list of ARP people as such in this register.
kind regards
David
Hi Bob
one of the most useful aspects of your wonderful blog is those rare occasions when two disparate strands of local history come together.
Some years ago, during a conversation wit my cousin who grew up in Walsall Wood HIgh Street, he mentioned that at one time there had been a foundry in Beech Tree Road…but could not remember the name. So, an unresolved part of local history..for quite a while.
A few weeks ago I sent a draft copy of the ARP notes up to David Oakley in the far north of the realm, for his observations.. During the ensuing follow-up telephone conversation David mentioned the ARP permanent post, in Beech Tree Road ( so not near the public conveniences, BUDC minutes) and that the post was at the dog-leg bend in Beech Tree Road…by the little foundry..next door to Mr and Mrs Cooper who ran the post. Sure enough the 1939 register shows a Mr Cooper, brassfounder, and gives his house number.
The 1945 Google Earth map does show a huddle of rectangular buildings there.
Today there are four 1960s sem detached houses and a row of maisonettes more or less there
Now, what is the history of this brassfoundry?, possibly owned by a Mr Cooper?
kind regards and thank you for your kind words, Bob. Most appreciated
best wshes
David
July 1914….Advert….Miss Cooper, Beech Tree Road, Walsall Wood, certified maternity nurse
I would like to know if anyone remembers the air raid shelter it was where the silver court shops are now[opposite Humphries coal yard. Our cottage was behind the shelter approx. 1940’s to 1950’s.
the head quortes for brownhills ARP was built on the side of the memoriol hall in lichfield road chief officer was JACK BREW THE BAKER an intteresting fact some of the ARP men became the foundation of the original home guard there is a photgraph in your archives of the group on the subject of whitehouse memory lane again of an old popullar comes to mind one name springs to mind IVY wasnt she a popular hair dresser i knew the whole family in lichfield road lovely folk god bless
Is there anyway of finding out ARP joking after 1939 census ?My grandad Jospeh Jackaman was a warden but after the census.
Hello Lynn
your grandad Joseph might have also been in the Home Guard….there is an excellent site..Staffordshire Home Guard..google this perhaps..well worth looking as the local lads do get quite a mention….perhaps readers can help you more…..please
all the best
David
Hello Lynn..again
there are oral tales…one where a stout local man took his turn to be the dead stretcher casualty in an ARP Home Giard exercise….bringing the comment..well, he can carry himself..expeltives deleted..The man became an optician after the war…and remained quite a stout well built man!
Walsall Wood wartime humour
another recounts an excercise where AHCraddock, wholesale grocer in Coppice Road, supplied the stores for the “do” only to find that anonymous rooks had also helped themselves to the bounty after the “do” had been concluded..
Walsall Wood. Love te place, and its noble traditions
kind regards
David
I hope other readers can add to the library of local lore
Brownhills Wardens
Walsall Observer, 28 September 1940
“From a Brownhills lady comes a letter expressing warm appreciation of what
Air Raid Wardens are doing after the sirens have sounded. They look up the elderly people
giving them cheer and comfort and the knowledge they are being looked after”
Rushall A.R.P Whist Drive
Walsall Observer, 20 January 1940
Rushall Air Raid Wardens and First Aid parties spent an enjoyable social evening in the Old Boys’ School on Saturday. Mr W Yates was MC for the whist drive and prize winners were;-
Ladies; 1, Mrs Yates, 2, Mrs Bronswick. Gentlemen; 1. Mr A Poxon, 2, Mr W Roberts, Refreshments were served by Mrs J Sanders and other ladies of the social committee
Walsall Observer 9 September 1939
Billie Evans ( window cleaner ) of Walsall Wood, wishes his customers to know that he is on duty as Air Raid Warden and although unable to give his personal attention is arranging for the window-cleaning to be carried out.
He trusts that his customers will please give their usual kind consideration
L
SORRY MESSED IT UP AGAIN remember those famous words inthe early days of the war LDV look duck and vanish god bless them all i still have their uniform an arm band
A little late to this party but my grandfather, George Hancox, living in Common Side, was in the AFS during WW II. He was a miner. The Arthur listed above may have been his brother.
Hi Bob,
I just stumbled across your fascinating website while searching for info relating to my (maternal) Grandfather, Thomas Percival. Can you tell me the source of your info concerning his Special Constable number, because it doesn’t tie up with the number I have, namely 871, which is printed (typed?) on the outer box containing his Special Constabulary service medal. I can send you some photos if you are interested.
Trying to figure out what his profession was is also proving a challenge as both my mother and (late) Grandmother said “Tom” worked at the Castle Bromwich Spitfire factory as a quality/flight inspector, so he would have probably known Alex Henshaw personally. I don’t know how long he was in the haulage business but he left it after his truck(s) were subjected to arson by, presumably, a rival haulier who wanted his haulage license.
David should be able to answer this – he’ll pass by in due course. I wouldn’t discount the possibility of a transcription error somewhere.
Best wishes
Bob
Hello Nick
thankyou for your note and for your interest. I used the 1939 (emergency) census….please, if you can, look under Brownhills registration district 368.3. ED letter code ORIT
In Brookland Road ( Walsall Wood ) you see a Thomas Percival, born 12 October 1908, living at house number 41. This is near Coronation Road and opposite the cemetery
The entry is quite legible. Thomas Percival,occupation, motor haulage contractor, own driver.. and on the right hand page..Staffs CC Special Constable no 854
In the early 1950s there was a Mr Percival who lived in Coronation Road. he owned a Bedford tipper truck. From memory he had two daughters.. The same person or another Mr Percival?
I hope this is of some help to you.
with kind regards
David
Hi David, thanks for getting back to me so quickly! I’m not sure how to access the 1939 (emergency) census, could you explain how, or send me a link?
These “two” Thomas’s are one and the same person and the two girls mentioned are my mother (Christine) and my aunt (Margret).
My Grandmother and mother talked about living in Brookland Road. Apparently they were forced out (house requisitioned during the war?) resulting in the move to Coronation Road. Unfortunately my Grandfather died just before I was born but I do have vague recollections of a Bedford truck at the back of their garden/yard.
Let me know if you would like a few photos of Tom’s Special Constabulary medal and box. You are free to use them on your website if you wish.
Cheers
Nick