Right, now work has slackened off a bit and I’ve got on top of other things that have been burning up my blogging time, it’s long overdue I caught up with some reader requests, and here’s a couple I had over Remembrance time that are indirectly related.
Both of these enquiries are for soldiers named on Brownhills St James War Memorial, which is in the churchyard in front of the parish church.
Ex-Brownhillian now afloat, long time contributor to the blog Andy ‘Cap’n Ahab’ Dennis has been going through the names on the War Memorial one by one and trying to find their history, and is stuck on Private Clegg at the moment, and wonders if anyone can help – but at the same time I have an enquiry in from Nic Meadows for any information on her Great Grandfather Joseph Tongue.
I’ll let them explain:
Joseph Tongue – images kindly shared by Nic Meadows.
Hi Bob
I took my boys to see the memorial of their great great grandad Joseph Tongue, and have been trying to research his history, any information would be appreciated?
Cheers
Nic Meadows
Andy had this to say:
Hello Bob
Long time! I am trying to make some progress on the fate of soldiers named on the St James’s memorial 1914-18, but it is not easy finding online records.
At the moment I am working on Private Fred Cleg who died 20 September 1917, but information is scant. I wonder are you in contact with any Cleggs in Brownhills who might have some idea?
From Shire Oak days I recall a lad named Clegg, who lived along Lichfield Road, towards the Avenues.
Also, do you know if any of the local fallen died on the last day or days of the war? The mathematics are that it is unlikely, but it was unlikely, even at Whittington, where a Pte Pratt met his end on 2 November.
Cheers,
Andy Dennis
If you can help with any of the points raised here I would be most grateful, as would Andy and Nic. It’s so important to put history to these names, as it brings the memorial to life in a way not possible with just a list of names.
Thanks for any information you have – and thanks to Nic and Andy for great, thought-provoking enquiries I’m sure the blog researchers will love.
If you can help, comment here, mail me on BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com, to tug my sleeve on social media. Thanks.