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Victor, thank you so much for trying to help me. Sorry I have not replied before, I appear to have been quite inactive on this forum! Andrew Beale was my grandfather. We managed to make contact with the family of Henry James, but Louisa Florence died in 1907 of TB, a year after the birth of her daughter Florence Elizabeth. Emily may have been a half sister, but I don't think so. I have the widower's next marriage but have not been able to confirm a link with Emily. I am pleased to be able to report that both William and Fred have now been found on the 1911 censuses - the latter on a posting with the Hussars in South Africa! Sadly, at the moment neither family has progressed beyond around 1920.

Thanks again,
Dennis

I haven't been on line for a few days because of a router fault. Many thanks to Davy Boy and Dave for all their help on this enquiry of mine. It is quite unique to find a WW1 casualty with neither a marked grave or a memorial, so much so that I shall have a word with CWGC to see if he can at least be added to the memorial wall at Witton.

Thanks again to all.

Dennis

Witton War Memorial Photo Needed
   
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I am the historian for the Worcestershire Royal Field Artillery and have
just learned that one of the men in our unit who died in WW1 is commemorated either on the war memorial or in a grave in Witton cemetery, Birmingham. I am fairly sure that it is on the memorial. His name was Gunner A J P Hathaway, and the panel/grave reference there is 102.15992
I have a website dedicated to the men of the brigade in which I have almost all of the graves photographed. Website details are below. Unfortunately (?) I now live in Tenerife and rarely return to the UK. Is there a possibility that some kind lister with a digital camera would be able to visit the memorial for me and take a picture of the inscription from directly in front?
I would be most grateful if anybody could help me in this way.
regards
Dennis

Sorry to have come in so late on this topic. I am the historian for 241st Brigade RFA and have a website dedicated to the men and the brigade. Please feel free to visit http://www.denniscorbett.com/241.html.

There is a photograph of Gunner Harwood's grave on page http://www.denniscorbett.com/241graves.html.

He was indeed the son of George and Harriet of Fishponds. Interestingly, he was not originally a member of 241st bde as is testified by his service number. Our service numbers ran from 830001 to 835000. He will almost certainly have received (more or less serious) wounds which made a recuperation necessary away from his unit. On recovery he was posted to C/241 with whom he was serving when he died.

I maintain a database plus an archive concerning the brigade, but do not hold artifacts. If you cannot find family, but would like the death plaque to go to a good home, can I suggest that donation to the present Territorial Army Royal Artillery Battery in Worcester might be an acceptable idea? C/241 was originally the Redditch Battery, but the headquarters were in Worcester as they still are today. I can put you in touch if you wish.

Dennis Corbett
Historian 2nd South Midland (241st) Bde, RFA