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MODDERSHALL WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 - Roll of Honour with detailed information
Compiled and copyright © Ian Taylor 2024

The memorial stands in the grouds of All Saints Church, Moddershall, Stafford, Staffordshire. It takes the form of a tapering stone obelisk that surmounts a square-set stone base with the names and inscription carved into the lower base. A Chain link fence surrounds the whole. There are eight names listed for World War 1 only. There is one burial in the churchayrd for World War 2. The memorial was unveiled 20 November 1920.
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Extract from Staffordshire Advertiser - Saturday 20 November 1920, page 8:

MODDERSHALL

UNVEILING OF WAR MEMORIAL. — On Sunday, Col. Sir Hill Child, Bart., M.P.. unveiled an obelisk which had been erected by local subscription in Moddershall Churchyard to the memory of the men from the village who lost their lives in the great war. Prior to the ceremony, a large congregation attended a special service in the church, conducted by the Vicar (the Rev. T. L. Palmer). After inspecting the guard of honour, consisting of the local ex-Service men under Capt. Johnson, and the Stone Boy Scouts under Mr. Bowers, Sir Hill Child, in unveiling the memorial, said that he was proud to be able as a soldier, to take his part in that tribute to the fallen from the village. He did not think that it should be a day of mourning, but rather one of thankfulness and gratitude to the men who had helped to save their Empire by their sacrifice. Those men were part of the greatest voluntary army that had ever fought for this country. They had died to put an end to war, so that fighting might cease. At the present time some people were trying to stir up strife in our various industries, but the memory of what our comrades had died for would help us to fight the difficulties in store for us.—The Vicar dedicated the memorial, and the “Last Post” was impressively sounded by the Scouts, followed by the reveille. Many beautiful floral tributes were laid at the foot of the memorial by the relatives of the deceased soldiers, ex-Service men, and other friends.

TO THE LASTING MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THIS VILLAGE WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918

BAGGELEY George
Rifleman R/13474, 8th Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps. Died on service 12 July 1918. Aged 19. Born Stone, Staffordshire, enlisted Stafford. Son of Mrs Margaret Baggeley of Wootton Villa, Eccleshall, Staffordshire. Buried in AULNOYE COMMUNAL CEMETERY, Nord, France. Plot I. Row A. Grave 34.
BRAIN Robert
Gunner 805730, 29th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Died from wounds received in action 11 October 1917. Aged 35.Born Stone, Staffordshire, enlisted Shelton. Son of Samuel and Rachel Brain of Fulford, Staffordshire and husband of Florence (nee Evans) Brain, of 31, Stallington Road, Blyth Bridge, Staffordshire. He was married in 1904 and leaves behind three children, formerly employed at Florence Colliery as a underground hewer, he was called to colours at the outbreak of the war. Buried in DOSINGHEM MILITARY CEMETERY, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot V. Row I. Grave 11.
BRAIN Samuel
Private 2076, 'A' Company, 1st/5th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment. Killed in action 13 October 1915. Aged 19. Born and resident Longton, Staffordshire. Son of Samuel and Eliza Brain of 25 Erskine Street, Florence, near Longton, Staffordshire. No known grave. Commemorated on LOOS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 103 to 105.
GILBERT Frederick Bernard
Private 200763, 7th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment. Died on service in Mesopotamia (Iraq) 29 December 1917. Aged 20. Born Hanley, Staffordshire, resident Longton, Staffordshire. Son of John Frederick and Elizabeth Ann, nee Wilshaw of Manor House, Moddershall. No known grave. Commemorated on BASRA MEMORIAL, Iraq. Panel 34.
HARVEY Joseph

Sergeant 17798, 2/4th Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. Killed in action 26 August 1918. Aged 29. Born Great Barr, Stafford, Staffordshire, enlisted Doncaster. Son of Charles and Louisa Harvey of Great Barr, Birmingham and husband of Mabel Harvey, nee Greatorex of Moddershall. Enlisted September 1914, prior to enlisting, he was employed by Gen. Bewicke Copley of Sprotborough Hall in Doncaster. Buried in H.A.C. CEMETERY, ECOUST-ST. MEIN, Pas de Calais, France. Plot IV. Row F. Grave 21.

Extract from Staffordshire Advertiser - Saturday 26 October 1918, page 5:

MODDERSHALL SOLDIER KILLED.

Official news has been received by Mrs. J. Harvey, of Moddershall, Stone, stating that her husband, Sergt. J. Harvey, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, was killed in action in France on Aug. 26, 1918. Prior to enlistment on Sept. 7, 1914, Sergt. Harvey was employed by Gen. Bewicke of Copley, of Sprotborough Hall, Doncaster. In a letter received from an officer in France telling of his death and burial, Sergt.Harvey is spoken of as a good fellow and so well liked by all his men. The officer further expresses his own regret and sympathy.

MOSS Ernest
Private 22326, 8th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment. Killed in action 19 November 1916. Aged 23. Born and resident Moddershall, Staffordshire, enlisted Stone, Staffordshire. Son of William and Elizabeth Moss of Moddershall and husband of Hannah, of Moddershall Oaks, Stone, Staffordshire, married in 1914. Buried in CEMETERY, THIEPVAL, Somme, France. Plot VI. Row G. Grave 4. France.
WOODCOCK Henry John
[Listed as John WOODCOCK on CWGC] Driver 2/1741, New Zealand Field Artillery. Killed in action 25 October 1916. Aged 40. Son of Enoch and Harriet Woodcock, from Stone, Staffordshire, husband of Margaret Marsden (formerly Woodcock), of Blackburn, Lancashire (brother of Walter - below). No known grave. Commemorated on CATERPILLAR VALLEY (NEW ZEALAND) MEMORIAL, France.
WOODCOCK Walter Clement

Corporal 734, 8th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Killed in action 7 October 1916. Born Roughclose, Staffordshire, resident Longton, Stone, Staffordshire, enlisted Stoke-On-Trent. Son of Enoch and Harriet Woodcock, from Stone, Staffordshire. Killed two weeks before one of his brothers (see above). No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 8 C 9 A and 16 A. 734

 
Buried in the churchyard, but not on the memorial
WYE Leslie

Corporal 1640703, Flying Training Command, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died at Rauceby R.A.F. Hospital, Lincoln, 20 November 1946. Aged 24. Husband of Mollie Wye, nee Holland, of Moss Gate, Stone, Staffordshire. Native of Moss Gate, Stone, Staffordshire. Both Leslie and his bride were cooks in the Air Force when they married in 1944. Wye was taken ill shortly before he was to be demobilised from the R.A.F., but after being ill for eight weeks, he died leaving behind a widow and two children. Buried in MODDERSHALL ALL SAINTS CHURCHYARD, Staffordshire.

Extract from Evening Sentinel - Monday, 25 Noevmber 1946, page 2:

WYE.—On Nov. 20th. at Rauceby R.A.F. Hospital, Lincoln, Leslie, dearly loved husband of Mary Wye, of Idle Rocks, Moddershall, Stone, aged 24 years. Funeral Tuesday, Nov. 26th. at Moddershall Church at 2 p.m. — Inquiries H. Fairbanks, Oulton, Stone. Phone 262.

Last updated 3 April, 2024

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