Walsall Archives

Today is Windrush Day, This is the anniversary of the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush on 22 June 1948. Windrush Day is to recognise and thank all those who arrived on Empire Windrush (known as the Windrush Generation), and their descendants, for the enormous contributions they made, and continue to make, to Britain following the Second World War and in the years since.
Records show that Empire Windrush carried 1,027 passengers, 802 of whom were from the Caribbean; additional documented countries of residence are India, Pakistan, Kenya and South Africa.
At Walsall Archives we have numerous resources available for those interested in researching the experiences of Black migrants in Walsall Borough and beyond. We also have available to purchase 'Through Sweat and Tears: The African Caribbean Presence in Walsall' which examines the experiences of the African Caribbean people who came to settle in Walsall during the 1950s and 60s.
If you would like a copy then you can get one from our research room at the cost of £3.75.
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Today, the 6th June, marks the 80th Anniversary of Operation Overlord - better known as 'D-Day', the amphibious invasion launched by the Western Allies to begin the liberation of occupied Western Europe.
To commemorate this we have taken a look at how the Walsall Observer reported on the momentous events taking place across the Channel, and the fate of some of the local men who were involved.
The Observer of course, was a weekly newspaper, so the initial reports weren't in the paper until well over a week after the beginning of the invasion, with the reports shared here taken from the editions published on 17th and 24th June and 1st July 1944.
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Our friends at Wolverhampton Archives and Local Studies recently transferred this 1966 Walsall F.C programme over to us.
It is from a friendly against the then Finnish Champions Valkeakosken Haka (Also known as F.C Haka). A quick search informs me that The Saddlers won, delivering an 8-0 thrashing. Does anyone have any memories of this fixture?

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Are you looking at getting started on your Family History? Or have you already begun but hit a 'brick wall' and can go no further?
We have limited appointments available every Tuesday and Thursday between 2pm - 3.45pm where you can book one-to-one assistance to either get you going or restart your family history journey.
To book an appointment or find out more please email us at [email protected]
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Earlier in the year we shared a map of Walsall created by R.L Chapman in 1987, they also produced a second map in the same style for The Butts on behalf of The Butts Research Group.
This one is dated Summer 1987.
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As today is Burns Night; the celebration of the life of the great Scottish Poet Robert Burns, we thought that it would be fitting to share with you some of the material we hold in our archive collections from the Walsall Burns Club, latterly the Walsall and District Scottish Society (Accs 743 & 1443).
Walsall Burns Club was in bought into being on March 1, 1900 "at a meeting of local Scotchmen at the George Hotel" as reported in the 1901 Walsall Red Book, although being Scottish wasn't a prerequisite for membership. Mr. John Shannon was elected as the first President and the objective of the club was stated as being the promotion of the study of the works of 'The Poet' (Robert Burns) and of Scottish literature in general. We hold the minute books that record these first meetings (Acc.743) and some images are shared as part of the post. The first Annual Dinner (the only event in that year's programme) took place at the Stork Hotel on 29th March, with the programme designed and illustrated by our old friend Billy Meikle, who was to become a prominent member of the club, designing the programmes (Acc.1443) for the annual dinner every year up to his death in 1942.
Following the first annual dinner the event was held to celebrate the birth of Robert Burns on or near the date of 25th January. The venue for this dinner varied and included The Stork Hotel, Dora (Pattisons) Café, St. Paul's Hall, The George Hotel, The Elms Hotel, Aldridge and Aldridge Masonic Hall. After Billy Meikle's death the programme for the dinner was designed and produced by George Willott, principle of Walsall School of Art on Goodall Street and another individual who we hold a collection of personal papers for (Acc.407). As an illustration of the designs George Willott provided for the club we share the images of his programme that celebrated the bi-centenary of Burn's birth in 1959.
In 1982 the Burns Club became The Walsall and District Scottish Society, part of the Burns Federation, with whom it had been affiliated since 1923.
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Today marks the 192nd anniversary of the birth of one of the boroughs most remarkable citizens, Sister Dora. There will be a thanksgiving service at St Pauls Church, Darwell Street at 11am this coming Sunday (21st). This will include the laying of floral tributes at her statue at 11.45am.
The 1879 Walsall Red book, published shortly before her death on Christmas Eve 1878, included this tribute to her life and work.
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As we are starting to hit the cold weather, we would like to draw your attention to one of our lesser-known local clubs, The Walsall Curling Club.
The club was founded by two Scottish gentlemen Mr George Wightman and Mr Thomas McGeogh a cousin to the famous Billy Meikle, who lived with Meikle’s family in Walsall.
It was made up of both Scottish and English members. Though not much is known about the club, we do have some insight from Meikle’s writings.
The club rented Lady Pool on the Lichfield Road, this is our first of our photographs of the team playing there.
The club became fairly successful, having achievements over Wolverhampton and Birmingham at Wyndley Pool in Sutton Park. The attached photograph taken in about 1895 shows the teams and their members.
In fact, between 1894-1895 when the Arboretum was frozen for weeks the Birmingham team came over to play.
Meikle also tells of a trip to play in London, although they were beaten in the first Round!
Meikle’s cousin, Thomas McGeoch who initially started the club, hailed from a Scottish family who had been celebrated Curlers for over 200 years. John and his brothers, Colin, James and William McGeoch, played for Manchester Caledonians, and sadly according to Meikle, “they are the last of the race of famous curlers of that name.”
The McGeogh Brothers went on to be 3 times World Champions, at the International Bonspiel at Switzerland. Meikle tells us that Colin McGeoch had a curling stone that belonged to their Great Grandfather which was 200 years old, and it was named “Jeroboam”.
After the club had been disbanded many of the former players left their stones around Lady Pool and Billy was asked to return each stone to its member, sadly no one was interested, so he gave several away to friends as in his words “they make grand door props for a windy day.”

Given the appalling weather at the start of the new year, it is rather apt that we share these images from our local studies photograph collection with you today.
These were taken by W.B Shaw, an internationally renowned chemist, lecturer at the Walsall Science Institute and member of the Walsall Photographic Society. They are dated June 1931 and show Walsall Railway Station and Bridgeman Street in heavy flood.
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Walsall Archives wish you all a very happy and prosperous New Year - the attached image is another from our Meikle Collection (Acc. 63) and is a New Year card produced by Billy in 1892, with a sketch of the 'Ye Olde Woolpack' on the inside (Acc. 63/142).
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We are sharing a snowy scene today. This striking image is from the Jack Haddock collection and is a sunset view of Birchills Power Station from the Canal on a snowy afternoon.
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Are you having a boxing day buffet later to use up all of those leftovers from the big day? Why not be inspired by these recipes from our local studies collection. The Turkey Fricassee, and Trifle recipes are taken from 'The Walsall Ladies Book of Recipes, October 1905' republished by the St Matthews Ladies Group in 1992, and that for the Pork Pies is taken from 'Rook Pie and Orange Posset: Recipes from Victorian Cookbooks in Walsall Local History Centre' compiled by Cath Yates also in 1992.
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Our paid for research service is relaunching on 1st January 2024. Further details are available on our webpages here - https://go.walsall.gov.uk/walsall-libraries/lichfield-street-hub/walsall-archives-services/archival-research-services
For further information please feel free to contact us at [email protected]
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Walsall Archives paid research service is BACK from 1 January 2024! 🔍 🎉

Whether you want to discover your family's Walsall roots, delve into local history mysteries, or research your favourite borough landmark, our expert researchers can scour historical documents and deliver a detailed report within 28 days.

➡️ The service costs £20 per half hour, (up to a max of 2 hours), and the team will aim to turn around the report within 28-working days. To receive a request form, email [email protected] .

(Please note basic enquiries about our archive holdings or service info remain free. 😊)

Looking for a last minute Christmas present for the local history lover in your life? Did you know that we stock a range of local history books for sale about the people and places of Walsall, Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Darlaston, Streetly, Willenhall and more! Titles available include 'The Two Wheeled Time Traveler: A Photographic Tribute to Jack Haddock', edited by Stuart Williams, 'Yowm Nicked' by Anne French, 'Old Public Houses of Brownhills' by Clive L. Roberts and the ever popular 'Street Names of...' collection. Pop in and see us - you might even get a free gift with your purchase!
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We are delighted to be featured in this month's Who Do You Think You Are magazine. We have contributed this months 'Gem From The Archive' feature where an archivist is invited to discuss a highlight from their collections, telling readers about its history and the reason behind their selection. Our Archivist Ian, selected the last letter sent by Sister Dora to her friend Kenyon Jones on 30 October 1878. The letter was part of a cache discovered by a plumber and decorator who were renovating a house in Highgate during the 1930s. They were originally given to the Walsall Observer who deposited them with us in 1985.
The letter is transcribed as thus:

The Arms[?]; Walsall
My dear Kenyon,

I have got propped up to write this to you. See how boldly I commence!! I was so sorry you should have a useless walk last night - particularly in the snow. I pictured you walking up Green Lane, facing it. My darling, I dare not see you, it agitates me so much. I feel almost it might kill me. I am sure it only distresses you to see me in such a state and I cannot prevent it.
I am writing to hinder you coming tonight - for I am so weak today, although I slept better. I am obliged to rest in this letter at every line.
Ah Kenyon, you must not fret for me or grieve - I think I shall soon lay down the cross and must exchange it for a crown.

Ys. very faithfully

Sister Dora.

If you would like to read the article then then you can access 'Who Do You Think You Are magazine' as part of your library membership via the Pressreader App here - https://www.pressreader.com/uk/who-do-you-think-you-are-magazine/20231205/details or the Borrowbox App here - https://walsall.borrowbox.com/product/IMC_5264042/title/who-do-you-think-you-are
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We are sharing another type of map today. This one is a bit more sinister; it was issued by the German Luftwaffe (air force) during the Second World War (1941) as part of a series relating to German military targets in the Midlands and the south of England. The images shared here are taken from a single map which is part of a file of 25 6" Ordnance Survey Maps, for Walsall, Dudley, Birmingham, Coventry, Rugby, Northampton, Oxford, and Gloucester, and a 1" key map of the whole Midlands area. . The images shared here are of the Leamore area, north of Walsall Town Centre, along with a translation of the German words on the key.
Large targets such as rail yards are marked in red, and other targets such as factories are marked in violet.
The full catalogue for these maps can be found on the Black Country History Website, here - https://www.blackcountryhistory.org/collections/getrecord/GB148_1231

Like all archives we hold a significant number of historical maps in our collections. Maps are excellent resources for a researcher, as they can give a real sense of how an area has changed, and an impression of the speed of that change.
One of my favourite maps in our collection is Aulton's map of Walsall. This shows the town circa 1875, and was created by Councillor Arthur Daniel Aulton, an accountant who was also involved with Walsall Town F.C and Walsall Races. The map was printed by Lithographer A.T Taylor, and shows in detail what was the two separate areas of Walsall - The Borough (central Walsall) and The Foreign (The outskirts), as well as advertisements for 36 local businesses. A digital copy of the map is available from the National Digital Library of France and can be accessed here - https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b8439030t
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On Remembrance Sunday, we provided a display for the Town Hall for attendees of the Remembrance Parade to view after taking part in the commemorations. The theme was 'Walsall in the Great War' and we have shared some of the images used with you here, including a photograph of Mrs Barrett, Walsall's first female Tram Conductor and a group of Soldiers outside the Royal Oak Pub, Sneyd Lane, Bloxwich.

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Today is Remembrance Sunday. Todays post, although focusing on an individual soldier, who had his life tragically cut short by the First World War, is in remembrance of all those who have perished in conflict.
Today’s post looks at the all too short life of Second Lieutenant Harold Parry K.R.R.C. The lost poet of Bloxwich. He stands as a typical example of the “Lost Generation” of young men killed in the First World War whose potential would never be realised.
Harold Parry was born in December 1896 at Croxdene House, Bloxwich the youngest son of D. E. Parry later Alderman Parry a mining engineer and colliery manager and Sarah Parry. His siblings were Donald, Dorothy, and Victor.
Parry was an able student and attended Queen Mary’s Grammar School in Walsall. He won the Queen’s prize for history and an open history scholarship at Oxford. He showed an aptitude for leadership and was Captain of School, Captain of Football and Cricket and a Cadet Officer gaining a school record in marks.
In October 1915 Harold started his University career at Oxford and immediately joined the O.T.C. (Officer Training Corps). Harold only spent one term at Oxford where he felt a sense of duty to join up at once. In January 1916, was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in The King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, before transferring to the 17th Battalion, The King’s Royal Rifle Corps, on the front line in France. On 6th May, 1917 at the age of just twenty he was killed near Ypres whilst moving to safer quarters during shelling. He was buried at Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery.
Peter T. Hutchinson wrote “I never knew of any officer or man more popular with his comrades or more highly spoken of.”
Captain R. A. Williams wrote “I should tell you how much he was liked by the men of the company. Personally I feel that I have lost a friend as well as a splendid and hard-working officer.”
During his war service Parry wrote to friends and family and also wrote poetry. He must have been a popular young man as after his death a volume of his writing and poetry was published privately. We have this volume at Walsall Archives Many of his letters are published and some of his poems. His subject matter is varied but not many are about the war. His teachers, his tutor at Oxford and his commanding officer all write that Harold Parry was a gifted young man and that had he lived he would have succeeded in whatever he had chosen to do in life. The impression is that his life was a wasted opportunity that the war had cut short.

Today is Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of the First World War, where hostilities ceased at 11.00 am on 11 November 1918. In our collections we have several sets of personal letters from different servicemen of the area who were serving overseas as part of the armed forces. These are invaluable archives as they give us a sense of what life was like on the front line for the “ordinary” Tommy.
One of these collections is Accession 1573, which is a collection of letters sent by Gunner Frederick ‘Fred’ Guest back to his wife Ethel Guest who lived at Mount Street, Walsall in the Caldmore district.
These letters show us that Fred Guest served in the 2/1 (North Midland) Heavy Battery Royal Garrison Artillery (Territorial Force) who were part of the 59th (2nd/North Midland) Territorial Division. Fred’s Regiment went to France on 30 May 1916 independently of the rest of the Division, which had been sent to Ireland to quell the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin. His regiment was made up of 4 60 pounder heavy guns, which required a crew of 12 to operate.
The letters are written between Fred’s arrival in France in late May 1916 and his return to England in autumn 1917. The letters are generally upbeat in tone, and show the often-haphazard nature of news being delivered to the front, with several of Fred’s letters beginning “I am yet to receive your letter…” the subject is mainly reassurance to Ethel that he is quite OK and comfortable, in one he points out to her that as a member of a heavy gun crew he is quite some distance from the front. There is also the occasional mention of general war news, for example the death of Lord Kitchener and Fred often expresses his hope that the conflict is coming to an end, particularly in one letter sent from France in 1917 where he mentions the number of friends that he has seen have been killed in the newspapers that Ethel has been sending him from back home.
The Regiment first went into action of 5 June 1916, where they began to engage with German artillery around Gommecourt in preparation for the Battle of the Somme, remaining in this sector of the front in support of the offensive until September 1916. They were then moved to a different sector of the Somme front and supported the attacks at Flers-Courcelette, Morval and Thiepval Ridge.
In 1917 the regiment was moved to Belgium and were in support of the operation at Messines Ridge, which was the prelude to the third battle of Ypres, otherwise known as Passchendaele. At some point during this action Fred's letters show that he had fallen unwell at some point between the 7th and 9th September where he informs Ethel that he hasn’t felt well and is being sent to hospital, but this is not because he has been wounded. He sends several letters from the Red Cross hospital before writing to Ethel to inform her that he is being returned to England to convalesce. There is then a gap in the correspondence before it begins again in late October 1917, this time form Eastbourne where Fred has been sent – the exact location isn’t mentioned but he was probably at Summerdown Convalescent Camp, which was one of the largest in the country. This is where our knowledge of Fred ends, with the last letters expressing his optimism that he will be home to Ethel by Christmas 1917.
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This Sunday is Remembrance Day; an opportunity for us all to remember the service and sacrifices made by those who have defended our freedoms and protected our way of life.
Over the next few days, we will be sharing a few of the stories that are available to be found within our Archives and Local Studies collections.
Today we are going to look at two men, both of whom won the highest award for Gallantry – The Victoria Cross, for actions at sea during the First World War.
The first is John Henry Carless of the Royal Navy. John was born to John Thomas and Elizabeth Carless of Walsall on 11 November 1896. He was educated at St Marys R.C School and enlisted in the Royal Navy on 1 September 1915. He had tried to join the army on the outbreak of war but was rejected due to “heart trouble” although John always maintained that this was a figment of the examining Doctors imagination.
He originally served on several Destroyers, including HMS Vindictive, before transferring to HMS Caledon in June 1917. Prior to his transfer he had been involved in the rescue of passengers from a hospital ship that had been sunk and carried out another act of gallantry when he saved a Stoker trapped in a boiler room by a serious fire.
On 17 November 1917 HMS Caledon was involved in the second Battle of Heigoland Blight, off the coast on North Germany, where the Royal Navy had laid a trap to engage with German ships minesweeping to break the British naval blockade. John was working as a ‘Rammer’ on one of the Caledons’ guns, when it was struck by an enemy shell. John cleared away the debris and helped remove casualties away from the gun, despite being mortally wounded to his abdomen. He collapsed but got up again to cheer the new crew who had taken over the firing of the gun, before collapsing again for a final time. As a result of this action, he was awarded the Victoria Cross. His citation reads:
“For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. Although mortally wounded in the abdomen, he still went on serving the gun at which he was acting as rammer, lifting a projectile and helping to clear away the other casualties. He collapsed once, but got up, tried again, and cheered on the new gun's crew. He then fell and died. He not only set a very inspiring and memorable example, but he also, whilst mortally wounded, continued to do effective work against the King's enemies.”
— The London Gazette, No. 30687, 17 May 1918
The V.C was posthumously presented to his parents by King George V and following this a campaign was launched by the Walsall public to fund a permanent memorial – we hold the paperwork for this campaign here, as seen in the images. The Bronze Bust was unveiled on 20 February 1920, outside the Central Library in Lichfield Street, where it remains to this day.

The other man from Walsall Borough to be awarded the Victoria Cross during the First World War was Lieutenant (later Captain) Charles ‘Gus’ Bonner of Aldridge. Gus was born at Shuttington, Warwickshire on 29 December 1884, the youngest son of Samuel and Jane Bonner. Samuel moved the family to Aldridge while Gus was still very young. In 1889 he took the first steps to a career in the Merchant Navy by joining the training ship Conway, based in the River Mersey. He began an apprenticeship with George Milne and Co and passed all the examinations for his Master Mariners certificate by the age of 21.
At the outbreak of war Gus joined the Belgian Army, before returning to England and volunteering to join the Royal Navy Reserve. He was eventually commissioned as a Lieutenant and served aboard decoy boats, which were Navy vessels disguised as Merchant vessels in order to get close to and destroy enemy ships and U-Boats. Serving on one such ship, the Pargust Gus won the DSC (Distinguished Service Cross) for his part in the destruction of UC-29 on 7 June 1917.
On 8 August 1917, was serving on HMS Dunraven, which was playing the part of an unobservant Merchant ship when it was attacked by an enemy U-Boat. The action is described in detail in the citation here - https://vcgca.org/our-people/profile/567/charles-george- Gus was described as being “in the thick of the fighting”, and that his “pluck and determination had a considerable influence on the crew.” Another crew member Petty Officer Ernest Pitcher was also awarded the V.C for his part in the action. Gus Bonner received his V.C at Sandringham as a special guest of the King and Queen. The admiralty citation for Gus individually wasn’t published until after the war, but it can be seen in the accompanying images (taken from Sue Satterthwaites excellent book).
Gus survived the war and later became a Captain in the Merchant Navy. During his later career he was involved in ship salvage work, including the raising, and refloating of the Caledonia, a 56,000-tonne naval training ship which sank in the Firth of Forth. At the time this was reported to be the largest ship ever salvaged and the 40,000 tonnes of steel was vital to Britain’s war effort.
Gus Bonner died in Edinburgh, aged 66 in 1951. His ashes were buried in St Mary’s Churchyard, Aldridge, not far from his childhood home. He, John Carless and James Thompson (who won the V.C in 1857 at the siege of Delhi) are remembered on a memorial plaque at Walsall Town Hall.
To learn more about Gus Bonner and his remarkable life, then the biography ‘Bonner VC: The biography of Gus Bonner VC and Master Mariner’ by Sue Satterthwaite is highly recommended. There are copies available to view in our research room or can be purchased directly from us for the special price of £14.99.

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Today sees the 100th anniversary of Walsall Shopping Festival, held from 2-10 November 1923. The festival was originally planned to be held in 1914, but the onset of World War I forced the event to be postponed.
As part of the commemorations for the festival, a booklet was published that featured sections on Walsall’s past, present and future.
The committee member in charge of the publicity for the festival was John Ashworth Crabtree, inventor of the first quick make and break electrical switch, and founder of J.A Crabtree & Co.
John Crabtree was a prominent member of the Rotary Club of Walsall, so it is not really a surprise that he became heavily involved with the festival. As well as being chair of the publicity committee he was also a member of the general festival committee. As part of this role, John Crabtree wrote and illustrated the ‘Walsall Future’ section of the festival booklet, a section discussing what Walsall might look like 100 years hence in the year 2023, which was written with his tongue very firmly in cheek!
As the images of the booklet show he made a number of predictions. Sadly, for fans of the football club Walsall F.C haven’t won the F.A Cup 12 times since 1948, as envisioned by John, nor has the home of English football moved from Wembley to a purpose-built stadium in Walsall, the largest in the world with a capacity of over 3 million.
Nor have cows become extinct -although there is more than a grain of truth in his thoughts about a chemical replacement for milk, with several dairy free alternatives gaining in popularity over the past decade, nor has Walsall being the home of the “synthetic leather industry” came to pass with top quality real leather products still being made in the town, albeit at a much-reduced rate compared to 1923.
Train travel of 8 minutes between Birmingham and Walsall is also unlikely to happen in the next 100 years, never mind the previous although John has shown super foresight on the development of electric trains and tracks. Although it is interesting to note that the fastest current train between Walsall and Birmingham New Street, stopping once at Tame Bridge Parkway takes 22 minutes – 2 minutes slower than the express journey in 1923.
The next page contains my absolute favourite item in the booklet, I have long been fascinated with Lighthouses, so the Walsall Air Light immediately appeals to me although I’m not sure the installation of the lens in the spire of St Matthews Church would have been a particularly practical or indeed popular measure!
The last image I’m sharing from the booklet is the vision of what the future home may look like. He states that “it has become the fashion to have all houses and furniture as circular as possible” and illustrates this with an image of the exterior and dining room of ‘Globe Villa’ owned by a prominent local citizen “Mr W.A.L Sall…
The booklet concludes with an editorial note: “We are afraid that our contributor has allowed his imagination to run riot, and we would therefore recommend that our readers do not accept these prophecies in too serious a vein”.
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We're sharing some ghostly goings on from our photograph collection for Halloween.
The White Hart in Caldmore is reputedly the home of the Caldmore Ghost. This image from our photographic collection, shows Dr Clarke, Medical Officer of Health for Walsall supposedly taking the pulse of the Caldmore Ghost at The White Hart in 1925.
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