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That is a great acquisition with an excellent write-up, Steve. Great to see the engraved naming too.

Best wishes
David

5414 PRIVATE JOHN WEBB GOODE
4TH BATTALION WORCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT
17TH MOUNTED INFANTRY

John Webb Goode was born in 1882 in the Foleshill district of Coventry, Warwickshire, England to parents Thomas and Ellen Goode (where the middle name Webb came from is not apparent as his mother's maiden name was Fulford, I at first assumed her surname to have been Webb prior to marriage to Thomas).
He was baptized in the year 1883 at Keresley, near Coventry.
Maybe some domestic upheaval such as the loss of parents or breakdown of his parent's marriage found John in the Census of 1891 living with his uncle George Hadgett, a 56 year old General Gardener and his 59 year old aunt Diana.
They are all recorded living at Coffee House Yard, High Street, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire.
John was a 9 year old Scholar at the time of the census.

His attestation to the Worcestershire Regiment took place at Bromsgrove on 25th November 1898 when he would have just about been 18, so safe to assume that he had resided in the town with his relatives since the census.
He was a Portman by occupation. Interestingly, section 13 asks if he had been refused entry into Her Majesty's Service, to which is entered "Yes, under age." So he was very keen to get out to see the world!
His vital statistics were:
Height: 5' 4 3/4"
Weight: 118lbs
Chest range: 32 1/2" to 34"
Complexion: Fresh
Eyes : Blue grey
Hair: Brown
Church of England: Yes
Distinguishing marks: Heart and anchor tattooed on right forearm.
Heart tattooed on left forearm
Heart tattooed back of left hand.


The above image from his attestation document shows under the heading of Distinguishing Marks the word "Special" handwritten in red ink! I wonder to what this refers, I do not think for one minute that the Medical Examiner wished to confer any privilege on enlistment!
Any ideas from the forum would be much appreciated.

He was finally accepted as fit to serve at Worcester on 28th November 1898.

He had a couple of scrapes with authority during his service as evidenced by the following two entries to his Statement of Service:
"Awaiting trial 19.08.03"
"Tried by D.C.M. 13.08.03
for leaving his post without orders from his superior officer"
Found guilty sentenced to 14 days H.L.
Imprisonment expires 26.08.03
Resumes duty 27.08.03.

In custody civil from 24.2.07- 26.2.07.
Sentenced to one month's H.L. for felony from February.

John served with the Worcestershire Regiment:

Home---25/11/1898 to 24/10/1901
South Africa ---25/10/1901 to 22/10/1904
Ceylon ---28/10/1904 to 29/01/1906
Home---30/01/1906 to 19/03/1907

During his service he completed the Mounted Infantry course, presumably to prepare him for duty in South Africa.
Also, Regimental Transport with 90th Battery R.F.A.

His name appears in the casualty lists of the Anglo Boer War.
Palmer (2000) reports:
"Good J 5414 PTE, MIA Roodepoort 04/02/1902 17 MI. Rejoined 4 Worcesters"

Hayward (1982) reports:
"Worcestershire Regiment
4th Battalion
5414 Private Good, J Missing Roodepoort 4Feb 17th MI. Rejoined "



Queen's South Africa medal awarded to Private Goode, bearing clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 & 1902. His clasp entitlement would suggest that he ranged far and wide with the Mounted Infantry during his seven months war service.


Naming to rim of medal


Regimental naming to rim of medal. A pity it lacks MI. on the end.

His next of kin was his aunt E. Goode at 22 Windsor Street, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire.

Any comments on "Special" as mentioned earlier would be very much appreciated.

Steve,

I am not sure what 'Special' means. What an intriguing addition to his papers.

Picture courtesy of Spink

[ QSA ];
KSA (2) (2709 Pte B. Guest. Worcester: Regt);
[ BWM and VM ]

Benjamin Guest was born at Old Hill, Dudley, Worcestershire in 1872 and worked as a rivet maker prior to enlisting on 4 July 1890. He must have regretted his decision as soon afterwards he deserted at Curragh Camp and was arrested on 16 June 1891. Signing a confession he was imprisoned for 85 days and his service reckoned from the date of his capture.

Posted to India he spent almost five years there before returning for another three years of home service. Arriving in South Africa on 17 December 1899 he earned a medal with clasps for Cape Colony and the Orange Free State but was invalided from service. Oddly his service records have him leaving South Africa in August 1900 yet he does appear on the roll for the King's South Africa Medal.

In spite of this Guest returned to serve in the Great War initially with the Worcestershire Regiment as before. However he was transferred at some stage into the Military Foot Police with the number P/10137. He was finally discharged from service on 11 May 1919, listing his address as 4 Bowling Green, Old Hill, Dudley.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (2) Cape Colony, Wittebergen (1187 Pte. A. Turner, Worcester: Regt.) pitting and contact marks

3258 PRIVATE HARRY SPARROW: 1ST BATTALION WORCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT

Harry Sparrow was born in Church Lench, near Evesham, Worcestershire in 1875.
Census 1881 finds him as a 7 year old living at Abbots Morton, Worcestershire along with his father Charles (38) an agricultural labourer, mother Hannah(35), Edith E (10), Walter (9), William (5), and Alice (0). The household also enjoyed the company and financial benefit of two male lodgers namely John E. Ellison (28) and William Young (21) who were both agricultural labourers.

Moving on from the rural life, Harry attested to the Worcestershire Regiment at Worcester on 14th June 1892. He was 19 years old, a Labourer of 5' 5 1/2" in height, weighed 120 lbs and had a very healthy chest range of 33" to 36" which was pretty impressive for the period.
Harry was of a fresh complexion, blue eyed, had brown hair and Church of England by religious denomination.

If his desire was to join the army and see the world, he certainly achieved that. After serving at home from 14/06/1892 till 13/11/1895 he was subsequently posted as follows:
Malta---14/11/1895 to 03/10/1897.
Bermuda ---04/10/1897 to 06/12/1899.
Home--- 07/12/1899 to 16/12/1899.
South Africa ---17/12/1899 to 23/08/1900.
Home---24/08/1900 to 06/11/1900.
South Africa ---07/11/1901 to 14/09/1902.
Home---15/09/1902.

I would assume that he was sent back home invalided due to sickness after his first period of active service in South Africa.


Queens South Africa medal awarded to 3258 Private Harry Sparrow with clasps Cape Colony and Orange Free State (Medal Roll WO100/184).


Regimental naming to the rim.

Harry was discharged time expired on 13th June 1904 having completed 12 years with the colours.

Harry married Flora Mills on 24th February 1906 at St. Peter's Church, Rous Lench, Evesham.

In 1911 the Census has Harry (38) recorded living at Church Lench, Evesham and working as a Farm Labourer with wife Flora (28) , daughter Phyllis Mary(4) and sons Albert Harry(3) and Victor Clarence(11 months).

All too soon, Harry would be joining up to fight against the Kaiser's army in the Great War. On 19th September 1915 he rejoined the Worcestershire Regiment as Private 21589, at the Guildhall Recruiting Office in Worcester where he gave his occupation as Gardener.

Following 105 days serving at home, he was posted to France with the Worcesters from 2nd May 1915 until 24th March 1917 and recorded Home on 25th March 1917.
He was then transferred to the Labour Corps (497339) in April 1918.
During his time in France he suffered from Rheumatism, Myalgia and Lumbago. Perhaps unsurprising as he was now 41 years old, perhaps this is why he was transferred to the stretcher bearer company (Red Cross Mobile Unit) at Rouen on 12th October1916. However, there is no record of any wounding according to his Medical Record.

He was finally transferred to Class "Z" Army Reserve on his demobilisation on 23rd February 1919 ending a total of approximately 16 years with the colours.


The World War One Victory medal now accompanied his QSA. He was also entitled to the Star and War medals, but unfortunately these have gone elsewhere over the years.

The Census event of 1921 finds Harry Sparrow as a 46 year old married man residing at Abbots Lench, Evesham. He was now a casual labourer.
No doubt with plenty of stories to tell like any good old soldier!

A final note, Harry Sparrow was a regular of the Worcestershire Regiment and so is not named on the Evesham South African tribute tablet in the town, which only bears the names of the men of the Volunteer Service Battalion.