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Welcome to our blog. Here you’ll find contributions from local historians and experts on the subject of Staffordshire’s involvement in the Great War, and on the commemorative events taking place throughout the County.

A E Tomlinson (1892-1968)

Poet, Albert Ernest Tomlinson, studied at Middlesborough High School and Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He enlisted in the South Staffordshire Regiment on 4th June 1915 as 2nd Lieutenant, trained at Brocton Camp on Cannock Chase before leaving for France in March 1916. In July he was wounded and spent time recuperating in England before returning to active service…

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Frederic Manning (1882-1935) poet and novelist

Did you know that Frederic Manning had a connection with Staffordshire ? Born in Sydney, Australia, Frederic came to Britain in 1903 with his family. He originally signed up as a private in the King’s Shropshire Regiment, then started officer training in Oxford in April 1916. From August 1916 he served with the 7th batallion at…

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Minnie Pit Explosion

The Minnie Pit Explosion happened on Saturday 12th January 1918. In total 156 men and boys from the Audley Parish were killed in the disaster just 10 months before the end of the Great War.  If a family member wasn’t killed in the trenches in Europe, they were killed in the coal seams below their village. It took…

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Nicholson War Memorial, Leek

The memorial (known locally by Leekensians as “The Monument” or “Sir Arthur’s Wristwatch”) was built by Sir Arthur Nicholson to commemorate the death of his son Basil Lee and the fallen from the First World War. It was unveiled in 1925 four years before Sir Arthur’s death in 1929. It now stands tribute to the fallen…

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Stone Historical Society Research

Steve Booth from Stone Historical Society has been researching the stories of local soldiers who died during the Great War. He is keen to find out more information and photos for the Historical Society’s commemoratary plans for World War 1. They have photos of all of the officers and Private Goodill but are desperately hunting for pictures of soldiers…

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Belgian Refugees in Marchington

Following the German invasion of Belgium refugees became a familiar sight in towns and villages across Staffordshire. St Peter’s CE (VC) first school in Marchington records that 11 Belgian refugee children were admitted to the school on 9th November 1914, and that a school holiday was given in honour of the victories gained at St Quentin…

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Zeppelin Over Burton-on-Trent

Until January 31, 1916, Burton’s war involvement had been the loss of many of the town’s menfolk to the horror of trench warfare. There had been Zeppelin raids on London and the South and East coasts but Burton was considered too far inland – which was underlined on the night of the air raid by…

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Who was General Walter Norris Congreve VC ?

In a letter to his wife, written on Christmas Day, General Walter Congreve VC explained the extraordinary circumstances around the Christmas Truce of 1914. Congreve’s parents William and Fanny E were from Castle Church in Stafford. He was born on 20 November 1862 in Chatham, Kent and died on 28 February 1927 in Malta. At…

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News Archives

  • Cannock War Memorial
  • Staffordshire Appeals: Opening access to Staffordshire’s Great War Local Military and Appeal Tribunals
  • A E Tomlinson (1892-1968)
  • Frederic Manning (1882-1935) poet and novelist
  • Minnie Pit Explosion
  • Nicholson War Memorial, Leek
  • Stone Historical Society Research
  • Belgian Refugees in Marchington
  • Zeppelin Over Burton-on-Trent
  • Who was General Walter Norris Congreve VC ?