THIS week we remember two more Redditch soldiers killed in the First World War 100 years ago.
Victor Ames was born in 1890, one of the ten children of John and Rose Ames.
The 1891 census has them living at 36 Herbert Street, his father working as a needle filer for Milward & Co.
By the next census in 1901 the family were at 105 Ipsley Street and by 1911 Victor is recorded as a cycle worker with BSA.
He enlisted in the South Staffordshire Regiment and served as a sergeant in its 7th Service Battalion, first seeing action on October 6, 1915 while serving at Gallipoli in Turkey.
His unit was moved to France in July 1916 but he was killed while fighting on the Western Front on November 26, 1916.
He is remembered on the war memorial at St Stephen’s Church.
Frederick Tibbetts was born in Wolverhampton but enlisted in the 2nd Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment in Redditch, serving as a private.
His unit had been heavily involved in fighting during the Somme campaign but at the time of his death they had been withdrawn from the front for training and replenishment.
Records are scarce, and although the battle had ‘officially’ ended, soldiers in rearward areas were still vulnerable to artillery shells.
Frederick was killed on November 25, 1916 and he too is remembered on the war memorial at St Stephen’s Church.
With thanks to the book Remembering Redditch’s Fallen Heroes and the war diaries of the Worcestershire Regiment.
