Private 15827 Howard Newey Corfield

Killed in Action on Sunday, 12th May 1918, age 27.
Buried in Grave III. C. 23. at Beuvry Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas De Calais, France.

1st/5th Bn., South Staffordshire Regiment. 137th Brigade of 46th Division.

Brother of Mr Harry Newey Corfield, of 85, Church Lane, Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Darlaston, Resident: Tipton.

First landed France & Flanders, 24th August 1915.
Medal entitlement: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.

Commemorated on the St. Mark's Memorial.
Commemorated here because he appears on a Tipton memorial.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/305023/

Genealogical Data

Birth of Howard Newey Corfield registered September quarter 1890 in Dudley.

1891 Census
91 New Road, Tipton, Staffs.
Samuel Corfield (27, Coal Miner, born Tipton), his wife Sarah (28, born Tipton), and their 3 children: Hannah (6, born Tipton), William (4, born Tipton), and Howard N. (6 months, born Tipton).

1901 Census
127 Bridge Road, Tipton, Staffs.
Samuel Corfield (37, Coal Miner, born Tipton), his wife Sarah (39, born Tipton), and their 4 children: Hannah (17, born Tipton), William (14, Helper in Boiler Yard, born Tipton), Howard (11, born Tipton) and Harry (6, born Tipton).

1911 Census
28a Walker Street, Tipton, Staffs.
Sarah Corfield (48, Widow, born Toll End, Tipton), and 2 of her 5 surviving children of 6: Howard (20, Labourer in Brickworks, born Tipton) and Harry (17, Mare Loader in Brickyard, born Tipton).

Personal Data

Howard's cousin, Harold Bernard Corfield, was also killed in the war.

Before the war, Howard was employed at Mason's Crown Meadows, which appears to have been a colliery. He enlisted in 1914, and joined the 1/5th South Staffs in France on 24th August 1915. Prior to his death in 1918, it is possible that Harry would have seen action at the Hohenzollern Redoubt during the Battle of Loos, at Gommecourt on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, and further action near Loos in 1917. During his time with the 1/5th South Staffs, 429 Other Ranks had been killed.

After Howard's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £21/1/10d (21 pounds, 1 shilling and 10 pence); this was paid to his brother and sole legatee, Howard N., in August 1918. His War Gratuity was £16/10/0d (16 pounds and 10 shillings), this was also paid to his brother in December 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that Howard had enlisted in approximately November 1914.

Action resulting in his death

The Germans broke through south of Arras on 21st March 1918, the opening day of the German Spring Offensive. The 46th Division was ordered to relieve a Canadian Division at Lens on 27th March. There were many gas shells at Lens and a vicious air attack on transport lines. The Division was relieved on April 11th.

The Division next took over the line north of La Bassée Canal on the 25th April. The 1/5th South Staffs relieved the 1/6th South Staffs in the Essars sector on the 10th May and could have been relieved on the 12th May. In that front line tour of duty, only one man of the 1/5th South Staffs was killed - Howard Corfield on the 12th May. He is buried a Beuvry Communal Cemetery Extension, about a mile south east of Bethune.

Newspaper Cuttings

Tipton Herald June 15 1918
KILLED IN ACTION.
PRIVATE HOWARD CORFIELD.
Private Howard Corfield, who is known in Wednesbury, resided at 4 Nock Street, Tipton, and is single, aged 27 years. His parents are dead. He enlisted in 1914 in the South Staffords and went to France in January 1915 (actually was 24 August 1915 per MIC). He worked, prior to joining up, at Mason's, the Crown Meadows Works.
He has been officially reported as killed in action on May 12th last. Deceased has two brothers, both of whom had been discharged from the army. They live at 85 Church Street, Tipton.