Private 17072 George Glover

The Glover brothers. From the left, Alfred, George (standing) and Edward. Photograph courtesy of Rosemary Walker.

Killed in Action on Wednesday, 28th March 1917, age 19.
Commemorated on Bay 6 of Arras Memorial, Pas De Calais, France.

1st Bn., South Staffordshire Regiment. 91st Brigade of 7th Division.

Son of Mr Alfred Glover, of 4 Tividale Street, Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Walsall, Enlisted: Birmingham, Resident: Tipton.

First landed Balkans, 21st July 1915.
Medal entitlement: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.

Not commemorated on any Tipton memorial.
Commemorated here because identified as Tipton on 'Soldiers Died in the Great War'.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/636500/

Genealogical Data

Birth of George Glover registered March quarter 1896 in Walsall.

1901 Census
10 Moat Road, Tipton, Staffs.
Alfred Glover (39, Millwright, born Wednesbury), his wife Mary Ann (39, born Wolverhampton), and their 7 children: Sarah Ellen (18, born Wolverhampton), Florence (15, born Wolverhampton), Gertrude (13, born West Bromwich), Alfred (7, born Willenhall), Edward (5, born Walsall), George (5, born Walsall), Joseph (4, born Walsall), and Laura Elizabeth (10 months, born Tipton).

1911 Census
4 Tividale Street, Tipton, Staffs.
Alfred Glover (48, Millwright, born Bilston), and 6 of his 8 surviving children of 10: Florence (24, born Wolverhampton), Alfred (17, Moulder, born Wolverhampton), Edward (15, Barrel Worker, born Walsall), George (15, born Walsall), Joseph (14, born Walsall), and Laura Elizabeth (10, born Tipton).

Personal Data

George was one of four Glover brothers (Alfred, George, Edward and Joseph) who all served with the South Staffordshire regiment during the Great War; he and Edward were twins. All four brothers enlisted during January 1915. George was killed in action in 1917, Alfred and Edward were both discharged in 1917 after being wounded in 1916, and Joseph was wounded sufficiently badly that he spent 1918 in England before being de-mobilised in 1919. A heavy price was paid by the Glover brothers.

Alfred, the eldest, served with the 8th Battalion, South Staffs (Private No. 17124). He was wounded in the left arm and face on 11 August 1916, and he was evacuated back to England on 5 September. He was discharged as a result of these wounds on 2 April 1917; he died in 1966, aged 72 years.

Edward, George’s twin, served with the 1st Battalion, South Staffs (Private No. 16974). He was wounded in the eye and left shoulder (which was also dislocated) on 1 July 1916, and he was evacuated back to England a few days later. He was discharged as a result of these wounds on 11 June 1917. Edward died in August 1919 as a result of meningitis; the report of is funeral is included in the Newspaper Cuttings below.

Joseph and his brother George enlisted with the South Staffs on 16th January 1915 at Suffolk Street, Birmingham. George was given the number 17072, and Joseph 17073. Joseph transferred to the Machine Gun Corps in 1916, and was wounded a number of times before leaving France for the final time in January 1918. He remained in the Army in England until demobilised in 1919; he died in 1957, aged 60 years.

After training, George and Joseph embarked at Liverpool on 1st July for Gallipoli to join the 7th Battalion, South Staffs. They arrived in Alexandria on 12th July 1915, and then Mudros on 16th July. On 20th July they sailed for Cape Hellas, Gallipoli, where they landed on 21st July.

It is not possible to know George's subsequent service, but Gallipoli was evacuated in December 1915. The 7th South Staffs landed in Imbros, then in January 1916 moved to Alexandria for Suez Canal defence duties.

At some stage George was transferred to the 1st Battalion, South Staffs; this would probably be after some time away from the 7th South Staffs due to wounds or sickness.

After George's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £21/7/4d (21 pounds, 7 shillings and 4 pence); this was paid to his father, Alfred, in May 1918. His War Gratuity was £9/10/0d (9 pounds and 10 shillings), this was also paid to his father in October 1919. The value of the War Gratuity confirms that George had enlisted in January 1915.

George’s father, Alfred, was granted a Dependant’s Pension in respect of the death of George, this was 5/0d (5 shillings) per week, effective from 6th November 1918. It would seem that an unsuccessful claim was made after Edward’s death in 1919, as a note on the Pension Card says “Entitlement not admitted in respect of 2nd soldier”.

Action resulting in his death

The 1st South Staffs took up a front line position at St Leger on 27th March 1917, preparatory to an attack on Croisilles on the next day. During the course of that attack on the 28th March, 1 officer and 29 Other Ranks were killed in action, amongst them were three Tipton men, Glover, Davies and Jones.

Both George Glover and Harry Davies have no known grave and are commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Thomas Jones is buried in Bucquoy Road Cemetery at Ficheux. Thomas was initially buried at a location midway between St Leger and Croisilles but he was exhumed and re-interred at Bucquoy Road Cemetery in November 1919.


Operations narrative:
At 0545 a creeping barrage opened. 'A' Company were in two waves on the left, 'D' in two waves on the right. 'B' and 'C' Companies in support.

'D' Company met heavy rifle and machine gun fire. In spite of this they advanced a considerable distance. A supporting half-Company ['C'] were also in the attack. A party under 2/Lt Curry got up to the wire at T.23.c. The enemy counter-attacked but were driven off. Curry retired slightly to the sunken road at T.23.d.

'A' Company advanced over the road between T.22.A.2.7 and T.23.A.2.7, and went a distance towards the road in T.12.A and C. They were met by heavy front and enfilade machine gun fire. There was a gap now open between 'A' and 'D' Companies. The situation after 0700 was very obscure, and they were probably counter-attacked. In any case, the enemy got into the gap and behind 'A' Company. All except the left-hand platoon became casualties or were taken prisoner.

At 1500, a half-Company of the Queens, and two machine guns were ordered forward to relieve the pressure on 'D' Company. The Queens reported that they could not get into position, and returned to Battalion HQ.

During the whole day, the various parties of 'C' and 'D' Companies came under very heavy shell fire, and suffered high casualties. At dusk, 'B' Company took over the front line, and the rest were withdrawn to the quarry at St Leger. The Battalion, less 'B' Company, were relieved at 2000.

Newspaper Cuttings

Tipton Herald 30th June 1915
Mr Alfred Glover, of Tividale Street, Tipton, has now sent four sons to Kitchener's Army. They are Alfred, George, Joseph and Edward Glover, and are all in the South Staffordshire Regiment.

Birmingham Daily Post 24th November 1916
RANK AND FILE: MIDLANDS MEN.
The following casualties amongst warrant officers, non-commissioned officers, and men are reported under various dates:
Previously reported missing, now reported wounded.
SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE REGIMENT.- Glover, 17072, G., (Tipton).

Birmingham Daily Post 11th May 1917
THE CASUALTY LISTS.
MISSING.
SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE REGIMENT.- Glover, 17072, G., (Tipton).

Tipton Herald 23rd August 1919
MILITARY FUNERAL AT TIPTON.
A PATRIOIC FAMILY.
Military honours were accorded at the funeral of Pte. Edward Glover, formerly of the South Staffordshire Regiment who died at the residence of his father, 4 Tividale Street, Burnt Tree, and whose interment took place at the Tipton cemetery on Saturday afternoon. The deceased soldier, who was only 23, had before the war been employed at Holcroft’s, joining up in its early stages. About two years ago he was discharged, having been badly wounded. Although he has been able to work recently at the Mond Gas Works, he was always ailing, and never recovered from the patriotic sacrifice he made.
He was a well-conducted and much respected young man, and from boyhood he had been connected with the Primitive Methodist Church, Dudley Port, which the family attended – it was fitting that a service should be held in that church before interment. There was a very large and sympathetic congregation. The service was taken by the minister, Rev. Mr. Teese, and with Mr Wesley Marsh on the organ, the congregation sang the hymns “Jesu, lover of my soul” and “Rock of Ages”.
A procession of demobilised soldiers and sailors had been formed up at the meeting place of the Burnt Tree and Tividale Branch of the Federation, under the guidance of Mr. J. Fleming and Mr. Mullett (secretary). These – headed by the Dudley Port Band playing funeral music – marched to the house. Here, the coffin, covered by the Union Jack, was placed on a gun carriage, and after the service at the chapel, proceeded to the cemetery, amid a throng of people. A firing party with arms reversed accompanied and acted as bearers. All the way, the band played the “Dead March in Saul”.
The service at the cemetery was taken by Rev. Mr. Teese, and after the coffin had been lowered to its last resting place in the presence of a large and sympathetic crowd, the firing party fired volleys over the grave, each volley being accompanied by a tender refrain by the band and the muffled roll of the drums. Then the “Last Post” was sounded, and the young soldier was left to his eternal rest.
This is the second funeral with military honours that has taken place within the last month or so from the Tividale Branch of the Federation.
Mr. Alfred Glover, father of the deceased, had four sons, and all of them went out to serve King and country. One son was killed during the conflict, another has lost the use of his arm, and the other, although ailing, has just recommenced work.
The mourners were: the father, Mrs. Webb, Mrs. Whittle, Mrs. Cherrington. Miss Laura Glove (sisters), Messrs. Alfred and Joseph Glover (brothers). There were several beautiful floral tributes.