Private 3926 Elijah Griffiths


Griffiths Elijah 96 400x600Griffiths Elijah 96 410x600
Photograph courtesy of Elijah's granddaughter, Marilyn Kitson.


Died of Wounds on Thursday, 6th April 1916, age 31.
Buried in Grave D. 28. at Beauval Communal Cemetery, Somme, France.

1st/7th Bn., Worcestershire Regiment. 144th Brigade of 48th Division.

Husband of Mrs M. Griffiths, of 4 Wades Passage, Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Dudley, Resident: Tipton.

First landed France & Flanders, post 31st December 1915.
Medal entitlement: British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.

Commemorated on the Tipton Library, and St. Matthew's memorials.
Commemorated here because he appears on a Tipton memorial.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/34986/


Genealogical Data

From birth certificate: born 18th August 1884 at Hall Street, Tipton. Father: Edward Griffiths, Mother: Elizabeth Griffiths nee Dickins.

1891 Census
49 Hall Street, Tipton, Staffs.
Edward Griffiths (39, Furnaceman in Forge, born Tipton), his wife Elizabeth (39, born Tipton), and their 6 children: (William (16, Furnace Door Drawer, born Tipton), Annie Sophia (14, Scholar, born Tipton), Edward (9, Scholar, born Tipton), Elijah (7, Scholar, born Tipton), Elizabeth (5, Scholar, born Tipton), and David (5 months, born Tipton). Also Albert Rudge (19, Visitor, Barber’s Apprentice, born Ettingshall).

1901 Census
49 Hall Street, Tipton, Staffs.
Elizabeth Griffiths (48, Widow, born Tipton), and her 5 children: Annie (23, born Tipton), Edward (19,Chainmaker's striker, born Tipton), Elijah (16, Nut & Bolt Screwer, born Tipton), David (10, born Tipton), and Paul (6, born Tipton).

Elijah married Mary Bishop on 25th June 1905 at St. Matthew's Church, Tipton.

1911 Census
1 Wades Passage, Tipton, Staffs.
Elijah Griffiths (26, Labourer, born Tipton), his wife Mary (25, born Tipton), and their 2 children: Elijah (6, School, born Tipton), and Mary E. (5, born Tipton). A further son, George E., was born in August 1914 but sadly died in May 1915. Elijah's final child, George Andrew, was born in June 1916, two months after Elijah's death.

In September quarter 1918, Elijah's widow, Mary, married Thomas Gregory. They had 2 children: Gilbert T. Gregory born in September quarter 1919, and Reginald R. Gregory born in March quarter 1922.


Personal Data

Elijah Griffiths was one of 3 Griffiths brothers who lost their lives in the Great War. Elijah was killed serving with the Worcesters in April 1916, William also serving with the Worcesters in May 1915, and Paul serving with the South Staffs in October 1917. His brother-in-law, Andrew Bishop M.M., was also killed serving with the Worcesters in August 1917. Elijah and Andrew had consecutive army numbers so must have enlisted together on 12th April 1915.

After Elijah's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £3/17/4d (3 pounds, 17 shillings and 4 pence); this was paid to his widow and sole legatee, Mary, in June 1916. His War Gratuity was £3/0/0d (3 pounds exactly), this was also paid to Mary in September 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that Elijah had enlisted within the previous 12 months.

Elijah's widow, Mary, was awarded a Widow's Pension of 20/6d (1 pound and 6 pence) per week, effective from 16th October 1916. This would have ceased in September quarter 1918 when she re-married but she would have received a Re-marriage Gratuity; the pension in respect of Elijah's children would have continued until their 16th birthdays.


Action resulting in his death

Elijah Griffiths died of wounds on 6th April 1916 and is buried in Beauval Communal Cemetery. The 4th Casualty Clearing Station was located at Beauval from June 1915 to October 1916, so it is likely that Elijah died there from wounds received within in the preceding few days.

The 1/7th Worcesters had been in the Somme area since 1915, when the Somme was considered a quiet posting. The 1/7th Worcesters generally alternated from front-line to reserve postings with their comrades of the 1/8th Worcesters. They had started 1916 near Hebuterne, in February they were near Fonquevillers, in March near Serre, and then on April 2nd had taken over the front line once again near Hebuterne.

The Battalion War Diary for 3rd April says: “Trenches drying well and weather magnificent. 6 men wounded.” No mention is made of casualties on 4th to 6th April, so it is distinctly possible that Elijah was one of the 6 men wounded on 3rd April. Elijah would have been moved back through the Casualty Evacuation system and arrived at the 4th C.C.S. at Beauval which is about 13 miles west of Hebuterne. Elijah is buried next to another soldier from the 1/7th Worcesters, 17-year old George Mills from Wolverley who died 2 days after Elijah, so it is possible that he was also one of the 6 men wounded on 3rd April.


Newspaper Cuttings

None.