Private 16802 John Price

Two Tipton men, John Price and Job Lawley, killed on the same day.

Killed in Action on Wednesday, 6th September 1916, age unknown.
Buried in Grave I. G. 37. at Ovillers Military Cemetery, Somme, France.

7th Bn., South Staffordshire Regiment. 33rd Brigade of 11th Division.

Born: West Bromwich, Enlisted: Birmingham, Resident: Tipton.

First landed Balkans, 11th September 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/546127/

Genealogical Data

This idenification of John Price is tentative. It is based on John Price of an appropriate age, born in West Bromwich, and having a sister Sarah (nominated in Soldier's Effects - see below). This is the only such instance that can be identified, but that is not definitive.

Birth of John Price registered in December 1884 at West Bromwich.

1901 Census
12 Cross Street, West Bromwich, Staffs.
John Price (46, Labourer in Iron Works, born West Bromwich), his wife Alice (43, born West Bromwich), and their 3 children: Alice (19, Packer in Glass Warehouse, born West Bromwich), John (16, Nail Maker, born West Bromwich), and Sarah (8, born West Bromwich).

By 1911, John Price jnr. is no longer living with his parents. He cannot be located.
1911 Census
22 Smith Street, Street, West Bromwich, Staffs.
John Price (55, Puddler in Iron Works, born West Bromwich), his wife Alice (54, born West Bromwich), and 2 of their surviving 3 children of 4: Alice (29, Domestic Service, born West Bromwich), and Sarah (18, Domestic Service, born West Bromwich).

Personal Data

After John's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £1/4/0d (1 pound and 4 shillings); this was paid to his sister, Sarah, in April 1917. His War Gratuity was £7/10/0d (7 pounds and 10 shillings), this was also paid to Sarah in November 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that John had enlisted in approximately January 1915.

John's pension details shows a slightly tangled love life. On 27 April 1917, a Dependant's Pension was refused to Mrs Annie Evans, of 9 High Street, Hill Top, West Bromwich. She was described as the 'Guardian of the Soldier's Child', and the comments about the refusal said "Seperation Allowance is being issued on behalf of the child in respect of the client's husband, Henry Evans R.F.A.". A Claim was made again in 1923 by Annie Evans and the relationship now states "Guardian - Illegitimate child", she was still resident at 9 High Street, Hill Top. This time the claim was successful, and a pension of 8/0d (8 shillings) per week was paid from 23 February 1923 (the claim date) to 25 August 1930 (the child's 16th birthday).

The child was John Emanuel Stokes, born on 25th August 1914 to Annie Stokes. Annie married Henry Evans (Driver 13461, Royal Field Artillery) on 19th November 1916 while he was recovering from GSW (Gun Shot Wound) in his thigh. In 1917 Henry was transferred to the Royal Army Medical Corps (Private 130110) as he was no longer fit for duty in the Artillery. Henry himself was granted a pension of 12/0d per week for an initial period of 52 weeks in 1919 due to anaemia.

Action resulting in his death

The 7th South Staffs were part of 11th Division, serving initially in Gallipoli during 1915, evacuating to Egypt, and then arriving in France in July 1916.

They were initially posted near Arras, moving to the Somme battlefield in September 1916. They took over front line trenches in the Thiepval-Ovillers sector on 6th September 1916, "facing north between Thiepval and Mouquet Farm". They were shelled on the 6th and each subsequent day until they were relieved on the 11th September, having had 14 men killed, including 2 experienced company commanders, and 4 men from Tipton.

The Tipton men were: Job Lawley and John Price on 6th, William Turner on the 9th, and John Duffield dying from wounds on the 10th September.

7th South Staffs War Diary.
6th September 1916
"..About 3 pm. the enemy's artillery became severe and between that hour and 6 pm. we lost 5 killed, 4 wounded and 2 shell-shocked.."

Of the 5 men killed that day, 2 were from Tipton: Job Lawley and John Price who are buried side by side in Ovillers Military Cemetery, adjacent to the grave of William Turner who was killed on the 9th September.

Newspaper Cuttings

None.