South Staffordshire War Memorials

Dedicated to the memory of all the men and women of the South Staffordshire area who died during the two World Wars.

J Caswell

The War Memorial in Station Road, Codsall, lists J Caswell. That in St Nicholas Church, Codsall, has I Caswell.

Jack Reading Caswell was born in Wolverhampton late in 1890. He was the son of Thomas Reading Caswell and his wife Sarah Ann. Thomas was a Hatter and Hosier with a shop in Lichfield Street (and later in Dudley Street). By 1911 the family no longer lived 'over the shop' but had moved to 'The Woodlands', Oaken.

In 1901 Jack was at boarding school in Sutton Coldfield. After leaving school he went to work as a draper's assistant for Newbury's, a Birmingham company with several shops and workshops in that city.

Jack enlisted at the outbreak of war, joining the 1st Birmingham Battalion (the 14th (Service) Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment). Jack was with the Battalion when went it went to France in November, 1915. He was later transferred to the 11th Battalion and then the 10th. After serving in France for two and a half years, Jack died of wounds on 15th May, 1918. He is buried in Esquelbecq Military Cemetery. The London Gazette of 13th September 1918 announced the award of the Military Medal to Cpl (L/Sjt) J. R. Caswell.

Corporal Jack Reading Caswell, 55, was awarded the Victory and British War Medals, the 1914-15 Star and the Military Medal.

There is an article about Jack and his brother Thomas on the Wolverhampton's War website. The Lives of the First World War website includes a photo of Jacks medals and his death penny.

This memorial has mostly been compiled from official sources. It would be good to be able to expand it with more personal material - memories, stories, photos, etc. If you have any suitable material or any corrections please contact Greg.