ATTWOOD, Algernon Foulkes

Inside the church of St. John is a personal memorial to Captain Algernon Attwood, although his name is not on the Halesowen Memorial. The family had been prominent not only in Halesown but nationally for their leadership of the movement to reform Parliament in the nineteenth century and former owners of Halesowen's great properties: Hawne House, Corngreaves Hall, and The Leasowes. He died unmarried and was the only male of the last generation of the family of Attwood. He was born at Wandsworth in 1880 and was the son of Llewellyn Foulkes and Rachel Attwood, He was educated Haileybury and Christ Church, Oxford, and in 1901 was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant (as a University candidate) to the 4th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, By 1914 he was Captain and in the spring of that year he took a course of instruction in aviation at Upavon and was recommended for the Royal Flying Corps. However, on mobilisation in August he rejoined his battalion which was in the British Expeditionary Force. They quickly crossed to France and advanced to Mons, only to be forced into retreat to the Marne where the defeat of the German forces saved a perilous situation. In the subsequent advance to the Aisne on 14th Septembe he was reported as severely wounded and missing and it was later understood that at Vailly in the Battle of the Aisne 'while skilfully and gallantly withdrawing his men from an advanced position which could not be held he was hit twice in rapid succession and fatally wounded.' He was 34 years of age and is commemorated on the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre. Memorial and by a personal Memorial in St. John's church, Halesowen. The inscription on the Memorial reads: In remembrance of Algernon Foulkes Attwood Captain Royal Fusiliersonly son of Llewellyn Carless Foulkes Attwoodof Llanvihangel Crucorney in the County of Monmouthand Rachel Edith née Corsellis his wife who laid down his life for his King and for his Countryat the Battle of the Aisne on the 14th Day of September 1914in the 35th year of his age. He died unmarried and was the only male of the youngest generationof the family of Attwood formerly of Hawne house, Corngreaves Hall and The Leasowes, all in this neighbourhood. POSSUNT QUIA POSSE VIDENTUR.