BILLINGHAM, Wesley

Wesley Billingham was born and lived in Cradley Heath but volunteered in Brierley Hill for the South Staffords. He was sent to the 1st Battalion which had gone to the Western Front in the 7th Division in October 1914. They went straight into action to meet the enemy forces converging on Ypres and Private Billingham probably arrived to fill the ranks of the many casualties of the First Battle of Ypres. The Staffords moved to Artois and by March the orders came to attack at Neuve Chapelle. They were not heavily involved but a second attacked was made at nearby Festubert on the 16th May, when Private Billingham acted as stretcher bearer. The next attempt at a major break-through was at Loos. The battle opened on the 25th September when the Staffords attacked the brickworks near Hulluch. The obstacles were too great and many casualties were suffered. These included Private Wesley Billingham who was wounded and taken to Béthune. He died on the 29th September and is buried in Fouquières churchyard extension cemetery (I 46) and commemorated on the Brierley Hill and Brierley Hill church Memorials.