GIRLING, Edward Fenn

Edward Girling was born in Sutton, Sufffolk, but had moved to Stourbridge where he was apprenticed to Alderman S Fiddian. In September 1914 he volunteered for the Staffords Territorials and joined the 1/5th Battalion in the 46th (North Midland) Division. They went to the Western Front and their first real action was at Loos when the Hohenzollern Redoubt was attacked on the 13th October. Losses were very high and the South Staffords were withdrawn for re-building. They moved to the Somme in 1916 and on the first day were part of the diversionary attack at Gommecourt at the north of the battle-field. It was another fruitless attack across open ground. Losses were severe and Private Edward Fenn died of wounds on the 4th July. He was 22 years of age and is buried in Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery, Saulty (I F 4) and commemorated on the Lye and Wollescote, Lye church and Greenfields School Memorials.