TROMANS, Benjamin

Benjamin Tromans was the son of John and Maria Tromans of Queen Street, Cradley Heath, and later of Mill Street, Cradley. He attended Cradley C of E School. With his brother, John Harry, and brother-in-law, James Stevens, he volunteered for the Worcesters in December 1914. He joined the 4th Battalion who were part of the original Gallipoli invasion force which was unable to break out from the peninsula. Reinforcements landed at Suvla Bay on the 6th August and the Worcesters put in a strong diversionary attack at the village of Krithia. Turkish resistance was strong, casualties were high and the stalemate remained. Private Ben Tromans was seriously injured and sent to a hospital in Alexandria. He was then evacuated to England where he had to undergo two operations and then died of further complications on the 19th April 1916. After a military funeral he was buried in St. Luke's churchyard, Cradley Heath. He was 37 years of age and is commemorated on the Cradley, Cradley Heath, Halesowen and Cradley C of E School Memorials. John Tromans died on the 9th August 1915.