TYLER, John Joseph

John Tyler was the son of William and Selina Tyler of Colley Orchard, Cradley, and attended Cradley C of E School. He was a traveller for Messrs. Lyons and Co. He was also a chorister and Sunday School teacher at St. Katherine's church in the parish. He was an early volunteer in 1914 for the Warwicks and joined the 16th (3rd Birmingham Pals) Battalion. In the course of training he rose to the rank of Sergeant and went to France in 1915. He went through much fighting 'without a scratch' and then suffered seriously from dysentery. He was sent to a hospital in Devonshire for some months and then returned to Cradley. Sergeant John Tyler died on the 27th August 1917 and is buried in Cradley churchyard. He was 27 years of age and his military funeral was attended by a large crowd. He is commemorated on the Cradley, Halesowen and Cradley C of E School Memorials.