WAKEMAN, Adrian V

Adrian Wakeman was the son of Charles and Fanny Wakeman of 58 Vicarage Road, Wollaston. He attended Wollaston C of E School from 1902 to 1907 and was employed as a blacksmith before volunteering for service. He joined the Somerset Light Infantry and went to Gallipoli in 1915 where he was wounded. After recovery at Valetta Military Hospital, Malta, he was posted to the 1st Battalion of the Dorsets in the 32nd Division who were preparing for the 1916 Battle of the Somme. On the first day they were in the front line facing the River Ancre and the strongly held position of Thiepval village. Only limited gains were made and the casualties were high. During the next attack on the 7th July he was seriously injured. He was brought back to England but died in Netley Hospital, Southampton, on the 17th July. His body was returned to his home town and the funeral cortege was witnessed by a crowd of at least 3,000 people. This was the first funeral of a Wollaston man in the village and he was buried in Wollaston Cemetery. Corporal Adrian Wakeman was 22 years of age and left a wife, Harriet, and a young son. He is commemorated on the Stourbridge and Wollaston Memorials.