TOPIC:

David,
The Tolley family certainly knew tragedy in their lives, a very poignant story. James to have fathered 19 children is pretty impressive, even though large broods were commonplace in Victorian Britain with high infant mortality.
Thank you for researching John, it certainly adds to my appreciation of a QSA he never got to wear.

As for a descriptive name for the folk of Stourbridge, I will have to work on that one!

Also, as far as home towns for men who attested to the Worcesters, Bromyard in Herefordshire also attracted a few who did not fancy going for the Shropshire Light Infantry. But that's another story!

Cheers Steve

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (5497 Pte. F. Begley. Worcester: Regt.)

Noonan's say also entitled to SA01

Picture courtesy of Morton and Eden

OBE 1st, Military, HM 1919;
QSA (3) Cape Colony, Transvaal, Driefontein (Capt: H.D. Milward, Worc: Rgt:), engraved;
KSA (2) (Cpt. H.D. Milward. Worc. Rgt.);
1914 Star, with clasp ‘5th Aug. – 22nd Nov. 1914’ (Major H. D. Milward. Worc: R.);
British War and Victory Medals with MID (Lt. Col. H. D. Milward);

OBE London Gazette: King’s Birthday Honours, 3 June 1919 (surname given as Millward).
MID London Gazette: 20 September, 1901; and 5 July, 1919.

Harry Dacres Milward (1871-1940) was born on 1 July 1871, at Woolwich, England, the son of Colonel Thomas Walter Milward and Olivia Maria Milward (née Beatty). Passing out as Queen’s Cadet from the Royal Military College, Dacres received a commission as Second Lieutenant in Worcestershire Regiment on 21 January 1893, and having been promoted to Captain, served in the Second Anglo-Boer War in South Africa. Appointed Staff Captain and Brigade Signalling Officer on 23 January 1900, he received a MID in Field Marshal Roberts’ dispatch of 10 September 1901.Seconded for a time to the Volunteer Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (the KSA roll, refers).

On the outbreak of hostilities in the Great War, he was sent to France with the BEF as a Major with the 3rd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, embarking for France on 14 August, 1914. Commanding ‘A’ Company of the 3rd Battalion, he saw immediate action in the Battles of Mons and Le Cateau, being stationed near the town of Caudry. Having vacated the town in the face of heavy shelling and German attacks, Major Milward led an advance back into the town, towards the station, which ‘was occupied and held without difficulty’ according the regimental history. Just a few months later, near Ploegsteert Wood, the 3rd Worcesters bore the brunt of a very heavy German pre-dawn attack, on 7 November 1914, which despite a firm resistance by the battalion, and other supporting units, and in this attack Major Milward was wounded in action.After a period of subsequent recovery, he appears to have been spared further frontline command and was granted a position as DAAG on the Staff, as of 31 July 1917, being promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 1 November 1917, and appointed A.A.G. on 1 September 1918. Relinquishing this appointment on 10 May 1919, he was made O.B.E. and given a second mention in despatches on 5 July that year. He was placed on half-pay on 29 February 1920, and promoted for a final time to Colonel on 14 February 1920, prior to his retirement on 21 October 1920.

He died on 18 December, 1940.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (4767 Pte. T. Proctor. Worcester: Regt.);
KSA (2) (4767 Pte. T. Proctor. Worcester: Regt.);
[ 1914-15 Star ];
British War and Victory Medals (12709 Pte. T. Proctor. Welsh R.)

Thomas Proctor served with the 2nd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment in South Africa during the Boer War, and then with the 2nd Battalion, Welsh Regiment during the Great War on the Western Front from 29 November 1914. He was discharged on 9 January 1919.