Pte 50181 David Bagley

David Bagley was born 4 June 1878 at 107 Oldbury Road, Harborne, Staffordshire to Coalport born time keeper, Levi Bagley and his wife Sarah Ann (nee Humphreys) who married 27 September 1875 in Old Swinford, Worcester. They had 6 children, 3 boys and 3 girls with David being their 2nd child. His younger sister, the fifth child, Mary Ann died aged 3 in 1890. Sarah Ann was born during April 1855 in Coalbrookdale, Shropshire, England and died during December 1918 at 12 Victoria St West, Smethwick, Staffordshire, England.

 

On 6 January 1890 David's Father Levi of 18 Hawthorne Street, West Smethwick enrolled David aged 11 at Smethwick Central School, he left on 12 June 1891 just after his 13th Birthday. 

 

The April 1891 Census shows 12 year old scholar David with his parents and siblings still living at 18 Hawthorne St. West Smethwick. 

 

The 1901 Census shows 22 year old David as a Clerk in a Glass Works still living at 18 Hawthorne Street with his parents.

 

On 1st February 1908 at St Paul's Church Smethwick, David marries Dudley born coalminers daughter Amy May Yorke. Amy May Yorke was born on 16th December 1878 at 23 Hill Street, Kates Hill, Dudley, Worcestershire, England and died 21st April 1965 in Sandwell Nursing Home, West Bromwich, Staffordshire, England.

 

The 1911 Census shows David aged 32 as a Commercial Clerk at a Glass Manufacturers living with wife Amy at 36 Earl's Court Rd, Harborne. 

 

In 1916 David possibly enlisted after conscription in Smethwick and was posted to 19th (Pals) Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 50181. 

 

He was sent to Flanders with the 19th King's.

 

 

David aged 39 was presumably one of those, since his body was never found.

 

He is Commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at  Ypres, Belgium. 

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

 

His widow Amy, was sent his Army pay owing of 3 Shillings and 8 pence on 10 November 1917 and same amount again on 30 November 1917. An additional amount of £2: 10 Shillings was sent on 10 January 1918. Amy May moved back to live with her parents at 53 Barker St, Rood End, Oldbury, Worcestershire, England following David's death.

 

A War Gratuity was awarded of £3 and sent on 25 November 1919.

 

Amy was also was awarded a Pension from 8 February 1918 to her address at 53 Barker Street, Oldbury near Birmingham. She never remarried.