BATHAM David

The following information has been researched by The Black Country Society:
David Batham was born in Lye and by 1915 he was married and living at 13 Summer Street, Lye.  He volunteered for the Worcesters and joined the 3rd Battalion on the Western Front.  In March they suffered in the Allies’ diversionary attack at Spanbroek Mill south of Ypres.  During April and May German advances brought them close to Ypres and the 3rd Division with the 3rd Worcesters were called upon to push them off the Bellewaerde Ridge.  A determined attack took place on the 15th June but only a short distance was gained for the loss of some 60 men.  After a period of rest and recovery the Worcesters were back in the trenches at La Brique in August and on the 9th Private David Batham was killed in action.

The following information has been researched by Sandra Taylor:
David Batham was born in 1878, the son of Charles and Phoebe Batham. The 1881 census reveals Charles worked as an iron puddler and his wife Phoebe as a wrought(?) nail maker despite having 2 young children, David aged 3 and Phoebe aged 1. There appears to be no record of the family on the 1891 census, by 1901 Phoebe was a widow living in Church Street, Lye with sons David aged 22, Charles aged 19, daughter Annie aged 14, her 30-year-old sister Eva and two male boarders.

On the 14th April 1898 David enlisted at Stourbridge for a term of 6 years with the 1st Volunteer Battalion Worcestershire Regiment. He was 19 years of age, born in Lye and his next of kin was hi mother Phoebe of Church Street, Lye. However, David served just 3 days, paying the sum of £1.00 to be released from the regiment.

In 1904 David married Alice Maud Lewis and by 1911 they were living at 9 King Street, Wollescote with their two daughters, Lois aged 6 and Edith aged 4. With the outbreak of the First World War, David enlisted with the Worcestershire Regiment shortly before Christmas 1914. After his training he was posted overseas, entering France on the 2nd May 1915. Just three short months later he was killed in action. The County Express of 21st August 1915 has a photograph of seven prisoners of war held in Germany, one of whom was David’s brother Charles who was serving with the Royal Marine Light Infantry and had been captured the previous autumn in the retreat from Antwerp. The report mentions that ‘Private David Batham, of the 3rd Worcesters, has been killed in action.

The same newspaper on the same date reports:
Lye Soldier Killed in Action
News has been received at Lye that Pte. David Batham (3rd Worcesters), who lived at 13, Summer Street, Lye, has been killed in action.
Lance-Corporal A. Hill (3rd Worcesters), Cross Street, Lye, in a letter home intimates that he was the last person to speak to Batham. Hill went to Batham in the trenches, and on examining him found him dead.
Batham enlisted just before Christmas, and went into the trenches for the first time on May 2nd. He was home on short leave at Easter, and was well-known locally.
Much sympathy is felt with his parents, who attend the parish church.

The following information is courtesy and copyright of a family member:
Private David Batham, 20120, 3rd Bn, Worcestershire Regiment, died in the trenches near La Brique on 9 August 1915. There was a brief mortar launch by the Germans on the morning of the 9th August 1915 during which the men took cover. David Batham was found a few hours later by his comrades at the far end of the trench with no visible injuries (that was what his widow Alice was told) and it was recorded as died from shock. He left behind his wife Alice Victoria and children Lois (later Hill), Stanley and Edith (later Mobberley). After the war Alice received David’s medals – the 1914/1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

David Batham
Photo Courtesy and Copyright of Richard Pearce

David Batham’s Medals
Photo Courtesy and Copyright of Richard Pearce