Tipton

Private 198483 John Emmanuel Bedale

Killed in Action on Sunday, 12th November 1916, age 25. Buried in Grave VIII. C. 27. at Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France.

46th Bn., Canadian Infantry (Saskatchewan Regt.).

Son of James William and Alice Bedale, of Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Fort William, Ontario, Resident: Kakabaka Falls, Ontario.

First landed France & Flanders, post 31st December 1915.
Medal entitlement: British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives survived and transcribed.

Not commemorated on any Tipton memorial.
Commemorated here because identified as Tipton on Commonwealth War Graves site.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/74033/

Genealogical Data

1901 Census
27 Bloomfield Road, Tipton, Staffs.
James William Bedale (34, Printer Foreman, born Wolverhampton), his wife Alice (34, born Dudley), and their 5 children: James Gregory (12, born Tipton), Emanuel (10, born Tipton), Frederick (8, born Tipton), Elsie (5, born Tipton), and Arthur (2, born Tipton).

1911 Census
42 Waterloo Street, Tipton, Staffs.
James William Bedale (44, Printer Compositor, born Wolverhampton), his wife Alice (44, born Netherton), and 4 of their 5 surviving children of 9: Emanuel (20, Bookbinder, born Tipton), Arthur Joseph (12, born Tipton), Winnifred (8, born Tipton), and Jessie (6, born Tipton).

Personal Data

James Emanuel Bedale emigrated at some stage after 1911 to Canada, as he attested into the 94th Overseas Battalion on 25th November 1915 at Fort William, Ontario.

At attestation he gave his address as Kakabeka Falls, Ontario and occupation as Ranger. His next of kin was given as his father, Mr J W Bedale of 71 Chattaway Street, Birmingham which ties up with his gravestone and census data. Curiously, his date of birth is given as 6th May 1892 when it was actually 1888 - I am certain that we are dealing with the correct man as all other details correspond. His physical details are stated as 5 feet 9inches tall, with a 37-inch chest with a 3 inch expansion. He had a ruddy complexion - the outdoor life - and brown eyes and dark brown hair. His religion was stated as Church of England. After a satisfactory medical at Fort William on 15th December, his attestation was signed off on 16th December 1915.

His CWGC gravestone says. "Beloved son of Jas W & Alice Bedale of B'ham, England."

Action resulting in his death

War Diary of 46th Canadian Division 8th November 1916 8pm. See: http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e045/e001112029.jpg
"The relief of the 50th Battalion from the front line was carried out this afternoon, and the same frontage as before taken up. A number of casualties were suffered when going up to the trenches."

These included 198483 Pte Bedale killed - this conflicts with the CWGC which says 12th November 1916.

The War Diary of 4th November had stated the front line as "The line held from Practice Road on the left to Chalk Pits, with three companies to the right of Dyke Rd".
The battalion would have marched from their billets in Albert. Chalk Pits are about a mile south of Pozieres on the road known as "Dead Man's Road" from Gibraltar to Casualty Corner.

Newspaper Cuttings

None.