Service No: 10727Machine Gun Corps 64th Brigade Infantry
Sam Chidler Ravenhall was born in Castle Bromwich in 1894 and was the youngest of the four children, three sons, one daughter, of parents John Joseph Ravenhall, a bricklayer’s labourer and, later, a coal merchant’s carter, and Clara Louisa Shuttleworth. Both parents and all four children were born in Castle Bromwich, as was his paternal grandmother, Charlotte Chidler after whom he was named. The family lived in a cottage at Little Heath from at least 1891 until at least 1911.
In 1911, 16-year-old Sam was working as a grocer’s porter, and was the only child still living in the parental home. His older siblings had all left home – 22-year-old Clara Elizabeth was working as a parlour maid for company director Thomas Barclay and his family at Southfield, Castle Bromwich; 21-year-old John was a carter for a bakery and was boarding in Hereford; George Joseph, aged 19, a cotton willower for a surgical dressing manufacturer, had married at the age of 18, and was living in New Street, Castle Bromwich with his wife and 5-week-old son, John Joseph.
On the 18th September 1914 Sam joined Birmingham City Police and served on B Division with warrant number 8538. He resigned on 15th November 1915. In June 1916 Sam married Bertha Eliza Wilson. We don’t know when Sam enlisted in the Machine Gun Corps, although it is believed that he had previously served with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, service no: 36880. But we believe that he didn’t see any service overseas before 1916.
He was killed in action on 26th September 1916 at the Battle of Morval and has no known grave.
The Battle of Morval commenced in the early hours of Monday 25th September 1916, aiming to seize the German held Grid Trench and the Gueudecourt-Le Transoy Road near Flers. The attacking battalions were held up by the wire entanglements in front of Grid Trench. At 6.30am the following morning a tank made its way up Pilgrims Way and assisted in the capture of Grid Trench. The Brigade advanced into and captured part of the Gueudecourt-Le Transoy Road with the village of Gueudecourt being entered during the afternoon. Casualties of 22 men killed are recorded, with Sam being among them. His body was lost.
He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. He is also commemorated locally on Castle Bromwich war memorial and on the memorial plaque in St Mary and St Margaret’s Church, Castle Bromwich.
He is also remembered on the family grave in the graveyard by St Mary and St Margaret Church, Castle Bromwich.
