Officer launches search for relatives of fallen Wolverhampton war heroes

Now the six war heroes, who died in the Great War, are set to be commemorated when serving and former police officers unite to honour their memories.

Members of the Wolverhampton Police Military History Group will unite and travel across Europe to the battlefields which claimed the lives of the former Wolverhampton officers.

It comes as Detective Sergeant Andy Padmore launches an appeal to find relatives of the fallen officers ahead of the pilgrimage next month.

The Wolverhampton officer, who is planning to make the trip to France and Belgium, said: "These were true heroes who were committed to protecting the public as police officers and then during war."

A troupe of serving and former police officers will lay tributes at gravestones and memorials in the soldiers' honour during the pilgrimage in September.

But the group is hoping to trace family members of their predecessors killed on the frontline during the First World War before members head out on their trip.

DS Padmore said he is keen to track down relatives and meet with them before the pilgrimage, helping the group discover more about the war heroes, as well as share their research and pay their respects to the families.

He added: "It would be lovely if we could meet some of the descendants of these six officers who gave this country the ultimate sacrifice."

The Wolverhampton Police Military History Group, which aims to visit the graves of as many fallen police officers as possible, is appealing for relatives of:

*Private 8561 John Arthur Spencer, of the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards, who died in February 1915.

*Private 14448 Charles Albert Victor Moisey, from the 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards, who was killed in November 1914.

*Private 9382 Peter Cunniffe, of the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, who died in May 1915.

*Sergeant 47402 Sampson Jones, from the 3rd Trench Mortar Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, who was killed in January 1916.

*Second Lieutenant Samuel Bird Teasdale who died in July 1917.

*Lance Corporal Richard William Kent 7424, of the 3rd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, who was killed in November 1914.

The group has undertaken pilgrimages for the past 15 years to sites where ex-Wolverhampton bobbies have been killed in action

Last year, they managed to trace a relative of Private Henry Kidd, who died aged 27 fighting in the Battle of Somme in September 1916.

Wolverhampton Police Constable Kidd was serving with the First Battalion Grenadier Guards at the outbreak of the First World War but died in a field hospital after being struck by machine gun fire.

The officer, who was originally from Thetford, Norfolk, lived with his wife in a Lower Vauxhall town house.

DS Padmore said group members travelled to France's La Neuville British Cemetery, near Corbie, where they laid a wreath at the Guardsman's grave to mark a centenary since his death.

He added: "Not only was it moving and worthwhile to visit Harry’s grave, to meet a living relative and to present them the fruits of our research and some simple gifts to the family was truly special, and something that none of the group will ever forget."

Relatives of the former officers can call DS Padmore on 101 extension 872 3041 or email a.padmore@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk