Life and times of two Staffordshire villages as Great War brews told in new book

Split into three parts, 'Great Wyrley & Cheslyn Hay Great War' chronicles life in the two villages in the run-up to the conflict followed by extensive information on those who lost their lives, before moving on to further community tales. Soldiers that survived the war are also given a mention.

Written by historian Paul Ford, with contributions from Helen Ralphs and Andy Parsons, as well as help from Soeli Thomas, it was launched by Great Wyrley Local History Society. It is the fifth book to be published by the society. 

Chairman Gary Smith said 50 copies had been produced, which were not on general sale, but would be available in a host of libraries including Cheslyn Hay, Great Wyrley, Cannock and Walsall, as well as William Salt in Stafford. There will also be copies at the South Staffs Regiment Museum at Whittington near Lichfield.

Gary said: "It's very informative and very well put together."

Heritage Lottery funding of £8,900 was awarded for the project in 2018 and research into the fallen soldiers had been taking place since then.

Great Wyrley History Society was set up 16 years ago and has more than 100 members. It hosts coffee mornings on the third Thursday of each month at the senior citizen's centre in Broadmeadow Lane. Its next guest speaker is local historian Ian Bott who will give a presentation titled 'Treasures Beneath Our Feet' on April 17.

The First World War, also known as the Great War, was a global conflict fought between 1914 and 1918 primarily in Europe and the Middle East involving the Allied countries of France, Britain, Russia, Italy and later the United States against Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria.