Those who served in the Great War 1914-1918

In the Church are two framed documents, one telling of the erection of the memorial, signed by the dignitaries involved, the other listing the villagers who served in the 1914-18 War, with names of those who died in action written in red and gold.
Click the photo for an improved image of the roll of honour.

We are pleased to note the addition of J.H.Grewcock to the Hints Roll of Honour as of October 2001. It seems that the two Grewcocks were brothers, and we are now hoping to find more information on all of those listed. We are most greatfull to the staff at the Staffordshire Military Museum for providing us with this extra detail.

We were contacted by Ian Vickers of Ibstock Historical Society who was writing a book about the men from his area of Leicestershire who gave their lives in the Great War. One of the villages covered is Normanton le Heath where two brothers were born, Joseph and William Grewcock.  Ian understood that they lived in or near Hints before enlisting and asked if they are listed on a local memorial.

The only memorial is the roll of honour which lists William but not Joseph. Ian was able to enlighten us about this. Apparently Joseph died in June of 1919 while in Germany - probably as part of the occupying force from influenza which spread across Europe from 1917-19. This may explain why he was ommited. Ian remembers him along with his brother and a third man who was also born in Normanton, but unfortunately the church has no memorial as the three moved away from the village.

St. Bartholomew's Churchyard has a memorial to 45415 Private E Keeling of the Yorkshire Regiment who died on 23rd March 1919 aged 30.

The Yorkshire Regiment War Graves website states that Private Keeling transferred to (237976) 407th Agricultural Company, Labour Corps. He was born at Market Drayton, the son of George and Mary Keeling; husband of A. Keeling of The Hill, Elford, Tamworth. He died at home 23rd March 1919. Aged 30.

The above raises 2 questions.
1) Why would someone from Market Drayton or Elford be serving in The Yorkshire regiment. Our belief (as complete non-experts) is that upon signing up a soldier would be posted with his home regiment, but after recovery from an injury he would be sent back to whichever Regiment needed more men.
2) Why was be buried in Hints? The 1914-1918 website has an interesting item on the Labour Corps. Perhaps Private Keeling was unfit for the front and he was transferred to the 407th Agricultural Company who were working on one of the farms in Hints?