South Staffordshire War Memorials

Gunner Benjamin Caddick

Benjamin John Caddick was baptised at Pattingham on the 8th March, 1891. He was the son of Benjamin John Caddick, a 'gardener not domestic' and his wife Jane who lived in Pattingham Village. By 1911 Benjamin was living at Bridgtown, Cannock, and was working as a 'collier plate layer' - presumably a worker on the railway system used within the Cannock coal field.

Something caused Benjamin to change his name. By 1912 he had moved to Ellesmere Port where he joined the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants as Benjamin Cadman. He never used the name Caddick again. He married Jane Ann Mason from Oswestry in 1913 and they had a child Benjamin Thomas in 1914. At some time during this period, Benjamin appears to have worked at Ifton Colliery.

Benjamin enlisted in about June 1915, giving his place of birth as Oswestry. He went to France on 23rd December 1915 where he joined the 119th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, 38th Division. In July 1916, during the Battle of Albert phase of the Battle of the Somme (1916) the 38th was used to assault and clear Mametz Wood. It was on 9th, during this action, that Benjamin reportedly died of accidental injuries - possibly caused by an accident with the gun or its ammunition some days earlier. The Brigade War Diary for 9th July states: 'FRICOURT. Btys in action all day registering portions of MAMETZ WOOD CONTALMAISON and vicinity. No casualties.' He is buried in Corbie Communal Cemetery Extension.

Private Benjamin Cadman, 5226, Royal Field Artillery, was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. He is also remembered on the war memorials at Oswestry. His brother Charles Henry Caddick is commemorated on the Pattingham War Memorial and brothers? Joseph and Ernest are on the Roll of Honour.