Emanuel Amos: A Tribute to WW1 Soldier's Legacy

42872 Pte Emanuel Amos-Cadman 6th Leicestershire Regiment.

Emanuel had been born Emanuel Amos on the 24th February 1899 at Burslem and was christened as such on the 21st March 1899 at St Mary’s Church, Tunstall. His father was also Emanuel Amos, born c.1875 and died in 1901. His mother was Annie Amos (nee) Blurton (24th February 1877- 4th February 1953, Burslem). They married on August 1st, 1897, at St Mary’s Church, Tunstall, Staffordshire. 

The 1901 census shows Emanuel Amos junior as a 2-year-old living with his mother, now widowed, a Potters Transporter, and grandparents Emanuel Amos aged 66 and Susan Amos aged 60, mother and father-in-law to Annie, at 8 Walker Street, Burslem.

In 1905, Annie Amos was remarried to Henry Cadman, born in Burslem, thus becoming Annie Cadman, marriage registered at Wolstanton.

Unusually, there are two records of Emanuel Amos in the 1911 census. 

 1911 Census Emanuel aged 12 living at 8 Walker Street, Brownhills, Burslem with his grandmother Susan Amos, now widowed, and George Amos (cousin), a Potters Handler aged 19.

1911 Census Emanuel living at Brownhills, Burslem, with mother Annie Cadman, stepfather Henry Cadman, a Potter's Placer, and half-brother William Henry Cadman born c.1906.

Emanuel Amos Cadman first enlisted with the Lincolnshire Regiment with service number 53084. We do not know when he was transferred to the Leicestershire Regiment. Nor do we know when he entered the Western Front theatre of operations, but we have to assume that it was 1917/18 due to his age. What we do know is Emanuel was killed on the 15th or 16th of August 1918 in the Beaumont Hamel sector, France. There is conflicting information within official records, such as the Register of Soldiers' Effects, which states he died of wounds on the 15th. However, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and Soldiers Died WW1 give it as the 16th.  On these dates, the 6th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment was operating in forward positions of the Beaumont Hamel sector, specifically at the Ancre River. They were tasked with crossing the river. Operations lasted a week or so before companies of the Leicesters were successful in dislodging the enemy. Unfortunately for Emanuel, he met his death early in the operation, having died of wounds aged 19.  During August 1918, the battalion suffered 24 killed or died of wounds, 6 missing, and 174 wounded. 

Emanuel's death was reported in the Staffordshire Sentinel dated 26th September 1918, where it also mentions his family had lived at 3 High Street, Tunstall, and that he was previously employed by Messrs Doulton. 

Army pension cards show both Annie Cadman and Henry Cadman as next of kin and give several addresses being 3 High Street, Tunstall, and 3 Oakdene Avenue, Wolstanton. 

He was buried in the Ancre British Military Cemetery, Beaumont Hamel, France, grave ref V1 F 31. 

Emanuel is remembered as Emanuel AMOS on the Royal Doulton War Memorial, Burslem, and as Emanuel Amos CADMAN on the Tunstall War Memorial. 

One can only speculate, but it's possible that Emanuel's grandparents wanted him to be remembered with his birth name, which is why he is so named on the Royal Doulton Memorial, and his mother and stepfather wished him to be remembered with the surname Cadman, which is why he is so named on the Tunstall Memorial. 

For service to his country, he was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal. 

 

Source citation: 

Parents' marriage: Indexes created from Anglican Parish Registers held at Staffordshire Record Office; Stafford, Staffordshire, England. 

Christening: Ancestry.com. England & Wales, Christening Index, 1530-1980 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2008.

1901 Census : Class: RG13; Piece: 2593; Folio: 14; Page: 19

Cadman 1911 address: The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911. 

1911 address Grandparents: The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911

Cadman Amos' marriage: FreeBMD. England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.

Annie Cadman's death: Staffordshire County Council; Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire, England; Indexes of Births, Marriages and Deaths for the County of Staffordshire; Reference Number: Ncb 16 463

UK Soldiers died in the Great War 1914-1918: Original data: British and Irish Military Databases. The Naval and Military Press Ltd.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission; Author: Peter Singlehurst; Series Title: British Commonwealth War Graves Registers, 1914-1918; Archive Name: London, United Kingdom. 

National Army Museum; Chelsea, London, England; Soldiers' Effects Records, 1901-60; NAM Accession Number: 1991-02-333; Record Number Ranges: 740501-742000; Reference: 445. 

Western Front Association; London, England; WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers; Reference: 035/0147/Cab-Cai. 

 

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