BIOGRAPHIES OF THE SOLDIERS ON THE CHURCHYARD WAR MEMORIAL

Part One
Those identifiable as Brothers or Cousins
Henry and Thomas Adams were living with their parents, John, a cemetery labourer and Annie (nee
Davies) at 8 Cumming Street in 1901. John and Annie were living at 7 Bold Street by 1911 and John
was still working as a labourer, age 74.
Henry Adams was born in 1878, and married Margaret Ritchie in 1901 and lived at 25 Allen Street in
1911. He enlisted 10 June 1915 age 36, when employed as a pit timberer, and living at 7 Bold
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(Weller) Street. He went to Mesopotamia in September 1915 with the 7 Battalion North Staffordshire
Regiment. and was killed in action on 5 April 1916. He is commemorated on the Basra Memorial.
Margaret died in early 1919 and their three children then lived with their grandmother, Annie Adams.
Thomas Adams was born in 1885 and married Ada Boulton in 1905. He was living in Chesterton in
1911, employed as a labourer at coke ovens. Having enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers, he died in Stokeon-Trent, possibly in hospital, 6 October 1915 and is buried in Chesterton Churchyard.
Norman and Percy Attwood were the sons of Charles, a railway signalman and his wife, Louisa (nee
Wood), living at 10-12 Cliff Vale Place.
Norman Attwood was a boiler maker. He enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers (The London Regiment) and
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was killed 14 April 1915, serving in the 3 Battalion. He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
Percy Attwood DCM also served in the Royal Fusiliers, (The London Regiment) in the 8th Battalion,
with the rank of Sergeant, having previously worked as a railway signalman. He was killed on 7 July
1917 and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. His name appears on the North Staffordshire
Railway Memorial at Stoke Station. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the citation
dated 22 September 1916, reading: For conspicuous gallantry in organising a bombing resistance for
a whole day against an enemy bombing attack on a captured second line trench. Later he led a party
which drove the enemy from several positions from which they could harass our men. In these
operations he was wounded.
There were several other Attwood brothers who served.
Arthur and Thomas Cartlidge were the sons of John, a tile maker and Mary Ann (nee Johnson)
Arthur Cartlidge was born in 1884 and married Mary Ann Cole in 1910. In 1911 the couple were
living with Arthurs widowed mother at 49 Stoke Old Road, with their six month old daughter, Annie
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and Arthur was a potters labourer. He enlisted with the 8 battalion North Staffordshire Regiment but
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transferred to the 1 Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment, with whom he was serving when killed
on 26 October 1917. He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
Thomas Cartlidge, who was registered at birth in 1890 as William Thomas, had served 7 years in
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India; with the North Staffordshire Regiment and was recalled as a reservist with the 1 Battalion
North Staffordshire Regiment. He was killed on 21 March 1918, on the first day of the great German
offensive, Operation Michael. Coincidentally, a cousin, Bertie Hemmings the son of Mary Anns
sister, Mercy, was eventually presumed killed on the same day, but was not recorded on the Hartshill
War Memorial, possibly because his family still held out hope of his return when the names were put
forward. He is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial.
A cousin, Harry Foster, who lived in Victoria Street, was probably the Harry Foster who returned in
1919 from captivity as a prisoner of war.

William Edward and John Henry Eardley were the sons of William Edward, a blacksmith and
Elizabeth (nee Smith).
William Eardley was born in Hanley in 1885, He was living with his widowed mother and brother
John Henry at 180 Victoria Street in 1901. His mother remarried to her brother-in-law George in 1906
and the family then lived at 744 Hartshill Road. William was employed as a Blacksmiths Striker. He
enlisted in the North Staffordshire Regiment in November 1914 and was killed 12 January 1917 in
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Mesopotamia, serving with the 7 Battalion and is buried in the Amara War Cemetery, Iraq.
John Eardley was also born in Hanley, in 1890, he was killed 25 May 1917 and is commemorated on
the Arras Memorial. On the 1911 census his occupation was that of a Painter. A younger brother,
Alfred Ernest, was born in Hanley in 1894, he was an apprentice fitter at the North Staffs Railway
Loco Works when he enlisted in the Territorial Force in 1912 as a fitter in the Royal Artillery. He was
demobbed in 1919. He married Annie Stonier in 1928 and was still living at 744 Hartshill Road at the
time of his death in 1946.

Harry and Sydney Foster lived at 8 Cumming Street and were the sons of Henry, a potters slip
maker and Caroline (nee Smith)
Harry Foster was born in Newcastle in 1888 and worked as a labourer at the time of the 1911 census
enlisted in the Coldstream Guards at Barrow-in-Furness and was killed 17 July 1917 and is buried
Bleuet Farm Cemetery, north west of Ypres (Ieper) age 29. The Farm was used as a dressing station
during the Allied offensive on this front in 1917.
Sydney Foster was born in 1899 in Newcastle and worked as a colliery waggoner in 1911. He was
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killed 2 November 1918, serving with the 15 Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, having previously been in
the Lincolnshire Regiment. He is buried in Landrecies British Cemetery, 40 km south south est of
Valenciennes.
William and Joseph Grindey were the sons of William, a sanitary ware presser and Elizabeth (nee
Carnell).
William Grindey was born in 1890 in Hanley and married Ada Barratt in 1910 and the couple were
living with Williams mother at 3 Allen Street in 1911, together with their two children, Elizabeth and
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Alfred. He was a plumber, fitter and painter. He was serving with the 193 Siege Battery of the Royal
Garrison Artillery when he was killed on 17 December 1916 age 26. He is buried in Sally-au-Bois
Cemetery between Arras and Amiens in France. His widow married Connell Tabener, who served
with the Grenadier Guards and later became a prisoner of war.
Joseph Grindey was born in Hanley in 1895 and living with his mother and brothers family at 3 Allen
Street in 1911, when he was a turner in the Pottery industry. However when he enlisted he was a pit
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timberer. Enlisting on 6 August 1914, he served initially in 4 Battalion North Staffordshire
Regiment,on garrison duty in Guernsey, then transferred to the Army Cyclists Corps in December of
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that year. In July 1916 he transferred to the 13 battalion East Surrey Regiment. He was reported
wounded and missing on 9 April 1918 and presumed dead. He is commemorated on the Ploegsteert
Memorial in Belgium.
A third brother, Alfred, was a regular soldier, serving first in the North Staffordshire Regiment and
then from 1905 in the Royal Garrison Artillery. He was stationed in Gibraltar in 1911, employed as a
cook in the Sergeants Mess. He married Isabella Gill there in 1912. Two children, Joseph and Lily
were born there and a third Amelia, in Hartshill in 1916. He was discharged from the Army in 1919,
with a pension of 5/6 a week for a disability. The family lived at 2 Hulme Street.

Harry Ingles William Bennett and John Edward Heeks Harry and William were half-brothers, and
John Heeks was their brother-in-law.
Henry (Harry) Ingle(s) born in 1898, was the son of Thomas, a labourer who laid tram lines in 1911
and Selina (nee Bennett). The family then lived at 14 Kings Croft. He enlisted in August 1914, age
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16, though claiming to be 18. He went with the 7 battalion North Staffordshire Regiment to Gallipoli
as part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force and was wounded 23 July 1915 with a gun shot
wound to the shoulder and a severe fracture to the right femur. He was returned to England on from
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Alexandria in October 1915. He then joined the 3 Battalion at Wallsend after Christmas and was
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transferred to 1 Battalion, in France, in March 1916. He was deprived of three days pay 28 August
1916 for some offence and was wounded and posted missing on 31 August, age 18. He is
commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
William Bennett was born in 1878 and was living with an aunt Elizabeth Prosser (nee Bennett) in
Hartshill in 1901. He married Sarah Ann Myatt in 1906 and they lived at 5 Cottons New Row,in 1911,
when he was a general labourer.Later the family moved to 706 Hartshill Road and William was
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employed by Shelton Iron and Steel as a steel smelter. He enlisted in October 1914 in the 2 /5
North Staffordshire Regiment. He had served in the Army before but was discharged as medically
unfit. He was posted to Ireland in 1916 after the Easter Rebellion, before going to France where he
died of wounds to arms and legs on 27 September 1917 age 39. Widow Sarah Ann received pension
of 28s 9d for herself and four children from 8 April 1918.
John Edward Heeks married Elizabeth Ingles in 1910 and the couple were living with her parents in
1911 at 14 Kings Croft, with their baby son, also John Edward. John Edward senior was a labourer on
a tile works.He was born in Newcastle in 1891, the son of Henry, a coal miner and Elizabeth (nee
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Mason). He died of wounds in Mesopotamia, serving with the 69 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, with
the rank of corporal.on 9 March 1917. Henrys brother, David Ingles served with the Kings Own
Scottish Borderers and another brother Thomas was discharged on medical grounds.
John and Joseph Moran
John Moran of the 4th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment, which was serving on Garrison duty in
Guernsey, accidentally drowned in the Harbour at St Peter Port Guernsey on 15 February 1915 age
35 and was buried in the Garrison Cemetery at Fort George. Lance-Corporal Moran had previously
served in the Grenadier Guards and took part in the South African War, and was wounded. He lived
at 182 Shelton New Road, Cliff Vale and left a wife, Ada and six children. In 1911 he was working as
a Labourer at the Gas Works. The news item in the Weekly Sentinel 6 March 1915, mentions four of
his brothers serving in the Army, Henry, William, Charles and Edward. Henry, serving with the 16th
Lancers was currently on leave, recovering from wounds sustained in the Battle of the Aisne. William
also served in the 16th Lancers. Charles in the Royal Fusiliers and Edward in the Royal Field Artillery.
Joseph Moran was a younger brother of John Moran, not mentioned above because he did not enlist
(in the North Staffordshire Regiment) until April 1915. He transferred to the Loyal North Lancashire
Regiment in September 1916 and went to France that month. He was killed 15 June 1917. He is
buried in Wytschaete Military Cemetery, south of Ypres. Born in 1891, the son of James Patrick and
Mary Moran, he lived with his family at 20 Cliff Vale Place, though he was not at home at the date of
the 1911 census. According to his service record he worked as a hawker.

Frank and Hartwell Mountford were the sons of Thomas, a gardener and Sarah (nee Hartwell) of the
Lodge at Longfield Cottage, whose gardens he presumably cared for. Both sons were gardeners too,
but both had worked away from Stoke-on-Trent for several years at the outbreak of War.
Frank Mountford was born in Penkhull in 1891 and was working near Melton Mowbray in 1911. He
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served in the 9 Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment and was killed on 25 January 1917, in
Mesopotamia. He is buried in the Amara War Cemetery in Iraq.
Hartwell Mountford was also born in Penkhull, in 1889. He was working in Surrey in 1911 enlisted in
the Grenadier Guards and served in their Machine Gun Regiment. He died of wounds in hospital in
Ipswich on 19 September 1917 and is buried in Hartshill Cemetery. He married Ruth Watson in
Woolwich in February 1917, when his address was The Grandstand, Epsom Downs.
An older brother, Douglas, a house decorator, joined the North Staffordshire Regiment and was
transferred to the Notts & Derby Regiment and then to the Scottish Rifles. He was demobilised in
January 1919, having served in France from 16 June 1917. He had attested in December 1915 as
part of the Group Scheme and was called up 30 March 1916.
Albert and Arthur Price were the sons of Edwin Thomas, a tailor and Mary (nee Whitehouse) and
lived at 57 Stanley Road.
Albert Price was born in 1890 and was a ridge tile maker in 1911 when he died of wounds on 10
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August 1917 and was buried in Chichester Cemetery, having served with the 1 /5 North
Staffordshire Regiment..
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Arthur Price was born in Fenton in 1898.and was serving with the 1 /6 North Staffordshire
Regiment when he was killed on 3 October 1918 and is commemorated on the Memorial in Vis-enArtois. Age 13 in 1911 he had just left school and was working as a thimble picker.
William and Joseph Shuker were half brothers, William the son of William Shuker, an iron puddler
and his first wife (Mary) Ann Roden and Joseph the son of Williams second wife Sarah Ann Parker,
who he married in 1890. William and Sarah Ann Shuker,were living at 3 Stoke Old Road in 1911 and
later at 17 Stoke Old Road.
William Shuker was born in Bury, Lancashire in 1885 and living in William Smiths lodging house, 2
Lower Street, Newcastle, working as a general labourer when the 1911 census was conducted. He
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enlisted in September 1914 and was serving as a Lance Sergeant in the 8 Battalion North
Staffordshire Regiment when he was killed in action on 18 November 1917. He was buried in the
Grandcourt Road Cemetery.
Joseph Shuker His birth was registered in the Wolstanton Registration District (which included
Silverdale and Chesterton then, as well as Burslem and Tunstall until 1922) in 1893 and joined the 5th
Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment in June 1913, while employed as a tile maker and presser by
the Hartshill Brick and Tile Company in Stoke Old Road. He went to France in March 1915. In
September he was stopped 7 days pay for being absent from camp at Dickebush without permission.
He was killed at the Battle of Loos 13 October 1915. In June 1916 his father wrote asking if any of his
belongings could be forwarded to him. He is commemorated on the Loos Memorial.

Ernest Charles and Frank Smith were the sons of Ambrose, a bricklayer and May Maria (nee Fern)
who lived at 640 Hartshill Road in 1911.
Ernest Smith was born in 1886 in Wolstanton and married Eugenie Dunn in 1908 and there were two
children, Sydney and Elsie. In 1911 he was living in Chesterton and employed as a loader, though
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when he enlisted he was working for Johnsons Brothers Pottery in Hanley.. He was serving in the 49
Battery Royal Field Artillery He was killed in action on 12 October 1917 and is commemorated on the
Tyne Cot Memorial. By that date his wife and children were living at 27 Stoke Old Road.
Frank Smith was Ernests younger brother, born in 1889 in Wolstanton. He was living at home in
1911 and followed his father into the building trade, working for James Grant of Cobridge when he
enlisted in the Territorial Force based at the Drill Hall in Wilfred Place, Hartshill, the North Midland
Brigade of the Royal Garrison Artillery.. He was killed 27 September 1916 and is buried in Hebuterne
Cemetery.
Thomas Simmons and Walter Henshall were cousins living in Cliff Vale.
Thomas Simmon(d)s was the elder born in Colne, Lancashire in 1893, the son of George, a
locomotive driver and Elizabeth (nee Henshall) and living in 1911 with his grandparents, George and
Elizabeth Henshall at 140 Shelton New Road, Cliff Vale, as was his cousin, Walter. The family was
living at 43 Garner Street next to the Mission Church when he enlisted in the Royal Marine Artillery in
April 1914, being employed by Twyfords. He saw action at the Battle of Jutland in 1916 and was
grievously wounded in the Raid on Zeebrugge on 23 April 1918. He died in Chatham Naval Hospital
and is buried in Hartshill Cemetery.
Walter Henshall was born in Fenton in 1896, the son of Thomas,a carter with Hanley Corporation
and Grace (nee Sims) and worked as a Colliery Jigger and then in the Pottery Industry before
enlisting in the North Staffordshire Regiment in May 1915. He went to France 1 November 1915,
possibly in a draft to replace those killed and wounded in the attack on the Hollenzollern Redoubt
(Battle of Loos) in October. He died of wounds at Merville 18 November 1915, the day after he was
wounded by a shell. In 1919 His grandmother reported that he had lived with her since 1908, when
his father left and had not been heard of since. In 1911 it would seem that Walters father was living in
Stretford with his second wife, Mary, Grace having died in 1903.
John Sturge and Frederick Till were the grandsons of Sarah James, who was twice married.
John Sturge was born in 1898, the son of James and Annie Sturge of 3 Cartlidge Street, he died of
wounds received in action on 17 May 1917 and is buried in the Bocquoy Road Cemetery, Ficheux. He
enlisted in May 1916, prior to which he was employed by Shelton Iron, Steel and Coal Company. His
grandmother, Sarah James married first John Sturge, his grandfather and secondly Thomas Till,
grandfather of Frederick John Till and mother of his father, John..
Frederick John Till was born in 1883, the son of John, an iron puddler and Charlotte (nee Clark) He
lived at 3 Proctors Row, Hartshill Road (which once faced Palmers Green) and worked at Hartshill
Brick and Tile Company, Stoke Old Road. He was married with four children and had been wounded
three times before his death on 5 August 1917. He is buried in Messines Ridge British Cemetery. He
married Henrietta James at Hartshill Church in 1904. Their children were Charlotte, Henrietta,

Edward and Ernest Hemmings were cousins their fathers George and Thomas were brothers.
Only one of their names was inscribed on the Memorial, but which one is unlikely ever to be
discovered, as is the reason why it was gouged out.
Edward Hemmings whose family lived at 2 Baggs Row in 1911 was a regular soldier, and was killed,
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age 35 on 24 October 1914, serving with the 1 Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment and is buried
in Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres.
Ernest Hemmings whose father and mother lived at 634 Hartshill Road, though he lived in
Newcastle, with his wife and children. He died 26 February 1916, serving with the North Staffordshire
Regiment and is buried in Rue-de-Baqueroy No. 1 Cemetery, Laventie.
Each had a brother who was also killed, both on the same day, 21 March 1918. Neither name was
included on the Memorial. Edwards brother was Thomas and Ernests Bertie.

Part Two
Individual Biographies
William James Allen was born in 1893 in Hanford, the son of William and Blanche Allen and was
living at 35 Albany Road in 191.1 He enlisted in November 1914, in the Kings Royal Rifle Corps
having worked as a Brickmaker at Platts Tiles, Harpfield Tileries. He went to France in May 1915 and
was reported missing 29 August 1916 and confirmed killed in action 18 July 1917.He is buried in
Philosophie British Cemetery.
Carl Austin Born in 1893, he was the son of Charles and Annie Austin lived at 49 Gladstone Street
Basford and worked as a clerk before emigrating to Australia. He had previously served in the
Territorial Royal Field Artillery. He enlisted in the Australian Field Artillery 8 September 1914. He
became ill in September 1915 in Gallipoli and was invalided first to Malta and thence to hospital in
Reading and did not return to active service until March 1916. He was transferred to France, wounded
in the head and died 16 March 1917. He is buried in St Sever Cemetery in Rouen. His parents later
lived in The Avenue.
John James Averill was born 16 August 1899, the son of Ambrose and Phoebe Averill of 2 Cartlidge
Street, Shelton New Road. He joined the 5th Battalion (Territorials) in May 1914, when only 14,
though he claimed to be three years older. At the outbreak of War he was working as a potter for
Ashworths Brothers Pottery in Broad Street, Hanley. He arrived in France in March 1915 and was
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killed 5 August 1915, eleven days short of his 16 birthday. He was originally buried at Hill 60, but the
grave was lost and he is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial.
Lt-Col Knights wife wrote a letter of condolence to his mother, calling him a brave boy soldier. His
Service Record survives and contains a list of his belongings returned to his family. These were:
Photographs; a tin of Cigarettes; razor; note book; letters; knife; 1 Ely cartridge; 4 bullets; belt; 2
numerals; 4 buttons; 2 discs; tooth brush; having brush; spoon. His father Ambrose, a Brass Foundry
Labourer, enlisted in May 1915 at the age of 40 and was subsequently taken prisoner and did not
return home until February 1919. He was one of seventeen men with Hartshill addresses who
returned then.
William Albert Baddeley Born in Newcastle in 1894 he enlisted in the North Staffordshire Regiment
in July 1915 and was transferred in February 1916 to the 3rd Battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers. He
sailed from Devonport in March and arrived in Basra, Mesopotomia, a month later. On 1 June 1916
he was deprived of one days pay for drinking river water in disobedience of Brigade Standing Orders
and was in Hospital three weeks later. He was invalided to India with Enteric Fever in July and did not
return to his unit until January 1917. He was killed in action 13 April 1917 and is commemorated on
the Basra Memorial in Iraq. He was a Potters Placer working at Twyfords, living at 54 Stoke Old Road
on enlistment. He was one of nine sons of Thomas and Selina Baddeley, five of whom were reported
to have enlisted by 1917, though one had been discharged through wounds. The eldest son, Francis
was awarded the Military Medal
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Edward Baker son of Samuel and Elizabeth Baker 6 Stoke Old Road. Served with 2 Battalion North
Staffordshire Regiment in India. Died 27 May 1918 age 31 and buried in Rawalpindi War Cemetery,
Pakistan, probably as a result of illness or disease, since there were only five deaths in the Battalion
throughout the War. Rawalpindi was the Army Headquarters for the North-West Frontier of India.
Samuels mother remarried and later lived at 78 Stoke Old Road.

Samuel Bamford was born in Newcastle, in 1891, the son of William, a gas stoker and Annie
Bamford, living at 17 Shelton New Road in 1901 and 742 Hart shill Road in 1911, though Samuel was
not there. It is possible that he was a regular soldier, if so he may have been in India, which is where
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the 1 Battalion were stationed He died on 16 March 1915, age 28, as a result of wounds received in
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the Battle of Neuve Chappelle, while serving with the 1 Battalion Notts and Derby Regiment (The
Sherwood Foresters) and is buried in Wimereux Cemetery.
John Edmund Banks was the son of William and Ettie Banks of Penkhull New Road and the
husband of Lilian Ethel May (nee Corbishley) who he married in 1908. They lived 465 Hartshill Road
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in 1911 with their daughter, Ivy. He was killed 31 August 1918 age 32, serving with the 1 Battalion
North Staffordshire Regiment and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. His widow later lived
at 17 Cumming Street.
Charles John Barker was born in Leason Street Stoke in 1889, the son of Charles Twyford Barker, a
railway porter and Emma Lucy Burton. His father died in 1898 and his mother married Thomas Mellor
in 1901, when she was the landlady of the Wheatsheaf Inn in Merrial Street, Newcastle. The family
were living at 4 Allen Street in 1911 when Charles was a transferrer, working for Mintons. However
when he enlisted in the Royal Welch Fusiliers in May 1915 he was a brickmaker. By that time he was
living at the Cemetery Lodge in Queens Road. He arrived in France in March 1917 and was
appointed Lance Sergeant in May, having passed up and down the ranks previously. He was killed in
action 14 August 1917 and is buried in Fins New British Cemetery.
Samuel Beardsley was born in Penkhull Square in 1888 and was living with his parents in Cornwallis
Street, Stoke in 1911, working as a railway labourer. He subsequently moved to 27 Stanley Road and
married Gertrude Kelsall at Hartshill Church in May 1914 and a daughter, Jessie was born, but died
only a few months old in February 1915. Samuel enlisted in the North Staffordshire Regiment in
September 1914, having previously served in the Army. Because of his previous employment he
requested a transfer to the Royal Engineers to work in a Railway Company in March 1916, being paid
an additional 8d. a day as a skilled platelayer. He had allotted a third of his pay to be sent to his wife.
In July 1917, he transferred back to the North Staffordshire Regiment, but kept his enhanced rate of
pay. He was posted missing 20 September 1917 and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
His widow remarried in 1918.
Leonard Eardley Binns was born in Newcastle-under-Lyme in 1899, the son of George Leonard, a
commercial traveller in earthenware and Annie Isabel (nee Eardley) of 17 Cromer Road. A former
pupil of Hanley High School, commemorated on the Memorial now in the Potteries Museum and Art
Gallery, he was one of the original Hartshill Scout Troop founded in 1913 and his name is on the
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Memorial in the Scout Hall. He was killed 26 April 1918, age 19, serving with the 4 Battalion South
Staffordshire Regiment and is buried in La Clytte Military Cemetery.
Sidney Blakemore was born in 1882, the son of Harry, an ironworks labourer, who died in 1910 and
Alice (nee Mycock). He was living at 9 Kingscroft in 1911, a pottery labourer, working for Mintons. He
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died 10 April 1917 while serving as a lance-corporal with the 11 Battalion Royal Fusiliers (City of
London) Regiment, age 35, and is buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery.
Thomas Bostock was born in Burton-on-Trent in 1892, the son of James, who in 1911 gave his
occupation as canvasser for artificial teeth, having previously been involved in photography and
Elizabeth (nee Cranage), living at 720 Hartshill Road, when Thomas was a hollowware presser. He
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enlisted in September 1914 and posted to the 9 Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment In October
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1917 he transferred to the 1 /6 Battalion and was appointed an unpaid lance- corporal in June 1918.
He was killed in action on 4 August 1918 age 25 and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial.

James Boston was born in Fenton in 1894, the son of James, and Mary Ann (nee Hewitt). His father
was a builder and James was assisting him in the business in 1911, when the family lived at 1 Nelson
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Road. James was killed in action 25 July 1917, age 23, while serving with the 4 Field Survey
Company Royal Engineers and is buried in Fins New British Cemetery at Sorel le - Grand.
William Ernest Boulton was born in Fenton in 1887, the son of Ernest Warren Boulton, an
engineers labourer and Elizabeth Jane (nee Tams) He married Martha Willis in 1910 Willis), living at
103 Victoria Street, Basford in 1911 and working as a moulder. A daughter Doris May was born in
May of that year. He was killed age 30, serving as an Able Seaman with the Drake Battalion, Royal
Naval Division and was initially buried but the grave was lost and he is commemorated on the Arras
Memorial. His widow later lived at 516 Hartshill Road.
Archibald Braithwaite was born in 1887 in Newcastle, the son of Bryan, a firewood dealer and
Susan Elizabeth (nee Cross). The family lived in Earl Street, Newcastle in 1891, but by 1901 they had
moved to Shelton New Road. In 1911 they lived at 5 Byron Street and Archibald was working as a
labourer tipping at Forge, possibly Shelton Iron and Steel Works. He married Ethel May Plant at
Hartshill Church in 1914 and they lived in Byron Street, Shelton New Road. There were two children.
He was a grocers porter working for Mr Hall Shelton New Road at the time he enlisted in the Royal
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Field Artillery. He died of wounds on 18 September 1917, age 30, serving with the 235 Brigade, a
few months after his second child, Kenneth had been baptised. He is buried in Chester Farm
Cemetery, south of Ypres. His widow later lived in Queensferry, Chester.
Edward Brereton was the son of Thomas Henry, a blacksmith and Clara (nee Bossons), born in
Audley in 1894 and in 1911, an assistant pawnbroker, living at 19 Cumming Street. In 1915 he
married May Eardley. He was a lance-corporal with the Royal Fusiliers when he died of wounds on 15
July 1916 age 23 and is buried in Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt LAbbee. His widow remarried
and moved to Longbridge, Birmingham.
John Henry Brooksbank was the son of Edwin, a grocer, shopkeeper and agent, in business on
Hartshill Road in 1901, next to the Antelope public house (which once stood on the corner of Spring
Street) and Mary Elizabeth (nee Brookes). The family were living in Wolstanton in 1911. John was
born in Lancaster in 1882. He was employed as a railway clerk and was educated at Hanley High
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School. An acting Corporal with the 1 /5 Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment, he died of wounds
on 12 June 1916, age 34, in the Military Hospital in Newport, South Wales and is buried in Hartshill
Cemetery.
Frederick Bryan was born 6 September 1895 the son of Frank, a bottler in an ale store and Sarah of
674 Hartshill Road and worked as a labourer in a brickyard. He enlisted 4 September 1914, went to
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France 18 July 1915 and was killed serving with the 8 battalion North Staffordshire Regiment on 21
January 1916. He is buried at St Vaast Post, Richebourg LAuoue..
Frank Caddy was born in 1895, the son of Samuel, a fish dealer and shopkeeper and Mary Ann (nee
Salt) of 707 Hartshill Road. He enlisted in September 1914 when employed at Platts Harpfield
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Tileries. He died 9 July 1916 while serving with the 8 battalion North Staffordshire Regiment and is
commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
John Carr was born in Hanford in 1888 and was living in Fenton, employed at Great Fenton Colliery
as a loader in 1911. He enlisted in the North Staffordshire Regiment 13 April 1915 when he was still
living in Mount Pleasant in Fenton, but when he was killed in action 27 September 1918, his wife
Maud was living at 1 Bold Street, Hartshill. John is buried in Bellicourt British Cemetery, north of St.
Quentin, His son, William Joseph, died of influenza and pneumonia on 27 October 1918.

Arthur Clarke was born in Newcatle in 1883, the son of William and Mary (nee Mayer). He married
Sarah Elizabeth Nixon in 1905 and was living at 755 Hartshill Road on enlistment at the beginning of
the War, when he was working for Platts Tiles as a marl getter. He was killed in the Battle of Loos 13
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October 1915, age 32, serving with the 1 /5 North Staffordshire Regiment and is commemorated on
the Loos Memorial.
Frank Reginald Collis was born in Fenton in 1893, the son of Frank, a partner of the firm of Collis,
Son and Barnes, solicitors of Hill Street Stoke and Mary Ellen (nee Stevenson). He was educated at
Denstone College and qualified as a solicitor a month before the outbreak of war, but had been an
officer in the Royal Field Artillery since 1910. He died on 27 July 1916 of wounds received earlier that
month while commanding a battery of the North Midland Brigade. He is buried in Peronne Road
Cemetery
George Cliffe was born 29 March 1898, the son of George, a slipmaker and Mary Emma (nee Price)
of 642 Hartshill Road. A block printer, he joined 23 May 1916. He was killed in action 2 December
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1917 while serving with the 4 battalion North Staffordshire Regiment and is commemorated on the
Tyne Cot Memorial.
Thomas Coomer was living at 113 Clare Street, Basford in 1911 with his wife Sarah, a potters
labourer. He wrote that he was born in Newcastle in 1873, though if he was the Thomas Coomer
living with his parents, Joseph and Maria in Newcastle in 1901 age 38, he was born in Longton. He
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was killed, age 42, serving with the 7 Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment on 6 December 1915,
during the Gallipoli Campaign and is commemorated on the Hellas Memorial.
Alfred Dakeyne was born in Openshaw, Manchester in 1879 and educated at Institution for the
Maintenance and Education of the Sons of Poor Persons in Ardwick, Manchester (Nicholls Hospital).
He married Louie Cotton, daughter of Martha Cotton, landlady of the Robin Hood, Hartshill in 1902
and they had one son, Alfred Harry. In 1911 he gave his occupation as clerk in the beer trade. He was
a member of the North Midland (Staffs) Heavy Battery based at the Drill Hall in Wilfred Place. He was
killed 8 July 1917 and is buried in the Bailleu Community Cemetery Extension south-west of Ypres.
He is commemorated on the Royal Garrison Artillery Memorial in Hartshill Church. His death was
reported in the Sentinel dated 23 July 1917. His widow married William Bostock in 1924.
Stephen Dale was born 16 May 1893, the son of Robert and Charlotte of 33 Garner Street, Cliff Vale.
His occupation in 1911 was as a clerk in a Pottery. He was killed, age 23, on 8 May 1917, while
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serving as a Corporal with the 2 /6 Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment and is commemorated on
the Thiepval Memorial, as well as the St Stephens, Cliff Vale Roll of Honour, now in Hartshill Church
Robert Louis Downs was born in Newcastle in 1893 and was living with his widowed mother in
Havelock Street, Stoke in 1911, employed as a stoker, though later he worked as a supervisor at the
Mount School for the Blind and Deaf. He served with the 23rd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
(Tyneside Scottish) and died of wounds while a prisoner of war on 25 May 1917 and is buried in Lille
Southern Cemetery. His mother, Harriet, later lived at 49 Stoke Old Road.
Francis William Dudley was the son of William, a commercial traveller in the pottery trade and
Matilda (nee Deakin) of The Elders Linley Road, the family having previously lived in Stockton
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Brook., when Francis was assistant to a pottery manager. He was serving as a Gunner with 19
Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery when he was killed, age 22, on 16 December 1916 and is
buried in the Caterpillar Valley Cemetery at Longueval.

Robert William Eabry was the son of Richard Goodman Eabry of The Old House at Home, Hart shill
Road and his wife, Rose Hannah, who later lived at 13 Egerton Road. Born in 1897, he attended
Hanley Higher Grade School (Hanley High School) and was then employed in Borough Treasurers
Office in Stoke. A member of St Matthews Church Choir and a Sunday School teacher as well as one
of the original Hartshill Boy Scouts. He attested and was rejected two or three times before being
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passed for service in January 1917 and enlisting in the 11 Battalion Notts and Derby Regiment (The
Sherwood Foresters). He was reported missing in the Sentinel 18 August 1917. The date of his death
is recorded as 7 June 1917 and he is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial. In September
1934 the Hartshill Scouts visited the Memorial and located his name.
Charles Ernest Ellison was born 17 April 1897, the son of William, a painter and decorator and
Jane Caird Ellison (nee Edwards). In 1911 he was an apprentice caster and the family lived at 585
Hartshill Road, in the row of cottages known as Gortons Cottages. He was killed in action 7 March
1916 while serving with the London Regiment and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial. His
eldest sister Maria married George Sturge, the uncle of John Sturge
Albert Edward Evans was the son of George Evans, the builder and Ann Elizabeth. His father, in
partnership with George Lewis Jones, built many of the houses in Hartshill, in the first decade of the
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20 century, including those between Coronation Road and Albany Road. The family were living at
Hillside 13 Riseley Road, when Albert, who was another of the original Hartshill Boy Scouts, was
killed, age 19, on 11 October 1918,serving with the Duke of Wellingtons Regiment and is buried in
Wellington Cemetery, Rieux-en-Cambesis. ,
Cuthbert Fosbrooke was born in 1892, the son of the Reverend Arthur Middleton, the vicar of
Hartshill from 1902 to 1919 and.Jane (nee Stoutt). He was educated at Newcastle High School and
Durham School and was articled as an accountant to Alderman Frederick Geen when he joined the
North Staffordshire Regiment at outbreak of War. He later transferred to the Cyclists Corps and went
to the Front in March 1915. He was commissioned in February 1917 and posted to the Durham Light
Infantry. He was killed by an enemy shell 19 July 1917. He is buried in Dickebusch (Dikkebus) New
Military Cemetery Extension, south-west of Ypres. His brother Oswald also joined the North
Staffordshire Regiment at the same time and also transferred to the Cyclists Corps.
Samuel Frith was the son of Samuel, a potters placer and Mary Jane (nee Picking) of 3 Kingscroft,
and was born in Newcastle in 1888. In 1911 he gave his occupation as Pottery Porter, but when he
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enlisted at the beginning of September 1914, his occupation was a placer. He was posted to the 11
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Battalion in November 1914 and thence to the 7 Battalion in September 1917. He died from disease
in Mesopotamia, age 27, on 28 April 1916 and is buried in the Amara War Cemetery in modern day
Iraq.
Henry Morton Garner was born in Swadlincote, Derbyshire in 1895, the son of James Price Garner,
a fireclay presser and Eva Martha (nee Moreton). In 1911 the family were living at 43 Coronation
Road and Henry was employed as a gardener. He joined the North Staffordshire Regiment in May
1917 by which date he was a postman, and the family had moved to 38 Riseley Road. He was
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transferred to the 22 Battalion Durham Light Infantry at Christmas 1917. He was reported missing
on 26 March 1918 and was then reported as a prisoner of war at Stendal Camp at some point and his
family informed. However when all prisoners had been repatriated and Henry had not arrived home,
enquiries were made by his father and an investigation found that one of his identity disc had been
retuned in an Official List of Dead on 25 September 1918 by the hospital at Avesnes-sur-Helpe,
which was in German hands and he had been a prisoner of war and that is where the
misunderstanding had occurred. It was subsequently found that he had died 4 June 1918 in hospital
and buried in the Cemetery there. His effects were returned to his family in May 1920.

Frank Glover was born in 1891, the son of Frank Bede, a clay miller and Hannah (nee Williams), of
17 Cumming Street. He was an electrician who served his apprenticeship with Barnett & Soans.
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Stoke. He Enlisted in Manchester 8 September 1914 in the 13 Battalion Kings (Liverpool) Regiment.
He married Daisy Ankers at Alsager 14 January 1915. She was living in Linley Road, Talke in 1915
and in receipt of separation allowance. He was killed in action 18 August 1916, age 24, and is buried
in Flatiron Copse Cemetery at Mametz. His widow received a pension of 13s. 9d per week from 9
April 1917.
John William Goodall was born 10 May 1897, the son of William Fitzherbert Goodall, a carpenter
working for a brick and tile manufacturer and Mary Ann (nee Snape), living at 47 Stanley Road in
1911, when John was working in a Sanitary Pottery. He was killed age 21, while serving in the South
Staffordshire Regiment, on 20 July 1918, and is buried in the St Hilaire Extension Cemetery at
Frevent.
George William Goodfellow was born in 1896 in Newcastle, the son of George Henry and Edna
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(nee Ashley) of 31 Ashwell Road. He enlisted in August 1914 and was serving with the 7 Battalion
Bedfordshire Regiment when he died on 13 July of wounds received on the first day of the Battle of
the Somme, 1 July 1916 and is buried in La Neuville Cemetery, Corbie. The Sentinel when reporting
his death on its edition of 8 July, confused him with his brother Sydney, who was serving with the
Royal Engineers. It said that prior to enlisting he worked at Brymbo Colliery, Chesterton.
Philip Shenton Hackney was born in 1889, the son of Thomas, a railway coach painter and Annie
Sophia (Nee Shenton). He was living with his mother and stepfather George Hobson in Nicholls
Street, Stoke in 1911, working as a butcher. The family later lived at 23 Allen Street. He enlisted in the
Cheshire Regiment and was killed in action 18 August 1916 and is buried in Delville Wood Cemetery
at Longueval.
Joseph Hand was born in Shelton in 1887, the son of Edwin, a glost placer and Jane (nee Barlow)
and was living with his parents at 110 Stoke Old Road in 1911, working as a jollier. A letter he sent to
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his mother published in the Sentinel 15 June 1915, while he was serving with 1 /5 North Staffords.
He was killed in the Battle of Loos 13 October 1915 and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial. He
was one of five brothers serving and about the time of his death, the Reverend Joseph Ronayne,
curate of Hartshill, wrote to Buckingham Palace to bring the patriotic example of the family before the
notice of the King and the Keeper of the Privy Purse replied to his mother. The reply from
Buckingham Palace is in the possession of his descendants.
Letter written by Joseph Hand to his mother Jane dated 27 May 1915
The last spell in the trenches was the most exciting we have had. We took the trenches over again on
_____ night. The next morning it was whispered that we were going to blow up the German trenches
in front of us. It was getting dark when the fun commenced. I accompanied an officer to a trench in
front of the German trenches and was just talking to a man from Shelton when there was a terrific
explosion making the ground rock for a considerable distance. On hearing a hissing band of noise I
turned round. Imagine my feeling of horror on seeing tons and tons of debris falling rapidly, some
towards the spot where I was. I rushed for cove, but was not quick enough, being struck in the side
with a large lump of clay and thrown violently to the ground, fortunately with nothing more than a
bruising. Our boys opened up a rapid fire on them with rifle fire and machine guns. The noise was
terrific. Imagine a loud explosion, tons of debris in the air which comes showering down on you like
rain, only heavier of course; machine guns going on to the tune of about 500 rounds a minute, rifles
spitting out bullets as fast as they can be loaded, the noise of the bursting shells as they pass over
our heads, all of which tend to make up a picture which I shall remember for many a day. On Whit
Sunday we were shelled very heavily but they did very little damage. When our artillery opened up
they shut up like a Jack-in-a-Box. Whit Monday I thought was going to pass quietly, when about six
oclock the Germans opened up a heavy fire on our trenches and our supports, our guns answering

them. Meanwhile we were lying low in the trenches passing remarks about Longton Park Fetes. We
were relieved that night to stand in reserve. Still our troubles did not end there, for the next night the
barns were we staying accidently caught fire. We tried our best to put it out, but our efforts were
unavailing. The next night we came back to camp to pull off our shoes for the first time in six days and
get a fair nights sleep.
The letter was written in Rest Camp at Neuve Eglise (Niewekirke) some 12 km south of Ypres the
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1 /5 Battalion relieved the 1 /6 Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment at that time and were then
relieved by them in turn, before spending three days in reserve and then again taking the place of the
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1 /6 Battalion.
Thomas William Hand was born in Bucknall in 1896, the son of Thomas William, a potters jiggerer
and Annie Maria, who lived at 4 Evelyn Street, Cliff Vale. In 1911 he was an apprentice plumber. At
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the date of his death he worked at Hanley Deep Pit. He joined the 1 /5 Battalion North Staffordshire
Regiment in November 1914 and was killed in the Battle of Loos 13 October 1915. He is believed to
be buried in St Marys Advanced Dressing Station Cemetery at Haisnes, between La Bassee and
Lens together with ten other members of the Regiment killed on that day, with all the names recorded
on a special cross. Also buried there is John Kipling My Boy Jack son of Rudyard Kipling, who
suggested the phrase Known unto God for those buried unidentified. His son was until 1992 and a
grave now bears his name, although there is some disagreement to the accuracy of the claim.
Edgar Henry Hill was born in May Bank in 1886, the son of Charles Henry, a timekeeper, at probably
the Shelton Iron and Steel works,and Jane Griffiths, who were living at 81 Garner Street in 1911,
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though Edgar was a regular soldier with the 2 Battalion the Kings Own Shropshire Light Infantry,
serving in India from whence he returned in 1913. He left the Army and became a postman, but was
recalled to the colours on 5 August 1914. He was killed 22 October 1914 and is commemorated on
the Ploegstreet Memorial.
Samuel Hough Born Fenton. Wife lived at 7 Kings Croft in 1917. Worked at Glebe Colliery, but
enlisted in Durham Light Infantry in Sunderland, possibly with two brothers who were working there.
Transferred to Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. Posted missing but then reported killed in action in
Sentinel 30 June 1917. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memoria.l
Charles Joseph Hulme was born in 1887, the son of Joseph Clement, a circular sawyer and Blanche
(nee Sanders). A shoemaker by trade, he married Louisa Maud Davies at Hartshill Church in 1906.
He was lodging in Fenton in 1911 with his wife and two eldest children and working on his own
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account as a boot repairer. The family later lived at 22 Shelton New Road. He enlisted in the 5
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Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment in July 1916, having previously served for 5 years in the 5
Battalion. He went to France in November of that year. A report with his service record from the
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Officer Commanding the 8 Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment states that he was either killed in
action or died of wounds on 14 or 15 March 1917 and was buried, though his body was subsequently
lost and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. At the time of his death there were four
children, Elsie Maud, Charles Joseph, Blanche May and Ernest.
John Thomas Ibbs was born in Chebsey, Staffs in 1881, the son of John and Sarah Ann and was an
officer of the Stoke Workhouse in 1901. His widowed mother later lived at Highfield House in
Stanley Road. He was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Worcestershire Regiment and was killed,
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serving with the 7 Battalion, on 20 March 1917, age 35, and is buried in the Bray Military Cemetery,
south of Albert..

(William) Henry Johnson was born in Newcastle in 1892 and was the son of Herbert and Hannah
Johnson who were living at 22 KIngscroft when his death was announced, but were also in the
business of poultry and game dealers at 733 Hartshill Road. He enlisted in the Kings Own Scottish
Borderers in October 1914 and was invalided home with frostbite in February 1915 and returned to
the front in May. He was killed in action 25 September 1915 and is commemorated on the Loos
Memorial.
William Johnson was the son of Richard, a chemist and Jessie (nee Baker), of Leeds, where William
was born in 1889 and later Harrogate, Yorkshire. In 1911 he was working as a shop assistant in
Redcar, Yorkshire.He married Agnes Julia Williams in 1916 in Stoke, the daughter of an earthenware
manufacturer, living at Ferndale Queens Road in 1911. and they lived at Enderley Princes Road.
He was commissioned in the South Staffordshire Regiment and was killed 12 November 1916, age
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27, serving with the 8 Battalion and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
Sydney Charles Jones was born 1884, the son of Charles Samuel and Ann (nee Spilsbury).His
father was a China and earthenware manufacturer in the pottery firm founded by Sydneys
grandfather, George Jones, the Crescent Pottery in Stoke. Sydney was the Chief Inspector of the
Ocean Insurance Company in Hanley, when he enlisted 27 August 1914. And was one of a number of
former pupils of Newcastle High School who enlisted at the time. He was promoted Lance Corporal
12 March 1915 and Corporal 23 July 1915, then Lance Sergeant 6 September 1915 and Sergeant 18
September 1915. He was killed in action 13 October 1915 during the Battle of Loos. His body was
initially buried behind the support trenches at Vermilles, but his grave was subsequently lost and he is
now commemorated on the Loos Memorial. He had been recommended for a commission.
Frank Lawley was born in 1899, the son of Frank, a labourer and Martha Ann (nee Mason), who lived
at 5 Hulme Street in 1911 and later at 20 Allen Street. He was one of the original Hartshill Boy Scout
Troop formed in 1913. He was killed on 27 September 1918, age 19, serving as a Lance-Corporal in
the 8th Battalion Kings Own Royal Lancaster Regiment and is buried in Lowrie Cemetery,
Havrincourt, south of Cambrai and also commemorated on his parents grave in Hartshill Cemetery
and on the Scouts Memorial.
Charles Malkin born in 1890, was the son of Charles, a potters printer and Ann (nee Gibbins) of 109
Shelton New Road, Cliff Vale and was a Sanitary Ware Brass Finisher at the time of the 1911 census.
A Gunner with the Royal Field Artillery, he was killed, age 25, on 13 September 1917 and is buried in
the Belgian Battery Corner Cemetery. He is commemorated on the St Stephens Roll of Honour.
William Mansfield was born in Glasgow in 1888, the son of Edward and Betsy (nee Smedley). He
married Lilian Faulkner in 1914 and He enlisted in the Royal Engineers in April 1915 when employed
by Johnsons Sanitary Pottery, Cliff Vale, and was living at 2 Chatham Street Shelton at the time of
his death, killed in action on the First day of the Battle of the Somme 1 July 1916. He is buried at
Foncquevillers.
William Melbourne was born in 1886, the son of Edward and Mary Ann (nee Edwards). He served
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with the 4 Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment before the War and was recalled 7 August 1914,
when working as a labourer. On 28 April he was transferred to the Royal Engineers and served as a
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telegraphist with 24 Signal Company. He was killed 24 March 1917 and is buried in Lijssenthoek
Military Cemetery, west of Ypres .
Harold Mitchell was the son of Agnes Mitchell, living in Baker Street, Newcastle in 1901 and
boarding with the Shaw family at 773 Hartshill Road in 1911 and working then as a mine labourer. He
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was killed age 22 on 7 October 1916, serving with the 9 Royal Fusiliers The London Regiment) and
is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

Harry Nixon was born 11 January 1894, at 27 Park (Spark) Street, Stoke, the son of Albert William, a
potters presser and Sarah Ellen (nee Henshall). He was living with his widowed mother at 16
Vicarage Road in 1911 and an apprentice plumber. His mother later lived at 538 Hartshill Road.He
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was a Corporal in the 12 Battalion Notts and Derby Regiment (The Sherwood Foresters), when he
was killed, age 22, on 14 February 1916 and is buried in the Menin Road South Cemetery, est of
Ypres..
William Pickin was the son of George, a stationary engineman and Mary Elizabeth of 121 Oxford
Street, Penkhull. He enlisted on 4 January 1915, when employed as a potters warehouseman, and
went to France in late July 1915. He died of a shell wound to the head on 14 July 1917, age 21, while
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serving with the 9 Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment and is buried at the Kemmel Chateau
Cemetery, south of Ypres.
William Ernest Plant was born in 1894, the son of George William, a tile maker and Ellen (nee Frost)
and was one of ten children, all of whom were still living at 595 Hartshill Road (Gortons Cottages) in
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1911. He joined the 5 Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment in 1913 and was employed at
Caddicks Spoutfield Tileries. He was killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme and is buried in
Foncquevillers Cemetery, south west of Arras.
Dent Poole was born in 1892, the son of Henry, a kiln fireman and Harriet May (nee White). In 1911
he was employed as a builders labourer, but was later employed by FG Chambers the timber
merchants in Stoke. He enlisted in November 1914 in the Army Veterinary Corps and then transferred
to the Royal Horse Artillery. He died of pneumonia 14 November 1918 and at the time of his death
was engaged to marry the sister of one of his Gunner comrades, named Benton who lived in Shelton,
Dents home address being 591 Hartshill Road, on the 1918 Electoral Roll for the Hanley
Constituency.
Albert Roberts was born in 1895, the son of James, a glost placer and Mary (nee Baddeley) and the
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youngest of their eight children. He joined the 5 battalion North Staffordshire Regiment age 18 in
March 1913 and worked as a potters labourer for Winkle & Co. At the Old Colonial Pottery in
Whieldon Road. He went to France with the battalion on 3 March 1915 and was killed 17 September
1915. His service record contains a list of possessions returned to his mother, together with a letter
from her acknowledging the receipt of 3 7s 7d, but asking if their was not more money to come,
since he was a most striving lad and always saving. At the time of his death his mother and father
lived at 755 Hartshill Road having previously lived in Stoke Old Road. He is buried in Larch Wwood
(Railway Cutting) Cemetery, south of Ypres.
John William Roberts was the son Joseph Elias Roberts, a china flower painter and Annie Elizabeth
(nee Edwards), born in 1881. He married Ellen Foster and lived at 36 Allen Street in 1911, working as
a bricklayer. There were four children, Joseph, John, Hilda and Clifford of the marriage. John was
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killed 12 October 1917, while serving with 250 Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery and is buried in
Aeroplane Cemetery, north east of Ieper. There is surviving a letter sent after his death.
William Henry Rowe was the son of George Alfred, a potters printer and Martha Annie, who were
living at 40 Stoke Old Road in 1901. He was a potters warehouseman by 1911, living with his
widowed mother at 50 Clarence (Clare) Street, Basford. He married Florence Colclougin 1915, a few
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months before his death on 25 August 1915, age 24. He was serving with B Battery 69 Brigade
Royal Field Artillery and is buried in Alexandria (Chatby) Military Cemetery in Egypt.
Henry Sillito was the son of Richard and Priscilla (nee Wright), living with his sister and brother-inlaw, Edith and Alfred Pemberton at 18 Vicarage Road, in 1911 when he was a milkman. He enlisted
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as a driver with the 7 Training School (TF) Royal Field Artillery, when he died, possibly as a result of
an accident, on 16 May 1916, age 37, and was buried in Winchester (West Hill) Cemetery.

Arthur Sydney Speed Lieutenant Speed was born in Shelton 7 January 1887, the fourth son of
Herbert and Martha (nee Baker). In 1911 he was working as an ironmonger. An old boy of Newcastle
High School, he was one of that contingent of former pupils who joined the North Staffordshire
Regiment on the outbreak of War. He is also recorded on the Hanley High School Memorial now in
the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery. He was commissioned into the South Staffordshire Regiment,
returning to France in May 1916 and was gassed in October of that year, after recuperating in
England he returned to action and was killed 4 June 1917. He is buried in the Maroc British
Cemetery,Grenay, south west of Bethune. His Brother, Leslie, was reported wounded in October
1915.
Charles William Staton was the son of George, a labourer in a waggon depot and Sarah (nee
Rowley) of 8 Stanley Road, and was born in 1895. A brickyard worker in 1911, he was killed on 25
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September 1916, age 21, while serving with 13 Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps. He is
buried in the Guillermont Road Cemetery, east of Albert. Also buried in the Cemetery is Raymond
Asquith, son of Herbert Asquith, Prime Minister between 1908 and 1916, who was killed the same
month, serving with the Grenadier Guards, having given up a position as a Staff Officer to fight on the
front line.
William Stevenson was born in 1888, the son of William, a ridge tile maker and Annie. He was living
with his widowed mother at 98 Stoke Old Road in 1911 and worked at the Hartshill Brick and Tile
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Works as a Roofing tile sorter. He was killed in action while serving with the 1 /5 Battalion North
Staffordshire Regiment on 17 November 1915 and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial His elder
brother Thomas was reported to be in hospital in March 1917 with Trench Foot. Thomas married
Gertrude Beardsley, widow of Samuel Beardsley in November 1918.
William Holloway Stone William was born in Newcastle-under-Lyme in 1898, the son of Holloway
Stone and Alice Hannah (nee Edwards). His father was a publican at 12 Brook Lane in 1901, but died
at the age of 39 in 1903. The family lived at 8 Wilfred Place in 1911. He was an original member of
the Hartshill Scout Troop which started in 1913 and is commemorated on a memorial in the Scout
Hall. He was killed while flying his plane on 5 September 1918 age 19 and is buried in Ligny-SurCanche British Cemetery, west of Frevent.
George Street was the son of Thomas and Sarah Ann (nee Stacey). In 1911 he was living with his
aunt Emma Biddulph, the sister of Sarah Ann at 7 Allen Street, and employed as a tile fettler. He
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enlisted in the North Staffordshire Regiment, but was serving with the 1 /8 Battalion Durham Light
Infantry when he was killed 18 April 1917, age 22, and is buried in the Aubigny Cemetery, north west
of Arras..
Thomas Pearson Thompson DCM was born in Miles Green, Audley, in 1886, the son of George and
Elizabeth Lucretia (nee Hewitt) and married Florence Leveson Barratt in 1909. The couple were living
at 574 Hartshill Road in 1911, when Thomas was a Loader in an Ironstone Mine. He died on 3 March
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1916, age 30, of injuries, while serving with the 175 (Royal Anglesea) Tunnelling Company, Royal
Engineers and is buried in the Boulogne Eastern Cemetery. The citation for the award of the
Distinguished Conduct Medal appeared in the London Gazette on 6 September 1915: For gallant
conduct and valuable services during the months of June and July 1915 at Hooge. He was engaged
daily in mining operations in the trench lines under shell and rifle fire.
Harold Titley was born in Forsbrook in 1897, he was the son of Walter, a drapers assistant and
Esther (nee Shenton) living at 574 Hartshill Road in 1911. He served in Mesopotamia with the 7th
battalion and was killed 26 February 1917. He is buried in the Amara War Cemetery, Iraq. He had five
brothers, in the Forces, two with the Canadians. These were likely to be half-brothers, since his
father had been married before,

James Townsend was born in Dudley in 1884, the son of Henry and Elizabeth (nee Rushton) living
at 152 Shelton New Road, Cliff Vale, working as a moulder, when he enlisted on 19 October 1914 in
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the 5 Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment. He went to France 28 June 1915 and was killed in
action at the Battle of Loos 13 October 1915. His service record indicates that he was reported
missing then, but not struck off the Battalion strength until 6 January 1916. He is commemorated on
the Loos Memorial. His widow, Laura Beatrice (nee Berks) was awarded a pension of 20s 6d for
herself and her three children, effective from 10 July 1916. When she completed a form detailing the
family members, Jamess elder brother, Ernest was living in Evelyn Street, Cliff Vale, though both
families had been living in the Black Country in 1911, when Laura was a chain maker.
WiIlliam Henry Welfare was born in Hampshire in 1883, the son of John Welfare, who worked as a
domestic coachman on various estates. William was also peripatetic, working as a groom for various
employers, including a racehorse trainer. His reason for coming to Stoke-on-Trent is unknown , as is
who he worked for. He married Lilian Kate Gardner at Hartshill Church in 1908, though the 1911
census shows him in Leicestershire and his wife lodging in Fenton, though her family were living in
Hartshill. Various addresses are given for the family, including 62 Stoke Old Road. There were three
children born, though the first born died as a baby. The two children shown on the photograph are
Florence born 1913 and William born 1916 (July-September). At the time of his death on 16 April
1917, Sergeant Welfare was attached to an Artillery Brigade and the circumstances of his death are
recorded to in a letter sent to his father who had enlisted at the age of about 57, though claiming to be
at least ten years younger. William is buried in the cemetery at Lillers, west-north-west of Bethune.
Mrs Welfare re-married in 1920 and lived in Coronation Road.
TRANSCRIPT OF LETTER SENT TO SERGEANT WELFARES FATHER
Dear Sgt Welfare

23.6.17
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Your Letter of the 17 June received. I regret deeply to inform you that your son who was attached to
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the battery under my command died at the 58 Casualty Clearing Station on the 16 or 17 April. He
was buried in the cemetery in LILLERS. He took ill on the march near a place called BOMY some 12
miles south west of AIRE & had to be left behind at the above Casualty Clearing Station. I have not
yet been informed as to what was the matter with him, but I think it must have been pneumonia or a
chill. He incurred this in the execution of his duty.
The weather on the march was cold & wet and the horses suffered considerably. One night he spent
several hours in the wind & rain doctoring a sick horse & I believe he [succumbed?] then. If it be any
consolation I can say from my heart that I could not wish for a more loyal, hardworking &
.....[soldier?]...................................[be recalled?] by his many friends in the battery & by his
[commanding officer?].
I wrote to his widow some days ago. Permit me to offer to you and Mrs Welfare the sympathies of
myself, my officers & men in your sad affliction.
Yours truly
RC Rowe
Major RHA B/298 Brigade Army FA

Harold Withington Born in 1895, he was the son of Edwin and Jane Withington of 9 Cumming Street
and was employed as a Tile Packer when he enlisted 5 April 1915 age 20 years 6 months in the

North Staffordshire Regiment. He went to France 25 February 1917 He was wounded by a shell in
his left side and was in Hemingford Street Hospital from 3 October 1917 to 23 November. He was in
Hospital again February March 1918 with suspected TB which proved negative. He returned to
France 2 April 1918 and was missing in action 3 October 1918. His body was recovered and he is now
buried in Busigny Community Cemetery, south-west of Le Cateau
Frederick J Wilson was born in 1891, the son of James Perry Wilson, a potters polisher and
Margaret (nee Hughes), a paintress of 2 Vicarage Road. In 1911 he is listed as an assistant grocer,
but later worked for Embreys Bakery in Fenton. He was killed in action serving with the Royal Field
Artillery 23 April 1917 and is buried in the Canadian No.2 Cemetery at Neuville St. Vaast..
Joseph Woodcock was the husband of Mary Ann Sparkes, whom he married at Hartshill Church in
1915 and lived at 31 Albany Road. Born in Knutton in 1894, he was living in Dresden in 1911, with his
parents, Lemuel and Sarah (nee Durber) and working as a blacksmith. He enlisted in April 1915 and
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was killed while serving with the 208 Field Company Royal Engineers on 10 April 1918, age 25, and
is commemorated on the Ploegstreet Memorial. He had only arrived in France on 4 March 1918,
before being reported wounded and missing. His death was finally acknowledged for official purposes
on 4 July 1919, though his widow received a pension of 20s 5d per week from 19 January 1919, in
place of her separation allowance of 23s per week to which had been added an allotment from
Josephs pay of 3s 6d.
Alfred Francis Wright was born in Chelsea in 1882, the son of Alfred, a currier and Sarah Jane (nee
Street). He had been a regular soldier, but was working as a works policeman at Shelton Steelworks
in 1911, living in Etruria Vale, having married Elizabeth Jane Gaylord the previous year. He was
recalled at the outbreak of War and was serving with the Grenadier Guards when he was killed in
action 20 October 1914, the first death of a soldier recorded on the Churchyard War Memorial and is
commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres. His wife later lived in Shelton New Road, Cliff
Vale.