C/7337,Lance Corporal, Alexander STINTON
Aged 23
|
Alexander STINTON was born in Balsham (Linton Q2-1895 3B:511), baptised in Balsham on 2nd June 1895, son of George and Jane STINTON (née BOWERS).
1901 census...Aged 5, he was at Fox End, Balsham with his father George STINTON [56] groom on stud farm; his mother Jane [50]; sister Kate M [21] and brother Vincent G [19] groom on stud farm, all born in Horseheath, Henry [12] and Stanley [10], like ALexander, born in Balsham His father died in 1906 and his mother in 1910. 1911 census...Aged 15, he was at 4 Oxford Street, Exning with his sister Marion [35] born Horseheath, her husband Samuel Jacobs [36] a horse keeper on farm born West Wickham, and their daughter Mary [13] born Carlton. His elder brother, Stanley, in the 19th Hussars died of his wounds in France at almost the same time see here |
|
Alexander died of his wounds between 24th-28th March 1918, Presumably last seen by his comrades to be wounded and never found after the battle, hence his name on the Memorial. The battalion had arrived in France on 3rd May 1916 then moved to Italy in November 1917, returning to France in March 1918.That unfortunately was just in time to be caught up on the German Spring Offensive, the Kaiserschlacht. There are a great number of page sof his Army service on line but many of them are too faint to read. Initially he enlisted in the 19th Hussars on 9th September 1914, ( probably to join his elder brother Stanley) joining them at Bristol on 28th September. He gave his age as 19 years, born Balsham, living in lodgings in 3 Old Road, Berry Brow, just south of Huddersfield. He was 5 feet 8.5 inches (174 cm) tall, weighed 140 lbs (63.7 kg), chest 32.5" to 35" (82.6 to 88.9 cm), blue eyes, brown hair, Church of England. His next of kin was his sister Elizabeth MORGAN, of 3 Old Road, Berry Brow. He had one sound tooth upper and 9 lower. He was discharged on medical grounds as being unlikely to become an efficient soldier on 29th January 1915. Bad dentition was the reason many men were either not accepted or discharged early in the war, until; someone reasoned that they were losing many useful men who could easily have dental treatment whilst in the Army. He obviously was going to do his duty and he enlisted again on 28th October 1915 at Green Park, London. He denied on his form that he had previously served in the Army and this time was accepted into the Kings Royal Rifle Corps (the 60th Rifles in "old money"). It is not known if he had his teeth fixed. On 19th October 1916 he was promoted to Lance Corporal but reverted to rifleman at his own request 2 week later. on 25th May 1917 he reported to 139 Field Ambulance with dental problems but returned to duty 5 days later. That puts him between Hazebrouck and Bailleul. He received a gunshot wound to the arm on 14th June 1917, and taken to 140 Field Ambulance. This was during the battle of Messine Ridge, near Hollebeke. The Battalion were part of the force that took Olive Trench. Then via 41 Dressing Station to 11 General Hospital, Camiers on 23rd June and 6 Convalescent Hospital on 28th June. He returned to base depot on 4th July and then got UK leave from 6th to 17 September 1917. |
Where he was wounded..Olive Trench
|
Back with his unit he was promoted to Lance Corporal on 18th December, in Italy, and this time apparently settled to his new rank. He next had a medical problem "scald foot" and taken to 139 Field Ambulance on 11th January 1918, evacuated to 11 General Hospital, Genoa and 51 Stationary Hospital, Genoa before returning to his unit on 5th February, in time to return to France in March and encounter the German Spring Offensive. From that excellent on line forum 1914-1918.invisionzone.com and sotonmate the following:- 18 KRRC ( 122 Infantry Brigade of 41 Division) returned to France by rail on 5.3.1918, arriving at POMMERA and spending time until 20th under training in that vicinity. 23rd : moved into the line west of BEUGNY ( on this day 5 ORs were wounded). 24th : Enemy attacked and unit withdrew to a line BIEFVILLERS - ESSARTS. 25th : again fell back to a line ALBERT - ACHIET-LE-GRAND railway line. During this phase casualties/missing were 15 Officers/475 ORs. When his sister Elizabeth completed the "living relatives" form in 1919 there were herself in Huddersfield, Mrs Scotcher also in Huddersfield; Mrs Philips in Redhill Surrey; Mrs Griffith, Station Road, Gt Shelford; Mrs S Collins, Romsey Terr. Cambridge, Mrs Marion Jacobs, Vine Terrace, Exning; brother George in Balsham and brother Henry in Huddersfield.
photo: Rodney Gibson click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
