No.7921, Corporal, James STUBBINGS
Aged 22
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James Stubbings was born in Ickleton on 17th January 1893(Linton Q1-1893 3B:485) baptised in Ickleton on 26th February 1893 son of Ada STUBBINGS. His mother
married Henry TAYLOR in Q4-1895.
1901 census...Aged 8, he was at High Street, West Wratting with his step-father Henry TAYLOR [25] horse keeper on farm, born Weston Colville; his mother Ada [27] born Ickleton; half brothers Bertie Harry [5], Reginald Charles [3] and Frank [1]; half sister Hilda Ellen [3 months]. All the Taylor siblings were born in West Wratting. Also there was his grandfather, widower farm labourer, William STUBBINGS [72] born Elmdon. His step-father died in 1909. 1911 census...Aged 19, he was in the Stanhope Lines, Aldershot in the Suffolk Regiment. At the Drill Hall, West Wratting were his widowed mother; half brothers Bertie Harry , Reginald Charles (both farm labourers), Frank, Arthur [8], Percy [7] and Henry Thorn [1]; half sisters Hilda Ellen, Mary [5] and Elsie May [3]. All the children were born in West Wratting His half-brother Reginald Charles Taylor was killed in 1917 in France serving in the Suffolk Regiment. see here |
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He enlisted in Haverhill.
The 1st and 2nd battalions of the Suffolk met at Westoutre on the 12th April, a joyous occasion for all concerned. The battalion war diary for this week seems to be missing on line. Lt Col Murphy's "History of the Suffolk Regiment" has:- On April 15th the battalion marched to Vlamertinghe, moving forward to Zonnebeke two days later. On the way up to the trenches they were halted so that if required to, they could support the action then in progress at Hill 60. However, they were not required and soon after midnight relieved the 2nd Cheshires. Two companies were in the line; another was about a thousand yards in the rear of them; and the remaining company in dugouts in the railway embankment, about two miles away. On April 18th the enemy opened a fierce bombardment on a wide front. It would have been during this bombardment that James was killed with five of his chums. All are buried close together in Bedford House Cemetery
photo: Rodney Gibson click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
