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William Alderson
Pte 9628 6th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment; Pte R/366307 ASC Raynor’s Yard
William Thomas Alderson was born in Skutterskelfe in 1880 the son of Thomas Alderson, farmer and his wife Hannah (nee Young). In 1881 William was with his parents, older sister and 3 servants living at Tame Bridge. In 1891 The family was still at Tame Bridge in 1891, but there were 3 more children. By 1901, when the family was living at Brickyard Cottage, Seamer, William and his older sister had left home. His sister, Dorothy had married Robson Snowdon Haylar and was living in Stockton. Haylar children are mentioned in the accounts of prize-giving at The Preston Grammar School, Stokesley, but researches have so far failed to locate William in 1901. However, in 1911 William was recorded as working as a farm labourer and living in Raynor’s Yard, Stokesley.
William Alderson's attestation papers do not appear to have survived but a medal card for William Thomas Alderson tells us that he first joined the 6th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment and was sent abroad to Egypt on 22nd November 1915. He was later transferred to the ASC . The “R” in his ASC number (see above) denotes the Remounts section, the branch of the ASC service which was responsible for supplying horses and mules to other service units at home and abroad.
Pte Alderson was awarded the 1915 Star, and the British War Medal and Victory Medal. It seems he married Beatrice Kitching in Stokesley in 1934, and that he died in 1969 aged 91.
H W Appleby
Arthur Lowther Armstrong
Note: See also Alfred’s brothers Stephen and Charles (of South Side) who also appear in this section (WR/316537)
Alfred Lowther Armstrong was born in Stokesley in 1888, the son of James Armstrong, a road repairer from Ireland and his wife Margaret (nee Orde) from Stokesley. In 1891 and 1901 Alfred was living with his parents and siblings in South Side, but by 1911 he had left Stokesley and was living in Coxhoe together with his brother Stephen. They were boarders with Thomas Weir a quarryman from Ireland. Alfred was working as a gardener whilst Stephen was listed as a confectioner and tobacconist.
Very soon after war broke out, Alfred enlisted in Stokesley - on 24th August 1914. He was 26 years 3 months old and his occupation was given as "miner". He was 5’ 9” tall, weighed 168lbs and had a chest of 38”. He had grey eyes, brown hair and a fair complexion and was reported to be of good physical development and his pulse rate was 72. Alfred's next of kin was his mother, Mrs M Armstrong of Levenside.
Arthur joined the Royal Field Artillery in Newcastle on the same day as he attested. He was posted as a Gunner with 161 Brigade RFA on 11th September and promoted to Bombadier the following month on 14th October. On 4th January 1915, Arthur was promoted to Corporal .
Corporal Armstrong was posted to the 50th Brigade on 19th February 1915 and embarked from Southampton to Havre on 10th May 1915. These were dangerous times, as the Germans were just beginning their use of gas against the Allied forces, but strangely perhaps, when Corporal Armstrong was admitted to hospital at the end of August it was because of rheumatic fever! He rejoined his unit on 19th September 1915 and was immediately posted to the 9th Brigade (21st September 1915) and then later to the 9th DAC1 on 13th May 1916. He was promoted to Acting Sergeant on 6th October 1916 and posted as such to C/52 Brigade. Whilst with this unit he reverted to Corporal (on 29th December 1916).
!917 saw a great Allied "push" on the Somme, and Arthur was wounded in action on 22nd July. He was admitted first to 6th General Hospital at Rouen and then to sent back to England to the “Western General Hospital, Manchester", suffering with a gun shot wound to his left arm. Cpl Armstrong was in hospital until 23rd November 1917. As his records show that he was posted to the Depot at Ripon on 2nd October 1917, he may well have been in hospital locally. On his discharge from hospital he was posted as Corporal to the Reserve Brigade RFA on 23rd November 1917.
However, Cpl Armstrong was admitted to hospital again on 21st June 1918 due to “old injury- arm”, and there he remained until 2nd July 1918. The Absent Voters List for Stokesley lists him as Cpl 89937 B Bn 321st Bde RFA and gives his home address as South Side, Stokesley. However, on his demobilisation in January 1919 his address was Brookside, Stokesley.
Arthur Armstrong received the 1915 Star, the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Arthur wrote 2 letters to the army after his demobilisation both of which show that he was proud of his service, and perhaps afford those of us who read them today an idea of the feelings of the public towards those who could not show that they had served and might therefore be regarded as cowards by some people.
The first of these letters is dated January 1919, and was sent from 8 Queen Street, Thornley, Co Durham:
Sir,
I take the liberty of writing to you for information about the following.
1. Before being demobilised I was given AF Z22 on which to make a claim for disbality due to being wounded. I filled this in and it was sent to my Brigade Doctor for examination who made an assessment. This was on Dec. 9th and I have not received any communication in regard to this. Has this been overlooked please?
2. I have not been given any document which shows I am entitled to wear 1 wound stripe, 3 overseas chevrons and 1915 ribbon. Cannot I be given something to show I am entitled to wear these?
I have the honour Sir to remain your obedient servant
A L Armstrong
Last Army address – 89937 Cpl A L Armstrong B/321 Bde RFA, Blicking Hall, Norfolk.
It would appear that Arthur was eventually awarded a pension of 9 shillings a week for 8 months as a result of what was assessed as 30% disablement. It stated that his injury was GSW to right arm. A certificate was issued to him but it was incorrect and a fresh certificate had to be issued in March 1919 after another check to confirm his foreign service and his claim of "GSW"
A much later communication was sent by Arthur, dated 8th December 1931 from 25 Council House Ludworth Co Durham
Sir,
Having lost my demobilization papers about 12 years ago. I am making an application to you to see if I can have a copy of them, or at least something to show I have served in the Royal Field Artillery. Several times since I lost them I have needed something to prove I served in the Great War and I have nothing but my medals. At present time I am in need and on condition I produce my discharge papers, I will get assistance. Will you please let me know if you can help me with some document to show I have served and also my character during that time.
My Reg No Rank and name: 89937 Corp Alfred Lowther Armstrong. I joined on 24th August 1914 and demobilised at Ripon in December 1918. If you want me to furnish any more particulars please let me know.
I am sir yours respectfully
As a result of his appeal, Arthur was sent a declaration form to complete on 21st December 1931:
I Alfred Lowther Armstrong do solemnly declare that I have lost Army Form Z 22.
Lost at Thornley Colliery December 1919. Between a draper’s shop and my lodgings. It was in my pocket wallet. Loss reported to Police and Reward offered
Present Age 43. Born Stokesley.
Following this declaration, Arthur was indeed issued with a statement of his service .
It appears likely that Arthur Armstrong married Jane Brown in Co. Durham in 1925 and research indicates that he lived until 1948, but we would welcome confirmation or correction on these points.
1 DAC's (Divisional Ammunition Columns) were units responsible for supplying munitions to the front line and to ammunition dumps. It was quite obviously a crucial and perilous task!
William Applegarth
William Applegarth was born in 1886 in Stokesley, the son of William Forman Applegarth (a tinsmith, originally from Hull) and Ruth Hartas of Stokesley. The couple were married in Stokesley, 1885.
In 1891, William's family were in West End , Stokesley and William had 3 younger siblings. The family seems to have settled there, for in 1901 they are again recorded in the same location, though there were then 4 younger siblings.
William was married at Stokesley in 1905 to Alice Mary Milburn. They had a daughter Maria, named for Alice's mother, who was born in Stokesley in 1906, but it seems from the 1911 Census that husband and wife were living apart. Alice was with her parents, Robert and Maria Kearsley (Maria's mother had remarried). William was listed in the 1911 census as a shopkeeper in Hutton Rudby, and although he lists himself as 5 years married, he shared his house only with a 29 year old housekeeper called Hilda Robbins.
William enlisted at Northallerton on 13th September,1914 as Private 2405 in 4th Yorkshire Regiment. He then gave his age as 28 year, his occupation as labourer, living at 13 Snowdon Street, Eston. He recorded himself as a married man, and said he had previously served 4 years in the 1st Yorkshire Volunteer Regiment. William was transferred to 24th Battalion 29th May, 1915. Later still, William was with the Yorks and Lancs Regiment, but due to the deterioration and partial destruction of his records, it is clear only that he served for a total of nearly seven years.
Charles Armstrong (South Side)
Charles Armstrong was born in 1877 in Stokesley, the son of James Armstrong a labourer who was born in Ireland, and his wife Margaret (nee Orde), born Stokesley. In 1881 Charles was living in Stokesley with his parents and 2 older brothers and younger sister. In 1891 the family was in South Side, Stokesley and consisted of parents Charles and 6 younger children. One of Charles’ brothers was Arthur Lowther Armstrong and another was Stephen Armstrong, both of whom also appear on this site.
At the time of the 1901 census, Charles was living with his parents and working as a road repairer, but later that same year Charles was married to Margaret Ann Wilson in Stokesley. Three children to the marriage were listed in Charles’ army records when he enlisted in 1914: Charles born 27th August 1903, John (25th November 1905), and Hilda (23rd July 1910).
However, Charles had first joined the army on 9th August 1899 in Stockton. At that time he was 22 years and 9 months old and employed as a labourer. He attested for Short Service in the Royal Field Artillery. He was 5’ 6½ “ tall, weighed 130lbs and had a maximum chest of 37”. He had fair hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion. He listed his father James of Beckside, Stokesley as his next of kin. Charles was sent to Woolwich on 13th August 1899 but was discharged on 12th September 1899 “on payment of £10”.
The reason for his decision to leave is unknown, but Charles re-joined a year later on 27th August 1900! This time he joined the Militia, as Private 4825 in the 3rd Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment. He was now 23 years and 9 month old, a labourer residing at Beckside, Stokesley. As a militiaman he would have continued in his "day job" (was working for Mr W. H. Dixon of Kirby) but attended annual training camps. Charles remained with the militia until he ws discharged on 26th August 1906. Presumably this was connected with the changes which took place as the militia was replaced by the new Territorial Army.
Shortly after the outbreak of the First World War, Charles again enlisted - on 26th August 1914 in Stokesley into 7th Yorkshire Regiment. By this time he was 37 years and 9 months old. He was 5’ 8½ “ tall and weighed 10st 11lbs , with chest of 38½ “. He was recorded to be of good physical development, and his next of kin was his wife of South Side, Stokesley.
It was common for men to be transferred between units during the war, but perhaps because of his age Charles moved more than most! At different times he was variously listed as Private 9151 7th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, 23090 1st Garr West Yorkshire Regiment, 236840 West Yorkshire Regiment,(Labour Corps), 334319 Royal Engineers and WR 316537 Royal Engineers. His service record shows that he was at:
Wareham 24/10/14 – 16/8/15, H.T. Inverina 17/8/15 – 25/8/15, Malta 26/8/15 – 2/5/16, and H.T. Northland 3/5/16
Charles would have been in his 40th year when he was sent back to England and admitted to the auxiliary hospital in Exeter (5/1/17 - 30/1/17) with suspected cystitis - though the hospital eventually reported that he had had a problem for years and that no cystitis was detected.
Private Armstrong was later posted to Depot No.1 Agricultural Company, Whitley Bay 25th April 1917 by order of CNRC (Commander Naval Recruiting Command) before being transferred to 406th Agricultural Company, York, 23rd June 1917. On 18th September 1917, he was posted as Pioneer to Bristol, then to TFD Richborough Depot 24th October 1917 and into the Stores section on 25th October 1917. (Charles is recorded as such on the Absent Voters list for 1918, and as residing in South Side, Stokesley). Finally he was attached to 487 Agricultural Company (15th October 1918) where he remained until he was demobbed on 25th March 1919
We also have a statement made by Charles himself in support of a claim for disability, which confirms that his last posting was with the 487th Agricultural Company, Labour Corps. His age at the time of this statement was 42, and Private Armstrong declares that he had served in Malta and France between 15th August 1915 and 10th February 1917. His last civilian employer had been Mr Dorman of Grey Towers, Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough. Charles claimed to be suffering from chronic bronchitis caused through exposure and getting wet, and from cystitis caused through drinking dirty water. He stated that he had been in No 1 General Hospital in Etretar, France and the VAD hospital in Exeter.
His claims for a disability pension was turned down, but Charles Armstrong was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Charles returned to Stokesley at the end of the war and he lived until 1970.
Charles Armstrong (Tanton Grove)
Charles Armstrong was born in Stokesley in 1894. He is first recorded as the grandson of Henry Armstrong, a merchant and farmer (employer) and his wife Jane in the 1901 census. It is possible that Charles was the son of one of Henry’s daughters as Henry’s grandchildren by his older sons are all accounted for in the 1911 census. This would make Charles the cousin of Robert Henry Armstrong and William Nellist Armstrong of Stone Hall (both on this site).
In 1911, at about 17 years of age, Charles was still living with his grandparents in Tanton Grove, where he was described as a farmer. From the Absent Voters List of 1918, we learn that Charles's home address was still the same, and that he was serving as Gunner 89280 in the 90th Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA). 90th Heavy Battery were deployed at Gallipoli in June 1915, but as Charles did not qualify for the 1915 Star (see medal card details below) we must conclude that he joined them later, when they were engaged on the western front. The main weapons of the Heavy Battery units were 5" (60 pounder) guns, and as British artillery tactics developed the Heavy Batteries were most often employed in destroying or neutralising the enemy artillery, as well as putting destructive fire down on strongpoints, dumps, stores, roads and railways behind enemy lines. They thus provided crucial if not always decisive support for the Allied infantry attacks along the Somme in 1916, 1917 and 1918.
However, the only other specific military record for Gunner Armstrong that we have so far identified is his medal card, which states that he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, but there are no further details of his service.
A search of civil records reveals that he married Daisy Barthram in 1921 and that they had 2 daughters, Margaret and Winifred.
Charles Armstrong lived until 1976.
This incredible photograph was provided for us by Margaret Morley whose father Charles Armstrong is the man on the left of the second row. We are very grateful to Margaret for allowing us to reproduce the photo here.
CLICK on the photo to enlarge it. CLICK again to see it full size and use your browser back arrow to return to this page
John Joseph Armstrong
Pte 5800 Yorkshire Regiment
No records seem to have survived for John’s war service, and we learn of his participation from the electoral list of 'absent voters' drawn up in 1918.
John Joseph Armstrong was born in 1885, the son of William Adamson Armstrong, farmer and butcher of Tanton, and his wife Hannah (nee Bainbridge). John’s older brother Matthew Henry Armstrong also appears in this list (below).
In 1891 John was living with his parents and 3 older siblings (and next door to his grandmother, Margaret Moon, formerly Armstrong until she re-married after being widowed). In 1901 he was an apprentice tailor, living with his parents, 3 older siblings and one younger sister. By 1911, John had become a tailor in his own right, but was still living with his parents and younger sister, Ruth, at Tanton Dykes, Stokesley.
John married Gladys Huntington in 1915 in Stokesley. They seem to have had 3 children; Marjorie (born 1916), Eileen (1918) and Dorothy (1920). Marjorie grew up and married Sidney Bainbridge in 1938 and they had 5 children, and there are descendants of John Joseph living in the area
When the 1918 absent voters list was compiled, John Joseph was living in High Street, Stokesley. This document gives us his unit, regimental number and address. Extensive researches have so far failed to uncover any more of this man's career in the forces.
J. J. Armstrong died in 1983 aged 97 years. We would be pleased to post any further details from his family or from people who remember him.
Matthew Henry (Harry) Armstrong
Gnr 176432 RGA 493 Siege Battery
Matthew was born in Stokesley in 1881. He was the older brother of John Joseph Armstrong (also featured on this site). In 1891 and 1901 the census records show that Matthew was living with his parents and brothers and sisters. However, he married Ada Thompson in 1908 in Northallerton and by the time of the 1911 census, Mathew and his wife and 2 children, (William Henry born 1909 and Edith Mary born 1911) were living in Stokesley where Matthew was a butcher.
The Armstrongs went on to have further children – Emma Maud in 1912, Margaret in 1914 and Ina Mildred in 1916. (Ina is the baby in the photograph (left)
The 493rd Siege Battery was equipped with 2- 12” howitzers and was an unbrigaded unit, fighting as part of BEF when war ended on 11th November 1918. Siege batteries were usually employed in destroying enemy artillery, and their larger guns were often on railway or road tracks.
At the time the absent voters list was compiled Matthew's home address was given as West End, Stokesley
Gunner Armstrong received the Victory and British medals.
He died on 25th November 1960 and probate was granted to 3 of his children, all married women: Edith Mary Dugdale, Emma Maud Benson and Ina Mildred Almond.
Robert Henry Armstrong
Robert Henry Armstrong was born in 1896 in Stokesley, the son of William Armstrong (a master grocer who had been born in Ossett1) and Mary Esther Nellist of Stokesley, who were married in Stokesley in 1893. In 1911 the family was resident in Stone House (Stone Hall) Stokesley and Robert shared the parental home with 5 brothers and 2 sisters.
Robert Henry Armstrong enlisted on 11/12/1916 at Ripon at the age of 19 years 11 months, giving his occupation as grocer. He was a fraction over 5'6" tall, had a chest measurement of 34.5 inches and weighed 118lbs. His physical development was described as good but he had scars on the left arm and leg and was suffering from an inguinal hernia and the doctor noted that Robert's teeth were deficient.
Robert joined the Royal Garrison Artillery as Gunner 133344. He remained in the UK from December 1916 to 26th July 1917. During this time (in Feb 1917) he was sent to the military Hospital at Edinburgh Castle to be fitted with a new truss, but the surgeon there gave it as his opinion that the truss Robert was already using was quite satisfactory.
Robert was posted to France on 27th July, 1917 as a Gunner. He was wounded on 23rd September, 1917 and sent to hospital. He returned to his base on 3rd October, 1917.
Gunner Armstrong was finally demobilised in February, 1919. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Records show that a Robert Henry Armstrong was married to Phylis Hannah Elizabeth Raby (whose family came from Swainby and resided for a time in Carlton) in Stokesley in 1921. They seem to have had 3 daughters: Olive b 1921, Helen b 1922 and Vera b 1924.
1 Robert's family actually originated in Tanton and his grandfather Henry was a Stokesley grocer. However Henry's early career took him away from Stokesley for a while, and several of his children were born during this period, including Robert Henry's father William, who became a grocer like his own father. Robert was therefore every inch a local man, and followed his father and grandfather in an established Stokesley business - despite his father's birthplace being Ossett!!
Stephen Armstrong
Steve Armstrong and his wife Kate (nee Stringer of Hutton Rudby))
We have received this photograph and the accompanying account from our good friend Irene Ridley, the well-known and highly respected Stokesley local historian, and we print it as sent. Many thanks to you, Irene, for this as well as for your other contributions to this site!
Stephen Armstrong was 3 months old when the 1891 census was taken. He was one of 11 children. Mother Margaret was born in Stokesley, father James was born in Ireland about 1850 - one of the many Irish who settled in Stokesley.
These folk had left Ireland to escape the famine resulting from the failure of the potato harvest, and to eventually try to find work in the newly established ironworks on Teesside. However James worked as a farm labourer, walking daily to work near Osmotherly for a monthly wage of £3.60p !! Steve's mother sold paraffin to eke out the money needed to bring up her large family. Though she could neither read nor write her ability to reckon up what was owed to her never failed.
The family lived in a cottage on the south side of the Leven, close to the present Iron Bridge. The cottage, formerly two tiny dwellings, bears a date stone above the door of l7l6. By the time Steve's family had moved there the two tiny cottages had been made into one dwelling and had had at some time in the distant past, an upper floor in brick added to the earlier stone built base. It was part of the Lee [from Pinchinthorpe Hall] holdings in Stokesley, along with the ill-fated Stone Hall. By dint of much scrimping and saving over many years, Steve's mother was able as a "sitting tenant" to purchase the cottage when the Lee holdings in Stokesley were sold in 1924.
Of Steve's army service in WW1 I know little except that he was in the Royal Army Medical Corps, and saw service in Egypt. Sadly his daughter's memory is not good at 90, though Steve himself retained perfect recall until he was well into his 90's.
[This is part of a tape recording of Steve made in the 1970's]
IER 2014
We can add little to this account:
Stephen's mother's maiden name was Orde, and the family lived on South Side in the town for more than 30 years. In 1911, we find Stephen in Coxhoe, where he was working as a confectioner and tobacconist with his brother Alfred Lowther Armstrong From his army medal records we can tell that Steve's term of duty in Egypt (War Theatre 3) began on 22nd April 1915, when he was first posted abroad.
Steve is named on the Absent Voters' list for Stokesley in 1918, where he is said to be Private 46974 of the RAMC and posted at the General Base Depot, but his Stokesley address is again given as South Side. He was awarded the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the 1915 Star, and his service in the field is dated from 22nd April, 1915. His awards record also states that he was later in the Royal Field Artillery as Gunner 272138 though this may have been at the very end of the war. Unfortunately all his other service records seem to have been lost.
Stephen and Kate married in Stokesley in 1923, and their daughter was born the following year. Stephen himself died in 1984.
William Nellist Armstrong
George Ayres
Frederick William Baines
W Bakes
Harry Scarth Baines
Henry (Harry) Scarth Baines Driver T3/026843 ASC
Harry was born in Easingwold in the December Quarter of 1878, and was the son of John Baines, a tailor also born in Easingwold, and his wife Mary Elizabeth (nee Rontree) of Stokesley. By 1881 Harry, his parents, brothers and sister were all living in Stokesley High Street with Mary Elizabeth’s parents, and the 1891 census also shows Harry with his parents (though now with 3 younger brothers) in High Street, Stokesley.
Harry does not appear in the 1901 census list and it seems probable that he was in South Africa, having enlisted in the militia. A Henry Baines, labourer, attested as Pte 4023 in the 3rd Yorkshire Regiment Militia on 26th June 1897. He declared that he was single and attested for 6 years. The current employer of this man was Mr W Farrow of Stokesley and his age was given as 17 years and 9 months. Pte Baines was 5’ 3” tall, weighed 109lbs and had a chest measurement of 33”. He had brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion and as a distinguishing characteristic it was noted that he had lost the end of the little finger on his left hand.
Henry Baines underwent 76 days drill and was then "embodied" on 14th December 1899. He embarked for South Africa on 28th February 1900. This was the period of the Second Boer War, and Henry Baines did well enough to be appointed Lance Corporal and then promoted to Corporal, for which his additional pay of 2d was granted from 1st April 1902. Corporal Baines disembarked from South Africa on 13th May 1902 and was disembodied as Corporal the next day. He reverted to the rank of Private in June 1903 when his 6 years’ service ended. For the campaign in South Africa he received the South Africa Medal with clasps (Cape Colony and Orange Free State) and the King’s Medal with clasp (South Africa 1901 – 1902). He also received a war gratuity of £8-14s.
He married Emily Wiles in Stokesley in the December quarter of 1904. Emily at this time already had 2 daughters, Rose born 1898 and Annie Elizabeth born September quarter 1904. In the 1911 census both girls are recorded as daughters of Harry S Baines being recorded as Rose Wiles Baines and Annie Baines and the family was living on South Side, Stokesley. Harry was working as a a farm labourer. Harry and Emily record that they have been married for 6 years and have 2 children both alive (presumably Rose and Annie), so both girls may in fact have been Harry’s children. It may even have been Emily’s pregnancy in 1897/98 that caused Harry to join the army! Henry may not have been ready to marry at that stage, or perhaps the parents thought the couple were too young. It would certainly account for both girls being given the name Baines on the 1911 census, although legally they were both registered as Wiles.
Harry’s medal card for World War 1 shows that he received the 1915 Star, the British War medal and the Victory Medal and records that he arrived in France on 10th September 1915.
One further child, Harry Baines, (who at birth is actually registered as Harry Wiles), appears in the local birth records. Sadly, Harry Baines/Wiles fought in World War 2 and is commemorated on Stokesley’s memorial as one of the fallen of that war (See section on World War 2 elsewhere on this site).
Harry Scarth Baines died in 1966 in the Northallerton District aged 87
Reginald Baines
Reginald Baines was born in Stokesley in 1888. He was the son of John Baines (a tailor from Easingwold) and Mary Elizabeth Rontree (born in Stokesley). They had married in York in 1869 and in 1911 were living on Levenside in Stokesley. Reginald was living with his uncle, also a tailor, in Middlesbrough.
Reginald attested at Richmond, 4th November, 1914 joining the 19th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment as Private 15450. He was 25 years and 4 months old and 5' 6.75" tall. His chest was 35.75" and he weighed 136lbs. He was described as of dark complexion with brown eyes and black hair. He had previously served 2 years in the Territorials before buying himself out. He gave his occupation as 'Gardener'.
On 6th November 1914, he was posted to the 6th Battalion, then to the 3rd Battalion exactly one year later. On 16th December, 1916, he was posted to 2nd Battalion. Reginald was in the UK until 1/7/1915 and again from 23/9/1915 to 15/12/1916. He was with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force 2/7/1915 to 22/9/1915 and then went to France on 16/12/1915 where he remained until 12/2/1916. Reginald was in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Netley 13/2/1916 having arrived from France on the ss St Denis, where he is listed as of A Company, 2nd Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment. He was discharged as no longer physically fit for war service due to neurasthenia, shellshock and gunshot wound caused whilst on active service on 2/10/1916 and he was granted a pension of 25 shillings per week.
Reginald received the Silver War Badge No. 110.652 (to be worn with civilian dress) as well as the 1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Reginald was the uncle of John Rontree Baines (see the Book of Remembrance and the Fallen).
A Reginald Baines was married in 1917 to Olive Hodgson in Middlesbrough. Three births in the area are recorded to a Baines/Hodgson marriage, and some or all of these may be children of this marriage: Florence, b Middlesbrough, 1918; Albert R, b Stokesley 1919; Doris, b Stokesley 1926.
H Bainbridge
W Bainbridge
Joseph Balmer
Deckhand 1597 - HMS Pactolus
Joseph Balmer was born in Willington, Co. Durham in 1884, the son of Stephen Balmer, a coal miner, and his wife, Hannah. In 1891 Joseph was living with his parents and 2 younger sisters in Willington, and he was still in Willington with his family in 1901. However, Joseph's father was at this time described as a “coal hewer-disabled” and Joseph’s mother had died. Also in the house were Joseph’s 3 younger sisters and 2 younger brothers.
In 1904 Joseph joined the 4th DLI Militia as Pte. 7653 for 6 years’ service. He was 18 years old and a miner working for Messrs Straker and Lake. He was 5’ 2 ¼ " tall, and weighed 113lbs with a chest of 34½". He had brown eyes and brown hair and had a sallow complexion. His next of kin was his father Stephen and his 2 brothers, Stephen and George were also named. However he did not attend for annual training in 1905 and so was ”struck off the list”.
In 1911 Joseph was living in West End Stokesley with his wife, Emily (nee Johnson). They had been married in Durham in 1909. Joseph’s occupation was given as A.B. Seaman of the Merchant Service.
Joseph and Emily appear to have had 2 children; Maurice who was born in 1912 but only lived a year, and George who was born in 1917 and lived until 1996.
The absent voters list in 1918 gives Joseph’s rank as “Deckhand 1597 SD” SD was a suffix given to those Deckhands who served in the Special Trawler Section. Joseph's home address at that time was West End, Stokesley and the ship mentioned in the absent voter list was a Pelorus-class protected cruiser which was built in 1896. It had a crew of 224 men and was armed with eight QF 4 inch (102 mm) 25 pounder guns, eight 3 pounder guns, three machine guns, and two 18 inch (457 mm) torpedo tubes. With reciprocating triple expansion engines and a variety of boilers, the top speed of this class of vessel was 20 knots (37 km/h). However, Pactolus served in Ardrossan, Scotland with the 9th submarine flotilla as a submarine depot ship during World War 1, having been converted for this purpose in 1912.
Jospeh Balmer is mentioned in the Royal Naval Reserve medal list. He received the 1914/15 Star, the VictoryMedal and British War Medal. As Joseph's name was included in the RNR list it means he was a regular seaman before the war began, and as there is no “R” prefix we know that he joined the RNR before 1916.
Emily Balmer died in 1926 and Joseph re-married in 1929 to Mary Brown. Joseph and Mary had 3 children, but Joseph and Mary moved away from Stokesley and settled with their family in Middleton St George.
Alfred William Barker
Allan Barker
Pte 42039 1st Bn Durham Light Iinfantry
Allan Barker was born on 27th September 1880 the son of Henry Barker and his wife Elizabeth, and in the census of 1881 he was with his parents and older brother and sister in High Street Stokesley. His father at that time was a tallow chandler. In 1891 they were still in High Street and his father was a tallow chandler and seed merchant. By 1901 Allan had left his parents' home and was living in Bright Street Stockton, where he was working as a watchmaker/repairer. However, the 1911 census shows he had moved back to live with his parents in Stokesley. At this time, Allan was recorded as a jeweller and cycle and motor agent. His father was "a retired seed merchant".
Allan’s army service records state that his service was reckoned from 6/9/16 and that he was a conscript. Next of kin was his brother, G.H. Barker of Belmont House, Stokesley. Pte Barker was posted 5 days after being called up, and his unit was based in India, where it spent the entire war. This is confirmed by Pte Barker's Discharge Certificate, which states that he had served in India for 2 years and 72 days. ( It also tells us that he had brown eyes).
After the end of hostilities, the !st DLI returned to England, where Private Barker was admitted “sick” with piles to the Southern General Hospital Dudley Road, Birmingham on 27th May 1919. Allan’s discharge came on 4th July 1919, when his home address was given as Belmont House, Stokesley. On discharge, Pre Barker was recorded as single and a watchmaker by occupation. He was apparently suffering from general debility as a result of service in India, but his claim for disability was refused.
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It seems that Allan Barker remained in the area and never married, as according to the probate record he died on 16th March 1948 at 66 Northgate, Guisborough, although it states he was “of Belmont House, College Square, Stokesley”. Administration was granted to his nephew and niece, the children of Allan’s older brother, John.
Alwyn Barker
George Henry Barker
Lancelot Thomas Barker
Noel Cecil Barnes
Noel Cecil Barnes was born in 1897 in Stokesley. According to Noel's attestation, he was the son of William Henry Barnes, but the 1901 census shows Noel living in Gardener House, Broughton (near Field House Farm) with his grandparents and 5 uncles and aunts. Noel's grandfather Henry was a market gardener from Upton St Leonard's in Gloucestershire, but his wife Naomi was from Stokesley. Noel's father William was at 18 Stockton Terrace in Ryhope, working as a gardener. Also in the house was William's wife Mary (who was from Driffield), their baby daughter Alice (5 months) and 2 boarders.
In 1911, Noel's parents William and Mary were still at the same Ryhope address with three children, but again Noel was not with them. He was still in Broughton, living with two uncles (both market gardeners) and two aunts. Noel is listed as an assistant gardener. The household was completed by two boarders who both worked in a bank.
Noel attested at Richmond on 9th November 1916. At the time he was 19 years 11 months old and was a postman. His stated service preference was to become a motorcycle dispatch rider. Noel listed his father as next of kin, giving an address in Roker, Sunderland. Noel was just under 5' 6" tall, with a chest measurement of 34". He weighed 117 lbs and was of good physical development. On 12th November, Noel was posted to the 12th Yorkshire Regiment as Private 39145. He was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps 4th Brigade on 5th January 1917. On 11th July 1917, he left from Southampton for Le Havre in France with 226 Company of the Machine Gun Corps. This was the period of the costly and ultimately futile campaign known as Passchendaele, but as the fighting petered out in the mud, Noel was transferred again. On 13th October 1917 he embarked at Marseilles with 273 Machine Gun Company as Pte 83181 and went to Basra (modern day Iraq) as part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, arriving on 11th November.
Hardly had he arrived when Noel fell victim to malaria, but recovered to serve out the rest of the war in Mesopotamia.
Noel was demobbed with a medical classification of A1 on 31st March 1919. This demobilisation was categorised as a priority early release, and was granted because Noel was a postman. Noel's home address was Garden House, Stokesley. Perhaps this was actually the same Broughton address as given when he joined up, but may indicate that he had moved to the west end of the town.
Noel was awarded the British War medal and Victory Medal.
Later in 1919, Noel married Hannah Dunning in Stokesley district. Three children are recorded as born to a marriage between Barnes and Dunning: Francis Cecil (born Stokesley, 1920), Alan C (born Richmond, 1923) and Eric D (Richmond, 1925).
It appears that Noel and Hannah moved south in later life, as Hannah died in 1971 and Noel in 1976, both in the London area.
W Barr
Joseph William Brough Bennison
William Bennison
Sgt 9106 9th Yorkshire Regiment
William Bennison was born in 1870 in Stokesley the son of Francis Bennison a confectioner and his wife Ann, (formerly Hind and nee Stonehouse). In 1871 William was living with his parents, 1 half brother, 1 half sister and one sister, but by 1881 his mother was once again widowed and William was living with her, his younger brother and older half brother in High Street Stokesley. His older sister and half sister were living next door but it may have been that the two addresses related to their home and shop as Ann was now a confectioner in her own right.
In 1891 William and his younger brother were still with their mother who was then listed as a confectioner and china dealer. William was a solicitor’s clerk and his brother Thomas was a postman. They were living next door to their maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Stonehouse.
William was not in the census records for 1901 as he was with the Yorkshire Regiment, fighting in the Boer War. William had attested in Richmond for Short Service with the Colours (1 year) with the Yorkshire Regiment on 20th January 1900. His next of kin was listed as his mother, and William was 30 years and 9 months old. He was a clerk, but had previously served with the 1st Volunteer Battalion Reserve Yorkshire Regiment. He was 5’ 8” tall and weighed 126lbs with a chest measurement of 35”. He had dark brown hair, light blue eyes and a swarthy complexion. William became Pte 7292 1st Yorkshire Regiment.
He was posted to South Africa on 17th February 1900, returning on 9th June 1910. He received a war gratuity of £5 on his discharge on 10th June 1901. He received the South Africa medal with clasps for Belfast, Cape Colony and Orange Free State. On their return to the town after the war, the men marched through the town, and there is a photograph on this site showing the scene, with excited crowds surrounding te soldiers. (See photo: Return of the Stokesley Volunteers)
The 1911 census shows William as a law clerk, living at “Church Gates”, Stokesley with 3 of his nephews aged 11, 5 and 2 years. William’s brother Thomas appears to have been living next door with his wife. They stated that they had 2 living children. Presumably these might account for 2 of the nephews living with William!
The absent voters list for 1918 records William (who was then 48yearsold!) as Sergeant 9106 9th Yorkshire Regiment attached to 38th POW Company. His medal card indicates that sergean Benison served first with the Yorkshire Regiment and then with the Labour Corps (No. 608159). He had arrived in France on 29th September 1915 and he was awarded the 1915 Star, British Medal and Victory Medal.
After the war, William married Hilda May Dunn in 1923 at Whitby. Her father, John, had been born in Ireland and was an NER mineral agent, and according to the 1911 census, Hilda was an elementary school teacher - then living in Ingleby Greenhow with her parents.
William Bennison died on 17th March 1947 and probate was granted to his widow, Hilda, George Edward Dunn, chemist, Francis Donald Bennison, lorry driver, and Wilfred Stonehouse Bennison, sub postmaster. The latter were 2 of the nephews who had been living with William in 1911 whilst George Edward Dunn was Hilda’s older brother.
Sidney Blewett
Sidney Blewett's birth was registered in 1893 in Stokesley district. His father, Joseph Blewett was born in Cornwall, and was an Inspector of Police, whilst his mother Mary Ann (nee Walker) was born in Cloughton near Scarborough.
Joseph and Mary Ann were married in the Pickering registration district in 1881, and for the next twenty or thirty years they and their growing family moved around North Yorkshire as Joseph rose through the ranks.
Sidney appears on the 1901 Census as a 7 year old, living in Ruswarp near Whitby with his parents Joseph and Mary Blewett and 3 brother and 2 sisters. Another brother had already left the family home, and there was later to be another son in the family. By 1911, Joseph and his wife were living in Redcar Road Guisborough on a Police pension, but Sidney was in Stokesley, and he is recorded as a postman, living at the Post Office as a boarder with the Post Mistress, Mary Hannah Broadbent, 58, a widow.
Sidney Blewett attested for military service on 3rd November, 1915. He joined the 18th Field Ambulance at Aldershot, and became Pte 77881 of the Royal Army Medical Corps. He gave his address as c/o Mr Ridge, 3 West Terrace, Stokesley, his age as 22 years and 4 months and his next of kin as his father, Joseph. Sidney's medical examination record was signed by the well-respected Dr Yeoman and tells us that he was 5'4" tall, and that he suffered from a "well marked lateral curvature of the spine of some 6 years' standing". Sidney's army record shows that he spent several months 'at home', training, before being sent to France to join the British Expeditionary Force on 11th April 1916, where he acted as a stretcher bearer.
The work of the RAMC stretcher bearers was far from safe or pleasant, but despite his disability Sidney served right through the war on the western front, and indeed was not discharged until 20th July 1919, long after the Armistice. Even when hostilities ceased, wounded soldiers still had to be cared for, and there was also much work to do in the creation of dignified burial grounds for the countless thousands of dead.
Sidney was discharged to his father's address in Guisborough, but within days he reported to the authorities that he had moved back to West Terrace in consequence of his work. It seems he took up his old job as a postman again.
Sidney married Lily Appleton in Stokesley in 1920, and they seem to have had a daughter Mary in 1923.
Sidney Blewett was awarded the British War medal and the Victory Medal.
W Booth
William Bower jnr
Tom Branston
Percy Broatch
George Brotton
For information and illustrations in this section we are indebted to Judy Brotton of Stokesley, whose husband is a grandson of George Brotton
George Brotton was born in Stokesley on 13th July 1889. He was the son of Thomas Brotton of Moorsholm and Elizabeth Foster (born in Stokesley) who had married in 1874 in Stockton district.
In 1891, George was the youngest of 8 children living with their parents on Beckside, when Thomas was working as a general labourer. By 1901, the family had grown to the extent that George had two sisters and a brother younger than himself. Thomas and Elizabeth were running a lodging house in the family home on South Side, and there were 7 lodgers when the census was taken.
In 1913, George married Mary Agnes Gillies in Stokesley and the marriage produced no fewer than 8 children over the next twenty years. (One of their sons, John George Brotton, was amongst the Fallen of World War II and is commemorated on the Stokesley War Memorial on West Green. John George's story appears on this website under the heading World War II - Stokesley's Fallen)
George Brotton joined the local territorial army (4th Yorkshire Regiment) as Private 1907 on 25th March 1914 several months before war broke out, and he was mobilised to Northallerton early in August when war was declared. The territorials remained in Britain for several months to undergo final training, before being despatched to France where, according to George's official records, they landed on 18th April 1915. Normally, arrivals in this theatre of war could expect a few weeks of further training, but the Yorkshires found themselves thrown straight into action as the German Army launched a fierce offensive around Ypres.
The story is continued in the records of King George Hospital where George Brotton was a patient from 9th June to 4th December 1915. These records state that Private Brotton was wounded on 23rd April, shrapnel fracturing his left tibia (shin bone) and it seems that just as George was about to be sent home, he developed tetanus. The record also states that the earliest symptoms arose 7 days after George was wounded, and although brief, the account of the medical procedures performed on Private Brotton's leg is gruesome to say the least. His leg was amputated in the hospital in Boulogne. The Hospital report concludes by declaring that George was now well and was to be sent home on furlough awaiting admission to Roehampton, a specialist convalescent hospital for amputees which first opened its doors on 28th June, 1915.
The information in this hospital report cannot, however, be reconciled with the regimental diary account for 23rd April,1915. The diary states that on that day, the battalion was being moved up to the lines in buses, and clearly says that the first action came on 24th April when the Yorkshires came under heavy bombardment, but suffered only minor casualties. Against this we must place the family's belief that George was not found until three days after he was wounded.
George Brotton (extreme right)at Work c1910
Whatever the truth of the matter, George Brotton's soldiering days were done. On 2nd June 1916, George was discharged at Northallerton as 'no longer physically fit for War Service'. George's discharge certificate states that he spent a total of 54 days in France. He was awarded a pension of 25 shillings a week for 6 months, followed by another of 12 shillings and sixpence for life.
George was awarded the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the 1915 Star as well as the Silver War Medal.
George Brotton and his wife Mary lived out their lives in Stokesley, and George himself lived to the age of 72, dying on 18th August, 1961.
The picture (left) shows George in his back garden in later life. He has his crutch but no prosthesis!
George Brotton still has descendants who live in Stokesley.
James Brotton
Pte 018855 Army Board Secretariat Army Ordnance Corps
(Note – the Absent Voters list for 1918 gives his unit as ABS ADC but his army medal card places him in the ABS Army Ordnance Corps).
James Brotton was born in 1882 the son of Thomas Brotton, labourer from Loftus, and his wife Elizabeth (nee Foster). The 1891 census shows James living on Beckside wih his parents and 5 siblings. By 1901 when he was about 19 years old, James was in Middlesbrough, working as a blast furnace labourer and living with his older sister, Catherine, and brother Thomas.
James married Elizabeth Stephenson in 1910 and in 1911 they were living with their son, James, in Cail’s Yard, Stokesley. They went on to have a further 5 children. The youngest, Harry was born in 1921. Harry fought and died in WW2 and is commemorated on the war memorial in Stokesley. (SEE SECTION on World War 2). James’s nephew , John G Brotton also fought and died in WW2 and is also recorded on the memorial in Stokesley and on this website.
The Army Ordnance Corps, James' unit during the Great War, had responsibility for ensuring the army was supplied with weapons, ammunition, food, fuel, clothing and other equipment. It was also responsible for the repair and maintenance of weapons, ammunition wagons, harnesses, tents etc. It was heavily involved not only in England but on every army front. The AOC and AOD merged in 1918 and in 1922 became RAOC.
James would therefore have played a valuable part in the conflict, and received the Victory and British medals. This award indicates that Pte Brotton saw overseas service, but unfortunately his records do not survive. James' brother Robert also served in World War 1 and Robert's medals are in the Richmond Museum.
James Brotton died in 1961 and is buried in Stokesley.
John Brotton
Robert Brotton
Charles Edward Brown
Pte 464099 411th Agricultural Company
Despite our best efforts, we have been unable to identify this man. He appears in the Absent Voters List for 1918, where he is given the address of North Road, but the census returns show nobody of that name in the town in either 1901 or 1911. His name is rather common, and there are numerous army records pertaining to various men of the same name, but nothing that an be attributed to 'our' man with any degree of certainty!
If any reader can help in our efforts to commemorate him, we will be pleased to hear from them via email : moc.loa|gatirehyelsekots#moc.loa|gatirehyelsekots
Charles Bulmer
Frederick Carter
For information in this section, we would like to thank Jean and Dennis Durnell of Wakefield. Jean is a grand-daughter of Frederick and much of the material presented here was passed on to her by her mother Madge.
Frederick Carter was born in Stokesley in 1882. He was the son of John Carter, a Stokesley man, and Jane Harper, who had married in Stokesley the previous year. In 1891, Frederick was living with his parents, three younger siblings and a boarder (another member of the Harper family) in the High Street. For further details of the family and its relationships see Carter H. (Harry Carter - a brother of Frederick, who was born in 1892 and was to be one of Stokesley's Fallen).
In 1901, Frederick's family were still in Stokesley, but Frederick was in York Infantry Barracks, Fulford Road as a Private soldier. The next mention of him (in unofficial army records) is in the St George's Gazette for 30th June 1904. This is the Regimental magazine of the Northumberland Fusiliers, and it records that Private 7238 F Carter was awarded Service Pay of 6d from May 1904. Further down the same page it is recorded that Private 7238 J Carter has been granted an extension of service so that he can complete 8 years with the colours. As it was common for men to sign up for a five year term. this entry suggests that Fred entered military service in 1899! Private F Carter again features in the St George's Gazette on 31st January 1906, when he is reported as being awarded two good conduct badges from November 1905. The same publication on February 28th announces that Private 7328 JF Carter has been granted Service Pay at the rate of 7d. Whilst the Fulford Barracks are associated with the Yorkshire Regiment, it would seem for some reason that the Northumberland Fusiliers were using them in 1901. This too might seem strange, but the St George's Gazette mentions exactly this happening in 1903!
Fred was initially with 3rd Battalion,but he must have left the army before the next census as in 1911 we find Fred back in Stokesley, working as a 'gardener' and living at his parents' home in West Green. Also there was his younger brother Harry, (or 'Punch' as he was known in the family), working as a farm labourer.
On 29th November 1913 Frederick was married at Stokesley Primitive Methodist Chapel. He was 32 years old and his wife Ann Selina Gill was 24, the daughter of George Gill, a miner at Loftus, and his wife Esther Jane. According to information from his descendants, Frederick entered himself as widower on the wedding certificate, although our researches have so far failed to find his previous marriage.
We know that Fred rejoined the Fusiliers promptly when the Great War began, keeping his old regimental number, and the record of his medal awards shows that he arrived in France to join the BEF on 9th November, 1914. Unfortunately there is virtually nothing else which we can learn from army sources as his other service records have been lost and the regimental war diary makes no mention of him. The photograph however gives us a little more, as his regiment, battalion and number can just about be made out on the right. The number 7328 above his name and, underneath, the 1st NF with the badge between tell us that this is indeed Frederick and that he has been moved to 1st Battalion.
It is not unusual in the case of 'other ranks' for them to go unmentioned in War Diaries, so in Fred's case we are very fortunate to have a record of where his unit served, provided in 2008 by Mrs Lesley Frater, administrator of the Fusiliers museum.
She reports that 1st Battalion at the time Fred joined them were under heavy attack near Hooge from 15 Battalions of the German Imperial Guard, and that heavy loss of life resulted. In February 1915 the Battalion marched to the Ypres Canal. Here they were subjected to heavy artillery fire. After a brief rest, they proceeded to St Eloi in April to stiffen its defences and then took part in the attack on Bellewaarde, two more costly actions. From mid-June to early July, they were again in action at St Eloi. In 1916, in the Somme Offensive they were involved in fighting at Bazentin, Delville Wood and Ancre.
From January 7th 1917 to 29th June their major actions were at the Battles of Arras and the Scarpe, before being moved back to the Ypres sector for the following six months.
In 1918 came the great German offensive known as the Kaiserschlact, when for several weeks the British forces seemed destined to be hurled back into the sea, but the Fusiliers fought along the Lys River and at Bethune with some success, and as the Germans were first held and finally repulsed the Fusiliers fought with increasing success on the Hindenburg Line, at Bapaume and the Canal du Nord. Their final action was at Havrincourt in October 1918, after which they were pulled out of the line for rest and training. The Armistice (Nov 11th 1918) came before they were due to return to action, and the Fusiliers were able to move steadily across France until they eventually arrived at Wargnies le Grand in April 1919, from where they were gradually demobilised.
Fred returned to Stokesley and his family. He was awarded the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the 1914 Star. Mrs Frater concludes her account of the regiment's war by stating her surprise that in all this action there was no mention of Fred ever being wounded either in the war diary or in St George's Gazette! Equally surprising, perhaps, is the apparent lack of an updated regimental number as all servicemen were given new six digit numbers in 1916. Yet for Frederick Carter we have only his original number, given somewhere around 1899!
Another aspect of Private Carter's war which is worthy of note is the surviving correspondence between Frederick and Ann Selina his wife (and his daughter Madge), mainly in the form of postcards. Frederick obviously treasured the cards they sent as he kept them and brought them home with him. They in turn kept those sent by Fred, one of which is shown on the right. In time all the cards passed to Fred's daughter Madge, who eventually handed them on to her own daughter. The cards too give the odd clue to Frederick's war service. On many of them the address includes the rank 'Signaller' and amongst the photos handed down is one showing the Royal Signals Regiment at Catterick Camp. Both these items are included in the Gallery (see below)
Fred and Selina had four other children. A daughter (Freda) was born in 1915 and tragically died in infancy, but a son, (named Harry after Fred's fallen brother), was born in 1918 and twins Edith and Mary followed in 1921. Thanks to Jean and Dennis Durnell we can show a small gallery of family pictures, as well as the postcards exchanged while the war raged. See Frederick Carter Gallery
Sadly, Selina died of cancer in 1931, at which time Fred, who was present at his wife's death, was working as a domestic gardener. Selina was only 42 years old and Fred himself lived only another six years. He died of Leukemia aged 55 in 1938, at East Ardsley. Present at his death was his sister, Alice Morton.
The researchers of this site are pleased to know that the memory of this Stokesley family is still very much alive.
A Chapman
James Chapman
Robert Garbutt Chapman
Royal Field Artillery
Robert Chapman was born in Boltby in 1880, the son of James Chapman a huxter (dealer in butter and eggs) and his wife Margaret (nee Prest). In 1891 Robert and his parents were living with relatives in Bilsdale. They seemed to move regularly, and in 1901 Robert, his parents and 4 younger siblings were living in Hawnby, whereas in 1911 they were in Busby Brickyard, Carlton.
We learn of Robert's service (and his residence in Stokesley) from the Absent Voters list for 1918, where it is stated that he was serving with the RFA and that his home address was North Road, but beyond this it is difficult to speak with certainty, no regimental number being given on the absent voters’ list, and no service records existing for a man of that name.
However, in the index of medal awards, we find two listings for Robert G Chapman: the first one started as a driver in the RFA no 21235 and then became Acting Corporal before moving to the Royal Engineers (no. 243756 and eventually No. WR 350069). This soldier received the 1915 Star, Victory Medal and the British War Medal. The second soldier was a Gunner in the RFA (Nos, 212129 and 851570). He received the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.
Robert Garbutt Chapman married Elizabeth A. L. Eddy in 1912 in Stokesley. She was the daughter of Louisa Eddy who married George Batterbee, innkeeper at the Bull and Dog Hotel, where so many soldiers were recruited - perhaps even Robert himself. Robert and Elizabeth seem to have had 3 children; Alice, Muriel and Robert.
Robert G and his wife Elizabeth both died in 1973.
Ernest Pattison Clarke(e)
James Richard Clark
Saddler TS/9400, 243 Company, Royal Army Service Corps
James Clark was born in 1878 in Stokesley and was the oldest son of Richard and Bessie Clark and the brother of George Clark (For family details, see The Fallen section), .
James married Annie Maria Tanfield , the daughter of William Tanfield, in 1900 in Stokesley, but there seems to be no record of the couple in the 1901 census. It may be that they were already moving away, as in 1911 James and Annie were living in Newlands Road, Middlesbrough with their son, Ronald. James was recorded as a harness maker.
He attested in Middlesbrough from his Newlands road address on 13th November 1915. He was 37 years and 10 months old and described as a saddler. He had previously served with the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Princess of Wales Own Yorkshire Regiment and a date is given - 1896. This may have been when he first joined the volunteers, or perhaps he only served with them in that year. At the age of almost 38, James was passed "fit for service in England". His records show that he was 5’ 7” tall, with a chest of 36”. His next of kin was his wife and he had one child, Ronald, born 14/10/1901 in Middlesbrough.
His employer, Joseph Darnbrook wrote a testimonial recommending him as a “trustworthy and efficient workman and foreman”. In addition, James was given a reference from his former employer which confirmed that James had served his apprenticeship as a saddler.
Towards the end of the war James became a Driver with the RASC and was granted leave and demobilised on 2nd August 1919, nine months after the fighting stopped. Driver Clark's home address was then given as South View, Stokesley. The reason for his leave was that he was suffering from heart trouble and neurasthenia. A medical board decided that he was suffering a 20% disability attributable to the war. Neurasthenia is a term which was often used to describe soldiers who were suffering from shock or shell shock. However, I can find no record of overseas service - 243rd Company RASC was stationed in Ripon, where the camp consisted of 300 soldiers, but shellshock hardly seems a likely result of service in Ripon! Perhaps there is more to learn about this man's military service…
James Richard Clark of South View, High Street, Stokesley died on 2nd December 1962. Probate records describe him as a saddler and harness maker. Probate was granted to the National Provincial Bank. His wife, Annie died just 3 months later in Middlesbrough General Hospital. Probate was again granted to the Bank.
John Clark
John Clark was the brother of George Clark (see The Fallen) and James Richard Clark (above). He was born in 1884 the 3rd son of Richard and Bessie Clark. In 1901 he was living in Church Street, Stokesley with his parents and he was a joinery apprentice. He married Elizabeth Allen from Grangetown in 1909 and in 1911 they were living in West End, Stokesley with their daughter, Winifred May. John was working as a warehouse clerk for an agricultural seed cake company.
From the absent Voters list of 1918, we know that John was registered at South Side, Stokesley, and was Pte 203798 of the Yorkshire Regiment, but research has so far failed to uncover any service records for him - not even a medal card with the regimental number given on the absent voters list.
We do believe that his daughter Winifred married Robert King in 1936.
John Clark of June Villa, Stokesley died on 26th June 1956. Probate was granted to his widow, Elizabeth.
Tom Clark
Tom Clark was the brother of George Clark (see The Fallen) and James Richard and John Clark (above). He was born in 1894 the youngest son of Richard and Bessie Clark. In 1911 he was living at Church Gates, with his parents and older sister. He was then 16 years old and employed as a groom.
The 1918 Absent Voters List records Tom as living in East End and serving as Private 31289 in the 20th Hussars Cavalry, but research has so far failed to discover any service records for him. His medal card says that he originally served as Pte 34545 in the Northumberland Fusiliers and onlylater joined the Corps of Hussars. He received the Victory and British medals.
Tom Clark had married Frances M Walton in 1914 in Stokesley. They seem to have had 4 children, 3 girls and 1 boy between 1915 and 1923.
John Pierson (or Pearson) Clarkson
John Pierson Clarkson was born in Stokesley in 1883 the son of Thomas Clarkson, a builder from Hackworth, and his wife Jane (nee Stockdale). In 1891 John was living in Stokesley with his parents and 6 siblings. One of his older brothers, Charles was a pupil teacher. Another older brother, Thomas Edward, was no longer living with his parents. Thomas is also recorded in “They also served” (see below). By 1901 John's father had died and John was living on South Side with his mother and 3 of his siblings.
John married Minnie Beatrice Perrin from Malton in 1904 and in 1911 he was working as a plumber’s labourer and living in Bridge Lane Stokesley with his wife and 4 children; Eric, John, Minnie and Frederick. A later child, Bert, was born in 1913. All 5 children went on to marry.
John's medal records show that he was first of all with the 4th Yorkshire Regiment as No. 110 - so he may well have been a Territorial in the Stokesley unit. His number was changed presumably in 1916, and the Absent Voters List records him as Private 200005 in the 4th Yorkshire Regiment, at which time he was living in West End. He later joined the Royal Welch Fusiliers with yet another regimental number, 206351.
John Pierson Clarkson received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal and after the war he continued to live locally.
He was buried in Kirby churchyard on 23rd November 1955.
Thomas Edward Clarkson
Thomas Edward Clarkson was born in 1869 in Whitby. He was the son of Thomas Clarkson, a stone mason from Hackforth and his wife Jane, nee Stockdale, from Whitby. The couple had married in Whitby district in 1866, and the 1871 census shows them as boarders living in Sandgate in the town with two sons, Thomas (3) and William (1).
Ten years later, Jane can be found at South Side Stokesley with 3 sons and 2 daughters. She describes herself as a Mason's wife. Her husband is not present in the house - presumably he is away working - and Thomas Edward is a scholar. The census wrongly states that all the children were born in Whitby, but the births of the two youngest, Edith and Annie, were registered in Stokesley making it clear that the family had moved from Whitby to Stokesley by 1877 at the latest.
The family continued to live in Stokesley, but Thomas Edward himself became a teacher, and it was probably work which took him to Norton near Malton, where he met and married Florence Ada Perrin in 1890, bringing his bride back to Stokesley and taking up residence a few doors away from his parents, where we find him in the 1891 census. Thomas and Florence already had a son of their own, and Florence's sister was staying with the family. (Thomas's parents are recorded nearby with another three young children, making eight in all. Of these, seven were still at the parental home!)
Thomas remained in Stokesley, raising a rapidly growing family. He and Florence were still living on South Side in 1901, by which time they had 5 children. Both Thomas and Florence were in their forties when the next census was taken in 1911. Thomas entered in the census records that there had been 11 children to his twenty-two year marriage and that 9 were still living. Eight of those were still in the parental home, which was now on North Street, Stokesley.
Thomas was a teacher at the elementary school in the town and any idea of war must have seemed far distant, but when it came Thomas Clarkson attested for service on 15th September 1914 at the age of 45 years 9 months, joining at Richmond. He said he had been with the Volunteers/Territorials for 23 years, and had been a sergeant for ten years.
His medical records tell us that Thomas Edward was 5' 8" tall, weighed 145lbs and had grey eyes and dark brown hair. He named his wife as his next of kin and listed six dependent children, including one born in 1913. Thomas went into the 10th Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment as a Private, but was promoted corporal two days later and sergeant on 8th October, 1914. He was transferred to the 11th Battalion in August 1915, and then to the 2nd Training Reserve Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry 10th September 1916 as a musketry instructor at Brackton, Staffordshire. Much against his will, Thomas was transferred to the Army Reserve on 10th April 1917. He responded with a series of letters asking to be recalled to the colours, beginning in December of that year.
Thomas stated that he was fit and well and could serve his country far better in the army than in his present occupation. In reply to further questions from the military authorities he stated his intention of "leaving the teaching profession at the first opportunity" as the salary was "insufficient for the wants of my family".
On 8th March 1918, Thomas was granted his wish. He rejoined the army from the reserve. The war came to an end in November 1918, and in the December Thomas was transferred to the Yorkshire Regiment, then in January 1919 back to the DLI as "acting schoolmaster with the rank of sergeant". In April 1919 he was posted to the 20th DLI as 114441 Sergeant Clarkson, and on 3rd March he was appointed Acting Warrant Officer Class 1 (with pay). On 5th July, 1919, he reverted to his rank as Sergeant (Training Instructor). On 16th April, 1920, he relinquished his rank when he was demobilised and returned to Britain. (He had been in Cologne, Germany with the army of occupation).
A pension of 14 shillings a week was awarded to Thomas when he left the army as he was said to have suffered a 30% disablement by virtue of shortness of breath attributable to his service.
Thomas returned to North Road Stokesley, and lived the rest of his life in the town. He died in 1947 at the age of 79.
Research indicates that there are a number of Thomas's descendants in the Stokesley area to this day, as most of Thomas's extensive family married in Cleveland. (His daughter Adelina married WGTG Richardson, one of the Fallen).
John Archer Clemmet
John Archer Clemmet's attestation form for the army (1915) records that he was born in 1881 in Northallerton. However, there seems to be no registration of a John Clemmet anywhere in Britain between 1871 (when John Thomas Clemmet's birth was registered in Stokesley) and 1885 (when John George Clemmet was registered in Northallerton). There was however a John Archer Smith born in Northallerton in 1882, who appears to be living in Stokesley in 1891. He is listed as the grandson of Frances Clemmet, innkeeper at the Angel Inn, Stokesley High Street. By the time of the 1901 census when John was still living at the Angel Inn, Stokesley as John Clemmet, 19 years old and a joiner by trade. Here it is said that he was born in Stokesley!
John married Ida Nellie Holman in Stokesley in July 1905, and by the end of 1907 they had a daughter (named for her mother) and a son, Edward John. William Snowden (1912), Harry (1914) and Stanley (born after his father had joined up in 1916 but died of bronchial pneumonia aged seventeen months in January 1918) also appear as dependant children on John's army records, but the 1911 census tells us that the couple had already lost two young ones,
John attested at Richmond on 11th December,1915, declaring his age as 34 years 1 month and that he had no previous service. He was 5'5" tall, weighed 130 lbs and had a scar on the front of his right forearm and left thumb. He listed his wife as next of kin and gave his address as Flag Yard, Northallerton. On 12 December John joined his unit at Chatham, becoming Sapper 27121 in the 20th Field Company of the Royal Engineers.
Sapper Clemmet served for several months in Britain, spending some of this time at Conway Camp, North Wales, and was sent to France in 1917, arriving at Boulogne on September 9th. On October 13th, he was transferred to the North Staffordshire Regiment in the field as Private 49971. However, he was transferred back to the Royal Engineers Base Depot at Rouen, and a week later to the 64th Field Company of the Royal Engineers (and his old regimental number) 'for the benefit of the service'. It seems his skills as a carpenter and joiner were badly needed by the RE. He was again transferred in August 1918, this time to 90th Field Company. John was granted a few days home leave at the end of September, 1918, near the end of the war. On his return to his unit, he briefly became part of the army of occupation but was demobilised from Wald in Germany in May 1919, with a completely blank conduct sheet (a rare occurrence!) and a character assessment of 'Very Good', returning to Ripon for his final discharge after which he returned to his home in Northallerton.
Following John's return to Northallerton, two more children were registered as being born there to a Clemmet-Holman marriage: Charles (1919) and Desmond (1924)
John Archer Clemmet was awarded the British War medal and the Victory Medal.
He died in 1949 in Northallerton. His wife Nellie lived until 1969.
Robert Henry Clifford
George Metcalfe Cockfield
George Metcalfe Cockfield was born at Stainton in 1898. He was the son of William Cockfield, a domestic gardener born in Richmond and Elizabeth Bridges from Eston. The couple had married in Guisborough in 1891 and George had an elder brother (also called William - one of the Stokesley Fallen - see Cockfield W.
In 1901, the family were living at the Lodge, Stainton, and had grown by the addition of another boy, William’s younger brother George, born at Stainton three years before. William senior had moved again by 1911, and was at Rectory Cottage, Stokesley. William junior had left home, to seek work as a gardener, but there was another addition to the family in the form of his young sister Frances Evelyn, born in Stokesley in 1907. George is listed as a scholar, age 13 years.
Too young to enlist when war broke out, George Metcalfe Cockfield attested at Stokesley on 3rd June 1916. He gave his occupation as bricklayer and his age as 18 years 2 months and 18 days. His mother Elizabeth, now at Rectory Cottage, Levenside, Stokesley, was his next of kin. George was placed in the Army Reserve. However, he does not appear to have been posted for several months, and he first joined for duty at Richmond in December 1916. His medical examination (from which we learn he was fractionally over 5'6" in height with a 35" chest) took place in January 1917, following which he was attached to the 3rd Territorial Reserve Battalion. In April, 1917, George was transferred to the 1/7 Battalion of the Essex Regiment as Pte 36511 and transferred to the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, leaving Britain at the end of the month.
Rifleman Cockfield spent nearly two years in Egypt, earning himself a good reputation with his commanding officer. He left Egypt in March 1919, with an enviable character reference:
"A very willing, cheerful and hard-working soldier; smart and industrious" He was also described as sober, intelligent and very reliable.
Army life seems to have suited George, and as early as February 1919 he had applied to join the Yorkshire Regiment.
George returned to Stokesley in April 1919, and within a few weeks he had married Elizabeth Jane Peacock in Stokesley Parish Church on 5th June. Elizabeth was a Stokesley girl and the daughter of the omnibus driver John William Peacock (a Stokesley man himself, and his wife Ada Smith (from Basedale). The Peacock family had been living in Beckside when George joined the forces and George and Elizabeth were probably well acquainted before his departure.
In May 1919, George was posted to the depot of the Yorkshire Regiment as Private 66148, and then in June to 1st Battalion. However, all was not well. George complained that he was unable to perform his duties satisfactorily, and went before a medical board just before Christmas 1919. The doctor diagnosed malaria, and gave his opinion that George was 30% disabled. He was awarded 12 shillings a week from 23rd December in view of his service and he was finally discharges from the army early in 1920.
George Cockfield was awarded the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the Silver War Badge.
He returned to Stokesley and research reveals that two children were born to a Cockfield-Peacock marriage in Stokesley, a daughter in 1920 and a son in 1924, both f whom married. It is therefore highly likely that George's descendants still live in Cleveland..
Samuel Coppin
This name appears on the Kirkby and Broughton Roll of Honour.
The birth of Samuel Coppins (sic) was registered in the Stokesley district in the September Quarter of 1885, and what seems to be the same person appears in the 1891 census of Kirkby village as the 5 year old stepson of Samuel Coppin and his wife Anna Elizabeth. In the census, however, he is listed as Samuel Hutchinson, his birthplace being given as Great Broughton. The young Samuel's stepfather and mother (then Anna E Hutchinson) only married in Stokesley in 1887, so strictly speaking, if our identification is correct, the younger Samuel should have been registered as Hutchinson.
The elder Samuel died in 1892, and in the next census, (1901) Samuel Coppin aged 15 years appears at Mill Hill Houses in Hutton Rudby, where he is described as a groom. However, Samuel seems later to have reverted to the surname Hutchinson, for in the 1911 census we find Samuel Hutchinson, born in Great Broughton, listed as a carter in the village of Brandon Colliery in County Durham. He gives his age as 23, whereas 'our' Samuel was actually 25, but inconsistencies of this kind are very common in census returns.
Unfortunately, Samuel's war service record is at present impossible to verify. There were 7 Samuel Hutchinsons born in County Durham within two years either side of our Samuel's birth, and the War Medal Index cards list a number of Samuel Coppin(g)s and Samuel Hutchinsons.
The next soldier in this list is almost certainly Samuel's younger brother. Samuel's elder sister, Keziah, married Ben Cousans who also served (see below)
Robert Norman Cooke
William Coppin
This name appears on the Kirkby/Broughton Roll of Honour
William Coppin Hutchinson was born in 1887 in Stokesley. He appears in the 1891 census in Kirkby village. as the 3 year old stepson of Samuel Coppin and his wife Anna Elizabeth. Ten years later, William is recorded simply as William Coppin, a farm servant, living and working on the farm of Mary Strickland (a 76 year old widow) at Bank Lane Kirkby.
More about this family can be seen in the entry for Samuel Coppin (above).
The only service record we have so far found for William shows that he signed up for duty in the Forage Department on 20th March 1916, where his duties are defined as 'baling hay'. In his records, William was described as 27 years old and single, and his address was given as High Street, Broughton. His discharge was applied for in June of the same year under King's Regulations para 392 (xxv) which can only apply to a "boy" or a soldier who cannot be discharged for any other heading in King's Regulations. His discharge was granted on 27th November 1916.
William was the younger brother of Samuel Coppin, who precedes him in this list.
Frank Corps
Frank Corps was born in Stokesley in 1896, the son of Charles Corps a gardener from Long Newton and Amelia Jane Wake who was born in Carlton. The couple had married in 1886 and we find them in the 1901 census living in Church Street Stokesley with their family: Charles junior (12), Susanna (8), Frank (then 5) and another daughter, Lizzie (1).
In 1911, when Frank was 15, he had left Stokesley and become an apprentice butcher to Thomas Burton in South Bank, and was living with the Burton family at 21 Millbank Street. However, when he attested for war service on 11th November, 1915, he gave his address as Manor Cottage, Stokesley so presumably he had returned to his parents' home. He gave his age as 19 years, listed his mother (Jane) as next of kin and his occupation as 'Butcher'. Frank was then just under 5'8" tall and seems to have been a solidly built young man, having a 40" chest.
Frank joined the colours at Newcastle upon Tyne on the following day, 12th November, posted to the Royal Garrison Artillery as Gunner 239 in the 126th Heavy Battery. He trained in England and was then posted abroad on 28th April 1916. Frank was listed as a casualty because of contagion to his left foot and spent time at the military hospital at Etaples before being invalided back to England in September 1916. He was hospitalised at Manchester, where he recovered and was posted to depot Ripon. From there he was posted to 1st Reserve Brigade and on to the 1st West Riding Heavy Battery in August 1917. Frank was then promoted Acting Bombadier and returned to the Western Front. By this time, troops had been 'renumbered' so as to avoid confusion as the numbers in the army grew. Frank's new number was 291067, and remained so for the rest of his war.
For Frank Corps, this was to be scarcely one year, as in October 1917 he was wounded by a shell, suffering a compound fracture of the left femur. In the days before antibiotics, such wounds frequently proved fatal, and he was quickly admitted to the great military hospital at Etaples (24th October 1917). He remained there for a period, and then was sent to the Western General Hospital in Liverpool on 1st January, 1918. Even after such a severe wound, it was not until September 1918 that Lance Bombardier Corps was found to be 'no longer fit for war service' and given an honourable discharge. His commanding officer declared that Frank was a 'sober and hardworking man'. He was still nearly two months short of his 22nd birthday. Less than two months later, the war ended.
Frank Corps was awarded a pension of 27s 6d per week, which by March 1919 had fallen to 16s 6d, to be reviewed after four years. He received the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the Silver War Badge.
Research also reveals that a Frank Corps married Violet Bartell in Lanchester (Durham) in 1923, and that a daughter, Mary, was born to the marriage. There is also a death record for Frank Corps aged 56 in the Notts/Derby area in 1952. However, we cannot be totally certain that these records concern 'our' Frank. Perhaps readers can provide further information.
George Coulson
W Cousan
Ben Cousans
This name appears on the Kirkby/Broughton Roll of Honour
Ben Cousans was born in Broughton in 1878. He was the son of Matthew Cousans, a woodman, and his wife Bessy Margaret (nee Todd) who were married in 1863 in the registration district of York.
In the 1881 census, Ben, aged 2, is living with his parents and 4 brothers and sisters in Great Broughton. Ben grew up and went to school in the village, and in 1901 he was still living there -in Broughton Banks- with his parents, who were then 60 and 59.
On 9th December 1905 Ben married Keziah Hutchinson at Kirkby in Cleveland, and a little more than 5 years later the 1911 census records the couple as living at Spring House Farm, Ingleby Greenhow. There are no children to the marriage, and Ben is a farm bailiff. It seems possible however that some time later Ben and Keziah may have taken in an illegitimate child, Annie Elizabeth Coppin (born December 1909) , as she appears on his army records as a dependant.
Ben attested for the armed forces in Stokesley on July 25th 1915 at the age of 36 years 9 months. His address at the time was Burton Lodge, Great Broughton and he gave his occupation as farmer and named his wife as next of kin. His medical details tell us that he was more than 5'10" tall, had a 37" chest and weighed 147lbs. Ben was posted to the 10th Battalion of the Yorkshire regiment as Private 22982. Within three months Private Cousans had received his military training and was with the BEF in France, arriving on 14th October, 1915. He seems to have served in the field until January 1917, when he was posted to depot and returned to the UK. A few weeks later, Private Cousans was transferred to the Labour Corps. On 10th June 1917, he was back in France, but within a week he was posted PB, meaning that his health was such that he was really only fit for routine duties. He was posted to 25th POW Company, with the new regimental number of 564093, but he remained in France for the remainder of the war, and he did not finally return to England (via Dunkirk) until 30th January 1919.
Private Cousans was awarded the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the 1915 Star.
G Cousans
Joseph Crighton
This soldier is recorded as Joseph Creighton, chauffeur, on Charles Hall’s list but in military records the name is spelt without an e. It is not exactly clear which of several men called Joseph Crighton is the one to whom Charles Hall refers, but the best case scenario is the subject of this entry:
Joseph Aiken Crighton was born in Salford 1878, and was the son of Andrew Crighton, a boot dealer and his wife Elizabeth. The family were still in Salford in 1881 and by 1891 they had moved to Huddersfield. By 1901. Joseph’s mother had died and he was living with his father and 2 sisters in Macclesfield and Joseph was working as a coachman.
We first hear of him locally when Joseph Crighton married Lucy Agnes Cullen in Stokesley in 1907. His wife had been born in 1884 in Middlesbrough, her father being a labourer from Ireland.
In 1911 Joseph and his wife were living in Bishop’s Lodge, Grove Hill, Middlesbrough where Joseph was a coachman (domestic). They had a son, Peter, late in 1911. (Peter married Ray L T Russell in 1939).
Presumably the family had moved to Stokesley by the outbreak of war as he is recorded on Charles Hall’s list. The absent Voters list tells us that he served as Private M2/ 074823 MT ASC, and that his residence in 1918 was Stokesley High Street.
Joseph’s medal card shows that he first arrived in France on 13th May 1915. He was awarded the 1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
He died in 1949 in the Cleveland district.
