DENNIS REDFERN STUART

DENNIS REDFERN STUART

Private 20246

10th Battalion Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

Missing presumed dead - 25th September 1916

Dennis was the son of Jane and Joseph Stuart.  Born at Barrow Hill in early 1886 Dennis was baptised on 25th February at Staveley Parish Church.

Jane, Dennis' mother had married Joseph on 17th July 1876 at North Wingfield.  Jane's maiden name was Cutts and she was born in Hasland around 1845.  She had a son before she married Joseph; Charles Sneath Bennett was born in 1871.  It looks likely that Jane had married his father that same year, a man named James Bennett.  However, this would need to be confirmed with the marriage and birth certificates.

And so by 1881 the Stuart family were settled and living at 11 Furnace Hill, Staveley.  Joseph was employed as a pipe moulder.  Charles was aged 9 years old and the couple had two daughters; Florence 4 and Lizzie 2 years of age.  

Another son was born in 1884 named Joseph Harry after his father, but then sadly in the winter of 1885/86 young Lizzie died aged just 7 years old.  Dennis was born around the time that Lizzie died, it must have been a terrible time for Jane and Joseph and the Stuart family.

1891 brought even more heartache for the family, when the head of the household Joseph died aged 39 years old.  Leaving Jane to bring up her four children alone.  Whether they moved before or after Joseph's death is not known, but on the 1891 census Jane and three of her children were living at Meadow Cottage in Barrow Hill.  Charles was aged 19 years old and luckily was able to work to bring some money into the household, he was an apprentice iron moulder.  The Stuart family shared the house with another family, they occupied three of the rooms and the Needham family took the other two rooms.  

Florence was not at home on the 1891 census, she was visiting Herbert and Zylpha Fox in Oldham.  Zylpha was from Brimington in Chesterfield.

Ten years on in 1901 Dennis was aged 15 years and old was working his apprenticeship as an iron moulder. He lived at 105 Barrow Hill with his mother Jane, Charles, Florence and Joseph and a little 4 year old boy named Hubert.  Hubert was the son of Florence, born on 16th March 1897.  

Wedding bells....

The Stuart family had reason to celebrate in the first decade of the 20th Century; Florence, Joseph and Dennis all tied the knot and married their sweethearts.

Florence married George Cresswell in 1903, George was working as a railway guard.  He lived at Barrow Hill but was born in Stoke Orchard in Gloucestershire.

Joseph married Mary Ellen Brookes at St Annes Church in Sale, Cheshire.  They married on 1905.

Dennis married Sarah Barnes on 27th August 1906 at Staveley Parish Church.  

Sadly it was not all happiness as Dennis's mother Jane died in 1908 aged 63 years old.  

1911 the eve of war....

Dennis and Sarah were living at 105 Wellington Street, New Whittington.  Dennis had changed his occupation leaving the dirty noisy environment as an iron moulder, he was now employed as a hairdresser.

Florence and George were living at 105 Barrow Hill, George was still working as a goods guard for Midland Railways.  The couple had four children of their own; Gladys 7, Harry 6, Mabel 5 and Nellie 3 years of age. Florence's son Hubert and her bother Charles were both living with the Cresswell family, they were both employed at the iron foundry.

Joseph had sadly lost his young wife, Mary Ellen died in 1908 aged 30 years old.  In 1911 Joseph was lodging with William Riley and his family at 78 West Street, Eckington.  Joseph had also changed his career and like his brother Dennis he was employed as a hairdresser.

Dennis' war....

The service records for Dennis do not exist, but we know that he joined the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI) in Doncaster, South Yorkshire.  

He was attached to the 10th Battalion and took the soldier rank and number; Private 20246.  The 10th were a part of the 64th Brigade, 21st Division.  They landed, along with the 9th Battalion KOYLI in France in September 1915.

The battalion took part in some of the most well known battles of the Great War; including the infamous Battle of the Somme.  The men made their way to the village of Buire on 26th June, in preparation for the coming attack.  They had already worked hard in transporting gas cylinders and equipment to the trenches in the days prior to this.

On 30th June both the 9th and 10th battalions took up their assembly positions, side by side they would go into battle.  Not all of the battalion would be in action, some men were ordered to stay behind to wait for the call for reinforcements, they were stationed at Bus Wood.  Whether Dennis was present is not known.

On 22nd September 1916 the 10th battalion moved into the trenches at Bernafay Wood, where they remained preparing for the attack on Goudecourt which began on 25th September.  The day of the attack came and the men were fed and watered well, they had their full provisions of equipment including SOS rockets, ammunition, orders of attack and signal flares.  They moved out of the trenches at12.35.  The acting 2nd in Command Major C A Millward wrote "the noise was awful, but it made one feel proud to see what our munition workers and Great Britain had been able to accomplish"......."all reports were good at first".

It soon became apparent that confusion had occurred, it appears that the flares used by the Germans were very similar to those used by the B.E.F.  These flares had misled our aircraft and the result was that the men had not got as far as originally thought.  The trenches were also mixed with men from various regiments, due to the location errors.

Many of the men were killed and wounded during this action, "the communication trenches were much blocked with wounded".  After a while a message was received stating that the B.E.F had not got as far as the German's front line trenches, as they thought they had taken them, this was not the case.  The front wires were all still intact, the German's were directly in front of the wounded and weary B.E.F.  They were however, still ordered to continue their attack and move forward.

The situation paused whilst the men reformed and gathered their equipment.  They were still preparing when from out of nowhere they noticed "thick white smoke travelling along in front of it - a "tank".  Twenty minutes later and they saw "streams of German's coming across no mans land to surrender".  The German Captain "a coarse looking brute" explained how he and his men had been cut off and when they saw the tank coming up behind they had no other option but to surrender.  The memo by Major Millward stated that 362 men were counted.

Would Dennis have been alive to see this great spectacle? Would he have witnessed the use of the early "tank"? The whole concept behind the use of such a machine was under a trial and error strategy.  We can only begin to imagine how shocking such a beast moving across the earth would appear to the men who were used to trench warfare.

Dennis was reported missing in action, presumed dead on 25th September 1916.  He has no known grave but is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, France.  Ref pier and face 11C & 12A.

Private 20246, Dennis Redfern Stuart was awarded the Victory and British Medals for his service.

Life went on....

Sarah Stuart the wife of Dennis may have married a George Whitehead in 1920.  If this is correct then she possibly died in 1931 aged 45 years old.  (Further checking needs to be carried out to confirm this, possible marriage certificate required).

Charles Sneath Bennett never married.  He lived with his sister Florence and her family at 105 Barrow Hill. He died on 11th August 1935 and his administration of £118 15s went to his sister Florence Cresswell.

Florence remained living in the area.  She was recorded as living at 105 Barrow Hill on the 1939 Register, with two lodgers who were both employed by LMS Railways.  Her husband George Cresswell was living at 30 Lime Avenue, Stavely.  He is living with his step son (Florence's son) Hubert and Mary Jane Stuart and their daughter's Doris and Marjorie.  Florence died in 1945 aged 68 years old.

Joseph found happiness again and married Phyllis Brier in 1917.  He was serving with the 21st Battalion Prince of Wales Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) at the time.  He was promoted up to Lance Sergeant 21/72.  

Unfortunately Joseph's service record hasn't survived and there is no date of entry into theatre of war on his medal card, so it is not known when he actually enlisted.  He was not awarded the 15 Star however, indicating he most likely enlisted after that date.  He did serve right up to the very end of the Great War but was wounded and died of his wounds on 22nd September 1918.  

Joseph is buried at Ligny-St Flochel British Cemetery, Averdoingt, France.  He has a headstone with the sign of the cross and the chosen words of his widow Phyllis read;

"TOO DEARLY LOVED TO BE FORGOTTEN"

Joseph was mentioned in despatches for his service.   His notice can be found in the London Gazette, 24th December 1918, supplement 31083, page 15127.

The CWGC records that Phyllis was living at 136 Lister Lane, Halifax at the time of Joseph's death.  She would receive his medals the Victory and British Medal and later the Oak Leaf emblem which was to signify that Joseph had been mentioned in dispatches.  

To read more about Joseph Harry Stuart please click here where you can read his story.  What became of Phyllis after the war is not known. If anyone can add to her story please feel free to comment below or drop me an email.

Hubert Stuart the son of Florence, nephew of Dennis also served during WW1.  He enlisted at Staveley town on 9th March 1915, aged just 19 years old.  Hubert lived at 24 Barrow Hill and worked as a miner prior to the war.  Hubert served as a driver with the Royal Field Artillery L/11260.  He arrived in France on 8th January 1916 and remained there until 17th September 1918.  

He was eventually allowed and I am sure, well over due a furlough; from 18th September until 1st October 1918.  He had a very special time whilst he was home on leave, he married his sweetheart Mary Jane Stratton at Staveley Parish Church. The couple married on 25th September 1918.

Hubert arrived back in France on 2nd October 1918 and continued serving until 21st December 1918 when he was finally released to duties as a coal miner.  He returned home on the H.S Princess Victoria on 27th December 1918, home to his new wife Mary Jane.  

Hubert would have witnessed many horrors during his time with the RFA.  He would live with these memories for the rest of his life.  He was in France to witness that great day on 11th November 1918 when the Armistice was finally agreed and the hope of peace for all nations would be more than a glimmer of hope.  

After Hubert's return to Barrow Hill he had reason to celebrate at the birth of his first daughter Doris on 8th April 1920, another daughter followed many years later on 8th July 1933.  Hubert and Mary Jane lived at 40 Lime Avenue, Staveley and he died in 1976.

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If you may be connected to this family or have any further information on Dennis Redfern Stuart or his family please do either leave comments via the pen icon below or drop me an email.

I hope that I have not given details of living persons, if so please advise and I will remove immediately.

Please note all information has been taken from online indexes and sources.  Due to the sheer numbers of people to be researched I am unable to purchase vital event certificates to confirm my research.

*****

Ref and further reading  -

Census

Parish registers
Medal rolls
Soldiers who died in the Great war

Register of soldiers effects
Service record - www.ancestry.co.uk

Newspaper articles - 

CWGC  http://www.cwgc.org

War diaries - Piece WO- 95/2162/2

Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/kings-own-yorkshire-light-infantry/

Tank information https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanks_in_World_War_I

Barrow Hill at War website - including information on Joseph Harry Stuart https://barrowhillandhollingwood.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/stuart-joseph-harry-life1.pdf

WALTER PARKIN

WALTER PARKIN

Private 17681

1st Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment

Killed in action - 2nd July 1916

Walter Parkin was killed in action on 2nd July 1916, the first man named on the St Barnabas Memorial to have lost his life during the battle of the Somme.  The battle at which 57,470 British casualties were recorded in just one day; 1st July 1916.

Walter's early life has been difficult to piece together, his service records do exist but they are very feint and difficult to read.  He was the son of Charlotte Parkin who at the time of the outbreak of WW1 was living at New Whittington.  Walter was actually born in Wincobank near Sheffield around 1894.  

The Parkin family....

Without purchasing the relevant birth, marriage and death certificates I am limited to my success following any family.  As there are 85 soldiers named on the memorial I am unable to do this due to financial constraints.  Therefore what I write below may or may not be correct as due to lack of census returns and the poor legibility of Walter's service records my research has not been as conclusive as I would like it to be. If anyone reads this and is connected to the Parkin family or can confirm or add to this remembrance blog then please do add your comments or email me directly.  

Charlotte is recorded on census returns as being born around 1862 at Aldershot Barracks.  On the 1881 census she was living alone, but described as married at 37A School Lane, Sheffield.  

I can find the same Charlotte Parkin born at Aldershot on the 1891 census, married to an Edward Parkin a "pen and pocket blade grinder" aged 29 years old.  The couple have 3 children at this time; Edward aged 6, John aged 3 and Susannah aged 10 months, all born in Sheffield.  It may well be that Edward snr was a retired soldier as on the 1881 census an Edward Parkin was a soldier, born in Sheffield in 1862 he was based at Pontefract.  He was a Private with the 3rd West Yorkshire Militia.  However, he was described as unmarried at that time.

By 1901 Charlotte and Edward had 3 more children; Walter, William and Annie.  The family lived at 61 Carver Street, Ecclesall Bierlow, Sheffield. Edward was still employed in steel trade as a "grinder cutler".  

After the 1901 census the family seem to disappear.  I have found no likely death for either Edward or Charlotte Parkin.  On Walter's service records the mother is given as Charlotte Parkin living at 25 London Street, New Whittington.  None of the family other than Walter appear on the 1911 census.  Walter was living at 1 Barrow Road, Wincobank and worked as a trammer underground at the colliery. Described as "nephew" to Joseph and Elizabeth Brookes (however I have been unable to clarify this relationship).

Walter's war....

Walter enlisted at Attercliffe recruiting office in Sheffield on 9th April 1915.  He was aged 21 years and 5 months (making his birth date sometime in November 1894).  His occupation at the time of enlisting was coal miner and he lived at 25 London Street, New Whittington.  

The medical form tells us that Walter was born in Wincobank, Sheffield and that he was 5ft 7 1/4 inches tall.  He was 140lbs and his physical development was described as "good".

Walter was soon mobilised and joined the East Yorkshire Regiment at Beverley on 13th April 1915.  He was now known as Private 17681.  It looks likely that Walter did not take to army life as on 31st July 1915 he is recorded as being absent without leave until 5th August 1915.  He as fined 6 days pay for this unauthorised leave.  Only days after his return to barracks, on 18th August 1915 Walter and his fellow comrades of the 1st Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment were sent overseas to join the British Expeditionary Force in France.  Walter had received only 4 months training prior to this.

The 1st Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment were originally part of the 6th Division, 18th Brigade until on 1st December 1915 they joined with the 21st Division, 64th Brigade.  On that day it was recorded in the dairy what a wet day it was, rain was heavy and the trenches were full of water.  In fact December remained a very wet month, Walter and his fellow soldiers were based near to Armentieres and Pont Du Nieppe, south of Ypres.

On 1st January 1916 the war diary recorded their being in billets in reserve at Houplines "fighting strength 26 Officers, 789 other ranks"  In the middle of March 1916 the men marched to billets in Steentje and on to Outtersteene.  The battalion continued to make their way southwards, by the middle of April they would find themselves in the trenches at Fricourt; they had arrived at the area known as Somme. They were east of Albert, the capital of the area.  Little did they know of what was planned ahead for them and how infamous this area of France would become.

The months of May and June were spent in and out of trenches in the area of Meaulte, south of Albert.  With a steady flow of enemy engagement, casualties and loss of men.  The weather was fine and sunny in May but turned cloudy and showery in June.  On 28th June the war diary reads "Heavy rain, conditions in camp bad......parade ordered for 8.15pm to march to assembly trenches preparatory to taking the offensive against the German line on morning of 29th......At 4pm however orders were received that the operations of the British 4th Army were postponed for 48 hrs".

The war diary then documents the events of 1st to 4th July 1916, the men set out for the assembly trenches on the night of 30th July 1916. They arrived in position at 3.30am but had already lost one officer and three other ranks were wounded, whilst in the communication trenches. The 1st Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment went into battle alongside the 9th & 10th Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and the 15th Durham Light Infantry.  

At the end of the report the scribe has recorded the figures of casualties;
Other ranks; 441 men (35 killed, 239 wounded, 9 wounded & missing and 158 missing)
Officers; 19 men.

Extract from service records Walter Parkin
www.ancestry.co.uk

Walter was wounded in action on the first day of the battle of the Somme, 1st July 1916.  He received gunshot wounds to his arms, thigh, shoulder and head.  Sadly Walter died of his wounds the next day on 2nd July 1916.  He was fortunate to have been removed from the battlefield and taken to No3 casualty clearing station where we can at least hope that he died in peace, with caring medical staff at his side.  

Walter is buried at Puchevillers British Cemetery on the Somme, his grave reference is 1 A 19.  He has the sign of the cross on the gravestone.

Walter was awarded the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and 15 Star for his service.

Life went on....

Charlotte Parkin Walter's mother was living at 23 Cross London Street New Whittington after the death of her beloved son.  Later documents give her address as 63 London Street.  The service record states that Walter's father was deceased.

Walter's siblings....

Edward Arthur was born around 1885 on the 1911 census he was boarding with Sarah Ellen Smith at 48 Trafalger Street, Sheffield.  He was employed as a grinder of pen and pocket knife's, as his father had been.  Edward may have been known by his middle name of Arthur.  On Walters service records it states his brother "Arthur" was serving with the East Yorkshire Regiment also.

John was born around 1888 no further information is known at this time.

Susannah was born in 1891 no further information is known at this time.

William Henry was born in 1895.  He may well have served in the Navy during WW1, enlisting on 24th January 1914 until 15th November 1916. The date of birth for this person is 1st November 1895, purchase of the birth certificate for William Henry Parkin would prove or disprove this information.

Annie E was born in 1898 no further information is known at this time.  

There are only two brothers and two sisters named on the service records for Walter.  

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If you may be connected to this family or have any further information on Walter Parkin or his family please do either leave comments via the pen icon below or drop me an email.

If you are descendant of the Parkin family and would like to add your own family "story" then please do feel free to contact me.

I hope that I have not given details of living persons, if so please advise and I will remove immediately.

Please note all information has been taken from online indexes and sources.  Due to the sheer numbers of people to be researched I am unable to purchase vital event certificates to confirm my research.



*****

Ref and further reading  -

Census

Parish registers

Medal rolls
Soldiers who died in the Great war

Register of soldiers effects

War diaries - Piece WO95 / 2161 / 2 The National Archives 

East Yorkshire Regiment http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/east-yorkshire-regiment/

CWGC  http://www.cwgc.org