William Henry Stanton

William Henry was the son of Thomas Stanton and his second wife Jane (née Foster). His father Thomas was born in Castle Bytham, Lincolnshire, in 1851, the son of Joseph and Winifred Stanton. Brought up in Castle Bytham, by 1871 Thomas (20) was working as a groom for a general practitioner in Corby, near Bourne, Lincolnshire. Thomas married Eliza (also Elizabeth) Twigg in 1873 (reg. Nottingham) and they had at least three children: Clara b. 1875, Eliza Ellen (Nellie) b. 1876 and Thomas Benjamin b. 1879. In 1881 Thomas, a grocer, and his wife were living at Taylor's Cottages, Nottingham, with their three children. Also in the household was Thomas' brother. William, a groom and coachman, his wife and their two children. Eliza Stanton died in 1883 (burial 3 May). Thomas married secondly Jane Foster in 1884 (reg. Newark). Jane was born in Newark, Nottinghamshire, in 1858. In 1881 she was working as a chambermaid at the Milton's Head Hotel, Milton Street, Nottingham. Thomas and Jane had five children, two of whom died in infancy: William Henry b. 1887, George b. 1888, Sarah Ann b. 1889 d. 1889, Louie b. 1890 d. 1891 and Lily b. 1893. By 1891 Thomas, a shoe maker's assistant, and Jane were living at 181 Waterway Street, Nottingham, with Thomas' three children, Clara, Eliza and Thomas and their three children William (4), George (2) and Louie (under one year). Louie died the same year. Clara married William Harry Cooper in 1895 and Eliza Ellen married Amos Lebeter in 1899 while Thomas Benjamin married Mary Ann Straw in 1901 (O/N/D Nottingham); he was recorded living with his father and stepmother at the time of the census earlier that year. The family home was still at 181 Waterway Street until 1911. However, Jane died in 1907 (burial 12 January) and by 1911 the widowed Thomas was an invalid, 'unable to work'; his occupation in 1901 had been shoe maker Only William a furniture upholsterer, George a boot repairer, and Lily a net mender, were still living with their father. Thomas died in July 1911 (burial 11 July). The probate record gave William's address as 114 Colwick Road, Sneinton, Nottingham. George had married in 1916 (Kate Nix) but their sister Lily never married and she and William may have continued to live together after their father's death. Lily died in 1938; her half-sister Eliza Lebeter was awarded administration of her Will. William was engaged to Gertie at the time of his death.

1901-1911 he was a furniture upholsterer.

residence Nottingham, enlisted Nottingham

Formerly 8459, 9th King's Royal Rifle Corps. Posted to 2/4th Bn London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers). He was killed in action on 24 August 1918 and is buried in Bronfay Farm Military Cemetery, Bray-Sur-Somme, France (grave ref. II. F. 11). CWGC - History of Bronfay Farm Military Cemetery (extract): 'The cemetery was begun by French troops in October 1914, but little used by them. It was used by Commonwealth troops from August 1915 to February 1917, particularly during the Battle of the Somme, when the XIV Corps Main Dressing station was at the farm. During the retreat and advance of 1918, further burials were made and after the Armistice, graves of March, August and September 1918, were brought in from the fields between Bronfay Farm and Bray.' (www.cwgc.org)

CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Thy will be done' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 8 October 1918: ‘Stanton. Killed in action, August 25th, 1918. Pte William Henry Stanton of London Regt;, late of the K.R.R.. From his sorrowing brother and sister, George and Lily, fiancée Gertie.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 25 August 1919: ‘Stanton. In loving memory of Rfn. WH Stanton, killed in action, August 25th, 1918. Fondly remembered. George, Kit [Kate], and Bab.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 25 August 1919: ‘Stanton. In ever-loving memory of my dear brother, Pte William Henry Stanton, killed in action August 25th, 1918. Sweet is the memory of those we loved. Sister Lily.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Lily also put an 'In Memoriam' notice in the Nottingham Evening Post on 25 August 1920 and 1921. Probate: Stanton William Henry of 114 Colwick-road Sneinton Nottinghamshire private in HM Army died 25 August 1918 in France Administration (with Will) Nottingham 24 October to Lily Stanton spinster. Effects £156 11s. 8d. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his sister Lily was his administrix