Johns war Service and other Stinton's |
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***
...JOHN (Jack) ASHLEY STINTON...
who wanted to do their bit.
John was born in Worcester in 1888.
He lived with his parents Ashley and Agnes at Astwood Road, Worcester, but later moved to Watford Road, Kings Norton, Birmingham. He was one of fourteen children.
Gunner John Ashley STINTON service number 3041 (831036) was posted to France with 241 brigade 1st Worcester battery 2nd south midlands brigade on 11th July 1915. Brigade was entrained at Berguette and moved South to Doullens and on to Authie where the new 18 pounders were delivered. The rest of the month was taken up by training on the new guns and on the 1st August went into action briefly. The month was taken up by alternating action and training. John joined 'A' battery 241 Brigade from reinforcements on 7th October 1915.
John first saw action at Bayencourt and the bombarding of Gommercourt in September but on the whole this was a quiet posting to the end of the year with little more reported than "usual retaliations" and an occasional note of heavier enemy fire, particularly from minenwerfers (minnies)"To be hit by something you could not see was not too bad, but to see something coming, sufficient to blow a crater of 15 feet in diameter and not to know which way to go to avoid it, minnies the trench man's nightmare." Snipers were also a constant source of danger.
January and February 1916 saw a lot more enemy action and we hear more of injured and killed. After 6 months on the western front John was then transferred from ‘A’ battery to ‘D’ battery - 31st March 1916. Apr 4th Left Thievres ( where D Battery was being formed ) The brigade and batteries moved from Hebuterne to Colincamps village, further away from the front, the batteries then went further down to the wagon lines for training in preparation for the Somme offensive.
Moving back into position in mid June, fully gunned up and with 1000 rounds of ammo for each gunpit. June 4th saw the start of the bombardment of German positions, concentrating on wire-cutting in readiness for the battle of the somme on the 1st July.
On 4th May John was transferred to hospital after being injured in the field. War diary's for this day states “Artillery active on trenches”. No 56 and No 61 Casualty Clearing Stations, known as the South Midland CCS one of which John would have had is injury first checked based at
amiens.
John rejoined 241 brigade RFA on 14th May 1916. He was then transferred to 243 Brigade on the 18th May. This battery was formed in the Thievres area on March 31st. Another Kings Norton native Arthur Charles Welham was also in D battery, Arthur and John must have known each other. Arthur survived the war, during his service he kept a comprehensive diary which his grandson Roy has kindly allowed me to use details from on my site, the full diary can be viewed on Roys site. click here.
May 2nd 1916. Full marching orders to Coineaux transported by lorry to Duellons arriving the next day at Abberville.
May 4th. headed for St Leger arriving next day rest of the month and early June gunnery instruction ect, ready for the Somme offensive went into action in Martinsart Nr Albert.
June 29th. Battery went to Englebelmer waiting orders to advance but was cancelled due to bad weather.
July 1st. Somme offensive started.(over 19,250 British and commonwealth men were to die today, with over 50,000 casualties)
July 2nd Infantry of 31st div take 2 trenches.
July 4th. Gloucesters and Bengal lancers take Beaumont Hamel and advance 4 miles but lost ground after a counter attack.
July 5th. Battery at new postion at Colincamps.
July 21st. Six gun battery in action at La Bouselle.
July 24th. At Pozieres ANZACS take villiage nearby.
July 28th. Came out of action
Aug 13th. In action at Ovilliers.
Aug 18th. Warwicks take 4 lines of trenches without casualties.
Aug 27th. In action at Crucifix corner.
Sept 15th. Left Bouziincourt for Albert.
Sept 30th. Came out of action.
Oct 2nd. Left Albert.
Oct 4th. In action right section Sailly Plain left section at Le Haye Chateau.
Oct 18th. 243 broken up Left section attached to B battery 241 Brigade now 6 guns instead of 4 based at Gaudiempre.
End of Arthurs extracts.
One of John and Arthurs commanding officers was killed during this period
West F. C. B. Lt Col 243rd Bde R.F.A. 28-Sep-16 aged 33.Buried Aveluy Cem, Somme.
Also killed in July was Captain A.E. Stone "A" battery 243 brigade RFA. Buried at Aveluy Cemetery on the Somme.
243 brigade were at Herbuterne to start with. But then in the period from July-September they were fighting in the battle of the Somme. First they moved south and held back to support the Canadians at Auchinvillers. The attack failed so the brigade instead moved down to Ovillers, nr Albert and were in heavy fighting there with casualties.
They had a short respite behind the lines and then joined the advance north from Albert to Pozieres. (between 2nd July and mid September RFA gunners fired over 7 million shells on the somme battlefield).
John remained with this battery, until October 1916, when batteries were reassigned. What happened to John after this reshuffle I am unsure about according to 241 records he did'nt go back there no mention of him on 240 roles, maybe to 242 brigade. (Johns records were part of the burnt series, lost during the bombing of Kew in the second world war.)
More details from Arthurs diary.
December 1916 saw 31 div artillery moving around quite a bit Pas en Artoid, VIllers Bocage, Malliens Bois, Albert.
Dec 31st. Wagon line positioned Nr High Wood.
January in action at High Wood.
Feb 3rd. Sections went into action taking over French positions.
During Mar/Apr 48th Division took 35 villages out of 160, taking 3 in one day.
During July/August casualties mount.
I am into speculation now! John is still probably with the 48th div he was wounded 3 times the first in 1915 and fatally in 1918, his second wounding must have been quite serious keeping him out of action for a fairly long time. He then re-entered the war with 165 Lancs Brigade, 31st Division instead of the 48th div. It was common in late 1917/18 for men returning to make up numbers in other brigades. It is also worth pointing out that the 48th div moved to Italy.
Significant casualties suffered on the following dates:-
Aug 19th. Battery position shelled 3 killed 2 wounded, casualties up to this date 6 killed 6 wounded.
Sept 7th. Several aeroplane bombs dropped on 'C' Battery one man escaped all the rest killed or wounded.
Sept 12th. Several bombs dropped near 'D' battery 240 brigade 30 casualties.
Oct 19th. One shell dug out at battery position 4 killed 10 wounded.
John was promoted to Lance bombardier sometime in 1917.He also joined 165 brigade RFA.
165 Brigade was originally formed at Fleetwood and must have consisted almost wholly of Lancashire men, it was part of Lord Derby's recruitment drive in May 1915. In mid July the newly formed Brigades 165,169,170 and 171 encamped to Bedale camp Northallerton North Yorkshire to join 32 division.
In France 165 brigade being in X corps part of the reserve Army in mid 1916, John was probably drafted in during 1917 to make up the numbers to full strength after a leave period or wounding.
In the month before Johns death 165 brigade was part of the 31st division, who were involved in the battle of La Becque (27th/28th June) fought around the Aval wood area, pals battalions of Accrington and Leeds, Leeds bantams and Hull commercials were involved, the artillery firing sharpnel shells to aid wire cutting and keeping the German machine gunners heads down, unfortunatly some fell short, or the forward movement was quicker than expected and some men were killed, but the advance was a success nearly a mile of front line was gained, heavy machine guns, light field guns and trench mortars were captured. 31 st Div suffered around 250 casualties that day.
On July 27th 1918 John was seriously wounded in action in the Aval wood area.
He received gunshot wounds in both of his legs, and an arm. John lost his life 3 Months before the signing of the armistice, after over 3 years of fighting he died with only weeks of the war to go.
Here is the Worcester Berrows newspaper cutting for 17th Aug 1918. click on image to enlarge.
War diary for this day states: Hostile artillery quiet during the morning and afternoon, activity was normal during the night GARS BRUGGHE and CAUDESCURE (one battery of 165 brigade in a field close to CAUDESCURE) received some attention. intermittent shelling of forward tracks throughout the night by 77mm about 20 rounds every 2 hours. 165 Brigade Batterys were dug in around Aval wood.
On the day John was wounded one 165 Battery at the far end of this track close to Caudescure. the other five on the northern edge of the wood.
John died of his injuries on August 9th 1918, in one of Boulogne's Military hospitals. He was buried with full military honours
John is buried at Terlincthun cemetery Wimille, Pas de Calais, France.In plot 2 B13.He lies between 2 Australians, Private A.G. McWade Australian Infantry aged 19 died from GSW to neck chest and shoulder at 6.20am on the 11th Aug. Lance corporal Henry Howard Richardson MM aged 40. Wounded and admitted to hospital on the 8th Aug 18 suffering from GSW of the head and compound fracture of the right frontal region with a foreign body in the brain he died suddenly at 1.00am on the 11th Aug 1918.
Cemetery was created in June 1918 mainly for the burial of men who died in the hospitals. The cemetery suffered considerable damage in the second world war when German troops stationed in adjoining Chateau used buildings close to cemetery for target practice.4,500 WW1 casualties commemorated in this site.
He’s remembered on the roll of honour at the guildhall Worcester,and in the honour book at St George's Chapel inside Worcester Cathedral.
Also remembering one of Johns younger brothers Percy James Stinton, who was with the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) 435512 Private 21st Field Ambulance, attached to the 7th Division. serving 2 years in France. He survived the war to live a full life marrying and fathering two daughters and working as a senior taxman in Wolverhampton.*******
WAR.
241829,2nd/5th Bn York & Lancs Reg. Part of 62nd (2nd West Riding) Division attached to 187th Brigade. Probably wounded during the battle of Bullecourt 3rd-17th May 1917. Aged 21. During the second battle of Bullecourt on the 3rd May 1917 The Australians were attacking the left flank while the York and Lancs were attacking the village on the right flank, the Germans were resolute in defence with vicious enfilading fire, the 2/5th made progress through some cut wire on the far side of the village but gains were later lost. The 2/5th moved back from the village, the division took heavy casualties, one of which was probably Arkieles. The 62nd division was relieved on the night of the 3rd May. Bullecourt was finally taken on the 17th May. Arkieles died of wounds on the 4th May.
Son of Thomas and Mary Stinton, of Rotherham. Arkieles was born in 1896 in Abetillery, South Wales.
His family later moved to Rotherham, South Yorkshire.
His brother Tom, born in 1890, served in the Royal Engineers as a sapper
and was wounded in 1915, but survived. Arkieles is buried in Achiet-le-grand cemetery. Enlisted in Rotherham.
Lance Corporal. ALEXANDER (Alec) STINTON.
C/7337 18th Bn.,King's Royal Rifle Corps formed in Essex June 1915 attached to 122 brigade 41st division Alec probably died in The Somme battles of 1918 Mar-Apr 1918.
died of wounds 28th Mar 1918, born in Balsham, enlisted Huddersfield. Arras memorial, and Balsham war memorial.
Sergeant. CHARLES STINTON.
8687, 6th Bn,L.north Lancashire Reg 38th Brigade 13th(western)division.
born Acton Middx. aged 29. 9th Aug 1915. Helles memorial.Mentioned in despatches 28.1.16.(London Gazette).
On the 6th Aug 15, landings were made at SULVIA on the Gallipoli peninsula, just north of the ANZACs the climax of the campaign came in early Aug when assaults were made on 3 fronts. Battle for Sari Bair(this is when Charles probably lost his life)difficult terrain and Turkish resistance soon led to the stalemate of trench warfare. The peninsula was evacuated in Dec/Jan. Charles family lived in Southall Middx. Son of Mrs. Merry, of 143, Beaconsfield Rd., Southall; husband of Florence Ellen Stinton, of 34, Abbotts Rd., Southall, Middx
Private. FREDRICK CHARLES STINTON.
13458, 24th Bn Royal Fusiliers 5th brigade 2nd division part of the third army. Fredrick was probably wounded and later died during the Cambrai battle of Nov/Dec 1917.
23rd Dec 1917. Rocquigny-equancourt rd Manancourt. born Worcester. Royal Fusiliers (city of London Reg)
Corporal. HERBERT SIDNEY STINTON.
4733 3rd (Kings Own) Hussars.
born Devonport. aged 22. Died 30th October 1914. Remembered on the Menin gate memorial at Ypre.
A member of the BEF an "old contemptible"(named after the Kaiser's sarcastic dismissal of them as a 'contemptible little army') died while the forming of the salient during 1st battle of ypres in Oct and Nov 1914 when a small British expeditionary force succeeded in securing the town before the onset of winter pushing the German forces back to the Passchendale ridge. All this after attack and counter attack and a stalwart defence of Ypre some of the action actually watched by the Kaiser himself. Parents lived in Cathays,Cardiff.
Menin Gate Panel 5.
Main panel Menin gate.
Sergeant. JAMES STUART STINTON.
Military Medal.
12341 9th Bn.,Devonshire Reg.
aged 24.born. London. died 10th October 1917.
Both the British and the Germans fought in apalling conditions as the rain and shell fire turned 'Passchendaele' into a battlefield of mud and water. Slowly the British pushed the Germans back. Small advances on the 'Pilkem Ridge' were made with huge casualties being taken by the Devon's.
Passchenduele was finally captured in November 1917. Son of Laura Kate Stinton, of 13, The Grove, Hammersmith, London, and the late Harry Kennedy Stinton. Tynecot memorial.
Rifleman. KENNEDY STINTON.
652409, 1st/21st Bn., London Regiment.(FSR). 2nd son of Harry Kennedy Stinton. Tabacconist, Educated Maidenhead Grammer School he was also a Tabacconist Joined the First Surrey Rifles 29th May 1916. His wifes name was Minnie and they had one child.
7th June 1917. Ypres menin gate memorial. Born Hammersmith.
Died in the offensive for Messines ridge, which was a success, the third battle of Ypres.The Messines ridge was riddled with trenches and fortifications, in the early hours of 7th June expolsions went off (these were heard in southern England)over 19 mines were deternated, the effect was devastating around 10,000 Germans were killed or buried alive, and over 7,500 were taken prisioner. By 3pm the whole ridge had been taken. Kennedy Lived in Rye lane, Peckham.
Rifleman. LEOPOLD GEORGE STINTON.
S/6354, 12th Bn., Rifle Brigade 20th (light)division. 60th Brigade. Volunteering in Nov 1914, entering France in July 1915, This brigade was inspected by the king before transfer to France. Took part in several engangements during his short service, killed in action September 23rd 1915. Probably a casualty of the battle Fromelles forerunner to the battle of Loos
23rd Sept 1915. Merville communal cemetery a billeting and hospital centre from 1915-1918. The 6th and Lahore Casualty Clearing Stations were there from the autumn of 1914 to the autumn of 1915; Born in Ealing. Son of Mrs. L. Stinton, of 82, Western Rd., Ealing, London.
Private. STANLEY STINTON.
6090. 19th (Queen Alexandria own royal Hussars.) 1st cavalary division. Stanley probably died during the German offensive of spring 1918, this offensive if successful could well have been the lead up to a German war victory,The idea being to force the allies into defeat before the Americans arrived. Died of wounds 27th March 1918. St.sever rouen cemetery, and Balsham war memorial. Born and resident in Blasham Bury St Edmunds.
Private. STANLEY HAROLD STINTON.
79874. 9th Bn., Royal Fusiliers. Probably wounded and later died in the battle for Epehy the battle was won on 18th Sept 1918.
The 12th division (Eastern) 36 brigade. 3 days before the death of Stanley were in reserve resting around the Manacourt region, Ordered to attack the village of Epehy on the 18th Sep 1918, The Germans held firm at a farm called Malassise and Fishers Keep causing heavy allied casualties, but a break through was eventually achieved, after further attacks and sustained fighting Epehy village was retaken.
aged 18. 21st Sept 1918. Epehy wood farm cemetery. Born in Harringgay. Son of Mr. A. J. Stinton, of Hyde Villa, Commonside East, Mitcham, Surrey.
Private. WILLIAM STINTON.
9387 12th Bn., Northumberland Fusiliers. William landed with the 21st division early Sept 1915 they were instantly marched to the British battle at Loos sent into action on the 26th Sept after two days of night marches of over 20 miles in full kit. Went into action for the first time as part of the 62nd Brigade 21st Division...their casualties that day were 22 officers and 459 men....total 481 out of a Divisional figure for this day of 1496. On the evening of the 26th they were withdrawn to Noyelles and Sailly Labourse, where a grim roll call was taken.Many were missing exhausted and scatttered around the Hill 70 area which was still in German hands."The big push" with some initial success was broken, the Germans reinforcing there positions and consolidating.
This was a devestating introduction to warfare for the New Army units, who's bravery did not come into question.
A lot of hand to hand fighting and the use of gas occured on this day the day before William died. Born in 1892 in North Ormesby Yorks, his family orginated from Dudley Worcs, his father was a bricklayer. Two of Williams brothers also served, George who was badly gassed but survived, and Edward who lost a leg. William known as Billy by his family Died 27th Sept 1915. Noeux-les-mines cemetery.
William in civilian clothing,
his death plaque
and medals also an
orginal photo of his
grave in France
Noeux Les Mines IF3.
kindly taken
by Philippe Joachim.
Who Thoughtfully also laid the poppies.
Lance Corporal. WILLIAM FREDRICK STINTON.
14065 3rd Bn., Royal Fusiliers 85th Brigade 28th division.
24th May 1915.Ypres menin gate memorial. Early spring saw the start of the second battle of ypres poison gas was used for the first time extensively in Apr/May 1915. This was a bad day for the 3rd battalion 3 brothers from London the Racheil brothers were killed also on this day. Born Edmomton.
Private. WILLIAM NOAH STINTON.
66906, 12th/13th Bn.,Northumberland Fusiliers 21st division, 62nd Brigade, William probably died in the battles of the Hindenburg line. The Hindenburg line which the Germans called the “Siegfried” was their main “impregnable” last line of defence, and the line that separated the allies from the German homeland behind this concrete fortress, they organized and reinforced daily, they had accumulated piles of ammunition, strengthened defences and accumulated massive amounts of materials, nearly stripping Germany of it’s war machine, and amassing it in France and Belguim to protect the “siegfried” line.
On Sept 26th the allied attacks started along the Hindenburg line American and French in Champagne, British forces attacking in Saint Quentin and Cambrai zones.
Fighting for 8 days the allies eventually broke through at all attacking points.
The moral of the German forces collapsed, Ludendorff asked his Government to arrange an armistice. But the allies were pressing on with the attacks along the whole front from Escaut to the Meuse. On the Belguim front the French and British were extending the battle as far as the sea. By early November whole trains were being captured in the Meuse Valley It was a real victory the beginning of the end for Germany, over 400,000 Prisoners and over 6,000 guns captured.
William aged 19. Died 10th October 1918. From Stourbridge Worcs. Son of John and Eliza Ann Stinton, of 28, Audnam, Wordsley, Stourbridge, Worcs. Grand-Seraucourt British cemetery.
Private. Walter J STINTON.
74185, 4th Bn Worcestershire Regiment part of 88th brigade 29th division. Latter battles for this division were in the late summer in the advance in Flanders. Walter died 18 months after the end of the war perhaps he was wounded in the Flanders push. Son of Mr. G. Stinton, of 18, Summer St., Stourbridge.
Aged 18. Died on 13th Jan 1920. Buried Stourbridge Cemetery.
-------------------
...Captains = 2.
(Tom Stinton,Worcs reg(Territorial force)Bronze medal for military valour.).Lived to the age of 71, and was headmaster at Loughbrough and Newcastle under lyme schools. Served in France and Italy with the Worcester regiment, he was married to Mary and had two daughters and a son.
...Lieutenants = 1.
(Howard P.Stinton,Royal Army Veterinary Corps).
...Company Sergeant Major = 2.
(One of which 241025 H.L.Stinton MM 6th Bn Royal Warks reg).
...Master Sergeants = 1.
...Sergeants = 5.
(One of which 39086 T.Stinton MSM RAMC (Manchester).
...Corporals = 8.
(One of which 50730 G.W.Stinton MM. 8th Bn Worcs Reg).
...Privates = 94.
(One of which was Harry Stinton who's experiences in the 'Suicide Club' are told in a book by Virginia Mayo.)
...Nurses = 1.
(Miss Olive Florence Stinton. sister QAIMNS.Awarded (The royal red cross 1st class.)
...Civilians = 2.
(T.Stinton Working on Anti-Aircraft Equipment).
...MM = Military Medal..
( An award for distinguished service in the field for ranks below warrant officer).
...MSM = Meritorious Service medal..
( An award for gallantry or meritorious service when not in the face of the enemy).
Details of some STINTONs who survived the war.
East Surrey Regiment. He volunteered in May 1915 and during his service on the Western front took part in the battles of the Somme Ypres and Cambrai. He acted as a bomber for a considerable period, and was gassed and wounded twice demobed in 1919. From Ealing London.
Stinton. A.,Rifleman.
The Rifle brigade. He volunteered in 1914 the following year was sent to the western front,while in France he was chiefly employed by the red cross on important duties in the Somme area where he rendered valuable services. From Lower Edmonton. London.
Stinton. R.,Private Kings reg.(Liverpool regiment.)
He joined in Feb 1916,and in the following July proceeded to France. In this theatre of war he took part in the battles of the Somme,Ancre, Arras,Vimy Ridge,Ypres,Lens, Passchendaele,Cambrai,Somme II.Where he was gassed in action in March 1918. He also contracted trench fever and was invalided home to hospital in Preston. From Longsight. Manchester.
Stinton. George and Edward.
Brothers of William who died (details above) George was badly gassed and Edward lost a leg, both were born in North Ormseby.
Tom was born in 1890,served in the Royal Engineers as a sapper
and was wounded in 1915. Family lived in Rotherham. Tom was brother of Arkieles who died (details above).
Some of the cemetery pictures from the CGWC website. click here.
Hauling out the gun