Joseph's Story.
St. Mary's Weaverham “Roll of Honour” records two lads named Stockton, E. Stockton and F. Stockton. The “Fallen” Memorial records a Stockton J., Cpl. & Stockton F., L/Cpl.
These lads are thought to be F. (Frank) Stockton and J. (Joseph) Stockton. (This suggests that the E. Stockton on the R.o.H. should be J. Stockton.) These two lads are brothers. Their two storys are kept together and repeated for Frank.!
Guardian Article 14th Sept. 1917, P2/C1; WEAVERHAM FALLEN SOLDIERS.
A memorial service was held at the Parish Church on Saturday, the first anniversary of the day on which Lieutenant Francis Stuart Long, the only son of the vicar, fell in battle. The Holy Communion was celebrated by the vicar at 8am and a special commemoration was made. On Sunday at 10:45am a memorial services was held for Sidney Newall, Arthur Gerrard, James Kettle, (covered by Jill King) James Bostock, Frederick Ball, John Buckley, (Acton Bridge “Fallen”) Moreton Gandy, (Acton Bridge “Fallen”) Alec Powell, (Complete|) Alan Tudor and James Stockton (Complete) ……… (service detail)
The 1911 census has a Stockton family living on Hodge Lane Hartford.
James Head, age 42, Farm Labourer, born Broxton
Ellen Wife, age 42, Gresford
Job Son, age 20, Farm labourer, Broxton
Frank Son, age 17, Postman, Hatton Heath
Mina Daughter, age 14, School, Little Budworth
May Daughter, age 9, School, Northwich
Arthur Son, age 8, School, Northwich
Nancy Daughter, age 6, School, Northwich
Edith Daughter, age 5, School, Little Budworth
Job/Joseph
(The census records Job but Cheshirebmd and other documents refer to Joseph. )
The Guardian article on Frank was found first and and his date of death was more straight forward to find with the C.W.G.C. The article states his brother died a few weeks previous, this seem to put just one J. Stockton lad in that time frame and he is J. Stockton who died on the 26th July 1917. His Christian name is not stated and there is no family details. Eventually an article was found;
Northwich Guardian 17th Aug. 1917 P5/C1; LANCE CORPORAL JOE STOCKTON
Information was officially received on Monday by Mr. and Mrs James Stockton of Hodge Lane Hartford, that their son, Lance Corporal Joe Stockton of the Grenadier guards had been killed in action. Lance Corporal Stockton who was 26 years of age enlisted at the commencement of the war, giving up a good position in Ireland, directly war was declared. At one time he was employed at the Cheshire kennels, Sandiway, and his mother has a received a letter from Mr. Short, The Huntsman, in which he expresses his deep regret at the severe blow which the parents have received.
A younger brother is on Foreign service and has had some miraculous escapes, having been wounded three times.
Northwich Guardian 24th Aug. 1917 P5/C3; (Complete with picture.) LANCE CORPORAL JOE STOCKTON
Mr. and Mrs James Stockton of Hodge Lane Hartford, have received news that their son Lance-Corporal Joe Stockton, of the Grenadier Guards was killed on July 26. He was 26 years of age and a few years ago he was employed at the Cheshire Kennels, Sandiway. When the war began he held a good position in Ireland, but he promptly responded to the call, and volunteered for the Colours, joining the Grenadier Guards. In due coarse he was drafted on active service, and had seen considerable fighting. His popularity in the regiment with officers and men alike is shown by the touching messages of sympathy received by his parents.
A younger brother is on foreign service and has had some miraculous escapes, having been wounded no fewer than three times.
C.W.G.C. remember a J. Stockton at CANADA FARM CEMETERY Belgium. He was with the 4th Bn. Grenadier Guards, Regiment No 21169, Rank; Lance Corporal, His date of death was the 26th July 1917.
N.A.M.C. - have a card for a Stockton Joseph; Grenadier Guards, Regiment No: 21169, Rank Private. Awarded the 15 Star, British and Victory Medals. Theatre of War France, Date of Entry 26/7/1915. The card states “K. in A.”
Northwich Guardian 26th Oct. 1917 P5/C4; HARTFORD FAMILIES SECOND BEREAVEMENT, FORMER VILLAGE POSTMAN’S SYMPATHY.
As was announced in last Friday’s Guardian, Mr. & Mrs Stockton of Hodge Lane Hartford have lost two sons in the war. The first was Joseph and during last week they were informed in a letter from a Church of England chaplain that another son, Lance Corporal Fred Stockton had died of wounds. Since then the parents have received a letter from Private Frank Sanders, who before joining the colours was the village postman. The letter is dated October 11th and in it he refers to a visit which he paid to a cemetery behind the lines, where he found the grave to which their son Joe is buried. Private Sanders writes to Mrs Stockton as follows: “I daresay you will remember your old postman, Frank Sanders. A little while ago on receiving a paper from home. I read of your sad loss and I offered you my deepest sympathy. I though you would like to know that when passing a cemetery near a village well behind the lines yesterday, I went into see if there were the names of any that I knew and almost the first one that I saw was that of your son Joe. I thought it might be a little consolation to you to know that his grave is beautifully kept, with a splendid cross, on which is inscribed his name, regiment and when he was killed in action. No doubt you have been wondering how he was buried and I can assure you that a better and more fitting place could not have been found. Probably some day I shall be able to tell you more about it. Trusting I shall be spared that long and that it may be soon.”
The two Stockton lads are not included on the Hartford Memorial. Frank Sanders is not on St. Mary’s “Roll of Honour” but is included in the Not Listed.
Frank
Guardian Article 5th Oct. 1917 P5/C1; DIED OF WOUNDS LANCE CORPORAL F. STOCKTON
Mr. & Mrs Stockton of Hodge Lane, Weaverham, Northwich received an official notification on Wednesday that their son Lance Corporal Frank Stockton of the Cheshire Regiment died at a Hospital on Sept. 30th from gunshot wounds to the head, fractured jaw and haemorrhage. He formerly worked at Mrs Lownds farm and volunteered in the first weeks of the war. He had been more than two years at the front and had been wounded three times previously. His elder brother fell in action a few weeks ago.
Guardian Article 9th Oct. 1917 P3/C1; DIED OF WOUNDS LANCE CORPORAL F. STOCKTON
Mr. & Mrs Stockton of Hodge Lane, Hartford, Northwich have suffered a second bereavement by the war. Last week the Rev. R. Scarlett, Chaplin at a Canadian Hospital at the front wrote to then as follows: “Your dear son, who was in this hospital, was badly wounded, head and foot. He is getting along very nicely and is receiving the best care.” Fours days later Mr. & Mrs Stockton received the official intimation that their son had died of wounds. He was 28 years of age. He was a farm servant and at the outbreak of war was in the employ of Mrs Lownes of Hodge Lane, Weaverham. He volunteered the first week in the war and at the time of his death had been more than two years on active service. He had been wounded three times.
Guardian Article 12th Oct. 1917 P5/C1&2; DIED OF WOUNDS LANCE CORPORAL F. STOCKTON (SECOND SON TO FALL)
Mr. & Mrs Stockton, Hodge Lane, Hartford, Northwich, have suffered a second bereavement by the war. Last week the Rev. R. Scarlett, Chaplin at a Canadian Hospital at the front wrote to them as follows;“Your dear son, who was in this hospital, was badly wounded, head and foot. He is getting along very nicely and is receiving the best care.”
Miss Stockton has received the following letter from the Rev. Heber H. K. Greene, C/E Chaplin; “It is my sad duty to have to write you regarding your brothers last hours. Saturday evening he had haemorrhaged, he had another one on Sunday morning before he went into the operation room. He asked the sister of he was going to pull through it. I called in the afternoon but he had not come out of the anaesthetic, so I decided to come again. At dinner I had an urgent message to go and see him. He was unconscious then and was sinking fast. As he passed away we commended him to God’s keeping and you his loved ones, to God’s consoling care. He passed away at 8:30pm. As he passed away the people at the Evening Service were singing “Hold thou the cross before my closing eyes – to life in death” one would almost think his death and the singing of that verse had been timed. Another gallant lad gone. Only when this awful business is over will we realise what our sacrifices have saved us from. May our heavenly fathers comfort you in your great loss – and all his dear ones.” Lance Corporal Stockton, as a boy, attended Davenham Sunday School and also the Little Budworth Day and Sunday Schools.
C.W.G.C. - remember a F. Stockton at MONT HUON MILITARY CEMETERY, LE TREPORT, France. He was with the 9th Bn. Cheshire Regiment, No 10775, Private, died on the 30th September 1917. There is no family connection details.
N.A.M.C. - have a card for Stockton, Frank, Corps: Cheshire Regiment, No 10775; Rank Private. Awarded the British and Victory Medals. Theatre of War and Date of Entry not addressed. See attached.
Researched Bob Heaton