William's Story.
William Stockton, aged 23, of the King's Shropshire Infantry, 23916 died on 22nd March 1917, in France. He appears to be the same William Stockton whose death was described in the newspaper as having occurred on 18th March, and he is sometimes given a different regimental numbers of 16916 or 26413 (Cheshire Regiment).
PRIVATE W. STOCKTON.
Private William Stockton, of the K.S.L.I.. son of Mr. John Stockton, 43 Brown Street, Crewe, has been killed in action. The news was conveyed to Mrs Stockton, his wife, in the following letter: It is with great regret I have to inform you of the death of your husband, who was killed in action on the night of the 18th, and we all deeply sympathize with you in your great loss. Your husband while in this company always carried out duties in excellent manner. --Yours, P. W. LEE
Private Stockton was formerly employed as a farm hand in the neighbourhood of Crewe. but before this he worked in Crewe Works for some time. He was 23 years of age, and joined up nine months ago. He went to the front five months ago. He was seriously wounded but recovered and returned to the front, where soon after he met his death.
What do we know about William?
William was born in Shavington, near Crewe, in February 1894, the son of John Stockton (1853 - 1938) and Jane Farrington (1857–1908). In 1901, he was living at Osbourne Grove, Shavington, with his parents and younger brother Richard (1899–1971). When he was fourteen, his mother Jane died. By 1911, when he was 17, William was working as a farm labourer for the Dutton family at Hough House, Nantwich.
On 31st December 1912, at Nantwich Register Office, 18-year-old William married 23-year-old Lilian Mary Parker, and their first son Leslie William (1913 - 1977) was born the following year on 21st June. William and Lily went on to have another son, Wilfred John (1915–1977). They lived at 72 Henry Street, Crewe. (His widowed father John was by then living at 43 Brown Street, Crewe). William was employed at the Crewe Works,but then worked as a farm labourer.
In May 1915, when he was 21, William enlisted at Chester into the Cheshire Regiment (regimental number 26413). His height was recorded as 5' 3". However, four days later, on 25th May 1915, he was medically discharded because of a mistral murmur (ie heart murmur) and therefore deemed unlikely to become an efficient soldier. He was issued with an armlet, to indicate that he was not a civilian through choice.
A year later, William was able to enlist into the King's Shropshire Light Infantry in the summer of 1916. He was sent to the front in November 1916. He was seriously wounded but recovered. On his return to the front in 1917, he was killed in action and died on 18th March (according to the newspaper account and his pension card) or on 22nd March (other records, such as the Register of Deceased Soldiers' Effects, below).
His widow Lily married Ernest Moulson in the autumn of 1919. They lived at 8 Dewes Streeet, Crewe.
Researched by Shena Lewington (September 2025)
PRIVATE W. STOCKTON.
Private William Stockton, of the K.S.L.I.. son of Mr. John Stockton, 43 Brown Street, Crewe, has been killed in action. The news was conveyed to Mrs Stockton, his wife, in the following letter: It is with great regret I have to inform you of the death of your husband, who was killed in action on the night of the 18th, and we all deeply sympathize with you in your great loss. Your husband while in this company always carried out duties in excellent manner. --Yours, P. W. LEE
Private Stockton was formerly employed as a farm hand in the neighbourhood of Crewe. but before this he worked in Crewe Works for some time. He was 23 years of age, and joined up nine months ago. He went to the front five months ago. He was seriously wounded but recovered and returned to the front, where soon after he met his death.
What do we know about William?
William was born in Shavington, near Crewe, in February 1894, the son of John Stockton (1853 - 1938) and Jane Farrington (1857–1908). In 1901, he was living at Osbourne Grove, Shavington, with his parents and younger brother Richard (1899–1971). When he was fourteen, his mother Jane died. By 1911, when he was 17, William was working as a farm labourer for the Dutton family at Hough House, Nantwich.
On 31st December 1912, at Nantwich Register Office, 18-year-old William married 23-year-old Lilian Mary Parker, and their first son Leslie William (1913 - 1977) was born the following year on 21st June. William and Lily went on to have another son, Wilfred John (1915–1977). They lived at 72 Henry Street, Crewe. (His widowed father John was by then living at 43 Brown Street, Crewe). William was employed at the Crewe Works,but then worked as a farm labourer.
In May 1915, when he was 21, William enlisted at Chester into the Cheshire Regiment (regimental number 26413). His height was recorded as 5' 3". However, four days later, on 25th May 1915, he was medically discharded because of a mistral murmur (ie heart murmur) and therefore deemed unlikely to become an efficient soldier. He was issued with an armlet, to indicate that he was not a civilian through choice.
A year later, William was able to enlist into the King's Shropshire Light Infantry in the summer of 1916. He was sent to the front in November 1916. He was seriously wounded but recovered. On his return to the front in 1917, he was killed in action and died on 18th March (according to the newspaper account and his pension card) or on 22nd March (other records, such as the Register of Deceased Soldiers' Effects, below).
His widow Lily married Ernest Moulson in the autumn of 1919. They lived at 8 Dewes Streeet, Crewe.
Researched by Shena Lewington (September 2025)