Frederick's Story.
EARLY LIFE
Frederick Stonier was born on 7 May 1882, and baptised on 3 July 1882 at Sunderland Street Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, the son of Ann Jane and William Stonier, a silk warehouseman of Daybrook St, Hurdsfield. In 1891, eight-year-old Frederick was living at 90 Daybrook St, Hurdsfield, with his parents and siblings John (22), Annie (17), Isabella (10), William (7) and Josiah (3). By 1901 Frederick's father had died, the family had moved to 11 Cumberland St, Macclesfield, and Frederick was working as a silk dresser.
In 1911, Frederick was working as an insurance agent and living at 11 Cumberland St with his two older sisters, Annie and Isabella; the following year he married Mary Woodcock.
MILITARY SERVICE
Frederick joined the Cheshire Regiment in Macclesfield with service number 5227. He was later transferred to the 6th Battalion Cheshire Regiment with service number 15088, and was finally allocated the number 267894.
The death of Private Stonier was reported in the Macclesfield Times on 19 April 1918:
The death of Private Stonier was reported in the Macclesfield Times on 19 April 1918:
Mrs Stonier, 11 Longden St, off Buxton Rd, Macclesfield, has received news that her husband, Pte Frederick Stonier, has been killed in action. He was formerly in the employ of the local branch of the Prudential Assurance Co.
Some time after Frederick's death, Mary moved to Emlyn House, Abergele Road, Colwyn Bay.
Some time after Frederick's death, Mary moved to Emlyn House, Abergele Road, Colwyn Bay.
COMMEMORATION
Private Frederick Stonier is commemorated on Panel Ref. 35 and 36 of the Pozieres Memorial.
In Macclesfield, Private Frederick Stonier is commemorated on the Park Green, Town Hall, St Michael's Church and Sunderland Street Chapel war memorials.
Elsewhere, he is named in the Prudential Assurance Roll of Honour.
NOTES
Brother of William Stonier, who served as Private 55130 with the Machine Gun Corps and was killed on 23 June 1918; and Josiah Stonier, who served as Private 252895 with the 483rd Labour Coy and survived the war.
SOURCES
GRO (England & Wales) Index: Births, Marriages
Cheshire Non-conformist & Roman Catholic Registers (Find My Past): Baptisms
Census (England & Wales): 1891, 1901, 1911
WWI Britain Absent Voters’ Lists (Find My Past)
Lives of the First World War website
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Macclesfield Times: 19 April 1918
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.