Pte 11282 Stephen Hynes

Stephen was born in Liverpool on the 15th August 1894 and was baptised at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Liverpool on the 20th August. He was the son of Thomas Hynes and his wife Hannah (née Sharkey). Although the family were Roman Catholics his parents were married at Our Lady & St. Nicholas C. of E. Church, Liverpool on the 12th October 1879. 

The 1901 Census shows the family, all born in Liverpool, living at 7 Strickland Street, Everton. His father, Thomas, is aged 49, and a dock labourer, his mother, Hannah, is aged 39, with children Margaret (13), Patrick (10), Stephen (6), Catherine (4) and Mary (1).  

By the time of the 1911 census Stephen, aged fifteen, was working as a hawker and was living at 35 Vescock Street, Liverpool with his married sister Margaret Baker and her husband John. His twelve year old sister, Mary Hynes, was also a member of the household along with Annie Shaw, a fourteen year old visitor.

Their parents were living at 1 Beresford Street, Everton in 1911 with three children - Paddy (22), Kate (14) and Bridget (7). They stated that they had been married 30 years with 7 children born only 3 of whom survived. They were sharing the house with Annie Shaw (a widow) and her son William and a young married couple, John and Annie Pickavant.

His name featured amongst a list of deserters in the Police Gazette on Tuesday 08th February 1916; 

DESERTERS AND ABSENTEES FROM HIS MAJESTY'S SERVICE 

Hynes, Stephen, No.11282, 3rd Liverpool R., Age 21, Height 5’ 4”, brown eyes and hair, a labourer, enlisted Liverpool 24th Aug 1914, deserted Pembroke Dock. 

He was serving in the 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No. 11282 when he died of wounds on the 15th October 1916, aged 19, during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive. 

His death was also reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on Wednesday 22nd November 1916; 

DIED OF WOUNDS. 

King's (Liverpool Regiment). - Alderson, 15781, Sergt. R. H.; Beattie, 16767, Corpl. J. R.; Bird, 22929, E.; Hynes, 11282, S.; Lee, 32717, Е.; M’Grath, 5436. Lce.-Corpl. T.; Wharton, 5220, H. (Southport); Williams, 4424, W. G. (Bootle). 

Stephen earned his two medals. 

His widow Mary, date of birth 11th December 1893, received his Soldiers Effects, Army Pay of £6 9s 6d, a War Gratuity of £7 10s, and a pension of 18/9d a week. 

His widow, Mary Catherine, remarried at St. Francis Xavier's Church on the 31st October 1920 to Peter Corrigan, they both gave their address as 126 Field Street. 

On the 1921 Census at 32 Wilton Street, daughter Catherine is living with her grandparents Joseph and Anne Leonard who are under the impression she is an orphan with both parents dead. This is far from the truth as widow Mary is living at 126 Field Street with husband Peter Corrigan and newly born son Joseph.

His daughter, Catherine, married in 1934 to Stephen Lafferty and they had a family by 1939 at 282 Great Howard Street.  

His widow, Mary, died, aged 37, at 147a Mill Road (workhouse) in 1932 and was buried on the 25th October at Ford Cemetery.