1885 - 1916
CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916
Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916
Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916
Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918
Pte 18764 George Stafford
- Age: 32
- From: Liverpool
- Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
- K.I.A Tuesday 8th October 1918
- Commemorated at: Busigny Cc Ext
Panel Ref: III.C.14
George Edward Stafford was born on 18th May 1886, the son of Joseph Frederick William Stafford and his wife Theresa (née Grainger) who were married on Christmas Day, the 25th December 1878 at St John the Baptist Church, Liverpool. George was baptized in St. Peter’s Church, Liverpool, on 30th May 1886, his father’s occupation given as boiler maker. His parents had seven children, four of whom survived to adulthood. Their eldest Mary Alice died at age 5, and twins Nicholas and Josephine born in January 1891 lived for one day.
On the 1891 Census the family are living with Joseph’s parents Edward and Mary Stafford at 44 Woodruff Street, Toxteth. Father Joseph F. W. is aged 32, a boilermakers plater, mother Theresa is aged 33 with children Joseph F. W. 7, at school, Theresa 9, at school, George is 4 and Mary 2. George also had full siblings Mary A. 1879-86, Josephine and Nicholas (Twins born March 1891 who sadly died in the same quarter).
George’s mother, Theresa, died, aged 35, in 1893 and was buried on the 28th May 1893 at St James' Cemetery, Liverpool.
His father Joseph Frederick William re-married on the 28th October 1894 to Mary Elizabeth Scott at St Peter’s Church, Liverpool. Joseph was a 30 year old widowed boiler maker of College Lane, his father, Edward, was a blacksmith, whilst Mary was a spinster aged 22 also of College Lane, her father, William, was a labourer.
On the 1901 Census the family are living 25a Longville Street, Toxteth Park. His father, Joseph, is aged 41, a boilermakers plater, his step- mother, Mary, is aged 30. They have five children in the household; Joseph, is 17 and George, is 14, both are apprentice boiler makers, Mary is 12, Elizabeth is 6 and Edward is 11 months old.
On the 1911 Census the family have moved to 34 Longville Street. His father, Joseph, is aged 52, his step-mother, Mary, is aged 39. they advised that they had been married for 19 years, and have had 8 children, 6 of whom have survived. They live with their children Elizabeth 15, Josephine 14, Edward 11, Lillian 8, Florrie 6 and Ellen 3, and his own children George aged 25, Mary 22, and married son Joseph 27 with his wife Ellen 22 and his daughter Ellen 11mths. There are 13 people declared in four rooms. His father and brother Joseph work in shipbuilding as boilermakers.
Prior to the war, George, was a labourer in Shipbuilding.
George’s service records show that he enlisted 05th September 1914 in Liverpool joining the 14th Batttalion as Private 18764. He declared that he was a labourer, aged 28 years, and living at home. He was described as being 5’5” tall, weighed 112lbs with a 35½” chest, hazel eyes and dark brown hair. He stated his religion as Church of Engl;and. His next of kin was his father, Joseph, of 34 Longville Street.
He was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on 10th December 1914 then confirmed as paid Lance Corporal from 27th April 1916 but reverted to Private at his own request. He served with the 14th Battalion In France from 04th September 1915 - 27th October 1915. He served with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force from 28th October 1915 - 18th June 1918. He returned to France on 26th June 1918 and transferred to the 18th Battalion K.L.R. on 12th August 1918.
George, like many of the soldiers who served in the Balkans, suffered several bouts of debilitating disease -
14/09/1916 admitted 28 C.C.S., debility admitted to No.29 Gen. Hosp., Salonika, with malaria
10/10/1916 rejoined unit in the field
21/04/1917 admitted 68 F.A., boils admitted No.5 Canadian Gen. Hosp., not yet determined
01/05/1917 admitted No.1 Con. Dep., malaria
05/06/1917 to No.4 Convalescent Depot
19/06/1917 arrived No.2 Base Depot
03/07/1917 rejoined unit in the field
02/08/1917 to Convalescent Unit, Corfu
03/09/1917 rejoined unit in the field
13/03/1918 admitted 66 F.A., infection of lymph nodes
19/03/1918 to duty.
Returned to France … sailing from Itea in Greece to Taranto in Italy, and entraining for the Western Front. Shortly after returning to France George was granted leave to the U.K. from 24th July 1918, seeing his family for the first time in nearly three years, and rejoining his unit on 11th August.
He was attached to 197 Bde. H.Q. from 1st September 1918 for a few days.
He was killed in action on the 08th October 1918 during the hundred days offensive which ended the First World War (8th August-11th November 1918).
From the battalion War Diary -
07th October 1918
The battalion was billeted at TEMPLEUX-LA-FOSSE and moved forward to the HINDENBURG Line in the neighbourhood of BONY, taking up previously selected position by 1545 hours. […] Final orders for the attack on the 8th were issued, rations were issued and everything prepared, overcoats being dumped and the necessary tools being issued.
8th October 1918
The battalion arrived in the Assembly position in B.8.d. at 0600 hours. […]. Intermittent shelling in BELLE VUE FARM and BEAUREVOIR MILL. Manchesters and Connaughts not in position. At 0652 the Manchesters and Connaughts moved forward, this battalion, being in Divisional Reserve, following. A good number of prisoners commenced to come in, the situation being good, and the Manchesters and Connaughts got into position without much difficulty.
At 1030 word was received from the Manchesters that LES FOLIES FARM was captured at 0830, and that they were advancing on to final objective, with very little opposition.
At 1235 hours our “D” Company was ordered to report to the Connaught Rangers, as reserve in case of necessity. At 1242 “A”, “B”, and “C” Coys were ordered forward to take up positions between PETIT FOLIES and LES FOLIES FARM in time to arrive at 1400 […], the battalion going to take over the line from the Connaughts. At 1730 “D” Company moved forward to occupy the mill at SERAIN and help in clearing up the Village, the eastern edge of which was occupied by the Bosche, “B” Company moving up to take over part of the line from the Connaughts.
The War Diary makes no mention of casualties for this day.
There was a list of Pals who were killed on the same day in the Weekly Casualty List (War Office & Air Ministry ) on Tuesday 26th November 1918;
KING'S (LIVERPOOL REGIMENT). - Blackburn 30297 H. (Liverpool); Blease 47019 C. F. (Liverpool); Brown 93731 P. (Liverpool); Cheetham 30083 T. (Liverpool); Consterdine 41489 F. W. (Manchester); Furnival 24247 L.-Cpl. J. E. (Widnes); Hickling 57045 T. (Liverpool); Holt 25412 F. (Skelmersdale); Irving 39122 R. (Liverpool); Jowett 202164 H. (Liverpool); Leece 84856 W. E. (Peel); McHugh 13516 W. (Liverpool); Roughley 17943 W., Μ.Μ. (Ormskirk); Stafford 18764 G. (Liverpool); Strickland 306287 G. (Blackpool); Thompson 24039 Sjt. S. (Manchester); Tinsley 24250 L.-Cpl. C. (Bootle); Walker 56255 L.-Cpl. R. (Wheatley); Waterworth 56257 L.-Cpl. B. (Malton); Wilcock 84868 T. (Wigan); Wright 21646 L.-Cpl. C. J., M.M. (Chester).
George now rests at Busigny Communal Cemetery Extension, France.
Busigny was captured by the 30th American Division and British cavalry on 9 October 1918, in the Battle of Cambrai, and in the course of the next two months the 48th, 37th and 12th Casualty Clearing Stations came successively to the village. The majority of the burials were made from these three hospitals. The cemetery extension was begun in October 1918, and used until February 1919. After the Armistice it was enlarged when graves were brought into Plots II-VII of graves from a wide area between Cambrai and Guise. Busigny Communal Cemetery Extension contains 670 First World War burials, 64 of them unidentified. The extension was designed by Charles Holden.
He earned his three medals.
His stepmother Mary (listed as mother) received his Army pay and a War Gratuity of £24.
The pension card in the name of his (step) mother Mary at 31 Longville Street, shows that she was awarded a pension of 12/- a week from May 1919. After her death in 1937 his father received the pension, then living at 49 Miles Street, Dingle.
Mary signed for George’s personal belongings in February 1919: 2 Identity discs.
In 1919 his father provided information on living relatives: His father and stepmother were still at 34 Longville Street with Mary and half sisters Josephine, Lilian, and Florence, and half brothers Edward 19, and Robert 3; half sister Annie was married and living in Liverpool; brother Joseph, 35, was living in Liverpool; his eldest sister Therese was married and living in Jarrow.
His stepmother Mary (listed as mother) received his Army pay of £4 2s 6d and a War Gratuity of £24.
The pension card in the name of his (step) mother Mary at 34 Longville Street, shows that she was awarded a pension of 12/- a week from May 1919.
In the Liverpool Weekly Courier on Saturday 21 October 1922;
ROLL OF HONOUR.
STAFFORD - In loving memory of our dear son, GEORGE, killed in action in France, Oct. 8. 1918, after four years' service.
None know the depths of our regret,
But we remember and never shall forget.
(From father, mother, sisters, and brothers, 34 Longville-street.)
If we could only see his face,
Or hear him call our names,
A happier home this would be
For aching hearts to-night.
Sister Mary.
His step-mother, Mary, died aged 58, in 1937.
Her death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on Wednesday 17 February 1937;
STAFFORD - Mr. STAFFORD and Family wish to thank all relatives, friends, and neighbours (old and new), Sisters of L.O.L. 147, Mrs. Firman, friends of Sailors Chapel, staff of Warner's Radio, Ltd., Garnett's and Co., keeper and cleaners of the Royal Insurance Buildings, for their kind expressions of sympathy and beautiful floral tributes during their sad bereavement. - 49, Miles-street, Dingle.
After her death in 1937, his father received the pension, then living at 49 Miles Street, Dingle.
His father died on the 28th December 1938, aged 78, and was buried on the 02nd January 1939 at Allerton Cemetery.
Probate:-
STAFFORD Joseph Frederick William of 49 Miles Street Liverpool 8 died 28 December 1938 at of Kirkdale Homes, Liverpool Administration Liverpool 12 July to Joseph Frederick William Stafford boilermaker. Effects £190 6s 6d.
Sadly, George has not been found on any local memorial.
We currently have no further information on George Stafford, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.
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