Pte 235250 Robert Stafford

• Age: 30
• From: Shaw, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 31st July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Robert Stafford was born in 1887 in Shaw, Lancashire and was the son of Pathana Riley and the late John Henry Stafford who were married in 1883 in Ashton-under-Lyne. He was baptised on the 4th May 1887 at Holy Trinity, Shaw, father was a sand dealer of Manchester Rd, Shaw. The father John Henry died aged 30 in 1888.

His mother has several variations of her christian name Parthenie, Parthenia, Pathana but she was baptised on the 17th April 1864 at St Peter, Burnley, the daughter of Silvester and Ann Riley of Finsley Gate, Burnley.

The 1891 Census shows the family living at 2 Greenfield Lane, Crompton, Shaw. Widowed mother Pathania aged 27, a shopkeeper b.Burnley, children born in Shaw, Robert aged 4 a scholar, and Gertie aged 2.

His mother was to remarry in 1898 to Horatio Hartley in Burnley.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 24, Arthur Street, Brierfield, Burnley.

The father Horatio Hartley aged 36, born 1865 occupation, grocer and provisions dealer who was born in Burnley. His wife Pathana is aged 36, born 1865 no occupation and was also born in Burnley. They have four children including three step children, Sylvester Hartley aged 2, born 1899,Thomas Stafford (step-son) aged 15 born 1886  a grocer’s assistant, Robert Stafford (step-son) aged 14, born 1887 is a cotton weaver born in Shaw , Lancashire as was their step daughter Pathana Stafford aged 12, born 1889. 

Step-father Horatio died aged 43 in 1909.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 1 and 3 Ormond Avenue Blackpool.

The mother Pathana Hartley has been widowed for a second time and is now aged 47, and is a home worker who was born in Burnley. She is living with three of her children Thomas Henry aged 25, born 1886 and Robert aged 24, born 1884who  are both grocer’s and Gertrude aged 22, born 1889 is a baker. They also have a boarder Joseph Davey a married man of 50, born 1861 who is employed as a bricklayer. 

Robert Stafford, Grocer, left London, onboard the Corinthic 11th September 1913 age 26 for New Zealand. He was then only in NZ for a short time before returning for war service.

He married Harriet Ann Haworth, of 14 Heap St, Colne Rd, Burnley, in 1915 in Fylde.

He enlisted in Burnley and was formerly 202700, Yorkshire Regiment and was serving in the 18th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 235250 when he was killed in action on the 31st July 1917 aged 30 during the Third Battle of Ypres.

18^th Battalion

On this day, before Zero Hour, the 18^th Battalion was part of 21^st Brigade and was to form up for the attack from trenches from the area of Sanctuary Wood to Observatory Ridge but it was dark and continually falling rain gave very poor visibility. The departure of the 21^st Brigade was delayed by heavy shelling.

The 18^th King’s began to move forward in the rear of the 2^nd Battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment who had been detailed as the left attacking battalion of the 21^st Brigade.

No’s 1 and 3 Companies of the King’s led the way followed by No’s 2 and 4. In Sanctuary Wood there was considerable confusion, as a result No.2 and No.4 Companies became separated from the others, and were moved over to the left flank towards positions known as Surbiton Villas and Clapham Junction in the direction of the 90^th Brigade.

No.1 and 3 Companies were soon in action with the enemy, and were for a time, held up against an enemy strong point. They pushed forward with their right on a trench known as Jar Row and their left on the tramway south of Stirling Castle. Advance along Jar Row was held up by the Germans who put up a fierce resistance and the party was forced to withdraw.

Another group of men from No.1 and No.3 Companies led by 2^nd Lieutenant Graham were being held up by another strongpoint which was south of Stirling Castle, which was eventually stormed and taken.  Not far away from this action,  an attempt, by other men of No.1 and No.3 companies, was made to penetrate a broad belt of uncut wire, but this was covered by Machine-guns which killed almost every man attempting to pass through the two gaps that were discovered.

The situation was similar with No.2 and 4 Companies, who had attacked along the wrong axis. Their advance was met with fierce opposition, and once all the experienced officer’s had been killed or wounded, all cohesion was lost, although some men did reach and cross the Menin Road at Clapham Junction.

By that time, the situation had become extremely confused, and the whereabouts of all four companies being unknown to Battalion Headquarters, urgent attempts were made to discover their locations. Eventually by mid- afternoon, it was established that the bulk of the companies, although all mixed together, were dug in the vicinity of Stirling Castle and by mid evening, the Battalion Headquarters moved forward to meet them.

During its time in the line the 18^th Battalion lost 7 officers and 76 men killed or died of wounds and 7 officers and 177 men wounded. They were relieved on the 2^nd August.

PTE. R. STAFFORD KILLED

BLACKPOOL NEW ZEALANDERS DEATH IN ACTION

Pte Robert Stafford, of the Kings' Liverpool Regiment, who has been missing since July 31st, is now officially reported killed, his death in action occurring on that date. The news was received by his wife who resides at 16 St Paul's Road. He is, however, better known locally as the son of Mrs Hartley, grocer, of Ormond Avenue. He came over from New Zealand at the outbreak of war, and joined the forces in September last year. Last winter he was billeted in Blackpool with the Yorkshire's, but was transferred to the King's Liverpool Regiment, with whom we went to France in June last. He was, while abroad, an optician, but since his return from New Zealand, he assisted in his mother's grocery business. He was 30 years of age. His brother, Tom, is a company sergeant-major in the in the Inland Water Transport

He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

Blackpool Gazette and Fleetwood Chronicle 16th Nov 1917

Pte Robert Stafford of the King's Liverpool regiment who has been reported missing since July the 31st is now officially reported killed on that date. The news has been received by his wife who resides at 16 St Paul's Road, Blackpool. He is however better known locally as the son of Mrs Hartley, grocer, of Ormond Avenue. He came over from New Zealand at the outbreak of the war and joined the forces in September last year. He was 30 years of age.

He is also commemorated on the Blackpool War Memorial.

Mother Pathana, dob 28th Feb 1864, appears on the 1939 register at 18 Mere Rd, Blackpool with her son Thomas Henry and daughter Pathana Gertrude.

She died aged 76 in 1940.

We currently have no further information on Robert Stafford, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.