These pages will develop over time as I add details to them, so please keep an eye on "What's New" on the Home Page to check when it has been updated.

if you have a relative  who served in the war and you can't find any details on the site, please email me at the address above and I will investigate and hopefully come across details of his service.

James QUALTER

47, High Street, Prescot

Pte 1013, 2^nd Bn., South Lancashire Regiment

James was the brother of Michael Qualter, who died in India and is commemorated on this page.

James enlisted for 6 years service with the Special Reserve (3^rd Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment) on 8^th December 1909 at Warrington. He was 19 years and 8 months old and worked as a Labourer/Wire Drawer at the Wire Works. He had previously (1908) joined the 1/5^th Battalion of the territorial Force in 1908.

He recorded his family as mother and father Mary and Michael Qualter of 47, High Street, Prescot, siblings Michael, Mary and Margaret at the same address and another brother, John, living in Warrington Road. 

James married Mary Frances O’Shea in Huyton on 27^th November 1913. Wintnesses were his sister Mary and Dan McEllin. A son, James O’Shea Qualter, was born in the summer of 1915 and daughter Winifred was born in 1923.

He attended the annual training camp each year from 1909 to 1914 and then on the outbreak of war in August 1914, he was mobilised, then posted to the 2^nd Battalion on 7^th October.

James Qualter went to France with the battalion on 8^th October 1914.

James was included in the list of Roman Catholic men serving in the forces which was printed in the Prescot reporter in May 1915. He suffered an accidental wound on 1^st March 1918. James stated that he was chopping wood with an axe when the axe slipped off the side of the log and hit his right big toe

He had three periods of leave to the UK, the final one being from 21^st January 1918 to 4^th February 1918, and one period of leave to Paris from 12^th to 19^th August 1918!

James returned to the UK on 17^th February 1919 and was demobilised on 19^th March, stating his address as 47,. Mount Pleasant, Liverpool although he later moved to 215, Edge Lane, Liverpool.

His medal entitlement was to the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, and these were issued on 28^th April 1921.

In 1931, James wrote to the army records office asking for a copy of his discharge papers which he had mislaid “while moving from one place to another”.

Herbert RAY
24, Station Road, Prescot

Sergeant 368, 1/5th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment

Herbert attested to the Territorial Army on 7th April 1908 at Prescot. He lived at 24, Station Road, Prescot, was just under 20 years old and worked as a Switch Board Attendant at the Wire Works. He had two years previous service with the old Yeomanry, the territorial Army being only created in 1908 under the Haldane reforms.

The 1911 census showed Herbert living at the above address with his mother, Adelaide Louise Dutton, and her husband Harry. Herbert is shown to be the stepson of Harry. At this time, he is shown to be a Stationary Engineman.

On the outbreak of war in 1914, he was promoted to the rank of “Second Sergeant”. When the battalion went to France 13th February 1915, Herbert was once again promoted to Sergeant, then in May of that year he was made Colour Sergeant, finally becoming Company Sergeant Major on 29th August 1915.

The regimental history of the South Lancashire Regiment reports that in April of 1916, Herbert was amongst the men who received the Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry under fire, and the London Gazette of 3rd June 1916 reported the award of the medal. Although no citation was published, the award related to fighting in the Ypres Salient in 1915.  

Herbert received his medal at the unveiling of Prescot Civic Memorial on 9th September 1916

Having served in the army for 10 years, Herbert returned to England on 1st April 1916 and was discharged on 4th April.  His discharge papers show his next of kin was listed as Marion Ray of 77, Houghton Street, Prescot. His had originally written “Adelaide Louise Dutton”, but this had been crossed out.

Medal Index Card records his entitlement to the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Herbert died in Prescot in 1965, aged 76.

William SIXSMITH

Address Not Known

Pte 2897,1/5^th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment

William was included in the list of men serving in the forces which was published in the Prescot reporter in May 1915. He sailed for France with his unit on 8^th August that year.

William entitled to the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. In addition, he also had a Silver War Badge, indicating that he had been wounded.

I have identified six men of this name living in Prescot at the time of the 1911 census, 5 of whom are in the age range for most Great War Servicemen. I cannot determine which of these is the man who served as Private 2897, although the most likely seems to be 33 year old William Sixsmith of 42, Bretherton Road.

Frederick J SPEAKE
10, Hale View Road, Huyton Quarry

Private 240346, South Lancashire Regiment

The 1911 census shows the Speake family at the above address. Parents George (50, an out of work Iron Shingler) and Sarah (55), had been married for 28 years and of their nine children, seven were still living, four of whom were with their parents. Frederick was a 15 year old Brass Polisher at the Wire Factory, William (14), was an Errand Boy for a Hardware Dealer, John (12) and Phyllis (8) were still at school.

Looking back to the 1901 census, other children are Sissie (17), George (15), Mary (12) and Caroline (10).

Frederick was pictured in the Prescot Reporter (above) as “5th South Lancs” and listed in the Prescot Reporter in May 1915 as one of the men of Prescot serving with the colours

His Medal Index Card shows his entitlement to the British War Medal and Victory Medal. His 6-digit number is from the renumbering exercise of late 1916/early 1917, and as his MIC does not show an earlier number, this suggests that he did not see overseas service prior to 1917.  

Frederick married Georgina Christie in 1920 and he died in Stockport in 1983, aged 87

Private George SPEAKE

Pictured in the Prescot Reporter (below) as “3rd KOSB”

No details of George’s service have been located. It is possible that he is the 15 year old recorded on the 1901 census, although he was living in Manchester at the time of the 1911 census.  If so, it seems likely that his parents submitted his details to the Reporter for inclusion as he was one of three brothers serving.

William Henry SPEAKE
25, Atherton Street, Prescot

Private 1953, 5th Bn., South Lancashire regiment

See Frederick (above) for details of the Speake family in the 1911 census.

Pictured in the Prescot Reporter (above) as “5th South Lancs, wounded twice in France” and listed in the Prescot Reporter in May 1915 as one of the men of Prescot serving with the colours

William worked as a Labourer at BI&HC Ltd when he attested to the Territorial battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment on 7th April 1914, aged 19. His number was 1953. He gave his father, Thomas George Speaks as his next of kin.

On the outbreak of war in 1914 he was called up and went to Edinburgh on 13th August, staying there until the battalion moved to Tunbridge Wells in October of that year.
 
He embarked from Southampton for France with the Battalion on 12th February 1915, arriving at Le Havre the following day. His service entitled him to the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

William’s record shows that he suffered a Gun Shot Wound to the back on 8th May 1915. After initial treatment at a Casualty Clearing Station, he was sent to No 8 Field Hospital at Rouen for treatment, then on 28th May he was sent to the convalescent depot, finally being discharged back to his unit on 6th June. He was then wounded in the neck on 21st August 1915, although he was back with his unit within three days. 

He was renumbered to 240331 in early 1917 and was demobilised on 12th March 1919, at which time he gave his address as 43, Derby Street, Prescot.

On 18th February 1921, William acknowledged receipt of his 1915 Star, giving his address as Edgefauld Road, Springburn, Glasgow. He received his other medals on 16th December 1921.

Sandilands STOCKLEY

Although there are several men of this name living in Prescot at the time of the 1911 census, the ages suggest that this man was probably Sandylands Sockley of 38 Cyprus Street, Prescot. He was aged 21 and worked as a Quarryman. He lived with his parents, Ralph and Alice, and Ralph’s father Sandylands (a 75 year old widower).  Brother James (15) and sisters Elizabeth 14) and Isabella (9) make up the rest of the family.

Pte 1849, 1/5th Bn South Lancs

Sandilands was listed in the Prescot Reporter in May 1915 as one of the Prescot men serving with HM Forces. At some point after 1916, he was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps as private 148154

No other details of his service have been identified

Thomas STOCKLEY
5 Houghton Street, Prescot

Pte 3131, 5th Bn, South Lancashire Regiment
(Later 241014)

Thomas attested to the South Lancs on 7th November 1914 in St Helens, aged 33 years. His wife Mary (nee Brocon), of the same address, was recorded as his next of kin. The 1911 census showed that Thomas was a Coal Miner and that he and Mary  had four children; Alice (8), Edward (5), Thomas(2) and Mary (5 months). However, when he completed his attestation papers, he recorded his children as Thomas (04/09/1908), Mary (10/10/1910), Alice (10/03/1913), Annie (10/03/1914) and Edward (26/09/1915).

Thomas was listed in the Prescot Reporter in May 1915 as one of the Prescot men serving with HM Forces.

Thomas remained in the UK until 16th February 1917 when he was posted to France. He was granted 14 days leave on 19th March 1918, returning to his unit on 1st April. 
He was posted to the 1/4th Battalion of the regiment on 7th March 1918 and embarked for the UK on 1st January 1919 for demobilisation, which occurred on 30th January.

Thomas’ medal entitlement was to the British War Medal and Victory Medal, and these were issued in January 1921.

Thomas died in 1940 in Prescot, aged 60

William STOCKLEY,
19, Kemble Street, Prescot

Pte 3778, 3/5th Bn, South Lancashire regiment, renumbered in 1917 to 241449. 

He was listed in the Prescot Reporter in May 1915 as one of the Prescot men serving with HM Forces.

William attested to the South Lancs in St Helens on 15th May 1915, aged 35, embarking for France on 21st September 1915 with the 1/5th Battalion reinforcement draft. His next of kin was listed as his mother Elizabeth, of the Alms Houses, Prescot.

In April 1917, he suffered an accidental gun shot wound to the chin, an injury that was classified as “trivial” by the inspecting doctor. The wound appears to have been caused in some way when he was stoking an incinerator.

He was granted 14 days leave to the UK on 12th December 1918, returning to his unit on Christmas Day.

William then once again  returned to the UK on 15th January 1919 and was demobilized on 13th February 1919, giving his address as 6, Albert Street, Prescot. His medal entitlement was the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory medal, and he received these on 27th September 1921 (Star only) and 18th November 1921.

In July 1920, he was awarded a one-off gratuity of £32-10-0 as he had suffered a hernia whilst in the army.

William STOCKLEY

Royal Welsh Fusiliers

William was listed in the Prescot Reporter in May 1915 as one of the Prescot men serving with HM Forces

Two men by this name served with the RWF, and I have been unable to determine which of these is “our” William. The two men are numbered 20312 and 27129

Isaac SUMNER

18, Bretherton Road, Prescot

Pte 3365, 1/5^th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment

(Later 241174)

Isaac was born in Halewood in 1893 and by the time of the 1911 census, was living as a Lodger at Tarbock Hall, working as a Farm Labourer.

He attested to the army on 9^th November 1914 at Prescot. His next of kin was listed as his sister, Margaret, of Yew Tree House, Tarbock.

Isaac was included in the list of men serving in the forces which was published in the Prescot reporter in May 1915. He sailed for France with his unit on 8^th August that year.

He was granted 14 days leave to the UK on 7^th December 1918 but apart from that remained in France until he was demobilised on 30^th January 1919. His medal entitlement was to the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, which he received in November 1921. At this time, his address was 21, Eccleston Street, Prescot.

He was also awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field, and this was gazetted in the London Gazette of 22^nd July 1919, suggesting an action late in the war. There is no reference to this in the Regimental History.

Sadly, Isaac died in Prescot in 1930 at the young age of 37

William WELSBY
Address unknown

Private, South Lancashire Regiment. 

There were four men by this name serving in the South Lancs regiment and it has not been possible to confirm which of these is the man from Prescot.

Listed in the “Prescot Weekly Times” of 27th May 1915 in the list of “Catholic men of Prescot serving with HM Forces”.

He was pictured in the Prescot Reporter of 15/10/1917 with the caption “South Lancs (Prescot) wounded”. 

James WHITAKER

(living in Canada)

James Whitaker was born in Prescot on 16^th July 1889. It isn’t clear when he migrated to Canada, but he appears to have been single when he attested to the army on 11^th November 1914, as he stated that his next of kin was his mother “Mrs Whitaker”, of Woodbine Cottage, Prescot. His occupation was “Gardener”.

He was assigned as Private 57747 to the 20^th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force.

James was included in the list of men serving in the forces which was published in the Prescot reporter in May 1915, which stated that he served with the Canadian Contingent.

He was also pictured in the Reporter on 15^th June 1917 when it was reported that he had been awarded the Military Medal.