Also Served: William Stockley - William STOCKLEY
5 Lancaster Terrace, Prescot Private 20312, 14th Bn., Royal Welsh Fusiliers
William Stockley. Picture kindly provided by his grandchildren
William Stockley was born in Prescot on 29th August 1892, the eldest son of John and Rachel Stockley. The 1911 census recorded the family living at 84, Warrington Road, Prescot, with John employed as a Foreman in the Box Dept of the Wire Works. William, aged 18, was a Clerk, also at the Wire Works.
William's family have advised that he enlisted into a Welsh Regiment as he was on holiday in Wales when he joined the army. The 14th Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusliliers, which he joined, was formed in Llandudno on 2nd November 1914.
William was listed in the Prescot Reporter in May 1915 as one of the Prescot men serving with HM Forces
Hywyn, a forum pal at the Great War Forum, has advised me that William was on the Embarkation Roll of the Battalion on 1st December 1915. This is confirmed by his Medal Index Card, which lists his entry to France on that date.
The 14th Battalion were heavily involved in the Somme campaign of July 1916, and although William's records have not survived, it is reasonable to assume that he was part of these actions.
The movements are summarised below:-
3rd July- Arqueves
5th July- Mametz (Quadrangle Trench and Shelter Wood)
6th July- Danzig Alley
7th July- Pommiers Trench
8th July- Minden Post
10th July- Attacked Mametz Wood
12th July- Relieved and moved to Citadel Camp
They continued moving around the Somme sector until the end of the month, when they entrained for Ypres.
The image below shows the Battalion movements as they prepared for the Third Battle of Ypres in July 1917
On 2nd August 1917, William's father received notification that his son had been gassed and was severely wounded. This was almost certainly as part of the capture of Pilkem Ridge, referred to above.
The images below are extracts from the War Diary (though they are low resolution and may be hard to read)
William had been moved to the General Hospital at Wimereaux. Some months later, in September 1918, John received a further communication reporting that William was at a Convalescent Depot in Etaples. This further advised that he had been transferred to 12th Battalion of the North Staffordshire Regiment, numbered 44825.
William's Medal Index Card also records that he served with the Labour Corps, numbered 654647. This number was in a range allocated to Labour Corps Prisoner of War Companies, assigned to guard and work in PoW Camps. This was common for men who were unfit to return to front line duty as a result of wounds or illness.
No more is known about William's service. He was entitled to the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
William's Medal Card, shoing his service with the Labour Corps as well as the Royal Welsh Fusiliers
William's service is also commemorated on the Memorial Plaques which were on display in the Electrical Fittings Department (later Accessories Division) of the BICC Factory in Prescot.
He married Catherine Platt in 1921 and lived until the age of 74, dying in Prescot in 1966.
In another picture provided by the family, William is seen with his wife, Kitty
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