Pte 50650 William Henry Stuart

• Age: 21
• From: Burnley, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 8th May 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

William Henry Stuart was born in 1897 in Burnley and was the son of Oates Mitchell Stuart and Mary Stuart (nee Hartley), of 12 Clarence St, Burnley. Oates Mitchell and Mary had married in 1896 at Burnley Register Office. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 44 Hufling Lane, Burnley. His father, Oates Mitchell, is aged 28, born in 1873 and is a painter and was born in Burnley, Lancashire. His mother, Mary, is aged 27, born in 1874 is a cotton weaver. They have the one son William Henry aged 4, born 1897 in Burnley.  

The 1911 Census shows the family now living at 12 Clarence Street, Burnley.His father, Oates Mitchell, is aged 38, and is a house painter and his mother, Mary, is aged 37, and is still employed as a cotton weaver. They have been married for fifteen years and have the one child. Their son William Henry aged 14, is also employed as a house painter.  

He enlisted in Burnley and was formerly 21599, Royal Lancaster Regiment and was serving in ‘C’ Company of the 17^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 50650 when he was killed in action on the 8^th May 1918 aged 21 during the German Spring Offensive.

The 17th Battalion were at this time in the Vierstraat Sector. the diary reports that the day passed quietly until the afternoon.

The front line ran through Klein Vierstraat Cabaret. At 4.30 pm it was reported that the Germans had advanced and were now in " our original front line". At 7.10 pm A and B company's of the 17th Battalion were ordered to move forward in artillery formation from support line with object of co-operating with French troops who were advancing towards the enemy. At 08.10 pm the advance was reported to be going well on the left but nothing could be seen on the right. The situation at the end of the day was that the 17th Battalion were holding the line alongside several other units but casualties were heavy. Captain Norman Henry and Second Lieutenant Dudley Hammond Black were killed in action alongside 17 other ranks one of whom was William Henry Stuart. 

William was initially declared Wounded and Missing on the 08th May 1918. His aunt, Mrs. Sharrocks, at 208 Branch Road, Burnley, contacted the International Red Cross but was notified in October 1918 that they held no information on William.

His death was reported in the Burnley Express on Saturday 26th July 1919;

STUART. —In fond and loving memory of our dearly beloved and only son, Pte. William H. Stuart, 50650, King's Liverpool, missing since May 8th, 1918, now officially presumed dead from that date, aged 22 years. 

He has gone like a flower,

Cut down in his bloom,

From the sunshine of life,

To the shade of the tomb, 

But death can out sever, 

The chain of our love,

Nor steal the fond hope,

We shall meet him above.

From his Father and Mother, 12, Clarence-street, and all at 16, Clarence-st. 

Not gone from memory or from love,

But safe in our Father's home above. 

From Aunty, and Cousins Elsie and Alice, 208, Branch road; and also Eli, in France. 

Wherever we go. whatever we do,

We've always a thought, dear Willie, for you. 

Beattie and Edna, 3 Stoney-street.  

His death was also reported in the Burnley Express, alongside that of his great friend Whitham Ormerod on Saturday 25th October 1919; 

ORMEROD—In loving memory of our dear brother, Whitham Ormerod, East Lancs., who died on the October 26th, 1916. Also his dear Pal, Pte. William H. Stuart, King's Liverpool Regt., missing since May 8th, 1918. and officially presumed dead from that date. 

Time may alter many things, 

But loving memories ever cling. —38, Hufling-lane.    

William Henry's body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

An appeal from his anxious parents was reported in the local press following their receipt of information that he was presumed dead:

BURNLEY YOUTH'S PRESUMED DEATH

Mr and Mrs Stuart of 12 Clarence Street, Burnley Wood, had official news that their only son Private W. H. Stuart 50650, King's Liverpool Regiment was wounded and missing since May 8th 1918. They have now got further official news that he is presumed dead from that date. Private Stuart was home on leave on the 3rd of March 1918, and went back again on the 17th of March. He belonged to St. Stephen's church and school, and was a Boy Scout, and also a member of the Burnley Lads' Club. Private Stuart joined up on November 14th 1915 when he was 18 years of age. His parents are very anxious concerning his welfare and would be glad to hear any things from any comrade. 

A mark of William's character is that he placed a notice in the newspaper about a fallen friend Pte Whitham Ormerod who was killed whilst serving with the 2nd Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment on 26th October 1916 :-

ORMEROD - What greater love, what greater sacrifice - From a pal who misses him, Private W. H. Stuart, King's Liverpool Regiment, BEF, France. 

William is commemorated on the Greater Burnley Roll of Honour 1914-1918 and the Memorial at St Stephen's Church

ST STEPHEN'S WAR MEMORIAL

The following is a list of names of the Fallen Heroes, as they will appear in the Memorial Window to be installed in St. Peter's and Stephen's Parish Church:- 

Pte's J.C. Green, Frank Harker, W. Hindle, W. Pollard and W. H. Stuart, Kings Liverpool Regiment;

[Note: John Charles Green 31263 4Btn, Frank Harker(193602 Labour Corps), William Pollard 48986 13th Btn] 

 was initially declared Wounded and Missing on the 08th May 1918.

His aunt, Mrs. Sharrocks, at 208 Branch Road, Burnley, contacted the International Red Cross but was notified in October 1918 that they held no information on William.

Soldiers Effects, army pay of £18 8s 7d, War Gratuity £14 and Pension to his mother Mary.

His mother, Mary, died, aged 56, in 1929 and was buried on the 02nd August at Burnley Cemetery (from a family tree).

His father Oates, died, aged 68, in 1941 and was buried on the 01st September at Burnley Cemetery, his abode at the time of his death: 32 Accrington Road (from family tree). 

Grateful thanks are extended to Burnley in the Great War website for kind permission to use the photograph of William Henry. 

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