Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
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

L/Cpl 33350 Albert Stoner

Age: 24
From: Liverpool
Regiment: 8 BORDER REGT
Died on Friday 22nd March 1918
Commemorated at: Arras Memorial
Panel Ref: Bay 6

Albert was born on 06th June 1893, the son of Charles Henry Stoner and his wife Annie (née Thorpe). He was baptised in St. Peter’s, Liverpool, on 09th August 1893, his parents’ residence given as Fielding Street, and his father’s occupation as porter. The family remained at this address for all of Albert's life. Charles and Annie were both born in Liverpool and married in 1886. Albert had an elder brother Edward James (Ted), born in 1886, and an elder sister Annie who was born in 1891 but sadly died at 11 months.In 1901 his father is aged 34 and works as a fruit porter, his mother is 35. Edward, 14, is an office boy for a wholesale chemist, and Albert is 7. Also in the household is his grandmother Elizabeth Thorpe, 65, born in Penrith.The 1911 Census shows both parents are 44, his father now a porter for a leather merchant. Albert is 17, working as a clerk for a cotton broker.His brother Ted is married and living at 14 Holt Road employed as a porter for the L&NW Railway.Albert enlisted in Liverpool in the 22nd (Reserve) Battalion of The Kings Liverpool Regiment as Private 35467. The amount of the War Gratuity suggests that he served for eighteen months before he was killed, enlisting in about September 1916. He was posted to the Border Regiment, initially with the 11th Battalion, then was transferred to the 3rd Battalion, and was serving with the 8th Battalion of the Border Regiment as Lance Corporal 33350 when he was killed in action on 22nd March 1918 during the German Spring Offensive.

His body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as his name is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.

The ARRAS MEMORIAL commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave. The most conspicuous events of this period were the Arras offensive of April-May 1917, and the German attack in the spring of 1918. Canadian and Australian servicemen killed in these operations are commemorated by memorials at Vimy and Villers-Bretonneux. A separate memorial remembers those killed in the Battle of Cambrai in 1917. Both cemetery and memorial were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, with sculpture by Sir William Reid Dick. The memorial was unveiled by Lord Trenchard, Marshal of the Royal Air Force on the 31 July 1932 (originally it had been scheduled for 15 May, but due to the sudden death of French President Doumer, as a mark of respect, the ceremony was postponed until July).

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 12th April 1918:"March 22, killed in action, aged 24 years, Lance-corporal Albert Stoner (Border Reg't.), dearly-loved second son of Charles and Annie Stoner, 20, Fielding Street, and second grandson of the late Albert Stoner, Kensington. Nine years' service with William Airey, cotton broker. (Too dearly loved and respected by all who knew him to ever be forgotten.) - Mother and Father, Brother Ted and Sister-in-law Ethel."

His mother Annie received his Army effects, including a War Gratuity of £9, and a pension of 7/6d a week.On the first anniversary of his death in 1919 his loved ones placed In Memoriam notices in the local press:"Stoner - In sad but honoured memory of our dear son, Albert, Border Regiment, who was killed instantaneously by a sniper, March 22, 1918, taking a party of men over the top. Deeply regretted. - Mother and Father.""Stoner - In loving memory of my dearest brother Albert, killed in action, March 22, 1918. (The supreme sacrifice.) - Sadly missed by his only Brother Ted and Ethel."And from a friend: "In unfading memory of Albert Stoner, killed in action March 22, 1918, nobly doing his duty. (True till death.) Will always be remembered by his chum, Harold Jones."

Albert is also commemorated on the following Memorials:

Christ Church Parishioners Memorial, Kensington, Liverpool

Liverpool Cotton Association Memorial (as A. E. Stoner)His father died in 1928 at the age of 61.In 1939 his mother Annie, then 73, lived at 231 West Derby Road; his brother Ted lived at 106 Lorenzo Drive, Norris Green, with his wife and family. Annie died in early 1941 aged 73.

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

Killed On This Day.

(109 Years this day)
Sunday 22nd April 1917.
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28 years old

(108 Years this day)
Monday 22nd April 1918.
Pte 136181 Edwin Williams
19 years old