Robert Stott was born in Preston, Lancashire on 21st December 1898, the son of James Calvert Stott and Elizabeth (née Marchbank). James from Walton Le Dale and Elizabeth from Preston, married in 1890. His father was a widower with a son Francis, born in 1885. Robert had an older brother Walter, born in 1893, and younger sisters Margaret Ann 1900 and Ethel Mary 1902. Three other daughters died young between 1894 and 1897: Etheldreda (died at age 3), Elizabeth (died in infancy), and Isabella (died before age 1).
Robert was baptised in Brownedge St. Mary, Bamber Bridge, on 1st January 1899, in a Roman Catholic baptism.
In 1901 his parents, with four children, are living at 21 School Street, Walton le Dale. His father, 37, and half brother, Francis Stott, 15, are cotton spinners, his mother is 33. Walter is 7, Robert (listed as Robert Calvert) is 2, and Margaret is four months old.
When Robert was six, his father died in 1906, aged 43. His mother remarried to Thomas Gardner in 1908 and had twins Thomas and Ann, and John.
The 1911 census finds them at 17 Brandiforth Street, School Lane, near Preston. His stepfather, 53, is a cotton spinner, his mother is 43; they have three young children. His brother Walter is 17, also a cotton spinner. Although only 12, Robert is working as a weaver in a cotton mill. Margaret is 10 and Ethel 8.
Robert enlisted in Preston and was posted to the 17th Bn King’s Liverpool Regiment, as Private 90928. The amount of the War Gratuity suggests that he served for 15 months, enlisting in about May or June 1917 when he was 18 years old. At some point he was posted to the 4th Bn K.L.R. and later transferred to 13th Bn K.L.R.
In August 1918 the 13th Bn were in Brigade Reserve at Choques and were engaged in a number of actions during the month. On 13th August they moved by train to Le Souich area, and on the evening of the 19th marched to Hannescamp. At 11 pm on the 20th the battalion moved to assembly positions for an attack the following day on the Arras-Achiet le Grand railway. The battalion suffered heavy casualties from the exposure of the right flank. On the 23rd the battalion took 150 prisoners and captured a machine gun nest at Gomiecourt. On the 24th the battalion moved back to the bivouac area near Ayette. The casualties during these operations were 11 Officers killed and wounded, and 263 Other Ranks. Robert was likely one of the wounded, and died of his injuries on 02nd September 1918.
His death was reported in the Preston Guardian:
“The death, as a result of wounds received in action, is officially announced of Pte. Robt. Stott, King(Liverpool) Regt., whose home was at 17 Brandiforth Street, School Lane, Bamber Bridge. He was 19 years of age, and had been on active service about five months. Prior to enlisting when attaining his 18th birthday, he was employed in the spinning room at Messrs. Eccles’ School Lane Mill.”
Robert was one of six British soldiers of different regiments who died in 1918 on different dates buried in a grave marked with a cross. The CWGC Graves Registration Form includes among these six Pte. 14243 [sic] Stott R. 13/K’s L. D o W 02/9/18. There are nine CWGC deaths with that regimental number, only one who died in 1918 (South African Infantry) and only one from the K.L.R. (died 1916). The error was apparently found and later corrected, as his CWGC certificate shows the correct regimental number, 90928.
After the war, in September 1919, Robert’s body was removed and reburied in Bucquoy Road Cemetery, Ficheux, south of Arras, where he now rests. He was 19 years old.
In November 1916, the village of Ficheux was behind the German front line, but by April 1917, the German withdrawal had taken the line considerably east of the village and in April and May, the VII Corps Main Dressing Station was posted near for the Battles of Arras. It was followed by the 20th and 43rd Casualty Clearing Stations, which remained at Boisleux-au-Mont until March 1918, and continued to use the Bucquoy Road Cemetery begun by the field ambulances. From early April to early August 1918 the cemetery was not used but in September and October, the 22nd, 30th and 33rd Casualty Clearing Stations came to Boisleux-au-Mont and extended it. By the date of the Armistice, it contained 1,166 burials but was greatly increased when graves were brought in from the surrounding battlefields and from small cemeteries in the neighbourhood.
The cemetery now contains 1,901 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 168 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 23 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials commemorate 21 casualties buried by their comrades in Henin-sur-Cojeul German Cemetery, whose graves could not be found on concentration.
The cemetery was used again in May 1940 for the burial of troops killed during the German advance. There are 136 burials and commemorations of the Second World War; 26 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials commemorate 39 soldiers whose graves in the cemetery could not be specifically located.
His mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Gardner, received William’s Army effects and a War Gratuity of £6-10s.
His brother Walter served in the Royal Navy from 1916 and was demobbed in July 1919. His half brother Francis served in the Loyal North Lancs and discharged medically unfit in February 1915.
His mother died in 1931, aged 63.
Sadly, Robert had not been found on any memorial.
We currently have no further information on Robert Stott, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.
