90928 PTE. R. STOTT. K.L.R.

 

Robert Stott was born in the first quarter of 1899 in the School Lane area of Bamber Bridge.  His father was James Calvert Stott (b. 1863 in Walton Le Dale), a cotton spinner.  His mother was Elizabeth Marchbank (b. 1867 in Preston).  James and Elizabeth were married on Christmas Day 1890.  James already had a son, Francis (b. 1885) from a previous marriage, and then he and Elizabeth had four children:  Walter (b. 1893), Robert, Margaret Ann (b. 1900) and Ethel May (b. 1903).  James died in 1906 and in 1908 Elizabeth married Thomas Gardner (b.1858 in Preston) and they had three children, twins Ann and Thomas (b. 1908) and John (b. 1910).  In 1911, Robert was living with his mother and stepfather, 3 siblings and 3 step-siblings at 17 Brandiforth Street.  Aged 12 he had just started work in the mill as a weaver.

 

From the article in the Preston Guardian it seems he enlisted when he turned 18 in 1917.  He joined the King’s (Liverpool Regiment) and was assigned service number 90928.  He was posted first to 17th Battalion and then to 13th Battalion.  The article says he joined them in April 1918.  13th Battalion came under orders of 76th Brigade in 25th Division.  In April, 25th Division was in the thick of the fighting during the Battle of the Lys and during the month they suffered more than 7000 casualties – more than two thirds of their strength – 270 of whom were known to be dead, and more than 3000 were missing.

 

In May, they were ordered south to what was thought to be a quieter part of the front in order to recuperate.  They arrived at Fismes, between Soissons and Rheims, only to learn that the Germans were preparing an attack in that precise location.  The attack came on 27 May and by 14 June, the British and French had been forced to make a considerable withdrawal but had eventually held the Germans at the Marne.

 

25th Division HQ was then withdrawn to England where it was first disbanded and then reformed and returned to France in September.  The whole situation was very confused and men from the Division were posted as reinforcements to other battalions in other Divisions so there can be no certainty as to which actions Robert was actually involved in.  We know only that he died of wounds on 2 September 1918.  He is buried at Ficheux, south of Arras.  He was only 19 years old.

 

Rank:  Private

Service Number:  90928

Date of Death:  02/09/1918

Age:  19

Regiment/Service:  The King's (Liverpool Regiment), 13th Bn. 

Cemetery/memorial reference: VI. D. 3.

Cemetery:  BUCQUOY ROAD CEMETERY, FICHEUX

Additional Information:  Son of Elizabeth Gardner (formerly Stott), of 17 Brandiforth Street, School Lane, Walton-le-Dale, Preston, and the late James Stott.

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