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John (Jack) Stallard
310159, Gunner, 1st/1st (Carnarvon) Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery (Teritorial Force)
Died of illness after discharge, 26 October 1918, aged 26
Buried at Llanrhos Churchyard
CWGC registered (Son of Frederick and Rose Stallard, of 1, Victoria Yard, Back Madoc St, Llandudno)
John Stallard was the son of Frederick Stallard and his wife Rose Stallard (née Jones). John was born in Llandudno in 1892. Fred Stallard worked as a barman and the family lived at 7 Dylys Cottages (downstairs), Back Madoc Street, Llandudno. John was seemingly the third child but by the 1901 Census, he had another four siblings and the family had moved to 3 Jones & Owen’s Yard, Back Madoc Street. John attended Lloyd Street National school but transferred to the new Dyffryn Road Council School when it opened in September 1905, his address now being “Conway View”, Alexandra Road. He left school on 16 March 1906. The Census for 1911 records Fred Stallard as a railway porter and John as a hotel porter. It would appear that John Stallard became employed by the London and North Western Railway because by 1913 he was working as an engine cleaner at Hillhouse Sidings, Huddersfield.
It was in the May of 1913 when John joined the 5th Battalion of the West Riding Regiment (Territorial Force) with a regimental number of 2263. However, less than a year later, he transferred to the Welsh (Carnarvonshire) Heavy Battery Royal Garrison Artillery (Territorial Force) with headquarters at Bangor which suggests he had moved back to North Wales. His new regimental number was 446. John was mobilised on 5 August 1914. Part of the 53rd (Welsh) Division TF, the battery took up defensive positions in England. In July 1915, the 53rd Division departed for Gallipoli but the Welsh (Carnarvonshire) Battery remained in England and proceeded to France on 3 March 1916 joining XXIII Heavy Artillery Brigade. From 27 April 1916 John was attached to the divisional ammunition column but on 23 October 1916 he was injured and concussed by an exploding shell during the Battle of the Somme. On 2 January 1917 he was posted to the 1st/1st Lancashire Heavy Battery RGA but the following month on 25 February 1917 he was returned to England with postings to 221 Territorial Force Depot and X Battery, RGA, Heavy Artillery Reserve Brigade. Having spent some weeks in the military hospital at Magdalen Camp, Winchester, he was discharged at Dover on 7 September 1917 as unfit for wartime duty, the reason being chronic suppuration of the middle ear. His home address was given as 1 Victoria Cottages, Back Madoc Street, Llandudno. Sometime in 1917, John had been given the new regimental number of 310159 – he also received a Silver War Badge number 238067.
On 1 January 1918, John Stallard married Mary Elizabeth Higgins (b. 5 April 1895, Hulme) of the Prince of Wales Hotel, Llandudno at Llanrhos Parish Church; John’s occupation was given as a railwayman. Sadly, John Stallard died of pneumonia following influenza on 26 October 1918 aged 26 at 1 Victoria Cottages. His occupation was now recorded as that of a hotel porter. He was buried at Llanrhos (Ss. Eleri and Mary) Churchyard. John and Mary Stallard’s child Mary L Stallard was born the following year.
Curiously, the War Graves Commission’s family contact was Rose Stallard, Jack’s mother, and his wife and daughter do not get a mention. The marriage register for Conway records the marriage of Mary E Stallard to William Evans in 1926 and to Henry Edwards in 1927. More research is required.
Known memorials:
- Llandudno Roll of Honour
- Llandudno War Memorial
- Memorial Chapel, Holy Trinity Church, Llandudno
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