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John Stanford
47271, Private, 10th Sherwood Foresters
Died of wounds, 27 July 1918, aged 27
Buried at Harponville Communal Cemetery Extension, France
CWGC registered (Son of the late John and Sarah Anne Stanford, of Dudley; husband of Mrs Stanford, of Sycamore Villa, Clarence Rd, Craigydon, Llandudno)
John Stanford was born in 1890 in Smethwick, Staffordshire, the son of John Stanford and his wife Sarah Ann Stanford (née Hadlington). John Stanford (senior) was a grate moulder and in 1891 he lived with his wife and six children, John being the youngest, at 8 Flood Street, Dudley. Ten years later, the family lived at 28, Watery Lane, Smethwick – John now had four younger siblings. In 1911, a now-widowed Sarah Stanford lived with five of her children, John (20) being the eldest at 334 Stoney Lane, Smethwick. John was described as a moulder. John Stanford married Gertrude Fieldhouse in 1913 and their son John E F Stanford was born later that year.
John Stanford’s service record no longer exists. His regimental number in the Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) was 47271 which indicates that he was probably called up in mid-1916. From his medal roll, the first battalion in which he served after disembarking in France was the 17th (Service) Battalion Sherwood Foresters which had landed in France on 6 March 1916. In February 1918, the 17th Sherwood’s disbanded though whether John was transferred on this date or earlier is unknown. In any event, he was posted to the 10th (Service) Battalion which had been in France since July 1915.
On a date unknown, John Stanford was wounded and he died of his wounds on 27 July 1918 aged 27. In the days prior to his death, his battalion had been holding the line to the north of Albert. He was buried at Harponville Communal Cemetery Extension, the graves in which are burials dating from June to August 1918.
It is not known whether John Stanford ever visited Llandudno. However, Commonwealth War Grave Commission records show that his widow, Gertrude, lived at Craig-y-Don after the war. She was living in Llandudno in 1939 and died in Birmingham in 1966. John E F Stanford was killed in Egypt in 1942 whilst serving with the South African Forces (HE PASSED ME BY. REUNITED WITH DAD, WHO PASSED IN WAR 1918 RIP).
Known memorials:
- Old Church, Smethwick
- Llandudno Roll of Honour
- Llandudno War Memorial
- Memorial Chapel, Holy Trinity Church, Llandudno
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