Pte 15569 Edgar James Stocker

• Age: 28
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Edgar James (Eddie) Stocker was born 26th June 1887 at Liverpool and was the son of William Frederick Stocker and his wife Jeannie Boyd (née Thomson). His birth was registered as James Edgar. His parents married on the 23rd June 1875 at St Mary, Edge Hill. William was a 23 year old clerk of 10 Solway St, father Thomas, whilst Jeannie was aged 17 of 69 Dombey St, father James. They had ten children, three of whom died young. Eddie had older brothers John Thomson, born in 1878, William Boyd 1879, and Frederick Barker 1882, and an older sister Elizabeth Jeannie 1884/5.  His younger siblings were Mary Lee, 1890, Elsie Margaret 1893 (who died at age 2), Dorothy Lawson 1896, Thomas Eric 1899, and Hilda Maud 1902.  Thomas, who died at age 2, and Hilda, who died at one month old, were buried on the same day. 

At the time of the 1891 census the family is living at 13 Cedar Grove, Toxteth Park, with six children.

His father, 38, is an accountant’s clerk, his mother is 32, Edgar is 3 years old. Also in the household is his grandmother Elizabeth Stocker, 81.

The 1901 census finds them at the same address, now with eight children.

His 49-year old father is a canal carrier’s clerk, his mother is 42.  John, 23,  William, 21, and Frederick, 19, are working as clerks.  Elizabeth, 16, is a dyer’s assistant. Edgar, 13, and Mary, 10, are at school. Dorothy is 4 and Thomas 1 year old.

He was educated at Sefton Park County Primary School.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 79 Lidderdale Road Wavertree Liverpool.

His father, William Frederick, is aged 58, born in Liverpool in 1853, his occupation is shown as a water carriers clerk/cashier  for the Manchester Ship Canal Company. His mother, Jeannie Boyd is aged 52, born in Tranmere in 1859 has no occupation listed. They have been married for thirty five years and had ten children of which three died. At the time of the Census they had three of their children living with them, Edgar James aged 23, born 1888 is a clerk in a wholesale provision merchants, Mary Lee aged 20, born 1891 is a nurse attendant in a dentists operating room and Dorothy Lawson is aged 14, born 1897 and still at school.  

Eddie enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool joining the 17^th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 15569. His regimental number and the amount of the War Gratuity suggest that he enlisted on 31st August 1914.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 07^th November 1915.

He was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 28, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive.

17th Battalion Diary 30th July 1916

The Battalion was in support to 19 & 20 Battalions K.L.R. 2 Coys. behind 19th & 2 Coys. behind 20th. Very thick mist. The attack was pushed home to the objective in places but in the main was held up by machine gun fire from hidden machine guns.

Fighting continued all day swaying backwards and forwards until by 6pm about 300 yards in depth had been gained & consolidated all along our front.

Casualties in the 17th Battalion were 15 Officers and 281 Other Ranks

Further details are reported in more detailed by Everard Wyrall in his book The History of the King’s Regiment (Liverpool) 1914-1919 Volume II 1916-1917

The 17th King’s had advanced (two companies each behind the 19th and 20th Battalions) in small columns. They too suffered heavily from machine-gun fire and were quickly absorbed into the waves that preceded them. They also shared the gains and losses of that terrible day.

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55th Division during the early hours of the 31st July. 

The events of 30th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.

 His family announced his death in the Liverpool Echo on 18th August 1916:

“July 30, killed in action, in his 29th year, Private Edgar James Stocker (Pals), fourth son of W. and B. Stocker, 79, Lidderdale Road, Wavertree.”

His body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

Eddie earned his three medals.  Medal rolls show that his 1914-1915 Star was issued in the name James E., while his Victory Medal and British War Medal have his name as Edgar J. 

His Army pay and a War Gratuity of £8-10s went to his father.  The pension card shows that his mother was awarded a gratuity in lieu of a pension. 

In the Liverpool Echo, on 30th July 1917 under the heading ‘Lost At The Battle of Guillemont’ his family paid tribute to Eddie:

“In loving memory of Edgar James Stocker, killed in action July 30, 1916. (“Until the day breaks.” Eddie, farewell.) – Mother, Father, and Family.”

“In loving memory of our dear brother Eddie (1st ”Pals”), killed in action July 30, 1916. Ever remembered by Bessie, Winnie, and Dorothy.”

Eddie was also remembered on the second anniversary of his death in 1918:

"In loving memory of Edgar James Stocker, killed in action at Guillemont, July 30, 1916, aged 29 years. - Sadly missed by Parents, Sisters, and Brothers."

Sadly, Eddie has not been found on any memorial

His parents moved to Ainsdale, where they died, his father in 1937 at the age of 85, and his mother in 1939 aged 80.  They were buried in Toxteth Park Cemetery with their infant children.  

Liverpool Daily Post - Friday 10 December 1937  

STOCKER—December 8 at 45 Salford-road, Ainsdale, in his 86th year, WILLIAM FREDERICK, the beloved husband of Jeannle Boyd Stocker. Interment at Smithdown Road Cemetery, to-morrow (Saturday) at 11 a.m. 

Liverpool Daily Post - Friday 24 February 1939 

STOCKER—February 22, 45 Salford Road, Ainsdale, in her 81st year, JEANNIE BOYD, wife of the late William F. Stocker. Interment at Smithdown Road Cemetery, to-day (Friday), at 2.30 p.m. 

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