Name
James Stacey
21/04/1884
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
18/04/1918
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
103106
Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
2nd/6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL
Panel 7.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial in Belgium to the missing.
UK & Other Memorials
St Matthew’s Church Memorial, Oxhey, Watford Borough Roll of Honour
Pre War
James Stacey, born on 21st April 1884, in Hammersmith, London/Middlesex, son of James Stacey, a Gardener/Labourer and Louisa Elizabeth Stacey (nee West), one of twelve children, two died in infancy, William (Born 1883), Harry (B1885), Bertha (B 1886), Sarah (B 1888), Stephan (B 1889), Frederick (B 1893), Arthur (B 1895), Nellie (B 1899) and Albert (B 1902).
He was Baptised on 9th June 1887, at St John the Evangelist, Kensal Green, London/Middlesex, with two of his siblings Harry and Bertha.
1891 Census records James aged 6, now living in Watford with his parents and five siblings, in Red Lion Yard, Watford, Herts.
He attended St Andrews Infants School, Watford and then Beech Grove Board School, from January 1891 to February 1896.
In February 1897, James enlisted in the Militia to serve for six years with the Bedfordshire Regiment (Giving his age as 17 years & 9 months and address as 33, Cannon Road, Watford), he was given the service number 4236, his service record shows he embarked with the 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment aboard the S.S. Bavarian from Southampton on the 16th January 1902, as part of a contingent of 40 Officers and 2000 men, for South Africa and the Boar War, arriving on 5th February 1902. He volunteered to join the Wester Light Horse on 5th May 1902, with the service number 126, he was discharged back to the 4th Bedford’s, on 30th June 1902.
The Western Light Horse was formed in April 1902 by Major Paris on Lord Kitchener’s orders. They saw no service in the field as Peace was declared on 31st May 1902, they were disbanded a week later.
He returned home with his Battalion and was discharged in November 1902.
James married Elizabeth Wilson in Watford in 1903. They had eight children one died in childhood, James W. (Born 1905), Hellen M. (B 1907), Gladys (B 1909), Bertha (B 1911), Leslie G. (B1913), and twins Leonard F. & Stanley R. (B 1915).
On 14th June 1908, he enlisted again in the Bedfordshire Regiment with the service number 5463, he was discharged on 22nd November 1909.
1911 Census records James aged 27, married to Elizabeth and they have a son James and three daughters Helen, Gladys, and Bertha, and they were living at 113 Paddock Terrace, Lower Paddock Road.
The 1911 Census records shows his parents and four of their children, Sarah, Arthur, Nellie, and Albert, were now living at 18 Bell Lane, Leicester, Leicestershire.
Wartime Service
James re-enlisted on 11th October 1914, again joining the Bedfordshire Regiment with the service number 8651. He was promoted from Corporal to Sergeant on 1st May 1915. On 30th March 1918, he was transferred to the 2nd/6th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby) Regiment with the service number 103106, serving on the Western Front, he was killed in Action on 18th April 1918.
He is remembered with honour at the Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing in Flanders and is commemorated on the memorial at St Matthew’s Church, Oxhey.
Elizabeth remarried in the Watford District in 1919, to Robert Grass, and moved to 16 Terrace Gardens in Watford.
His brother Stephen Stacey who emigrated to Canada in 1907, (John Stacey on the Canadian service records) served as Corporal 10971 John Stacey with the 4th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (1st Canadian Ontario Regiment). He was Killed in Action on 26th May 1916 and is buried in the CWGC Chester Farm Cemetery in Belgium.
Additional Information
Elizabeth was awarded a widows pension of £2-8s-9d, a week for herself and the children. The value of his effects were £4-17s-4d, Pay Owing and £19-10s-0d, War Gratuity which went to his Widow Elizabeth. After his death he was recorded as the husband of Elizabeth Grass (formerly Stacey), of 16, Terrace Gardens, Watford. Also see ‘Additional Information’ provided with kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.bushey
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
