Name
Allan Abel Stockbridge
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
18/05/1915
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
3207
Hertfordshire Regiment
"H" Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LE TOURET MEMORIAL
Panel 47.
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Hatfield Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Memorial, Stapleford, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford, Not on the Walkern memorials
Pre War
Alan was born at Stapleford Herts, in the second quarter of 1897 and the son of Thomas and Mary Stockbridge, later of Victoria House, Walkern, Stevenage, Herts.
The 1901 Census records Alan was 3 and living with his parents Thomas and Mary and four siblings at Bexley in Kent. His father was working as Manager at a mineral water manufacturing plant.
By 1911 Alan, although only 13 was working as a boy under training for the sea, at The Navy League Sea Training Home at Birkenhead Cheshire; his parents were living in Eastbourne.
By the time Alan joined up in 1914, he is listed as living at Brewery Cottages, Hatfield.
His British Army WW1 Service Record is badly damaged, show Alan Stockbridge enlisted in the Herts. Regiment at Hertford on 21st September 1914, he gave his age as 19 years 5 months (although according to the census he would only be 17). He was 5ft 3 inches tall, had a fresh complexion, brown eyes and hair and was working as a bottler. The address for his parents Thomas and Mary is listed as High Walkern, Stevenage although there is an address for a T. Stockbridge at Viaduct Villas, Park St. Hatfield.
Wartime Service
Alan went to France 21/01/1915.
The Bishops Hatfield Parish Magazine of October 1914, in the second list of men mobilised from Hatfield, recorded: “Stockbridge, Alan, Brewery Cottages, Kings Royal Rifle Corps.”, and in July 1915: “Although Mr and Mrs Stockbridge no longer live here, yet mention of their gallant sons, Alan and Gordon, who enlisted at Hatfield cannot be omitted. Major Page Crofts has personally written testifying to their bravery. All must feel greatly for their double loss.”
Awarded the 1914 Star, British War Medal & Victory Medal.
Additional Information
Alan is the brother of Cedric Gordon Stockbridge, who also
died on the same day.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk)
