Name
William Stallan (Stallon)
1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
04/04/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
33767
Bedfordshire Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 28 and 29.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Hatfield Town Memorial, Hatfield In Memoriam Book, St Luke's Church Memorial, Bishops Hatfield, Not on the St Albans memorials, London Colney War Memorial, London Colney Roll of Honour
Pre War
William STALLAN was born in 1893, in Roe Green, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, son of Henry Edward Stallan a Labourer and Eliza Stallan (nee Sudell). One of their seven children although one died in infancy.
He was Baptised on 24th September 1893, in the Parish of Bishops Hatfield, Hatfield, Herts.
1901 Census records William aged 7, living with his parents, Sister Alice (15), brothers, Henry (10), Arthur (4) and Albert 2, at 13 Roe Green Cottages, Chantry Lane, Hatfield, Herts.
The 1911 census: William aged 17, was living with his parents, four brothers Henry (20), Arthur (14), Albert (12) and Geoffry (8), at 1 Cecil Cottages, Roe Green, Hatfield. His father, William and brother Arthur are all Farm Labourers, brother Henry is a Railway Porter.
His mother Eliza died in the early part of 1912, aged 52.
William married Helen/Helena Elizabeth Augusta Elsworth the daughter of George Thomas and Ada Mary Elsworth, on 25th September 1915, at All Saints Church, in the Parish of All Saints, South Lambeth, London. They went on to have one son William Frederick Stallan, born in July 1916. Their marriage certificate records William as a Milkman.
Officially recorded as born in Hatfield, Herts. and was living in St Albans, Herts, when he enlisted in Watford, Herts.
Wartime Service
William enlisted in Watford, Herts, posted to the Bedfordshire Regiment with the service number 33767. On completion of his training, William was sent to the Western Front. He was Killed in Action on 4th April 1918, aged 24. He has no known grave he is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial to the missing. Panel 28 & 29.
At the time of Williams death Helen and their son William were living in Tyttenhanger Green, Herts.
The Bishops Hatfield Magazine of October 1917, recorded: “Wounded, William Stallan 5th Beds.” and then in May 1918: “Mr Stallan of Roe Green has lost another son in Pte. William Stallan this loss follows hard on the last.”
The Herts Advertiser dated 11. 5.1918, reported: “Private W Stallan - William Stallan, second son of Mr and Mrs Stallan of Roe Green, Hatfield, in civil life resided at Tyttenhanger was killed in action on 4th April while serving with the Beds Regt in France. Mrs W Stallan, widow, has received a sympathetic letter from his commanding officer in which her husband is described as a xxxxxx soldier and was well-regarded by his comrades. She also derives some comfort from the fact that his death was instantaneous. This is the second son Mr and Mrs Stallon have lost in the war. They have two others still serving. The widow is left with a little boy to mourn their loss.”
He was awarded the British War Medal & Victory Medal.
Additional Information
His widow Helen received a grant of £5, on 3rd May 1918, a widow’s pension of 20s/5d (£1-00s-05d) a week from 21st October 1918, and his effects of £7-07s-04d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £6.
Helen remarried in late 1919, in Chelsea, London, to George W. Webb.
His brother Private 235093 Albert Stallan of the Lincolnshire Regiment was Killed in Action on 11th October 1917, and brother Private 265398 Arthur Stallan of the Hertfordshire Regiment was Killed in Action on 30th April 1918.
There is some confusion as to the spelling of the surname, (The memorial and album, spell the name as Stallon), the official records give the spelling as Stallan.
Hatfield Parish Council Souvenir Committee Ledger: Mr Henry Stallon (Father) of 1, Cecil Cottages, Roe Green, received an “In Memoriam and Roll of Honour Album”.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Gareth Hughes, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk)
