JAMES STANTON 

James was born within the parish of St Peter's C of E Church, Stockport. The 1901 Census shows that, at the age of 14, he was working as a "hatter's shaper". He later changed jobs and went to work for Daniel Eadie & Co, building contractors of Heaton Norris. James was married, with a child and the family lived at 41 High bank Side, Stockport. He enlisted in the town, in September 1914, shortly after war was declared in August. He will have lived through several actions, before he was killed during a trench raid on Factory Farm. Later, his officer wrote to Mrs Stanton: "He with many others of the company gallantly gave up their lives in a raid on the enemy's trenches. A machine gun bullet killed him. No words of mine can express the regret I feel for you and others, but I trust you will realise that to me they were all good friends, and I can realise your sorrow."


Studio Picture of James taken in France. Credit © Peter Leigh