Harold's Story.
C.W.G.C. remember H. Stringfellow at St. Mary’s Weaverham, he was with the South Lancashire Reg’t. Service No 12986, died on the 15th May 1916. Son of Charles Stringfellow of 1 Faraday Rd., Winnington Park, Northwich. Harold is buried with a Military head stone in St. Mary’s cemetery. Harold is not listed on St. Marys R.o.H. or the main "Fallen" Memorial.
N.A.M.C. have a medal card for an Harold Stringfellow, L/Cpl., with the South Lancashire Regiment No 12986. Awarded the 15 Star, Victory and British medals. Theatre of War (1) France, Date of Entry 18/7/15. The card records he died 15/5/16.
Cheshirebmd records 24 births of children named Stringfellow in the years 1870/1929, with 11 births in Weaverham, including the birth of a Charles Stringfellow in 1871. Cheshirebmd records the marriage of a Charles Stringfellow/Louisa Oliver in 1896 in Chester and the death of Louisa Stringfellow in Northwich in 1904. Cheshirebmd goes onto record the marriage of Charles Stringfellow/Lucy Harrison in 1909 at St. Helen’s Witton. It is this family that are recorded in the 1911 census and they are living at 55, Solvay Rd., Winnington.
Charles Head, age 39, Machine Minder Alkali Wks., born Weaverham
Lucy Wife, age 38, Hartford
Harold Son, age 14, Errand Boy Co. Op., Warrington
Norman Harrison Step Son, age 11, Warrington
Eveleen Harrison Step Daughter, age 10, Warrington
May Daughter, age 5m, Warrington
There was a link to some military data confirming Regimental information with the Prince of Wales Volunteers (South Lancs.) 7th Bn., Service No 12986, Theatre of War, Home. The links also provides the following information;
Home 2/9/14 – 17/7/15
Exp. Force, France 18/7/15 – 15/5/16 (The end date is the date Harold died which I thought it implies he died in France. His service documents show Harold was in hospital in the UK with a medical problem for some time before his death.)
A limited number of Service Documents are available to view, one with Harold's personal details of age, 19yrs 5 months, height 5ft 7.5in, weight 120lbs, complexion fresh, eyes green ,hair dark brown. The second sheet records his service period, home 2/9/14 – 17/7/15 and France 18/7/15 – 15/5/16, and includes the address of his father on Faraday Road.
Carls Cam records a H. Stringfellow, Northwich, Helen, I assume that is St. Helen, Witton and a G. Stringfellow on the main Memorial at Northwich. (C.W.C.G. record only one lad named Stringfellow with the initial “G”. and that is a George Stringfellow, died on the 5/10/1917 and he was from New Zealand.)
Elizabeth Walton, St. Luke’s Church Warden has confirmed that Harold is remembered on their WW1 Memorial Plaque.
Checked Northwich Guardian up to the end of June 1916 and failed to find an article on Harold.
Research Bob Heaton