11th November 1918
I've often been asked in the past if I am doing any work for Remembrance Day and I have always answered no, simply because I have felt that this site deals with remembrance the whole year round
and not just one day.
However this year I have decided to start a section dedicated to this momentous day in history,
by telling the stories of men whom sadly this day was also their last.
Mike Abbott October 2024
10/1172 Private Robert Bernard Stead
A Company 10th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment
Plot X.D.28
Terlincthun British Cemetery
Wimille, Department du Pas-de-Calais, France
Born in Driffield, East Yorkshire in 1897. His parents were Richard Stead (31/03/1866-1946) and Julia Conway (1867-25/04/1933).
They were married in 1894.
Roberts mother, Julia Conway was born in Chelsea, London. Her parents were John Conway, a bricklayer, who was born in
Boston, Lincolnshire in 1838 and Julia Galburn, born in Limerick ,Ireland in 1845.
In 1871 Julia was living at 33 Little Coram Street, St George, Bloomsbury, London, with her parents and her older siblings,
Mary & Thomas.
In 1891 Julia was working as a servant at Beechwood, Riverhead, Driffield for the vicar of Driffield, Horace Newton.
Robert had a brother, Richard Conway (20/03/1896-03/04/1974) and 2 sisters, Elsie Kathleen (03/01/1899-1977)
and Julia Conway Una (12/01/1904-1971).
In the1901 Census the family were recorded as living at 23 Shady lane, Driffield(Shady lane was later renamed Victoria Road).
Richard Snr, was employed as a clerk for a corn merchant.
The Stead family had been living in Driffield from about 1837, when Roberts Great Grandfather, Samuel moved his family from Beverley to 16 Mill Street Driffield, to take on the profession of schoolmaster at the National School(Cross Hill).
Roberts grandfather, also named Robert, worked as a whitesmith(doing finishing work like polishing and turning iron and steel.) and with his own family he settled at 68 Shady Lane in Driffield.
The 1911 census shows that Richard snr had moved his family to Hull and they were living at 46 Clarendon Street, Spring Bank, Hull.
Richard was still employed as clerk with a corn merchant and Robert was at School.
When war broke out in 1914, Robert was too young to join up, but that did not stop him as when he did enlist at the central Hull recruiting office on 23/02/1915, he was still only 17, but gave his age as 19 years 7 months.
His medical carried out on the same day was recorded as follows;
Occupation - Bricklayer
Weight 133lbs
Height 5ft 7 1/2 inches
Girth when fully expanded - 35 1/2 inches
Range of expansion - 2 inches
Physical Development - Good
From the 23/02/1915 he was posted to A Company 10th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment for training, some of it spent at
Hornsea, East Yorkshire.
On 08/12/1915, Robert and his Battalion boarded HMT Minnewaska at Devonport, departing that day at 5.20am bound for Egypt.
He disembarked at Port Said at 2pm on 21/12/1915.
Robert remained in Egypt until 29/02/1916 when his battalion embarked aboard the HMT Tunisian bound for France.
The HMT Tunisian arrived in Marseilles harbour on 07/03/1916. The battalion disembarked at 1pm and at 10.30pm they took a train on the Paris - Lyons railway to Pont Remy.
Once they arrived at Pont Remy after about 3 days travelling on the train, they then had a route march to their final destination of Longpre-les-Corps-Saints.
On 27/03/1916 Roberts battalion were going into the front line at Englebelmer, north of Albert. Robert though was admitted to
No.40 field ambulance and then onto a casualty clearing station that same day. Unfortunately his service record is too worn to be
able to read the reason for this. It doesn't appear too serious though as he returned to his unit early April.
Robert appears to have got through the battle of the Somme unscathed as the next entry on his service record is not until 23/02/1917, when he was granted proficiency pay class1. This meant he was now classed as a marksman and as such would be paid an extra sixpence a day on top of his normal pay.
Robert was given from 26/07/1917 to 05/08/1917 though it doesn't state if he returned home or stayed in France.
On 09/09/1917 Robert was admitted to No.30 Casualty Clearing Station then onto No.93 Field Ambulance suffering from Orchitis.
This is an inflammation of one or both testicles. Bacterial or viral infections can cause orchitis, or the cause can be unknown.
Orchitis is most often the result of a bacterial infection, such as a sexually transmitted infection (STI). In some cases, the mumps virus can cause orchitis. Robert was then transferred to No.10 General Hospital in Rouen. He was to stay here until 19/10/1917 when he was released from Hospital and sent to the base camp at Etaples before re-joining his unit in early November.
It was another year before the final entry was made on his service record when he was admitted to No.83 General Hospital
in Boulogne suffering with influenza; again it is unclear the date he was admitted as his record is so worn, but does show that
he wasn't able to recover and died in the hospital on 11/11/1918.
His personal belongings were returned to his family, which were a gold ring, razor disc, cigarette case, diary, matchbox cover, wallet, letter and photo.
Robert was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the 1914-1918 British War and Allied Victory medals.
His mother was awarded a pension of 5/- a week from 03/06/1919 on the 23/07/1919.
Hull Daily Mail – Tuesday 11 November 1919
In Memoriam
Stead – In loving memory of Private R B Stead, 10th East Yorks. Regt, younger son of Mr and Mrs Stead 46, Clarendon Street, who died in hospital in Boulogne, November 11th, 1918.
Stead – In affectionate remembrance of our dear pal, Pte Robert Bernard Stead, who died through illness whilst on active service
in France, Nov. 11th, 1918.
Greater love hath no man,
One of the unreturned heroes.
Ever remembered by his Clarendon Street pals.
His family had a personal inscription added to his headstone, It reads;
THEY SHALL BE MINE SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS
Regimental moves information from "Hull Pals" by David Bilton
Private Albert George Akers
2nd Battalion Oxford & Buckingham Light Infantry
Plot S.11.GG.20
St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France
Born in 1895 in New Marston Oxford. He was baptised on 16/01/1895. His parents were Albert Akers (1873-1938) and
Mildred Palmer (22/04/1874-1953). They were married on 21/04/1894.
Albert had 3 brothers, John Edward (18/03/1903-31/12/1947), Reginald Charles (24/12/1905-27/09/1977) and
Ronald Walter (11/07/1909-30/01/1987).
He also had 2 sisters, Mildred Cicely (27/08/1896-1969) and Gertrude Annie (29/04/1901-17/12/1989).
The 1901 census records the family living at William Street, New Marston, Oxford. Albert snr. was employed as a Hay Trusser(agricultural).
The 1911 census shows the family are still living on William Street (number 1) and Albert is now employed like his father
as a hay binder.
When the outbreak of war came, Albert enlisted in Oxford as Private 10524 into the Oxford & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.
He was then posted to the 5th Battalion.
Albert was sent to France on 20/05/1915. He was transferred to 2nd Battalion Oxford & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry at some point(no date can be given as his service record is not available). He died of pneumonia on 11/11/1918.
He was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, 1914-1918 British War and Allied Victory medals.
His mother was a awarded a pension of 5/- a week from 03/06/1919 on 27/05/1919.
The Oxford Times - 23 November 1918
Deaths
On Active Service
Akers – November 11, after 3 years 7 months active service, at Rouen Hospital, France from Pneumonia, Pte. A.G. (Bert) Akers,
Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry, dearly-loved and eldest son of Mr and Mrs Albert Akers, William Street, New Marston,
in his 24th year.
Also, in memory of his cousin Harold, killed in action November 11, 1915.
There is a link death cannot sever,
Love and remembrance live for ever.
Two of the brave, two of the best.
Harold John Akers (28/09/1888-11/11/1915) Lance Corporal 6709 8th Battalion Queens Own (Royal West Kent) Regiment went to France on 11/10/1915. Killed in action 11/11/1915. Remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial Panel 45.
22672 Private Frank Moment
1/4th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment
Plot IX.E.17
Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, France
Born in Thwing, Hunmanby, East Yorkshire on 26/02/1893. His parents were Frank Moment (03/05/1861-1946) and
Hannah Mary Mason (1861-1941). They were married in 1883.
Frank had 3 brothers, John Thomas (1885-09/01/1890), Robert (13/03/1889-1899) and Harry (01/06/1900-1951).
He also had 2 sisters, Annie Mason (17/07/1882-1952) and Edith (21/01/1897-12/03/1973).
In 1900, Frank started at Thwing School on 12th February.
In the 1901 census, the family is recorded as living in Thwing, Hunmanby, East Yorkshire. Frank snr. was employed as a
farm labourer.
The 1911 census recorded the family living at Trossel nest, Thwing, Hunmanby. Frank was now working as a farm servant, working with horses, whilst his father was still a labourer on a farm.
Within the next few years the whole family had moved to Allington near Pickering in North Yorkshire, where they were living
and working at Warren House Farm.
Frank enlisted in Scarborough on 25/02/1916, but was sent to the army reserve the next day and wasn't mobilized until 15/02/1917 and then posted to the 4th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment 3 days later. His medical performed as this time is as follows;
Profession - Horseman
Apparent Age - 23 years 9 months
Height 5ft 5 1/2 inches
Weight 134lbs
Chest measurement 35 inches when fully expanded
Range of Expansion 2 inches.
After his training was completed, Frank was sent to France on 08/08/1917, embarking at Folkstone and disembarking a day later in Boulogne.
He was then posted to 10th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, joining them at the front on 26/08/1917.
On 06/10/1917, Frank was admitted to No.64 Field Ambulance, for reasons unknown as his service record entry is too faint
to read.
It seems to have been serious though, as he was admitted to No.22 General Hospital the next day, then returned back to England the day after that.
Whilst recovering in England, Frank was granted a furlough from 23/11/1917 to 03/12/1917 to visit home.
The coming of 1918 saw Frank fully recovered and he was sent back to France and posted to 1/4th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment on 23/03/1918. He arrived at F Depot, Etaples, France the next day.
Frank was then transferred to 10th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, 2 days later and also given a new regimental number of 29972. He joined his new Battalion in the field on 04/04/1918, but 9 days later he was admitted to No.22 General Hospital in Camiers with a gunshot wound to the face. It doesn't seem to have been too serious a wound as 5 days later he was sent to
No.5 Convalescent Depot at Cayeux. He stayed here until returning to F Depot in Etaples on 11/05/1918.
He returned once more to his unit on 25/05/1918 and managed to stay safe until 26/10/1918 when he was admitted to
No.27 Field Ambulance with a gunshot wound to his right leg. He was moved to No.3 Australian Casualty Clearing Station the next day. He stayed here for a couple of days, before being moved to No.2 Australian General Hospital at Wimereux, Boulogne , where despite his right leg having been amputated, he died of his wounds on 11/11/1918.
He was awarded the 1914-1918 British War and Allied Victory medals.
His mother was awarded a pension 5/- a week on 01/04/1919.
The Driffield Times 20 November 1920
In Memoriam
Moment – In ever loving memory of our dear son Pte Frank Moment, East Yorks Regt., who died in France, November 11th, 1918.
His memory is as dear today,
As in the hour he passed away.
From Mother, Father, Brother & Sister.
In 1923 Frank snr. received a letter from the officer in charge of records in York dated 6th June, stating that a Mr M. Whittaker,
59 Upper Brook Street, Chorlton_on_Medlock, Manchester had just returned from Boulogne, bringing back with him a photograph
of the grave of their son and he would be happy to forward it to them if they care to apply to him for it.
There is no record to confirm if they took up Mt Whitakers offer.