Harry Stott (1892-1918)

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This page is part of a project by David Verguson to research the lives of those who appear on war memorials and rolls of honour in the Lindley area.

Biography

Joseph Crawshaw Stott married Elizabeth Coupland in the late summer of 1879, probably in St. Stephen's church as they were both Lindley-born and it was in that church that their children were baptised.

It seems they had five children of whom only three survived infancy. Lily Crawshaw was born in 1886 some years into the marriage, which suggests it was children born early in the marriage that they lost.

Lily was followed in 1889 another girl, Ethel. In 1891 the Stotts were living in Wellington Street, in one of the back-to-backs, at the Acre Street end. Living with the family was Charles Coupland, described as a lodger, widowed and a shoemaker. He was probably Eliza's father.

Harry was born on 8 November 1892 in Wellington Street and baptised on the tenth at St Stephen's.

Joseph worked as a "Joiner and Builder" in 1891 and clearly indicated he was an "employer". Given where the family lived, the impression is of a craftsman who began in a small way and perhaps was able to move into building as the village expanded and opportunities presented themselves.

Harry attended Oakes Council School and Longwood Grammar School.

He seems to have prospered: by 1901 the Stotts were living in View Hill, Quarmby and their neighbours were no longer winders, weavers and card setters as they had been in 1891, but woollen manufacturers and merchants, a grocer and provision merchant. Joseph and Eliza had gone up in the world. Charles Coupland was no longer with them but they did have Nanny Beaumont a widowed aunt, aged 67, sharing their home.

By 1911 they lived in an eight-room house with a name — Oakleigh — number 6 Oakes Road, far more spacious than most people in Lindley could claim. The two girls, Lily and Ethel, though both single and in their 20s were not said to be working, another indication of the family's prosperity. Harry, by then 18 years old, was "Assisting in the Business" and a joiner. Interestingly, despite signs of the family's affluence, they have no servant living-in. Maybe the house was not suitable. Almost certainly they had daily staff to help Eliza manage the household.

Meanwhile, Harry had become well known locally as an athlete.

Harry enlisted in February 1917 and his service in the Suffolk Regiment suggests he waited to be conscripted. The 1st Garrison Battalion was not raised until March 1916 and remained in England throughout the war. It was probably his training battalion He died in November 1918, just over a week after the War ended of bronchial pneumonia, in the Broadway Military Hospital, Sheerness, which may mean he was on his way to France and had yet to be assigned to an active service battalion.

Harry was buried at St. Stephen's, the church where he had been christened twenty-six years earlier, almost to the day, and is remembered on the memorial inside. Harry is also remembered on the memorial at the Oakes Baptist Church, not far from where they lived on Oakes Road: the memorial was probably for those in the neighbourhood who had served.

Huddersfield's Roll of Honour: 1914-1922

The following extract is from Huddersfield's Roll of Honour: 1914-1922 (2014) by J. Margaret Stansfield:

STOTT, HARRY. Private. No 64145. 1st Reserve Garrison Battalion Suffolk Regiment. Born Wellington Street, Oakes, Huddersfield, 8.11.1892. Only son of Joseph Crawshaw Stott and Eliza Stott, Oakleigh, 6 Oakes Road, Lindley. Educated Oakes Council School and Longwood Grammar School. Employed as a joiner. Was a well known local athlete. Single. Enlisted in February 1917. Died of bronchial pneumonia at Broadway Military Hospital, Sheerness, on 19.11.1918, aged 26 years. Buried ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCHYARD, LINDLEY, HUDDERSFIELD. Grave location:- 6, P.
ROH:- St. Stephen's Church, Lindley; Oakes Baptist Church.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

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