Regiment: 8th Battalion Gloucester Regiment
Service No: 44568
Date and place of birth: 23 December 1898 in Havant, Hampshire
Date and place of death: 26 August 1918 (aged 19) in Havant
Family background
James Alan Stallard was the son of Edward James and Beatrice Stallard who had married in September 1893 in Havant.
In 1881 Edward James was living with his parents, Albert and Ellen Stallard in East Street, Havant. Albert was a parchment manufacturer. Edward was 17 and listed as scholar.
By 1901 he was listed as 1st mate on the SS Glenlochy, a British steamer based in Middlesborough. He was 37 and married.
In the 1901 census James Alan was 2 years of age and listed in the household at 19 East Street, Havant. The household was headed by Mae Buckland (29), living on own means, and with her were two cousins, James Alan Stallard and Eddie Sanck (11).
Albert Donald was 6 years of age and listed in the household of his maternal grandparents: William Leng (60) and Mary Leng (60) at Victoria House, East Street, Havant.
No record can be found for their mother: Beatrice Stallard.
At the 1911 census Beatrice Stallard (43) was living at Glenfallow, Beechworth Road, Havant with her two sons Albert Donald (16) and James Alan (12), both listed ‘at school’. Beatrice Stallard gave her marital status as ‘Married’, Husband at Sea.
Midhurst Grammar School Pupil Admissions 1903 – 1916 records James Alan Stallard, son of Edward James Stallard of Glenfallow, Beechworth Road, Havant, Captain of ‘Glen Line’, being admitted on 5 May 1914 as a boarder. His leaving date was given as 17 December 1915 when he left to become a bank clerk.
Military service
James Alan Stallard enlisted in Portsmouth on 19 December 1916. He was a Private in the Gloucestershire Regiment. However, it is noted that he was formerly in the Hampshire Carabineers (no. 2862).
In WW1 the Gloucestershire Regiment raised a total of twenty five battalions and was awarded seventy two Battle Honours, four Victoria Crosses and lost 8,100 men. The 8th Service Battalion was formed in September 1914 in Bristol as part of Kitchener’s New Army (K2) and joined the 57th Brigade. The Regiment moved to Tidworth in March 1915 and landed in France on 18 August 1915, initially being stationed near St Omer.
The Regiment had taken part in the Action of Pietre during 1915. During 1916, prior to James Stallard’s enlistment in December of that year, it had already participated in High Wood, Poziere Ridge and the Battle of Ancre Heights.
It is possible that James Alan Stallard could have been with the Regiment in the Battle at Messines and the 3rd Battle of Ypres. In 1918, until his death in August of that year, the Regiment had taken part in the Battles of St Quentin, Bapaume, Bailleul and the 1st Battle of Kemmel Ridge.
After his death the Regiment’s final battle was in October at the Battle of Sambre. Following the Armistice, demobilisation of the Regiment began on 27 December and the final cadre returned to England by the end of 1919.
Death and commemoration
James Alan Stallard died at home on 26 August 1918, after being discharged due to sickness.
James Alan Stallard was awarded the British War and Victory medals. On the medal roll he was also cited as serving in the Devon Regiment (no. 69900). On the roll awarding him the Silver War Badge it gives his discharge date as 10 September 1918, the cause being given as ‘sickness’. He had served overseas and was 19 years of age. The presentation of the Silver War Badge entitled soldiers who had been honourably discharged due to wounds or sickness, to wear it on civilian dress. It was never worn on military uniform but had been deemed necessary to protect the men from being handed white feathers by (mainly) women who saw their presence as an act of cowardice by seemingly able bodied, active, healthy young men. In the case of James Stallard, this was authorised after the date of his death.
He is buried in war grave (J1851) in Havant cemetery.
James Alan Stallard is listed on the Board in Midhurst Rother College.
Other family members
Albert Donald Stallard also served and was killed in the war. He served in the Royal Navy as an Assistant Paymaster. He was killed on HMS Princess Irene when it was destroyed by an internal explosion off Sheerness on 27 May 1915. He was 20 years of age. He is commemorated on Portsmouth Naval Memorial. He also shares the War Grave of his brother James Alan.
The Graves Registration report form 105 for James Alan Stallard for Havant and Waterloo (Havant) cemetery states: ‘Same memorial to brother who was lost at Sheerness in HMS Princess Irene’
The gravestone is inscribed: ‘Sleep now and take your rest’
Probate was granted on 29 September to Edward James Stallard master mariner.
Subsequent family history
Edward James Stallard died 11 October 1921. Probate was granted to Beatrice Stallard, widow.
Beatrice Stallard died on 29 April 1958 at Wray Nursing Home, Havant. Probate was granted to Lloyds Bank Ltd in June.