George Stones
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George (junior) Stones was born in 1897 in New Basford and was the son of George (senior)a blacksmith and Elizabeth Stones née Horton, of 4 Wellington Street, Arnold, Nottingham. His father George (senior) was born in 1871 in Sheffield , his mother Elizabeth Horton was born in 1871 in Daybrook, they were married in 1891 their marriage being recorded in the Basford Registration district they went on to have 7 children , sadly however three died in infancy or early childhood , their surviving children were : Ethel b1892 Daybrook, George b1897 New Basford, Percy b1898 New Basford and Harold b1903 Arnold. In the 1911 census the family are living at Spout Lane, Arnold and are shown as George 40 yrs a blacksmith , head of the family, he is living with his wife Elizabeth 40 yrs and their children Ethel 19 yrs a hosiery worker, George 14 yrs a scholar, Percy 13 yrs a scholar, and Harold 8 yrs a scholar.
Private George Stones enlisted at Arnold into the South Staffordshire Regiment with regimental number 52025 and at some time prior to April 1917, had transferred into the Durham Light Infantry being posted to their 15th Battalion which landed at Boulogne on the 11th September 1915. On the 9th April 1917, the British opened the Battle of Arras, which was designed to drive the Germans out of the Aisne River Sector. The British opened the attack with a five day bombardment of the German Lines and as they moved forward the made considerable gains with Vimy Ridge falling to the Canadians. The Germans are quickly reinforced in this area and growing resistance if met with all along the front and by the 11/12th the battle had begun a stalemate with the fighting centering around Bullecourt. It was during this British advance on the 10th April that George was killed in Action,he is buried in the Cojeul British Cemetery, St Martin-Sur-Cojeul, France, Plot A. Grave 38.
In memoriam published in the Nottingham Evening Post dated 9th April 1981 : STONES. – In loving memory of our dear son George, killed in action April 9th, 1917 [sic]. It's just a year to-day since that great sorrow fell, yet in our hearts we mourn the loss of him we loved so well. – From sorrowing mother [Elizabeth], father [George], Ethel and Harold. “STONES. – In loving memory of Lance-Corpl. George Stones, D.L.I., killed in action April 9th, 1917. Not forgotten. Daisy Stones.” Above are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
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