George Stubbins

“A” Company, 1/8th Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment Private George Stubbins enlisted at New Hucknall in 1914. He was killed by a German shell on 21st April 1917 and was buried at Canadian Cemetery No. 2, Neuvill-St. Vaast. France (Sp. Mem.). CWGC - History of Canadian Cemetery No. 2 (extract): 'The cemetery was established by the Canadian Corps after the successful storming of Vimy Ridge on 9th April, 1917 and some of those buried in the cemetery fell in that battle or died of wounds received there, though the majority of the graves were made later for the burial of the dead recovered from surrounding battlefields and from isolated graves which were transferred into the cemetery over a period of years after the Armistice ... There are nearly 3,000, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site.'

CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'We cannot Lord Thy purpose see but all is well that's done by Thee' Mansfield Reporter and Sutton Times, 4th. May, 1917:- PRIVATE G. STUBBINS, HUTHWAITE 'The following letter has been received by the family of Private G. Stubbins, 8th. Sherwood Foresters, from his Corporal: “It is with sincere regret I write. I am exceedingly sorry to inform you of your dear son's death in action. He was killed on the night of 21st. (April) by a German shell. He was killed instantaneously, so did not suffer any pain. He was a very good and willing young fellow, and we shall miss him very much. I do not know where he is buried, but when I get to know I will let you know. A parcel came for him this morning, and we shared the contents among the platoon, with the exception of the postal order, and the pair of leggings, which will be sent back along with his personal property. I have been asked to send our greatest sympathy from all his comrades, as they all feel they have lost one of their best and most cheerful chums. I again offer my deepest sympathy in the terrible blow which has overtaken you. Corporal T.E. Barsby, 4th. Platoon, “A” Company, 8th. Sherwood Foresters.” This letter was received on Tuesday following the Official intimation of a few days earlier. Private Stubbins was very young and enlisted in the year the war broke out. He was a member of the Huthwaite Parish Bible Class.' Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918. Mansfield Reporter, 29 June 1917: ‘Huthwaite Memorial Service. Five Local Heroes Honoured. At the Parish Church on Sunday morning a beautiful and impressive memorial service was conducted to the memory of five local men who have made the supreme sacrifice. Their names are: Lance-Corporals E Hower [Bower], (N/Staffs), A Weston (KRR), and Ptes Geo. Stubbins (Sherwood Foresters), H. Burton and T Phillips (both of the Canadian Contingents). Particulars of their lives have separately appeared in these columns during the last few weeks. At the service, which was conducted by the Rev. FN Beswick, every possible mark of affection and respect was shown to the memory of the departed heroes … The Union Jack was at half mast on the church tower throughout the day. There was a numerous gathering of mourners, but the general public was poorly represented, a downpour of rain probably militating against a large congregation. As the choir proceeded to their places, the organist, Mr JP Morley, played a brief funeral voluntary improvised by himself and the two special Psalms were the 39th and the 130th, and appropriate lessons. Stainer’s familiar anthem, ‘What are these arrayed in white robe?’ was chosen … The two hymns were ‘Lord as to Thy dear Cross we flee’ and ‘For all the Saints who from their labours rest.’ The text was ‘I know that my Redeemer liveth’ and the rev. gentleman delivered a touching, but compelling sermon, remarking that the words were especially appropriate at this time … The names of all from the parish who have fallen in the war were read out, and the service ended with the Dead March from Saul, and Beethoven’s Funeral March.; (www.britishnewspaperarcive.co.uk)