Photo: Dorothy Hall
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Staples was born 1895 in Langley Moor, County Durham, the youngest son and one of 11 children, of whom 4 deceased, born to James Staples 1848 and Jane Grice 1850, both natives of Bicker, Lincolnshire. They were married in Boston, Lincolnshire, June 1870 migrating north between 1871 and 1877. James was employed as a coal miner-hewer however in 1891 when they were living at 49 High Street Brandon he was employed as a coke yard labourer. William was already working at the colliery at the age of 16 as a labourer above ground.
William Staples enlisted in Stanley in 1915 and was assigned as Guardsman/Private 29348 Grenadier Guards. He was posted to the 1st Battalion which upon its arrival in France, 1916, was under the command of the 3rd Brigade, Guards Division. The 1st Battalion was engaged on the Somme at Flers-Courcelette and Morval, 1917 the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, Pilken, Menin Road, Poelkapelle, First Battle of Passchendaele, and at Cambrai. The Battle of St. Quentin began in spring 1918, the Germans’ had deliberately laid waste the front line between St Quentin/Cambrai and Bapaume/Albert area when they withdrew from the area in 1917 leaving the troups exposed. The 2nd Battle of Bapaume began August 23rd and was the prelude for the Battle of Arras 1918. Private 29348 William Staples Grenadier Guards was killed in action September 12th 1918. he was buried on the battlefield by his comrades who marked his grave with his service details on a cross. After Armistice his body was exhumed and brought into Vaulx Hill Cemetery, which was begun after the village of Vaulx-Vraucourt was retaken in September 1918. His reburial was carried out by an Army Chaplain, January 22 1920, grave III. A. 15. William was 23 years old and single.
As his sole beneficiary, his father James received, at his home address of, 20 Kimberley Terrace, Craghead, all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
William's brother John died in 1920, his father died in 1926, his mother in 1928 and are buried in St. Thomas' Churchyard Craghead. William is on the headstone:-
Also William brother of the above
Killed in Action in France September 12th 1918 aged 23 years
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William is remembered at Craghead on C120.01, C120.02, C120.04, C120.07 and an individual plaque in the Wesleyan Church C120.09
