Belgian Corner Cemetery: Pauline Priano
Belgian Corner Cemetery: Pauline Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Albert Ernest Stubbs was the eldest of his siblings. His father William Stubbs born 1871 at Witton Park, Durham, married in 1891 to Rachael Briggs born 1874 at Browney Colliery, County Durham. Albert Ernest was born in 1896, Myra Gertrude 1900 and William February 8th 1901 in the district of Spennymoor while they were living at 64, Durham Road, Tudhoe, his father employed as a steel plater. By the time their daughter Rachael Stubbs was born in 1903 they had transferred for a time to Grangetown, Yorkshire, returning to County Durham by 1904 as William Snr died that year in the district of Bishop Auckland, aged 33 years.
His widow Rachael was living in 3 rooms at 13, Hood Street, Bishop Auckland in 1911. To make ends meet she worked from home taking in sewing, Albert Ernest (15) was employed by the Cooperative Stores as a stable boy, Myra (11), William (10) and Rachael (8) attended school as did their cousin Rachael Grierson (13) whom they had taken into their home.
Albert Ernest enlisted at Bishop Auckland, May 18th 1915 and was embodied that same day into the 2/6th Battalion Durham Light Infantry as Private 3764. The battalion as a second line unit in September 1915 moved from Ravensworth to Leam Camp, Heworth, placed under the orders of the 190th Brigade, 63rd (2nd Northumbrian) Division. November 1915 they transferred to Doncaster where they remained until in July 1916 the Division was broken up and the 190th Brigade moved to Catterick for intensive training. September 1st 1916 Private Stubbs was transferred to the 5th Reserve Battalion Durham Light Infantry.
He was mobilised and as part of the British Expeditionary Force departed to France September 10th 1916 reaching the 35th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples and posted as Private 42906 to the 22nd Battalion D.L.I. joining his regiment in the field attached to the 8th Division as a Pioneer Battalion bringing supplies to the front line and ferrying the wounded to the dressing stations.
After the conclusion of the Battles of the Somme the 22nd Battalion was moved to the Ypres salient in Belgium in preparation for the attacks which began at the Third Battle of Ypres, July 31st, however the pioneers of the 8th Division had already been hard at work in the area digging new communication trenches and laying a new railway track. The work took place under constant shelling and gas attacks.
Aged 21 years and single, Private 42906 Albert Ernest Stubbs Durham Light Infantry was killed in action, July 2nd 1917 and interred at Belgium Battery Corner Military Cemetery, grave I. C. 11 alongside Private James Thomas Woods of Hartlepool also of the 22nd D.L.I. killed that same day.
In the event of his death Private Stubbs had made a will, September 11th 1916, which assigned all his personal effects and property to his mother, however, she too died during the 3rd quarter (Jul/Aug/Sep) 1916, aged 42 years. All monies owed to him by the Army were divided equally amongst his surviving siblings, each received 3 pounds 19 shillings and 1 pence. His personal items consisting of; pocket wallet, cigarette case, pair of nail clippers, cards and photos were received by his sister Myra at 97, Corley Street, Chester Road, Lanchester, August 17th 1917 and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal in 1921.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Albert Ernest Stubbs is remembered at Bishop Auckland as A. Stubbs on B140.03 and B140.05 and as G. Stubbs with correct Service number and date of death in B140.27 page 79
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 170
