Menin Gate Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
George William Stayman was born March 15th 1885 at Monkwearmouth, Sunderland, one of 11 children he was the eldest of 2 surviving sons and 7 daughters. His father James Stayman was a Yorkshireman born at Appleby in 1853 and where he married in 1874 to Elizabeth Crabb born 1856 at South Shields. In 1881 they were living at 11, Norman Street, Southwick, district of Sunderland where James was working as a lime stone quarryman. Listed also as part of the household were Mary Jane Crabb (14) a dressmaker, Christine Crabb (9) and Susannah Crabb (6) recorded as step-daughters of James Stayman, this however was impossible as he was only 28 years old and his wife 25 years, it is more likely they were Elizabeth’s younger sisters. Ten years later the 3 Crabb sisters were no longer living with them and they had moved to Brasside Brickwork Cottages at Framwellgate, Durham. James was still the only breadwinner and had changed his occupation to that of a stationary engineman. Over the years they moved about continually between Southwick, Brasside and Pelaw and had returned to Norman Street, Southwick by 1901. George William, now 16 years old, was employed as an apprentice joiner/carpenter, his father as a brick maker. Between 1901 and 1911 George William took the decision to emigrate to Canada, his parents, brother Robert, sisters Nellie and Elizabeth returned to Leyburn where James and his son Robert worked as limestone quarrymen, later returning to Pelaw, County Durham.
Prior to WW1 whilst working in Canada as a carpenter George William had also enlisted into the 12th Battalion Canadian Light Infantry. On the outbreak of war the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry was formed, August 1914, leaving Ottawa bound for England arriving October 18th 1914, first stationed at Bustard Camp on Salisbury Plain near Stonehenge. November 16th the unit joined the 18th Brigade, 27th Imperial Division British Army. Lance Corporal 23217 George William Stayman was attested at Sling Plantation, Wiltshire, December 18th 1914 and transferred to the No. 4 Coy P.P.C.L.I. as part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, Eastern Ontario Regiment. December 20th 1915 the regiment departed from Southampton bound for France, arriving the following day. The P.P.C.L.I was the only Canadian Infantry unit on the battlefield. They took their place in the trenches in Belgium, January 6th 1915 at a location known to the British Army as, “Dickiebush”. They fought at St. Eloi, March 20th 1915 and May 8th at the defence of Bellewaarde Ridge during the Battle of Frezenberg, suffering huge losses, 500 men in three days, the remains of the regiment being commanded by a Lieutenant, all other officers having been killed or wounded. They served with the 80th Brigade before joining the 7th Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division, December 22nd 1915 and as such during 1916 participated in the major battles at Mount Sorrel, June 2nd-14th, on the Ypres salient in Belgium.
Lance Corporal 23217 George William Stayman Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry was killed in action between June 2nd/4th 1916. His body was originally buried on the battlefield at China Wall, junction Zillebeke-Menin Road. After Armistice and the clearing of the battlefields no trace could be found of his grave, therefore his sacrifice is recorded as one of the 54,896 names inscribed on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing, Ypres, Belgium, commemorating servicemen from Britain and the Commonwealth who died on the Ypres salient up to August 15th 1917, whose bodies have never been identified or found. He was 31 years old and single.
Lance Corporal Stayman was a recipient of the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, British War Medal and Victory Medal received by his parents at 34, Croxdale Terrace, Pelaw, County Durham.
His father James Stayman died in 1928 aged 75 years, his mother Elizabeth Stayman nee Crabb in 1937 aged 81 years both registered in the district of Gateshead, County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
George William Stayman is remembered at Heworth on H92.03 and at Sunderland in S140.048 part 9
He is also remembered at Craven near Skipton North Yorkshire.
