Coldstream Guards

Derek Johnstone has provided the following:

William Stoddart was born in 1892 at Bedlington, Northumberland, and was the son of William, a miner and Annie Stoddart of 3, Gordon Terrace, Bedlington. In 1901 William was living at Gladstone Terrace, Bedlington with siblings Albert 6, John Edward 4 and Stephen aged 2.

The 1911 Census shows he was 19, single and working as a colliery horse keeper underground. At this time his family was living in three rooms at 3, Gordon Terrace, Bedlington with additional siblings Stephen Albert 12 and Annie Elizabeth aged 5.

William’s records show he was almost six feet tall which may have been the reason he joined the Coldstream Guards, in addition to working with horses. William was part of the Expeditionary Force between 22nd January 1915 – 30th May 1915 and was discharged later that year because of TB in his lung.

William died at home as a result of his lung condition on 13th March 1917. His brother Stephen Albert was killed at the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

He is remembered in Bedlington on B15.02, B15.06, B15.20 and B15.26 page 69

The CWGC entry for Corporal William Stoddart is not known