Stock, William Thomas

Age: 43
Date of birth: 16th September 1872

Parents: William Stock and Mary Ann Stock (nee Franks)
Wife: Lucy Henrietta Lapworth
Address: 19 Wharf Street

Occupation: Carter

William was born on 16th September 1872 and baptised in Wellesbourne on 24th October 1872. There is a note in the margin of the register that says “Received into the church November 3rd 1872”. At the time his parents were living in Wellesbourne and his father was a labourer. William and Mary Ann married on 4th July 1872.

At the time of the 1881 census, William and Mary Ann and their son William and daughter Elizabeth (6) were living at 10 St Nicholas Church Street, Warwick. William Snr was a labourer and Mary Ann was a laundress.

Mary Ann died in 1881 and William remarried – to another Mary, from Winkwell in Buckinghamshire – in 1885 and in the 1891 census the couple had two sons, George (3) and Frank (8 months). The family were living at 19 Wharf Street. William Snr was working as a carter at the gelatine works and William Jnr worked there as a general labourer. Elizabeth, now aged 17, was living at Chapel House, Atherstone as a domestic servant. There is a note on the census form that Chapel House was a sisterhood for preparing domestic servants.

William Thomas married Lucy Henrietta Lapworth on 21st November 1896 at All Saints church, Emscote. At the time, William was still living with his father and step-mother at Wharf Street. Lucy, who was 18, lived with her parents on Pickard Street.

In the 1901 census, William and Lucy were living at 2 Pickard Row with their 2-year old son George. William was working as a bath attendant. George had been baptised as William George on 5th March 1899. The couple had another son, Harry, in November 1902 who was baptised at All Saints church on 29th January 1903.

According to the Great Western Railways’ employment register of uniformed staff, William began working for them at the Warwick Goods station on 6th October 1902 as a carman, having previously been employed by a cartage agent.

Something appears to have gone wrong, since both the boys were living in a foster home in Leamington Spa at the time of the 1911 census.

Warwick Advertiser, August 28th 1915  Local War Items section:

“Pte William Thomas Stock of the Wiltshire Regiment has been killed in action in France. He was a son of Mr Stock of Wharf Street, Warwick, who had already lost one son in the war – Sgt Stock of the 7th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment.”

The piece refers to William’s half-brother, George, who had died in June 1915, just two month’s earlier. They are commemorated together on William and Mary’s grave in Warwick Cemetery, whose inscription reads:

In Loving Memory of
MARY the beloved wife of WILLIAM STOCK who died September 14th 1922 aged 65. A noble and true wife and a loving mother.
Also Sgt. GEORGE STOCK 1-7 Royal Warwickshire Regiment who fell in action at Messines May 7th 1915 aged 27.
And Pte. WILLIAM THOMAS STOCK 1. Wiltshire Regiment who fell in action in France August 7th 1915 aged 43. Sons of the above.
Also the above WILLIAM STOCK who died May 21st 1932 aged 81

William’s wife Lucy remarried in December 1915, to Leonard James Hill, at Foleshill.

Military Service

Rank & Number: Private, 19884
Regiment/Service: 1st Battalion, The Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire Regiment)
Brigade/Division: 7th Brigade, 3rd Division
Date of death: Saturday, August 07, 1915
Cause of death/Battle: Killed in action
Commemorated/Buried: Menin Gate
Awards: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Commemorated locally at: St Pauls Church, All Saints Church, All Saints School

This is the War Graves memorial stone on which William’s name appears

Contributors

  • Unlocking Warwick Research Group
  • Warwick Advertiser excerpt courtesy of Warwickshire County Record Office

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