Private 19460 John Thomas Stringer

Killed in Action Gallipoli on Saturday, 7th August 1915, age 23.
Commemorated on Panel 58 to 72 or 218 to 219 of Helles Memorial, Turkey.

9th Bn., Lancashire Fusiliers. 34th Brigade of 11th Division.
Formerly 10893 Yorkshire Regiment.

Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Middlesborough, Resident: Unknown.

First landed Balkans, 5th July 1915.
Medal entitlement: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.

Not commemorated on any Tipton memorial.
Commemorated here because identified as Tipton on 'Soldiers Died in the Great War'.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/686106/

Genealogical Data

It is likley that the following is the correct detail for John Thomas Stringer. This is on the basis that after his death, all outstanding pay and allowances were left to his sister, May. I can find no other Stringer household with May Stringer – this assumes that John Thomas was recorded as just Thomas - aged 8 in 1901. His full name of John Thomas is confirmed by the birth registration having mother's maiden name of Davis which is correct. This assumption is strengthened by the death of 55-year old Ann Stringer in December quarter 1911, otherwise it would be likely that John Thomas would nominate his mother to be the recipient of his estate.
I would be pleased to hear from you if you can confirm or deny this assumption.

Birth of John Thomas Stringer registered June quarter 1892 in Dudley (mother nee Davis).

1901 Census
37 Upper Chapel St, Tividale, Staffs.
Thomas Stringer (41, Roller in Iron Works, born Tipton), his wife Ann (45, born Rowley Regis), and their 7 children: Phoebe (19, born Rowley Regis), Sidney (16, Labourer in Boiler Works, born Rowley Regis), William (13, born Rowley Regis), Elizabeth (11, born Rowley Regis), Thomas (8, born Rowley Regis), May (4, born Rowley Regis) and Annie (10 months, born Rowley Regis).

By 1911, John Thomas had left the family home in Tividale. His whereabouts are unknown but we do know that he enlisted in 1914 in Middlesbrough.

1911 Census
37 Upper Chapel St, Tividale, Staffs.
Ann Stringer (54, Widow, born Tividale), and 5 of her surviving 10 children of 15: Phoebe (29, born Tividale), William Thomas (23, Carter for Scrap Iron Works, born Tividale), May (13, born Tividale), Annie (10, born Tividale), and Leonard (5, born Tividale).

Personal Data

After John's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to 3/16/6d (3 pounds, 16 shillings and 6 pence); this was paid to his sister and sole legatee, May, in November 1915. His War Gratuity was £3/0/0d (3 pounds exactly), this was also paid to his sister in July 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that John had enlisted within the previous 12 months.

As John's parents had both died (father John in 1906 and mother Ann in 1911) and John was unmarried, no pension was due as he had no dependants.

Action resulting in his death

The August landings at Suvla Bay were intended to break the stalemate which had developed after the April landings at Cape Helles and Anzac Cove. If the Suvla landings were successful, the forces could cross the Gallipoli peninsula and cut-off the Turkish troops who penned in the allied forces to the south end of the peninsula.

The landings began at 10.00pm on 6th August, with the 9th Lancashire Fusiliers (9/LF) in the centre of Suvla Bay with the objective of taking Hill 10. This was to be done by 01.30am, just 3½ hours after the landings began; they would then move further inland once reinforced.

The 9/LF were landed north of the 11th Manchesters which was exactly opposite to the plan. Re-organisation was needed to position themselves correctly to advance to their objective. By 02.30am, 9/LF had not identified Hill 10, let alone captured it. Brigadier-General Sitwell (34 Brigade) landed at 03.30am and ordered 9/LF to attack Hill 10 without waiting for reinforcements.

They took what they thought was Hill 10, but was in fact a large sand dune about 200 yards before Hill 10. The subsequent onward charge was met by machine gun fire causing many casualties amongst the 9/LF. Their charge ended at a trench about 200 yards before Hill 10.

At daybreak, the 11th Divisional Commander, Major-General Hammersley, landed and found the planned advance severely behind plan. He ordered flank troops to attack Hill 10, and the heavily outnumbered Turkish defenders retreated to fight another day. 9/LF remained on Hill 10 for the remainder of the day – 7th August.

The 9/LF had 6 Officers (including the Commanding Officer, Lt- Col Welstead) and 59 Other Ranks killed. Noticeably, all 6 Officers have known graves, a privilege accorded to only 2 of the 59 Other Ranks. John Thomas Stringer is amongst those with no known grave and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial to the Missing of Gallipoli.

Newspaper Cuttings

None.