William Henry Stubbins/Coy, South Wales Borderers - died 4.11.1914

[BereniceUK]

According to CWGC, William Henry Coy served and died in the war as William Henry Stubbins, but in Grantham he was remembered as Stubbins.

 

Private

COY, W H

Service Number 8742

Died 04/11/1914

Aged 34

1st Bn.

South Wales Borderers

(Served as STUBBINS). Son of Helen C. J. Alldred (formerly Coy), of 49, Grove St., Derby, and the late Henry Coy.

https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/488306/coy,-/

 

https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/488662/stubbins,-/

 

Were there two William Henry Stubbins who saw service in the South Wales Borderers, one using that name as an alias? A man wouldn't have been charged and then served a prison sentence in 1905 under an assumed name, so if the two William Henry Stubbins were the same man, at what point did Coy become his official surname, and Stubbins an alias?

___________________

 

The birth of a William Henry Stubbins was recorded at the Aston (Birmingham) Registration District, in the first quarter of 1878. His mother's maiden name was Essex.

 

A William Henry Coy's birth was registered at the Leeds Registration District, in the first quarter of 1882, mother's maiden name being Mastin.

 

27318 Trooper William Henry Stubbins, 10th (Sherwood Rangers) Company Imperial Yeomanry, is listed in the Queen's South Africa Medal Rolls.

 

 EXTRAORDINARY BLUNDER AT BRECON.

      Private Stubbins, of the South Wales Borderers, was released from his Majesty's prison at Brecon on Friday, it having been found that he had been wrongly convicted.
      It will be recollected that at the summer assizes for the county of Brecon, held before Mr. Justice Channell on Tuesday, June 4, Private Stubbins was convicted of uttering at the Brecon Post-office a forged receipt for £12, and also with stealing a Post Office Savings' Bank book, the property of Private Russell Kemp, of the same regiment, on May 27. The prosecution was undertaken by Mr. W. Denman Benson, the prisoner being undefended.
      The evidence was to the effect that Kemp, who possessed an account in the Post Office Savings' Bank, informed Stubbins on Saturday, the 27th of May, that a note of withdrawal of £12 awaited him at the Brecon Post-office. Kemp declared that no one else besides Stubbins knew of the fact. Stubbins asked Kemp, who was a defaulter confined to barracks, if he should draw the money for him, and received the reply that he could not, as he (Kemp) would have to sign the receipt. Subsequently Kemp left his coat, which contained his bank-book, behind the door of the sergeants' mess some short distance away from an open window. To this window it was alleged, Stubbins shortly afterwards came and called for Kemp, who was his chum. Eventually it was discovered that the coat had been moved, and the book taken, whilst the usual receipt or warrant had been signed at the post-office, and the money paid over by the post-office clerk.

 

A POSITIVE WITNESS.

      One of the clerks at the post-office, Miss Clare Campion, stated that a soldier in a scarlet tunic, called for the warrant and signed it, and produced the bank-book, and she then handed it and the book to a fellow clerk, Miss Bell. Miss Campion could not identify the prisoner as that soldier. Miss Bell was positive that the prisoner was the man to whom she paid the money. Closely questioned by Stubbins, she adhered to her statement.
      In reply to further questions by Stubbins, Miss Bell stated that he was dressed in a red coat, and the time he arrived in the office was between 7.15 p.m. and 7.30 p.m.
      The only other evidence of importance for the prosecution was that given by Mr. George H. Edwards, the postmaster, who said that the distance between the Bull's Head Inn, in the street, where Stubbins was said to have been that night, and the post-office was 370 yards, which distance he had walked in three minutes and a half.

WHAT THE DEFENCE SAID.

      In his defence Stubbins declared that he was at the Bull's Head Inn between 6.30 and 7.45 p.m., and in that period he only left to go to the rear of the premises for a minute. He wore that night an old-fashioned scarlet tunic, with the Queen's South African medal.
      Cross-examined, he said he went to see Kemp before leaving the barracks to see if he wanted anything brought back from the town.
      The other evidence for the defence was that of Private Workman and Mrs. Margaret Williams, landlady of the Bull's Head, both of whom gave evidence corroborating Stubbins' statement that he was at the inn from 6.30 to 7.45. Mrs. Williams declared that he did not leave the tap-room the whole time, and if he did it was only for a couple of minutes.
      This comprised the main feature of the evidence, and the jury returned a verdict of guilty. Stubbins was sentenced to six months' hard labour.
It was noticed at the trial that Stubbins maintained that he was perfectly innocent.
      Recent events tended to corroborate this view, and during the last week one of the chief clerks connected with the Post Office and a detective-officer connected with the same department have been in Brecon making inquiries into the affair.
      This, we understand, was not due to the action of the prisoner, who, however, sent a petition to the Home Office, declaring his innocence, but to the fact that certain information reached the authorities. A number of soldiers were examined, and one day last week Stubbins was again put into uniform, and placed amongst other Borderers in the Depot in order that Miss Bell's identification, on which the case for the prosecution depended, might be further tested. Miss Bell at once picked him out. The fact that in the first place Miss Bell was shown the man alone in the post-office, and asked if he was the man who cashed the order, was however noticed, and this fact, it is urged, made all subsequent identifications a farce, although there can be no doubt as to Miss Bell's honesty in her opinion that Stubbins was the man. It is one of the strictest regulations of the police-force that a prisoner should be placed in a group of men for identification. Stubbins' many attempts at Kemp's signature did not at all resemble that on the receipt, and it was proved that to walk from the Bull's head to the post-office, cash such a warrant, and get back to the inn took ten minutes. So careful were the detectives on all points in this connection that an account was opened, and the post-office clerks were ignorant that this test was being made.

ORDER OF RELEASE.

      The report of the detectives was sent to the Home Office last week, and on the Friday Mr. J. W. Thorp, governor of Brecon Prison, received an order from the Home Secretary authorising the release of Stubbins.
      The latter, on his way down from the gaol, called at the offices of the "Evening Express" at Brecon, and reiterated the statement of his innocence to our local representatives.
      Later on he proceeded to the barracks, and was informed that he could not be taken back into the Army until further inquiry had been made.
The Weekly Mail, Saturday 23rd September 1905

 

 

PRIVATE STUBBINS REINSTATED

      William Henry Stubbins, who was recently released from his Majesty's Prison, Brecon, by order of the Secretary of State, has just been reinstated by order of the War Office as a private in the depot South Wales Borderers, Brecon. Stubbins in June last (before Mr. Justice Channell) at the Breconshire Assizes was sentenced to six months' hard labour on the charge of forging a Post-office receipt for £12, the property of a comrade, Private Russell Kemp. In accordance with military law, Stubbins on conviction was discharged from the Army, but now he will continue his military career. He is a smart young soldier, and wears the South African medal. He is fully reinstated from date of enlistment, with full allowance for lost pay whilst in prison and awaiting reinstatement.
Evening Express, Monday 16th October 1905

 

 

William Henry Stubbins is named on the Roll of Honour in St Wulfram's Church, Grantham.

 

 

Roll of Honour says he was born in Grantham. http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Lincolnshire/GranthamStWulfram.html

 

He seems to have enlisted at Lincoln. https://www.lincstothepast.com/STUBBINS--W-H---William-Henry/1565916.record?pt=S

 

Two possible William Coys, born in Grantham - William Edward, birth registered in the second quarter of 1881, and William, birth registered in the second quarter of 1887.

Edited 16 April , 2020 by BereniceUK

[ss002d6252]

The soldier's effects records don't note an alias for #8742 Stubbins so it appears he served his whole enlistment to his death as Stubbins. The correct surname of Coy seems to have been revealed afterwards.

 

His number was issued post Mar 1905 and pre 31 July 1905 so he was certainly in the army at the right time period.

8341 joined on 28th January 1904

8701 joined 20 Mar 1905
8841 joined on 31st July 1905

https://armyservicenumbers.blogspot.com/2011/10/south-wales-borderers-1881-1914-1st-and.html

 

He was born in Grantham

 

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBM%2FWWISD%2F0283785

 

Craig

[ss002d6252]

In 1911 there was also this man in the 1st SWB

https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=2352&h=41373631&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=nWt672&_phstart=successSource

 

In respect of #8742 a 1905 enlistment would mean he was on a 9&3 enlistment so he should still be serving in 1911.

 

Craig

[ss002d6252]

Ellen Coy married Fred Alldred in 1906 - so after William had joined the army

 

This is the Alldred family in 1901 - it means that she was using the name before marriage

https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=7814&h=17668874&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=nWt687&_phstart=successSource

 

By 1917 they were in Deby (another son, Fred, was killed)

https://www.fold3.com/image/668156390?xid=1022

 

Craig

[BereniceUK]

Seems very confusing to me, but thank you for digging all that up.

[ss002d6252]

15 minutes ago, BereniceUK said:

Seems very confusing to me, but thank you for digging all that up.

It is - they seem to have moved around a bit and changed details.

 

Ancestry/FreeBMD suggested this as the earlier marriage

 

This would mean that Henry Coy was his step-father (or he was the father but they were not married at the time - I doubt this though).

 

Craig

[ss002d6252]

 

Quote

27318 Trooper William Henry Stubbins, 10th (Sherwood Rangers) Company Imperial Yeomanry, is listed in the Queen's South Africa Medal Rolls.

His father was Charles Stubbins of 10 Castlegate, Grantham.

Craig

[BereniceUK]

Is it possible that he lived his life as Stubbins, but his mother claimed him as a Coy post-death?

[Keith_history_buff]

There's a person named William Henry Lewis Coy (23-Nov-1880 - Q1 1966 Horncastle, Lincs), who appears to have lived with his father and mother (Thomas Henry & Ellen respectively) in Carlton parish within the Basford district in Nottinghamshire, and appearing in that district in both the 1881 and 1891 census.

I can't seem to find anything plausible on the 1891 census.

[ss002d6252]

24 minutes ago, BereniceUK said:

Is it possible that he lived his life as Stubbins, but his mother claimed him as a Coy post-death?

I'm starting to think that may well be the case. If his birth father was Stubbins then it's possible - She seems to have gone from (nee)Thrift > Coy > Alldred via marriages.

Craig

[Vlaamse Verhalen]

Pretty sure that this is the lad you're looking for.....his mother was Ellen C.J. Thrift, from Blickling in North Norfolk.

 

She married Henry Coy in Nottingham (Q2 1883)

 

By 1891 he's living with Charles & Emily Stubbins, in Rutland, as their nephew....having been "born in Spain"!

 

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interactive/6598/RUTRG12_2551_2553-0476?pid=30227069&backurl=https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv%3D1%26dbid%3D6598%26h%3D30227069%26tid%3D%26pid%3D%26usePUB%3Dtrue%26_phsrc%3DsNt4509%26_phstart%3DsuccessSource&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=sNt4509&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&_ga=2.71123024.1766299378.1586868294-1601083331.1539614521

Edited 15 April , 2020 by Vlaamse Verhalen
Typo

[BereniceUK]

Thanks, everyone. So he was born Coy, but by the age of 8 was living with the Stubbins family (Elsie was his aunt?), and remained Stubbins until his death. It's possible that his QSA medal from the Boer War is in the name of Stubbins, and his Great War medal is inscribed Coy.

[Vlaamse Verhalen]

6 minutes ago, BereniceUK said:

Thanks, everyone. So he was born Coy, but by the age of 8 was living with the Stubbins family (Elsie was his aunt?), and remained Stubbins until his death. It's possible that his QSA medal from the Boer War is in the name of Stubbins, and his Great War medal is inscribed Coy.

 

Indeed. His paternal aunt, Emily Stubbins, was Henry Coy's elder sister....Emily Coy, from Sutton, Notts.

 

I sense a marriage breakdown....as his father, Henry Coy, was still alive in 1901 (as 'Harry Coy', back living with his mother).

Edited 15 April , 2020 by Vlaamse Verhalen

[ss002d6252]

Interestingly it then puts his real age down to 30 rather than 34 - does this mean he lied to the army and added a few years to his age...

 

#27318 WH Stubbins of Boer War lists his age as 20 in 1901 (so 33/34 in 1914) and his father as Charles.

Craig

[Keith_history_buff]

For enlistment date...

British Army Ancestors tells me that the following service records have survived in WO 97

 

(8738 SUDLOW - record is with MOD)

8739 CURTIS, Thomas

8741 WILLIAMS, John Arthur

8743 WILLIAMS, William Edward?

8743 WILTSHIRE, James [Rayner] - POW and 1914 Star recipient

 

FMP have the following WO 363 records
8745 Bartlett, F [Frederick Charles KIA 06-Apr-1918]

8748 HENDERSON, Andrew

 

From elsewhere, 
8732 joined on 23-Mar-1905
8750 joined on 12 Apr 1905

[BereniceUK]

Brilliant. I guess it's a moot point as to which was his 'real' name - legally it was probably Coy, but his choice was Stubbins.

 

Everyone's help is much appreciated.

[Vlaamse Verhalen]

He certainly seemed to enjoy embellishing any (all!?) details regarding his birth. His Yeomanry attestation in Feb 1901 gives Grantham as his place of birth, whilst the 1911 census (at Chatham Barracks, with 1st Btn. South Wales Borderers) states Bradford, West Yorks (also 1881)!

 

As Keith rightly states, he was very likely only 16 at the time of his 1901 attestation, or at least on the cusp of his 17th birthday.

 

The "son of the late Henry Coy" also appears to be dubious, too......by far the best candidate for his father actually lived until 1943.....

[BereniceUK]

He's likely to be somewhere on this photograph. http://www.nottsheritagegateway.org.uk/events/boerwar/boerwargraphic.htm

[Vlaamse Verhalen]

2 hours ago, ss002d6252 said:

 

His father was Charles Stubbins of 10 Castlegate, Grantham.

Craig

 

It took a little finding.....the family name is recorded as 'Stublins' on the 1901 Census....but that address is most definitely correct, for his uncle (Charles, a publican) & aunt (Emily).

 

Their "daughter"....Millie....who appears on census returns for 1881 & '91 also seems to be somewhat of an enigma, unless her birth was registered incorrectly.....

Edited 15 April , 2020 by Vlaamse Verhalen

[BereniceUK]

Out of curiosity, did Russell Kemp (SWB) see service in the Great War? I wonder it was ever discovered who took his Post Office Savings Book.

[Keith_history_buff]

With regard to the circumstances around his death, was he captured on 31 October 1914 (supposition on my part), and died of his wounds in a German Feldlazarett (based on SDGW and the puzzling "Death Place=Germany"?)

[Keith_history_buff]

The service record for this man survives. It's in WO 97, so he must have left the army prior to August 1914. Interestingly, his service number is 8741! They must have began their service at about the same time.

[Vlaamse Verhalen]

1 hour ago, Keith_history_buff said:

With regard to the circumstances around his death, was he captured on 31 October 1914 (supposition on my part), and died of his wounds in a German Feldlazarett (based on SDGW and the puzzling "Death Place=Germany"?)

 

I'm most certainly not as familiar with the translation from German-to-English as I should be, but these exist (under separate index entries) on the ICRC site:

 

"Werwick" refers to modern-day Wervik, which straddles the French/Belgian border (the French part is Wervicq-Sud)

 

So, I think I'm close to the mark with stating that our man died at the 15th Army Corps' field hospital, due to a gunshot wound to his head, and was originally buried in the Wervicq Communal Cemetery, on the Belgian side of the River Lys.

 

 

Edited 15 April , 2020 by Vlaamse Verhalen
Updated

[ss002d6252]

1 hour ago, BereniceUK said:

Out of curiosity, did Russell Kemp (SWB) see service in the Great War? I wonder it was ever discovered who took his Post Office Savings Book.

 

#8741 Kemp attested on  a 3&9 on 29 March 1905 so he likely knew Stubbins/Coy/Whateverhisname quite well.
https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBM%2FWO97%2F5271%2F166%2F001&parentid=GBM%2FWO97%2F5271%2F919526

 

He was discharged 19 June 1905 having apparently bought himself out.

 

Craig

[BereniceUK]

1 hour ago, ss002d6252 said:

 

He was discharged 19 June 1905 having apparently bought himself out.

 

How much would that have cost? Kemp had only just over £21 in the bank, less the £12 that was stolen.

 

      "The prosecutor stated that the prisoner asked him if he intended to go out of barracks that night, and added afterwards, "Oh,no, you are a defaulter, aren't you?" Complainant replied: "I should like to go out, because I have some money to draw." The prisoner inquired how much, and witness replied, "Twelve pounds." The prisoner then said he wished to speak to the prosecutor privately, and subsequently inquired if he should draw the money. He (Kemp) pointed out that he could not do so. When, about seven o'clock, he went to look for his jacket he found that it had been moved from the door of the Sergeants' Mess, and that his bank book was missing. He had £21 6s. 9d. in the bank.
      Superintendent Hand applied for a remand until Thursday morning, intimating that there would be further charges against the prisoner.
      The Clerk (to the prisoner): Do you wish to say anything why you should not be remanded?
      Prisoner: Only that I am innocent."
Evening Express, Wednesday 31st May 1905

 

He left just over a week after the date that Stubbins was found guilty.

 

      "The jury found him "Guilty," and he was sentenced to six months' hard labour."
The Weekly Mail, Saturday 10th June 1905

Edited 15 April , 2020 by BereniceUK