HILL, Staveley

Staveley Hill was born in Stourport and was the son of Mr and Mrs Hill. They were living in Stourbridge Road, Lye, in 1901 and moved to Stanhope House, Oldswinford. He volunteered in early 1916 and enlisted in the Worcesters. He was later transferred to the 2nd Lincolns, possibly after their huge losses on the first day of the Somme at La Boisselle. They played a leading role at the Third Battle of Ypres in 1917, taking part in the opening day's attack, the battles of the Menin Road in August and then at Passchendaele in October. In March 1918 they were in the long retreat after the initial success of the German Spring offensive. By August 1918 the situation had changed dramatically. The German forces had been exhausted and the Allies had regained confidence. The Lincolns moved up for a major attack, but in the course of forming up Private Staveley Hill was badly injured on the 18th August with gun-shot wounds to the stomach. He was sent to hospital at Huddersfield, where it was discovered that a bullet still remained in his body. It was removed in an operation but he died two days later. He was 26 years of age and is buried in Stourbridge cemetery (D 772) and commemorated on the Stourbridge, Lye and Wollescote, Lye church and Oldswinford church Memorials.