STAFFORD, Harry

Harry Stafford was the son of Ruth Stafford of 16 Green Lane, Lye, and he attended Wollescote school. He volunteered for the Worcesters and joined the 9th (Service) Battalion. After training at Blackdown on the Salisbury Plain they sailed from Avonmouth in May 1915 for the Mediterranean and Gallipoli, where the initial attack in April had failed to capture the peninsula. They spent some time on Imbros and a few days near Cape Helles. On the 6th August they landed at Suvla Bay without opposition. They moved cautiously forward but their assault on the Turkish position was a disaster. No ground was gained and the casualties were huge. Pte Harry Stafford was one of those killed in action on that day and he is commemorated on the Helles, Lye and Wollescote, Lye church and Wollescote school Memorials.