STUBBINGS, Harry

Harry Stubbings was the son of John and Annabelle Stubbings of 'Cecil View', Bowling Green Road, Stourbridge. He was a member of the Enville Street Methodist chapel and attended Stourbridge Grammar School from 1911 to 1914. He enlisted in the Worcesters, probably in 1917, and joined the 1st Battalion which was deeply engaged in the Third Battle of Ypres from its first day on the 31st July to Passchendaele in November. On the 21st March 1918 when the first German Spring offensive started, the battalion was moved quickly to halt the German advance towards the old Somme battlefield. They could do little to hold up the massive enemy forces but Harry Stubbings was wounded on the 29th March in the attempt. He recovered and returned to take part in the Advance to Victory. The Worcesters were involved at the start on the 21st August and again at the end. On the 14th October after days of successful advance towards the town of Douai they attacked the enemy in the village of Flers. They met the final determined defence of a beaten army and eleven men were killed. They included Private Harry Stubbings who was 19 years of age and died only three weeks from the armistice. He is buried in Douai British Cemetery (F 16) and commemorated on the Stourbridge, Enville St. Methodist church and King Edward VI College Memorials.