HILL Staveley

1901 Census
Stourbridge Rd, Lye
David Hill, head, age 43, Iron Plate Worker, born Amblecote, Staffordshire
Amy A. Hill, wife, age 33, born Rugeley, Staffordshire
Flossie Hill, daughter, age 10, born Stourport, Worcestershire
Staveley Hill, son, age 9, born Stourport, Worcestershire
Gertrude Hill, daughter, age 7, born Stourport, Worcestershire
Stanley Hill, son, age 5, born Stourport, Worcestershire
Gladys Hill, daughter, age 4, born Stourport, Worcestershire
Randolph Hill, son, age 1, born Birmingham, Warwickshire

Staveley Hill was born in Stourport and was the son of Mr and Mrs Hill of 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.  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.