William Stead
Date of death: 25.9.1916
Area: Crofton
Regiment: Coldstream Guards
Family information: Husband of Lily Stead of 13 Walker’s Street, Normanton Common, Hopetown
Rank: Private
Service number: 16902
War Service
William Stead enlisted at Wakefield where he was given the service number 16902 and joined the 3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards. He was killed in action at France/Flanders on 25th September 1916 aged 33 and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.
The Wakefield Express dated 27th September 1919 in the Roll of Honour has this entry:
“In loving memory of a dear husband and Dad, Private William Stead beloved husband of Lily Stead (nee Oakley) of Normanton Common and late of Agbrigg, Wakefield was killed in action at Ginchy, France 25th September 1916.
Far and often our thoughts do wander
To that grave so far away
Where they laid a loving husband and Dad
Just three years ago today”
William was an uncle of Harold Stead of Crofton (for many years a Parish Councillor, School Governor and member of the local British Legion in Crofton), who served in the Second World War. Harold remembered that his Uncle William had a son called John, who was obviously Harold’s cousin. They lived at Normanton.
Family Life
William was born in Crofton, the son of Joe and Selina Stead, in 1883. He married Lily Oakley at Normanton on 14th April 1906 and in the 1911 census they had had two children, though one had died. Their surviving child was a daughter named Lilian. In 1911 they were living at 5, Wesley Street, Belle Vue, Wakefield and William was a coal miner hewer.
Thiepval Memorial
