Roaby Henry Alfred Stacey

Story:
Roaby Henry Alfred Stacey was born in 1881 in Motcombe, Dorset, and baptised at Motcombe Parish Church on the 13th February 1881. He was the son of George Stacey, a gamekeeper, and Harriet Jane Stacey (née Foot). They lived at Keepers Cottage, Motcombe. By the 1901 Census, Roaby had moved to Warmington, Nr. Oundle, Northants where he boarded out and worked as a Mason's Labourer. On 18th June, 1903 he married Elizabeth Jane Bosworth at Warmington Parish Church. At the time of the 1911 Census they were living at The Mill Cottage, Sisted, Essex and had, by then, four children: a boy and three girls (a fifth child was born later in 1915). Roaby was working as a forester. His parents were living at Brickhill, Enmore Green.

Roaby enlisted at Braintree, Essex, on 9th June, 1916 as a Private with the 6th Battalion of the Queen's Own (Royal West Kent) Regiment (Service No. 15945). He served in France & Flanders. and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 9th April 1917 and was buried at Feuchy Chapel British Cemetery, Wancourt, Pas de Calais, France (grave id. III.H 19). He is remembered on the war memorials at Motcombe and Enmore Green, Shaftesbury. His wife, Elizabeth, moved to Street Farm, Pebmarsh, Bures, Essex, with her five children, and received a widow's pension of £1 3s. 9d. (£1.68p.) per week.