William John Stainer

Story:
William John Stainer was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 26 Sep 1876 and baptised at St. James Church, on 10 Mar 1877 the son of Sarah Jane Stainer (no father is mentioned in any birth entry).  He lived initially with his grandfather, Thomas Stainer, whilst in the meantime his mother had married Edwin Alfred Wright in Shaftesbury in 1879. William then went to live with his mother and step-father at 3 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, until he enlisted with the Royal Engineers as a Private in Oct 1898 (Service No. O/2371).  He served in the UK as well as South Africa and by the time of his discharge to Reserves on 15 Aug 1902 held the Queen's South Africa Medal and Clasps (1900/1901) and the King's South Africa Medal and Clasps (1902/1903).  It is recorded that he was in action at the Relief of Ladysmith.  He was fully discharged in 1910.  It is presumed shortly after his discharge from the military he emigrated to Canada working as a Blacksmith.   He enlisted in Winnipeg, Canada, on 10 Dec 1915 joining the 11th Company of the 3rd Division Engineers (Service No. 541956).   He was posted to France on 5 Apr 1916 and served with various field units in the vicinity.  He was taken seriously ill with bronchitis and taken to the 22nd General Hospital at Camiers, Nord-pas-de-Calais, France, where he died on 17 Dec 1917.  He was buried at the Etaples Military Cemetery, Camiers, (Grave Ref; XXXI. D.18A.).  He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals and these were sent to his mother (named in his will as next of kin) at 3 Salisbury Street (also known as 3 Angel Square), Shaftesbury.  It is not known if he is remembered on any local War Memorial. (NB. This person is not to be confused with William John Stainer (1880-1917) who was also from Shaftesbury and whose entry can be found elsewhere in the Shaftesbury Remembers site.)