by Grant Shaw

The sometimes-overlooked Hallam Fields War Memorial is in the grounds of the former Stanton Institute (“The ‘Stute”) and is a replica of the original which was stolen some years ago. The names on it are all First World War casualties, but my recent research has highlighted one or two from WW2 too. All had a Stanton Ironworks connection, and most lived in the former community of Hallam Fields around Crompton Street (now Crompton Road). Here is a non-exhaustive list :

(kia = Killed in Action, b = born, dow = died of wounds, Cpl = Corporal, Pvt = Private, etc. RE = Royal Engineers, Sherwoods = Notts & Derby Regiment – Sherwood Foresters)

Allen, Albert Edward L/Cpl RE b Hallam Fields 1896 Iron Moulder kia 12/8/17 age 22

Beecroft, Percy William Cpl Royal Field Artillery b 1886 Carrington Pattern Moulder @ Stanton kia 25/9/18 aged 32

Bilbie, Gilbert Herbert Pvt Sherwoods b 1921 Hallam Fields kia 1940 retirement to Dunkirk aged 19

Blount, Gerald Sapper RE b 1895 Ilkeston Fitter/turner @ Stanton kia 23/3/18 aged 23

Butcher, Albert Edward L/Cpl Sherwoods b 1897 Burton on Trent lived 10 The Triangle Ilkeston, missing, kia 21/3/18 age 20

Carrier, Arthur Edward Rifleman Kings Royal Rifle Corps b 1894 Motor mechanic @ Stanton, twice wounded kia 9/4/17 aged 23

Cope, James Sapper RE b 1894 Jobbing Moulder @ Stanton dow aged 22

Corns, Reginald Royal Field Artillery b Riddings 1896 Iron Moulder @ Stanton kia 13/8/17 aged 21

Eaton, Joseph Pvt Sherwoods b 1895 Ashover Pipe Moulder @ Stanton kia 1/7/16

Fairbarnes, Albert Edward Hampshire Regt b Balderton 1893 Labourer @ Stanton died after being invalided out of the army @ Ilkeston 6/11/18 aged 35 buried Park Cemetery

Hall, Edward Clarence Royal Marine Light Infantry b Ilkeston 1896 Labourer @ Stanton kia on HMS Britannia, 9/11/18 aged 22

Hall, Henry Allen L/Cpl Sherwoods b 1893 Little Hallam Lane Iron Founder @ Stanton kia 1/7/16 aged 23 (brother of above)

Hartley, Sidney Stuart L/Cpl Reconnaisance Corps b 1918 Park Road Ilkeston Japanese POW from Malaya died 14/2/42 aged 23

Hemm, Edwin George L/Cpl Sherwoods b Crompton Street 1895 Iron Foundry Labourer joined on 18/5/14 died 20/7/16 aged 21

Hendy, John Prince of Wales Regt b 1893 Crompton Street Shunter @ Stanton drowned 15/4/17 aged 24

Henson, Edwin L/Cpl 1st Grenadier Guards b Corporation Road 1886 kia 29/3/1918 aged 36

Hollis, William Ernest Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve b 1888 Cotmanhay Moulder @ Stanton drowned 3/10/18 aged 29

Martin, Samuel MM Sgt 7 Lincolnshire Regt b 1895 Crompton Street Fettler @ Stanton kia 29/8/17 aged 22

Palmer, Albert Leslie 2nd Lieutenant Sherwoods b Hallam Fields 1897 working at Stanton aged 13 dow 6/3/1917 aged 19

Potterton, John Thomas Driver Royal Army Service Corps b 1879 Thurmaston Leics Engine Driver @ Stanton died of influenza age 38

Rogers, Herbert Pvt Royal Fusiliers b 1890 Riddings Iron Foundry Labourer died 3/10/17 aged 27

Stubbs, Caleb John L/Cpl Sherwoods b 1894 Ockbrook Pipe Moulder @ Stanton kia 1/7/16 aged 22

Turner, John Henry L/Cpl Sherwoods b Hallam Fields 1896 Shunter @ Stanton kia 16/10/16 aged 19

Wake, Thomas Arthur Pvt Bedfordshire Regt b 1889 Whittington Pipe Moulder died 12/7/17 aged 28

Wilkes, Alfred James Pvt Northamptonshire Regt b 1883 Walsall Blast Furnaceman @ Stanton kia 31/7/17 aged 34