Cecil John STOKER

STOKER, Cecil John

Service Number: 3120
Enlisted: 16 July 1915
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 13th Infantry Battalion
Born: Uralla, New South Wales, Australia, 12 September 1897
Home Town: Uralla, Uralla, New South Wales
Schooling: Uralla Public School, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation: Railway porter
Died: Killed in Action, France, 29 June 1916, aged 18 years
Cemetery: Brewery Orchard Cemetery, Bois-Grenier
Plot IV, Row D, Grave No. 19.
Memorials: Armidale Memorial Fountain, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, Uralla Public School Honour Roll
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Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks

The eldest son of William and Elizabeth Stoker of Uralla, New South Wales. Cecil's father, William Stoker had passed away when Cecil was only 12 years of age.

The Tamworth Daily Observer reported, 'The sad news came through during the week of the death of Corporal Cecil Stoker, eldest son of Mrs. Stoker of this town. Corporal Stoker was killed in' action in France on 29 June. He was only 18 years of age, and was of a very bright disposition, which made him most popular with one and all. He was employed on the local railway staff prior to enlisting.'

They also stated that Cecil was a member of the 1914 Uralla football team, all of whom had enlisted bar one or two.

He saw no service at Gallipoli and only arrived in France with the 13th Battalion on three weeks prior to his death. The unit was manning a quiet 'nursery' sector near Bois Grenier. It seems Cecil was killed by a shell explosion in his trench.

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