Private Stephen Carroll.
5332 2nd East Lancashire Regiment.
Killed in Action 20th November 1917, aged 22.
Stephen was born about 1895 in Burnley the son of Luke Carroll and Amelia Walsh. His father was born in Burnley and his mother in Rochdale.
In the 1901 census the family were living at 1 Shortwood (Tanyard), Hoyland, Yorkshire. Luke 25, brick setter, Amelia 26, Stephen 5, John 1 mth and they had 3 lodgers boarding with them.
In the 1911 census the family is found to be living at 481(?) St Mary’s Gate, Burnley. His parents Luke 35, a labourer in a brick works, Amelia 35, his brother John 11 and two sisters Annie 9 and Mary Agnes 2months. His parents had been married 16 years with 6 children two of whom had already died. Stephen was working down the pit as a coal hewer’s drawer.
From the Burnley Express dated 13th Nov 1915: A YEAR AT THE FRONT. - BURNLEY SOLDIERS INTERESTING EXPERIENCES.
There are not a few army soldiers have spent a full year at the front, during the past fortnight some have been home on a well deserved furlough. Mongols are Sgt a Robinson of the Coldstream Guards, Stephen Carroll and Private Ryan of the East Lancashire Regiment.
St Mary's Gate and, private whose home is at 2 St Mary's Gate and Private Ryan who resides in master Street came home last Friday, along with 6 other members of the East Lancashire Regiment who had been serving at the front for just a year. They were in camp at Workington on July 20th 1914, with the 3rd East Lancashire Regiment and their moved with the regiment to Plymouth. Here Private Carol was promoted to Lance Corporal, put on leaving on October 27th to join the 2nd battalion at Winchester he sacrificed his stripe. At the beginning of November he left England for France. For a year, with the exception of two short intervals when he was in hospital private Carol had been seeing Active Service, his period of trench duty varying accordion two military exigencies.
He was in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle and on the second day of the conflict he was struck by a bullet in the left arm. This bullet had evidently ricocheted off a building, for the end was bent over Carol found it in his sleeve after it has passed through the fleshy part of his arm. With that injury he was in hospital 26 days. He was in the Fromelles action but escaped. On one occasion, however, as he was carrying ammunition, his rifle, which was on his back, was struck by a bullet and a piece of the woodwork chipped off. During last winter Private Carol, like numerous others, suffered from frostbite, but fortunately it was only a slight attack. The soldier himself.... to be found
From the Burnley Express dated 15th Dec 1917: A TRUE LANCASHIRE LAD.
News has been received of the death in action in France of Lance Corporal Stephen Carroll, 5332 of the East Lancs, whose parents live at 2 St Mary's Gate Burnley. This young soldier joined the special reserve on July 20th when he was only 18 years of age. He was up Plymouth when war broke out and was sent to France the following October. He was wounded at nerve Chappelle and after recovering he returned to the trenches. He was home for 10 days only last July. He was killed on November 20th being than just 22 years of age. He was formerly employed at Pemberton’s Foundry, and was connected with St Mary's Church and a member of their club. He was a very cheerful disposition and the spirit that was in him was revealed by the remark he made when on leave last July that "no hun was born to shoot him"
His lieutenant rights concerning him:" I was his platoon officer and can only speak of him as a brave cheerful and willing soldier, who, no matter how fast the battle, I was always to the fore. He died doing his Duty like a true Lancashire lad. He was killed instantly by a shell.
Stephen left his effects to his mother Amelia.
Stephen lived at 2 St Mary's Gate, Burnley
Stephen is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium: Grave Ref; Panels 77 to 79.
