Cpl. Gilbert Stringfellow MM, 1915
Gilbert Stringfellow was born in Chorley in late 1890 to Elizabeth and Matthew Stringfellow, being one of seven children. In 1891 the family were at 14 Elliott Street, by 1901 they had moved to 35 Gillibrand Walks and by 1911 were at 111 Moor Road in Chorley. Gilbert attended St. George’s Church and worked as a Coal Miner at Chorley Colliery.
He was wounded on the 1st July 1916 at Serre and after recovering was probably transferred to another Battalion within the East Lancashire Regiment, as his number changed to 35439.
On Easter Monday, the 9th April 1917, Gilbert won a Military Medal for capturing nine Germans single-handed. As the 11th Battalion were not involved it was more than likely with either the 1st or the 8th Battalion who were in action on the first day of the Battle of Arras.
Wider searches found that a Gilbert Stringfellow married a lady with a surname of Green at Yarmouth in June 1918 – they had five children at Yarmouth between 1921 and 1934.
