William Stainton – Royal Artillery, 9 Coast Regiment

Gunner William Stainton – Royal Artillery, 9 Coast Regiment

Birth and Family Background

William Stainton was born in 1916 at Sketty, Swansea. He was the son of Thomas Stainton and Lily Rubenia Jones, who were married in 1911.

Early Life

1921 Census

At the time of the 1921 Census, the Stainton family were living at Sea View Cottage, Blackpill. Thomas Stainton, aged 34 and born in Westmorland, was employed as a jobbing gardener, working for Mr W. G. Christians, solicitor. His wife Lily Rubenia, aged 32, undertook the household duties.

Their children were John, aged 8; Caroline Lily, 6; William, 4; all of whom attended school; and Thomas Henry, aged 1.

1939 Register

The 1939 Register records the family residing at 466 Mumbles Road. Thomas was employed as a gardener, while Lily and Caroline undertook domestic duties. William and John were also working as gardeners. Leonard, recorded as an invalid, and Thomas were also present in the household.

Military Service and Captivity

William served with the Royal Artillery as a Gunner, attached to 9 Coast Regiment. During the Far East campaign of the Second World War, he was taken prisoner of war following the fall of Singapore in 1942.

Japanese Index Cards of Allied Prisoners of War and Internees

Surviving Japanese Index Cards of Allied Prisoners of War and Internees confirm his captivity and record his personal details, providing rare documentary evidence of his imprisonment under Japanese control.

Death, Reporting, and Commemoration

Gunner William Stainton died on 5^th March 1943 while a prisoner of war. He has no known grave, and his name is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial, which honours Commonwealth servicemen who died during the Malayan Campaign and subsequent captivity.

Herald of Wales
22nd December 1945

In December 1945, the Herald of Wales reported that William’s parents had received official notification confirming that their son had been a prisoner of war and that he was regarded as missing. This reflected the prolonged uncertainty experienced by families of Far East prisoners in the years following the fall of Singapore