1894-1918, Mosborough, Derbyshire

Percy Staniforth was born at Mosborough in the parish of Eckington, Derbyshire on June 11, 1894. He was the son of Harry "Henry" Staniforth and Alice Grant. He had two sisters that died in infancy, Evelyn Whiteley Staniforth, born and died in 1893 and Elizabeth Ellen Staniforth was born in 1893, and died in 1905.

On the 1901 Census we find Percy living with his grandfather on his mother's side, John Grant, and his mother's brother Leonard Grant. John Grnat was a 68 year old bricklayer at this time, and Percy was aged 6, they livede at 69 South Street at Mosborough.

By 1911 Percy was now 16 years of age and he is living at his uncle Albert Grant's house with his aunt Anne at 88 South Street. He was working as an apprentice bricklayer. It is unclear as to why Percy and his mother are not living with their father, in 1901 Henry is living with a Hepwell family at 127 High Street, Eckington as a boarder, his occupation reads Butcher. In 1911 he is still in the same household, this time as a Coal Miner Hewer, and he is described as a widower. Alice appears to passed away in Sheffield in 1906 at the age of 38.

There is an interesting story in the newspapers in 1895 which describes Henry Staniforth, landlord of The Crown Hotel, Mosborough, with his wife alice, in the report Henry is charged with being drunk on the premises. It seems likely that this drunkeness may have had a strain on the marriage.

Percy Enlisted in Sheffield in1914 upon the outbreak of World War I, he served with the Duke of Wellington's Regiment in the 1st and 7th Batallion. His regimental number was 307325, formerly 27077, K.O.Y.L.I.

Percy would spend four year with the regiment and on May 18th, 1918 the following was printed in the Derbyshire Courier:

Mosbro - Much concern is felt as to the fate of Pte. Percy Staniforth of South Street, Mosbro. He has been missing in France for several weeks.

His official date of death was recorded on April 13, 1918, his body was never recoverred. Percy is remembered with the other Mosborough residents that fell during both World Wars on the War Memorial outside St. Mark's Church.