...I have shown below a brief
history of my Grandfather's life.
RAYMOND JOSEPH ANTHONY STOKER
1ST CLASS DSM Service No. D/KX13001
Born 1912 in Newport,
Monmouthshire to parents Charles and Florence. He was a very
keen and outstanding football player and during his school years
was an excellent all round sportsman.
He played for top Welsh League
team Treharris Athletic and was a prolific goal scorer winning
the Welsh league and cup double in the 1936-37 season. So
impressive was he that Bolton Wanderers took him on trial under
manager C.E.Foweraker and requested he returned for further
games. However due to family commitments and finally the onset
of war this never happened.
Later he played for Lovells
Athletic where he also worked as a fitter's mate and boiler man,
while playing for Lovells Welsh league winning team of 1938-39
he was selected to play football for Wales at amateur level
gaining caps against England and Scotland.
The onset of war did not see
him called up initially because of his children but as war
spread he was called up in 1941 and joined the navy as a stoker
aboard the HUSSAR at Harwich. He was involved in many escort
trips in the Mediterranean, North Sea, Atlantic and finally
after the HUSSAR received repairs and a refit of its
minesweeping gear at Rosyth in 1944 they were dispatched to
channel duties that lead to his death on that fateful day of
August 27 1944. His body was never found, my family were later
to find out he had been relaxing on deck when the planes struck
We have all followed this
great man with our love of football but none of us were as
fortunate as him to have been such a great player. .all except
my son Byron Joseph Anthony who, having spent 5 years as a
scholar and then pro-player at Cardiff City, is now an
established professional at Bristol Rovers aged 22. We are all
proud of him and I know my Grandfather is too.
Thanks for giving me the
opportunity after all these years to tell someone of this great
man's life.
Good luck in future
searches.........thank you Nigel Anthony
