Eric Francis Stofer was born in 1899 in Tottenham, Middlesex (now Greater London), the 5th son of Robert Stofer (1860-1939) and Mary Elizabeth Stofer née Dibben (1863-1950). His birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1899 in the Edmonton registration district, Middlesex.
In the 1901 census he is shown as aged 2 years living at 12 Clarendon Road, Tottenham, Middlesex, with his parents and seven surviving siblings: Robert Pharas Stofer (1884-1957); Reginald George Stofer (1886-1960); Ellen Anne Stofer (1890-1982); William John Stofer (1892-1969); Eva Ida Stofer (1895-1972); Gerald Charles Stofer (1897-1940) and Ernest Baden Powell Stofer (1900-1970). His father was described as a gardener, his brothers, Robert as a baker and Reginald as an errand boy.
An elder sibling, Helena Mary Stofer, had been born in 1888 but died the following year. Three additional younger siblings were: Leonard Stofer (1903-1974); Nora Roosevelt Mary Stofer (b.1905) and Sidney Mark Stofer (1908-1995).
He was educated at West Green Board School, Woodlands Park Road, Tottenham. His home address had been 56 Clinton Road, West Green, Tottenham when he initially enlisted in March 1915 in the Essex Yeomanry, service number 81484. He was serving as a Private in the 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, service number 42868, when he died of wounds received in the Battle of Selle, France, aged 19 years, on 28 October 1918. His body was buried in Plot 2, Row D, Grave 13 in the Awoingt British Cemetery, Awoingt, France.
On 1 March 1919 his army effects totalling £5-18s-6d were sent to his father, and on 12 December 1919 his £6-10s-0d war gratuity was sent to his mother. He was posthumously awarded the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
He is commemorated as E. F. Stofer on the Tottenham and West Green war memorial. He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website and on the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
