Roll of Honour
Lance Corporal Herbert Joseph Stanley
Service Number: 25514
Regiment: Wiltshire Regiment (2nd)
Conflict: World War One
Date of Death: 9th April 1917
Age at Death: 27
Burial/Memorial Location: Neuville-Vitasse Road Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France
Son of Joseph & Emma Stanley, of 3 Manchester Terrace, Bicester.
"We have this week to report, with much regret, a further addition to the long list of Bicester men who have laid down their lives, and this time a particularly well-known resident – L.-Corpl. Herbert J. Stanley, son of Mr and Mrs J. Stanley of Manchester-terrace, who was formerly employed for some years at the Bicester branch of Hall’s Oxford Brewery Company as a clerk. He afterwards obtained a position at Maidenhead in the same capacity, where he was employed when war broke out. At the time of his death he had been at the Front some twelve months, and had been engaged in three big battles.
The deceased soldier was, it appears, killed some time ago, viz., on April 18, while serving with the Wilts Regt., in which he had been some considerable time.
He was a man of considerable ability and attainment, quiet, good natured, and very popular with his friends. He was for some years a member of the Parish Church choir, both as a boy, and as a useful tenor in after years. The First few weeks of the recruits’ training, often so galling to the totally uninitiated, did not affect him in this manner, for he was not without some knowledge of drill, having had an extensive connection locally with the C.L.B. movement, in which he took a considerable interest. He was also secretary of the St. Edburg’s Society, and a popular singer in the days of the smoking concerts.
Much sympathy is extended to the relatives, who have two other sons on active service, in fact Albert is even now in hospital with trench fever. L.-Corpl. Stanley was 27 years of age." Bicester Herald 11/05/1917
"The “Dead March” in Saul was rendered by Mr Roberts, the organist at the Parish Church, at the conclusion of the Sunday morning service, as a tribute to the memory of the late Pte. Herbert J. Stanley, who has recently been killed in action. In the course of his sermon the Vicar referred to the “suddenness of the death of Pte. Stanley, that dear boy, who has for so many years worshipped in this Church, and led with the singing. I thank God for his life.”" Bicester Herald 11/05/1917