Stanley Arthur Robert Mason

A Private with the 1/10th Battalion, Stanley died on 2nd of December 1917 at the age of 20.

Stanley was born at Lowestoft on 20 April 1897, a son of Arthur William and Charlotte Britteon Mason. He was baptised at Saint Margaret's Church, Lowestoft, and his family lived at 71 Norwich Road. Stanley attended Hervey Street School and then, on 1 February 1905, joined Saint John's School before, on 5 May 1905, joining Roman Hill School. By 1911 Stanley's father had died and his family were living at 58 May Road and Stanley worked as a stationer's errand boy. 

By mid-1914 Stanley was living at Chester. 

Stanley was working as a photographer's assistant when, on 27 August 1914, he enlisted in the Army at Chester. he claimed to be nineteen years and four months old. He joined the Cheshire Regiment, service number 11581, but was discharged, medically unfit, on 15 September 1914 (His Cheshire Regiment service papers survive in WO 364). 

Later Stanley enlisted in the Liverpool Regiment, at Chester. He served with the 1/10th Battalion. In November 1917 his Battalion occupied trenches near Epehy and, on 30th November, had to withstand an overwhelming German attack in the Pigeon Quarry, Kildare Post and Limerick Post areas. In consequence the Battalion suffered 522 casualties, including 444 missing.

Stanley was reported missing and his name is in the official list of casualties that names all of the men of the 1/10th Battalion known to be missing on 30 November 1917. The Army Register of Soldiers' Effects shows that he died of his wounds whilst in German hands. He is buried in a cemetery that was in a village occupied by the Germans until October 1918 and was known to be a German Hospital centre. 

Stanley's brother Arthur served with the Lancashire Fusiliers and died in 1918.