Stanley Wood

A Lance Corporal with 2/1st Bucks Battalion, Stanley died on 19th of July 1916 at the age of 19. 

Stanley was born at Kendal, Westmorland, on 24 November 1896, a son of Thomas and Isabella Wood. In 1901 his family lived at 14 Shaws Brow, Kendal, and subsequently they moved to the Lowestoft area and lived at Ivy Cottage, Beccles Road, Oulton Broad. 

Stanley attended Saint Marks' School, Carlton Colville, before, from 14 September 1910, becoming a pupil at Lowestoft School of Science.  

Stanley volunteered to join the Army and served, initially, with the 6th (Cyclist) Battalion Suffolk Regiment before being transferred to the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, service number 5342.

The 2/1st Battalion landed in France on 24 May 1916 as part of the 184th Brigade in the 61st Division. The battalion had their first experience in the trenches at Faquissart on 11 June 1916 and the battalion suffered its first casualties almost immediately. 

By mid-July 1916 the Germans had withdrawn personnel from the Faquissart sector in order to reinforce their divisions on the Somme and it was decided that this gave a good prospect for a successful attack. The attack had been scheduled for 16 July but had to be pushed back. On 18 July shells from the British bombardment fell short and 78 men of the 2/1st Battalion were gassed. 

On 19 July 1916 the 2/1st Battalion were tasked with attacking the trenches from the Faquissart-Trivelet Road to Cordonerie Farm. The bombardment was very intense and within the first few minutes the battalion lost 100 men due to shell-fire: thus only 20 officers and 622 men were available for the attack. The attack met with heavy resistance and few men reached the German lines. The battalion suffered 75% casualties amongst the officers and 49% among the men, including 65 men missing.

Stanley died of wounds on 19 July.

See http://www.lightbobs.com/1916-21st-bucks-fromelles.html for further information about the 2/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion on 19 July 1916 (link courtesy of Tanya Marshall). 

Photos credit: broadlandmemories.co.uk