Stanley Peters

A Leading Seaman with H.M.S. Grenville, Stanley died on 19th of January 1940 aged 30. 

Stanley was born at Andover, Hampshire, on 22 February 1909, a son of Divers and Elizabeth Peters. In 1911 his family were resident at the Andover Union Workhouse. By 1921 both of Stanley’s parents had died and Stanley attended the Watts Naval Training School at North Elmham, Norfolk. 

On 10 April 1937 Stanley married Florence Lily Earl Catchpole at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft. Stanley was serving with H.M.S. Neptune and Florence lived at 35 Oxford Road and was in domestic service. In 1939 Florence lived with her parents at 35 Oxford Road. 

Stanley joined the Royal Navy on 9 March 1925 as a Boy 2nd Class. He was advanced to Ordinary Seaman on 22 February 1927, and Able Seaman on 22 August 1928. Stanley continued serving throughout the 1930s. On 26 July 1938 he was drafted to H.M.S. Grenville at Malta. He was advanced to Acting Leading Seaman on 21 July 1939. 

In January 1940 the Grenville was involved in work to intercept enemy shipping off the Dutch and German North Sea coasts. On 19 January, whilst returning from one of these patrols, when about 23 miles east of the Kentish Knock Light Vessel, the ship struck a mine and sank with the loss of 77 crew including Stanley.