Stanley was born on 24th May 1896 and attended Ilford County High School from 8th September 1908 until 12th July 1912, paid for fully by a scholarship from Essex County Council. Previously, he had been a pupil at Highlands Elementary School. In 1911, he passed his Oxford Junior Local examination with 3rd class honours.
His father, James, was recorded as an accountant in the school registration record. By the time of the 1911 census, his father was an Assistant Registrar for a public company. Previously, he had worked for a smelting company. Stanley’s mother’s name was Julia. Stanley had one sibling, an older brother called George Thompson Melrose. He worked in a warehouse. The family lived in De Vere Gardens for most of Stanley’s youth.
When he had finished his education, Stanley worked as a clerk for the Port of London Authority.
He enlisted at East Ham and was assigned to the 9th Battalion of the London Rifle Regiment (service number 8339) before joining the 5th Battalion (number 315019). He died on 3rd May 1917 and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial. After his death, his effects were sent home to his father.
Research by Andrew Emeny, History Teacher at ICHS
Sources:
Ancestry.com
ICHS school records and magazines
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Note
Ilford County High School started life as the Park Higher Grade School in 1901 in Balfour Road, Ilford. It was renamed Ilford County High School (or initially County High School, Ilford) in the years after the school’s management was transferred from Ilford School Board to Essex Education Committee in 1904.