Name
Stanley Oliver Skeggs
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/10/1917
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
235076
South Staffordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 90 to 92 and 162 to 162A.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Primitive Methodist Church Memorial, Watford, Watford Printers Memorial, Watford, Sun Engraving Company Memorial, Watford, Not on the Markyate memorials
Pre War
Son of Elizabeth (nee JARMAN) and the late James SKEGGS; husband of Grace (nee EAST) SKEGGS.
His parents married 23 December 1871 at St Mary’s, Redbourn, Herts. James died 1916 in Watford aged 72, and was buried 19 April in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Elizabeth died 1919 in the Luton, Beds, district aged 72.
Stanley was born 1890 in Markyate, Herts, and baptised 6 April 1890 at St John the Baptist, Markyate. He married 1917 in the Watford district.
He has an entry in the National Probate Calendar.
On the 1891 Census, aged 1 he lived in Markyate, with his parents and eight siblings. On the 1901 Census, he still lived in Markyate, with his parents and six siblings. On the 1911 Census, a plater at printing works aged 21, he lived in Watford, with his parents and two siblings.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Watford, and was formerly Private 202720 Essex Regiment.
He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and was presumed killed in action.
Additional Information
His mother was still trying to find him in May 1919. She received a letter from The British Red Cross and Order of St. John stating they had asked all the men of his unit whom they were able to see together with released prisoners but learnt nothing.
Stanley Oliver Skeggs and his brother-in-law Benjamin East are also commemorated on the family headstone in Watford Cemetery. Their part of the inscription reads:
Also of BENJAMIN EAST SON OF THE ABOVE [Arthur & Emily East),
WHO DIED FOR HIS COUNTRY ON 0CT. 31ST 1914. AT WARWICK BELGIUM. AGED 25.
AT REST
Also in Loving Memory of
STANLEY OLIVER SKEGGS WHO GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY OCT. 26TH 1917, AGED 27.
Unfortunately, Stanley’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
