Stanley Lacey Smith's memorial, High Wycombe Cemetery
Stanley Lacey Smith
1893 - 1916
My name is Stanley Lacey Smith. I am the son of Samuel James Smith (born Middlesex, Shepherds Bush) and Eliza Lacey who married in 1880. My mother’s roots were from Tylers Green and Penn. I was born in High Wycombe on 24th August 1893. My older brother Thomas had died before I was born but I still had nine siblings, six sisters and three brothers, so I came from a large family. My father was a carpenter and undertaker.
In the 1911 census we were all living at 17 Railway Place with the exception of one of my sisters. Two of my brothers were in the chair making industry but I became a blacksmith.
Then the Great War began. I was a keen cricketer and footballer. I was at one time identified with the Wycombe Alexandra and Marsh Green CCs and the Wycombe Gordon and Wycombe Trinity Football Clubs. I joined the Territorials in the early days of the war and proceeded to Aylesbury, then to Chelmsford and then to great Totham where I completed my training. I became Private 2764 of the Ox and Bucks Light Infantry, D Company of the 1/1st Bucks Battalion and had been at the Front nearly 16 months before I met my death. Rumour has it that I had hoped to marry Miss L Woodbridge but sadly it was not to be.
I died early on the Friday morning of the 21st July 1916 as a result of my injuries received at the Somme when I went over the top at Pozieres Ridge. I was 23. My pal Corporal Dimmock wrote to my parents to say that he had seen me the day before and I had appeared cheerful and almost my old self. He was shocked when he heard of my death as it was so sudden but fortunately I had suffered no pain.
Researched by Margaret Anderton, Flackwell Local Area History Group, and Sally Scagell, Lost The Plot
