Photograph by "GUYREMY"
Second Lieutenant Stanley Horace WEBB, 3rd Battalion, attached 7th Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, died of wounds, 26th March 1918, age 25. Prisoner of War.
10th September 1892, born Peckham, London, SE. eldest Son of Horace Walter Webb, (Advertising Manager), and Rose Annie, (daughter Christopher Stray of Greenwich), of Woodville, Honley Road, Catford. London / 16, Honley Road, Catford. London.
Educated at St Dunstan's College, Catford, SE. & Kings College, London.
1911 Census - 16, Honley Road, Catford. SE. - Horace Walter Webb, head, age 47, married, Advertisement Manager, Newspaper, worker, born Stepney. E; Rose Annie Webb, wife, age 41, married 20 years, 3 children, all still alive, born Forest Gate. E; Stanley Horace Webb, son, age 18, single, clerk, printers, worker, born Peckham, SE; Trevor Webb, son, age 15, single, student, born Catford. SE; Harold Gordon Webb, son, age 8, school, born Catford. SE; Rosetta Mary James, servant, age 19, domestic, worker, born near Oxford.
Formerly cashier at the Amalgamated Press Ltd, Fleetway House, Farringdon Street, London, EC.
September 1914, joined 20th Battalion, London Regiment at Blackheath, but owing to an accident to his leg, transferred to the Royal Army Medical Corps in January 1916; was recommended for a Commission by Lord Rothermere and was Gazetted 2nd Lieutenant 1st September 1917; served with the Expeditionary Force in France & Flanders from the 1st of the following month, attached to 3rd/4th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; took part in the actions at Ypres & Cambrai, being wounded in the hand by falling on barbed wire, after which he suffered from septic poisoning; was home on leave 3 - 17 March 1918, and on returning to France was transferred to 7th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment and died on the 26th of that month, from wounds received in action, while leading his Platoon, at St Quentin on the 21st.
On the 21st March he as officer in charge of a platoon in an advanced post. When the big attack commenced his platoon was surrounded by the enemy; an order from Company Headquarters was received to get back to the front line; then they were completely surrounded and the whole Battalion were captured including 28 officers, the Chaplain & Doctors. Dr Moore, Royal Army Medical Corps, attached 7th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment, stated that he attended Lieutenant Stanley Webb, when he was wounded in shoulder, arm, thigh and back; he did all he could to save him, but his case was hopeless from the first. The Doctor stated that he was very brave, and the men were very proud of their officer, who although wounded, would not surrender, but led them until he was mortally wounded. Captain Eric Watts, 4th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment, wrote: " Lieutenant Stanley Webb was a great friend of mine; he was in my Company the whole time he was with the 4th & 7th Battalions, Royal West Kent Regiment. I was with him when he was wounded in the village of Moy, near St Quentin. He was on outpost duty; about 10.00am he came back to Company Headquarters, having been driven in. We held for a time at my Headquarters, which was front line Company, then retired to Battalion Headquarters at 11.00am. On arriving there I found the Commanding Officer wounded, and then I was in charge of the remains of the Battalion. We held until 2.30pm, when we were captured. When Lieutenant S Webb was wounded I did not see him again. He was a charming fellow, and I am more sorry than I can say to hear of his death."
He was a well known cricketer and footballer in South London; was Captain of the Woodville Cricket & Football Club; one of the champions in Camberwell & District League Amalgamated Press Athletic Club and a member of "C" Company, 6th O.C.B. Cricket XI., Worcester College, Oxford.
27th March 1919, Probate - Stanley Horace Webb, 16, Honley Road, Catford. Kent, Second Lieutenant Royal West Kent Regiment, died 26th March 1918 in France. Administration London 27th March to Horace Walter Webb, traveller. Effects £614 17s 10d.
Buried at Ribemont Communal Cemetery Extension, British. B. 17., Aisne, France & commemorated at St Laurence, Catford.
London Gazette 1st September 1917.
War Office, 1st September, 1917. SPECIAL RESERVE OF OFFICERS.
The under mentioned, from Officer Cadet Units, to be 2nd Lieutenants. - 1st August 1917 :
Royal West Kent Regiment - Stanley Horace Webb.
Photograph by "Danielle"
Brother - Second Lieutenant
Trevor Webb was killed in action on 10 May 1917 while serving with 55 Squadron,
Royal Flying Corps. He was 21. Before joining the RFC he had served with 3/20th
Battalion the London Regiment, having joined the battalion in September 1914.
After recuperating from wounds sustained at Festubert he obtained a commission
in the RFC in July 1916 and was posted to 55 Squadron in March 1917.
5th November 1917, Probate - Trevor Webb, of 16, Honley Road, Catford. Kent, Second Lieutenant RFC died 10th May 1917, in France. Administration London 5th November to Horace Walter Webb manager. Effects £428 18s 9d.
This page was last updated on 11-Mar-2023.
Copyright © 2008 Janet & Richard Mason