Dawlish World War One Project

At some point before the outbreak of war Stanley enlisted with the Devonshire Regiment and was promoted to Lance Corporal by the time of his death at age 20.The 1st Battalion, Devonshire Regiment had been based in Jersey as part of the Channel Islands' garrison at the outbreak of war and were soon transported to Le Havre to become a lines-of-communication battalion, before joining the 3rd Division fighting on the Aisne to form part of the initial defence of France and Belgium.

Stanley James Crook died in action one year later. The Devonshire regiment moved to lines on the Somme near Carnoy.

It is not known how he died, but his grave was marked as 'Killed in Action' and the Register of Soldiers' Effects records that it was at Maricourt.

Stanley James Crook was the oldest son of James Henry Crook (1874-1923) and Alma Leah Saunders.

His father was shown as a Mason (1901) and a Bricklayer (1911), possibly indicating changes in methods of construction at that time. They had five children Stanley (1895-1915), Clarence (1896-1915), Alice May (1898- ), John (1903- ), and James (1904- ).

Alma Crook died in Q3 1908 (free BMD).

Stanley went to Dawlish Boys' School and is recorded on their Roll of Honour. He became a bricklayer's labourer, probably working with his father, and in 1911, at age 16, he was living with his grand parents William and Elizabeth Crook at 8 Badlake Hill. His attachment to his grand parents is more marked by the fact that his War Gratuity was paid to them, rather than to his father.