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19/01/1898 - 23/11/1917

Place of birth: Attenborough, Notts
Last known address in Bromley: The Warren Quernmore Road

Military information

Regiment/Service: Royal Engineers
Battalion/Ship: 204th Field Coy
Rank: Lieutenant
Number: Unknown

Family information

Parents: Herbert Stannard & Mary Bertha Gayford (nee Furniss)
Parents' occupation: Secretary of Assurance Company
Siblings: Laura Joyce, Barbara Maude Furniss, John Cubitt

Census information

1901
Address: Daridge, Knowle, Warwick
1911
Address: "The Warren" Quernmore Road

Extra details

Thomas was the second of Herbert and Mary Gayford's four children. By 1910 the family had settled in Bromley where Thomas attended Quernmore School prior to winning a scholarship to Tonbridge School, starting in September 1912. He reached the Modern Sixth in the following May, and transferring to the Science side of the School was promoted to the Engineering Sixth in January 1914.Thomas had intended to enter the engineering profession, but in May 1915 he decided to try for the Royal Engineers and, joining the Army Class for his last Term, passed 7th into the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich at the Summer Examination. As a musician he showed considerable ability and taste, and in the O.T.C. he was promoted to Lance-Corporal in May 1915.

At the R.M.A. he attained great distinction and was one of a most distinguished group of O.T.'s whose record there was truly remarkable. He was soon promoted and became an Under Officer. Passing out brilliantly, he was awarded the King's Medal as the best R.E. Cadet of his Term, and was gazetted to the R.E., 19th February 1916. After training at Chatham and Chattenden he received orders for the Front on his nineteenth birthday being posted on 4th February 1917 to 204th Field Company R.E., serving with the 35th Division, originally known as "The Bantams". He was recorded as being 6ft 1ins tall, and over 40ins round the chest. Whilst at the Front he had several narrow escapes, on one occasion being blown bodily into a shell hole some yards away and escaping without injury. He was promoted to full Lieutenant in August 1917.

On the night of 23rd November 1917 he was in the officers' quarters at some distance from the front line, when a stray shell from a direct hit on the quarters killed him as well as two out of the four other officers present. It was at first thought that he was unconscious, and he was taken to the nearest dressing station, where it was found that life was extinct owing to the fracture of his skull.

Thomas is also remembered on a memorial in St Ethelbert's churchyard, East Wretham, along with his father Herbert Stannard and grandfather Thomas John, who were both born in Wretham.

Thank you to Tonbridge School for their assistance.