31269: The short-sighted Medic

online resource

posted on 2024-01-19, 12:01 authored by Lest We Forget Project Team

William Thomas Stanley was the father-in-law of Ann, who provided these details. Before the war he lived in Arthur St, in the Blakenhall district of Wolverhampton. He was a pupil at St. Luke's School and worked for Royal London Insurance in their offices in Lichfield St. In 1914 he tried to enlist but failed the medical examination due to being short-sighted.

Having memorised the eye-test board he managed to obtain a place in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He served at Gallipoli and, probably, Salonika. During the Second World War William served as a volunteer fire-watcher. After his marriage to Winifred the couple lived at 59 Alexander Rd, Penn. However, his wife died within a week of his retirement. His second wife was named Lilian Pearson. He was a sidesman at St. Luke's Church in Wolverhampton until his death in 1980.

History

Name of contributor(s)

Ann Stanley

Subject of the story/individual the object(s) relate to

William Thomas Stanley

Date(s) the event(s) in the story took place

1914-1918

Location(s) where the event(s) in the story took place

Gallipoli

Object(s)

A collection of documents and pictures, including: Army Discharge Papers - dated 21 January 1920, a cutting from the Sunday Pictorial showing T.S. River Clyde run aground at Cape Helles, Gallipoli, a photograph of the Ottoman Military General Head Quarters in Constantinople, a full figure photograph of Pte W.T. Stanley in RAMC uniform and a postcard showing the dress uniform of the RAMC at the time of the Great War.