Now that I am rebuilding my website I have come across long forgotten research. Can anyone throw any light on the following man? Sue Light found this man for me when she was researching at the West Sussex Country Records Offices. Thomas John STANFORD Born at Croydon on 1st June 1892, he gave his trade as a Transhipper for the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway Company at Horsham. He had also served as a Territorial with 4th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment for 3 years having been discharged on 20th July 1913. He joined the West Sussex Constabulary on 21st July 1913 aged 21. At the time of joining he was described as being single, 5’ 9 1/4” tall, with a fair complexion, brown eyes, brown hair and of proportionate build. His service record shows that he was posted on 29th July to Littlehampton. His nominee for the Friendly Society was his mother Sarah Stanford of 27 North Parade, Horsham. In a letter dated 7th September 1914 to Mr A. S. Williams, Chief Constable, Thomas wrote: Sir, I respectfully beg to ask your permission to volunteer for service in Lord Kitcheners’ army. I have served 3 years in the 4th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment and consider it my duty to serve my country in the present crisis, trusting this will meet with your consideration. I am Sir, Your Obedient Servant Thomas John Stanford PC169 He left the force on 11th September 1914 and the records of the Friendly Society show that he was killed in action on 30th June 1916 and that official notice was received on 11th April 1917. There is no trace of his death within the Commonwealth War Graves Commission internet database nor in the Soldiers Died 1914-1919 database nor does he receive a mention in the Constabulary Official History or War Memorial. Regards Geoff Foster _www.thinblueline.org.uk_ (http://www.thinblueline.org.uk) (nearly there)

On Thu, 21 Jun 2007 15:54:30 EDT, SupportTrench@aol.com wrote: >Thomas John STANFORD > >Born at Croydon on 1st June 1892, he gave his trade as a Transhipper for the >London, Brighton & South Coast Railway Company at Horsham. He had also >served as a Territorial with 4th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment for 3 years >having been discharged on 20th July 1913... >He left the force on 11th September 1914 and the records of the Friendly >Society show that he was killed in action on 30th June 1916 and that official >notice was received on 11th April 1917. > >There is no trace of his death within the Commonwealth War Graves Commission >internet database nor in the Soldiers Died 1914-1919 database nor does he >receive a mention in the Constabulary Official History or War Memorial. The Medal Index Card database at <http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/browse-refine.asp?CatID=10&searchType=browserefine&pagenumber=1&query=*&queryType=1> lists 19 Thomas Stanfords, only one of whom was in the Royal Sussex Regiment. Fortunately his name is given as Thomas J Stanford, so he looks a good candidate for further investigation: Medal card of Stanford, Thomas J Corps Regiment No Rank Royal Sussex Regiment 762 Serjeant Army Service Corps M/324476 Serjeant I would download his MIC (3.50 GBP) and see what it says. Since you only have one source which says he died, it is possible that the report was wrong, and he survived the war. Many men were reported missing and turned up later - quite a lot of them as prisoners. Forrest -- Forrest Anderson, Edinburgh, Scotland. E-mail: forrest@military-researcher.com Website: www.military-researcher.com Forrestdale Research - Military Genealogical Researcher