SKELTON - IN - CLEVELAND
IN HISTORY

"WE WILL REMEMBER THEM"


C/12682 Serjeant STANLEY VIDEAN.

21st Bn., King's Royal Rifle Corps.

Killed in action, aged 24, on the 20th of June 1916.

Born in Skelton in Cleveland and enlisted at Saltburn by Sea.

Son of Martin John and Sarah A Videan,
of 78 High St, Skelton-in-Cleveland, N Yorks.


Berks Cemetery Extension, 12km South of Ypres.

FAMILY:-
1911. Stanley, aged 19, was living at 78 High St, Skelton in Cleveland where he had been born. He was working as a Chemist's Assistant.
His father, Martin John, aged 48, was the Secretary of the Skelton Co-operative Society. He had been born in Maidstone, Kent.
His mother, Sarah A, aged 41, had been born in Marske by Sea, N Yorks. She had had 5 children and 4 were still living.
Stanley had a younger brother, John, aged 17 and two sisters Constance, 15 and Kathleen M, aged 12.
John Videan enlisted on 14 September 1914 as 2604 in the 4th Reserve Battalion, Yorkshire Regt.
ATTESTATION
Stanley's attestation form below shows that he was a Volunteer for service in the War on the 22nd November 1915, when he enlisted at Saltburn at the age of 23 yrs 10 mths.
By this time he was working as a Clerk at the Ironstone Mines.
The attestation officer is Major Edward Hamilton, of Rigwood, Skelton, the agent for the Skelton Castle Estate.
A medical examination was made at Ardmore House, Skelton and found that his "Sight was not good, but satisfactory in every other way."
Hardly a potential sharp-shooter in the Rifle Corps.
He stood 5ft 7ins and weighed 10st 7lbs.

WAR SITUATION.
Stanley was promoted to Lance Sgt in the UK on the 13th March 1916 and went to France some time between then and the 13th May 1916 when he was made substantive Sgt.
The 21st (Service) Battalion (Yeoman Rifles) of the King's Royal Rifle Corps were formed in September 1915 from volunteers from the farming communities of Yorkshire, Northumberland and Durham, by the Northern Command.
In January 1916 they were attached to 124th Brigade, 41st Division.
The whole Division moved to France by 6th May 1916.
All units were concentrated near Steenwerck, and the Division began familiarisation with trench warfare in the areas of Ploegsteert and the Douve valley, south of Ypres, where it remained until August 1916.
Stanley Videan was killed soon after he arrived in France defending the Trenches in this area.
His worldly possessions had to be returned to his parents and signed for:-
1 pipe and 2 packets tobacco, Tinder lighter, 2 handkerchieves, 1 Safety Razor, 1 mirror, watch broken, 1 drinking cup, 2 coins [3 shillings], medal watch chain, 1 bundle letters...
MEMORIAL
Berks Cemetery Extension is located about 12 kilometres South of Ypres and has 876 First War burials.


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