Private Stanley Roy Kelly

Private Stanley Roy Kelly was born in Huntingdon, the only son of William Kelly. He enlisted into the 87th Battalion in November, 1915. The 21 year old Private Kelly was wounded in the trenches at Voormezeele on September 6, and died of wounds on September 7th, 1916, less than 1 month after the 87th Battalion arrived in France. Lieutenant-Colonel William Gardiner, was from Huntingdon, and was serving as a surgeon at the front, wrote home to his mother:

I received a letter from Mrs. Kelly re Stanley's grave, and a tombstone, but it is against the rules to put anything up except a small wooden cross, with name and battalion on it. This I've done, and planted some bulbs over his grave, which should soon be blossom. Every grave has a small cross at the head, with an aluminum slate on it bearing the name, rank, number, and battalion of the soldier. In addition to this one can put up a larger and slightly more decorative cross. The carpenters here made me one with the printing in black “In loving memory”, etc. The cross is painted white. These graves will always be well looked after and there are now some 3000 in the cemetery. Have not succeeded in getting a picture of the cemetery, as the only camera allowed is the one in the hands of the official photographer, and seldom is he around, but I sent an application for a picture and shall surely get one.