Stanley Percival Bradford was born in late 1892 in Stoke Newington, London, the third of five sons to John Lewis Bradford and Martha Whittaker. Stanley’s two older brothers were, John Jesse and Frank Nathaniel, whilst his younger brothers were Victor Charles and Albert.

Stanley’s father John was a Metropolitan Police Constable and he frequently moved home as he took up various postings in East London. His time with the Police ended in 1897 and it appears that the family relocated to Gibraltar where the two youngest boys were born. The reason for the move is unclear but it was most likely to be a job opportunity for John which took the family there.

The Bradford family moved back to England and Apsley End sometime after 1901 as John was admitted to Apsley Manor Boys School on the 5th June 1905 aged thirteen. He left the school a year later and started work at John Dickinson, following his older brother Frank into a job as a Warehouseman.

Stanley was very active in local political life and a member of the Hemel Hempstead Junior Conservative Association. By the time he went to fight he was Honorary Secretary and well regarded by the Conservative and Unionist Association, particularly for his work in registering voters at elections. He also had a talent as a performer of some sort and was "a popular artiste at local entertainments".

On the outbreak of war, Stanley was amongst the great enlistment surge after the defeat at Mons. Attesting in Watford in late August 1914 he enlisted with 1st Bedfordshire Regiment, part of the 15th Infantry Brigade in the 5th Division. He undertook his basic training at Harwich and one month after enlisting earned his first stripe, and was promoted full corporal within three months. Stanley was subsequently promoted Serjeant when he was at the Front.

He was sent to Belgium in March 1915 and disembarked on the 24th March amongst a draft of 119 men who joined ‘A’ Company 1st Beds at the Ypres salient on the 28th March.

Only twenty days after disembarking, Stanley saw action attacking and subsequently defending Hill 60, an assault which saw the award of four Victoria Crosses in one day. He survived the intense fighting at Hill 60 and in early May experienced the gas attacks carried out by the Germans over five or six days which resulted in a number of casualties for the battalion. By the time the Battalion was relieved on the 7th May it had suffered over 300 casualties in total.

During the last week of May, Stanley and the Battalion remained in reserve and formed large working parties to carry out trench works. It was towards the end of this period that he was killed by shrapnel from a shell landing in a communication trench. He died on Sunday, 30th May 1915 at Ypres.

Stanley’s mother received a letter from Coy. Serjeant Major R. Field dated the 31st May 1915 which explained the circumstances of his death. It was published in the Hemel Gazette in June 1915.

Stanley is Remembered with Honour at the Railway Dugouts Burial Ground (Transport Farm), West-Vlaanderen, Belgium where he is interred in Grave 1.A.4. The inscription on his grave, requested by his father John, is taken from The Song of Solomon 2:17 and reads: “UNTIL THE DAY BREAK”

Stanley was also commemorated on the John Dickinson & Co. Limited War Memorial in Apsley End.

He was 22 years old when he died.

Stanley was eligible for the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Allied Victory Medal.