Private STANLEY (JACK) FULLBROOK

Stanley, sometimes known as Jack, Fullbrook was born on 11 January 1897[i].  He appears to have been brought up by his grandparents, Thomas, a labourer, and Mary Fullbrook at Broad Oak, Odiham, although by 1911 Thomas had died and Mary and Stanley were living not far away at Whitehall[ii].  In 1911 he was enumerated as an Errand/Newspaper boy, aged 14[iii].  Stanley attended London Road Board School from March 1903[iv].

When war was declared in August 1914 Stanley was among the first to volunteer, although only 17 at the time.  He enlisted at Basingstoke and joined the 1^st Battalion, The Hampshire Regiment and spent the following few months training until after his 18^th birthday.  

He first entered the France and Flanders Theatre of War on 14 April 1915[v], a week before the German offensive that began the second battle of Ypres with a gas attack on the French and Algerian forces[vi].  The 11^th Brigade was ordered to Ypres, the Hampshires travelling by train from Bailleul to Poperinghe on 24 April.  The Germans had driven back the Canadian front line and taken St Julien (see Fig.1, map of positions 22^nd April to 3 May 1915).

A report on the battalion move from Ploegsteert to Ypres between 16 April and 3 May was documented by the Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. Hicks. He wrote in ‘the 26^th April was our worst day’[vii].  Continuous shelling of the trenches caused extensive damage, many being blown in, thus providing little or no cover from ongoing shellfire.     There were 100 casualties.  During the period 26 April to 4 May, when they moved back from the line, the Battalion casualties included 5 officers and 97 other ranks killed, 5 Officers and 214 other ranks wounded and 18 other ranks missing[viii]. 

On 8 May, after this brief, comparatively quiet respite, the Battalion moved to the second line near Wieltje Farm for two days  (see Fig.2. Second Ypres position after May 3^rd).  By 11 May the Battalion were again on the front line between Shell Trap Farm and Hampshire Farm under fairly heavy shelling.  The casualties on the front line that day were 7 other ranks killed and 10 other ranks wounded. Stanley Fullbrook was one of those killed[ix].  On the same day the Commanding Officer, Colonel Hicks, was also seriously wounded as he made his way to Brigade Headquarters. 

Fig.2.  The Second Ypres fronts and positions 22 April – 3 May 1915

Stanley is commemorated at the Sanctuary Wood Cemetery.  He was awarded the 1915 Star, the British War Medal 1914-20 and the Victory Medal 1914-19.