Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Guillemont Road Cemetery Guillemont | I. D. 1. | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.135 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 21A GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | Distinguished Service Order Legionne d'Honneur | ||
Family :
Born on Boxing Day 1881 atat Leigh Place, Flanchford Road, Leigh, near Reigate in Surrey on 26 December 1881, the only son and eldest child of Arthur Stacey (1854–1886) and his wife, Gertrude Alma née Attenborough (1854–1935).Arthur Stacey was a gentleman farmer and married Gertrude Alma Attenborough at Reigate in late 1880. The couple’s first child, Gerald, was born on 26 December 1881, followed by two daughters, Dorothy born in early 1883 and Gladys Alma, born in July 1884.
Gerald was baptised at St Bartholomew’s church in Leigh on 19 February 1882.
Arthur Stacey died on 17 December 1886, shortly before Gerald’s fifth birthday. His mother re-married, to Frederick Crosley (1856–1932) at Brighton in mid-1892.
His son Lieutenant Harry Arthur Stacey was killed in action 7/11/1940 at sea.
Major Stacey was a cousin of Lieut-Col. Attenborough, was born on 26 December 1881.
Education & Career :
Accountant & Soldier
In 1900, aged 18, Gerald entered into articles with Charles James Singleton, F.C.A. at 8 Staple Inn, London WC.
Singleton (1841–1918) was a friend and confidant to the American artist, James McNeill Whistler. In 1901, Singleton married his long-time mistress Agnes Hiffernan, the sister of Whistler’s former mistress, Joanna Hiffernan.
Gerald passed his final accountancy examinations in May 1906, and was admitted as an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in August of that year. He commenced to practise in the spring of 1907, becoming second partner in the firm of Pridie, Stacey, Brewster & Trenchard of Crosby Buildings, Crosby Square, off Bishopsgate, London EC3.
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 2nd Battalion London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) |
1/2nd (City of London) Battalion (Royal Fusiliers) August 1914 : at Tufton Street in Westminster. Part of 1st London Brigade, 1st London Division. Moved on mobilisation to guarding the Amesbury-Southampton docks railway. 4 September 1914 : sailed with Brigade from Southampton to Malta, arriving Valetta 14 September. 2 January 1915 : left Malta, arrived at Marseilles on 6 January. 21 February 1915 : joined the 17th Brigade in 6th Division. 14 October 1915 : transferred with the Brigade to 24th Division. 9 February 1916 : transferred to 169th Brigade in 56th (London) Division. |
| Action : The Battles of the Somme 1916 |
The Battle of the Somme 1st July - 18th November 1916 is inevitably characterised by the appalling casualties (60,000) on the first day, July 1st 1916. Having failed to break through the German lines in force, and also failed to maximise opportunities where success was achieved, the battle became a series of attritional assaults on well defended defence in depth. The battle continued officially until 18th November 1916 costing almost 500,000 British casualties. German casualties were about the same, and French about 200,000. The Somme could not be counted a success in terms of ground gained or the cost, but it had a strategic impact as it marked the start of the decline of the German Army. Never again would it be as effective whilst the British Army, learning from its experience eventually grew stronger to become a war winning army. The German High Command recognised that it could never again fight another Somme, a view that advanced the decision to invoke unrestricted submarine warfare in an attempt to starve Britain of food and material, and in doing so accelerated the United States declaration of war thus guaranteeing the eventual outcome. 287 Brethren were killed on the Somme in 1916.
He was promoted Captain on 25 February 1905, and Major on 21 April 1915.
He was sent to France shortly after the war was declared. He became second in command of the battalion and was killed in The Battle of the Transloy Ridges when in temporary command of the battalion.
Source; Transcript of thebattle of The Transloy Ridges by Major W.E Grey, 1929, The 2nd City of London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) in the Great War (1914-1919)
Detail :
Major Gerald Arthur Stacey was killed in action during operations around Lesboeufs, France on 9 October 1916, during the Battle of the Somme.
The loss to the 1/2nd London of Major Gerald Arthur Stacey DSO was a very serious one. He was a keen and fearless officer, and he was very popular with all ranks.
Citations & Commemorations :
He was awarded the DSO on the 1 January 1916, and the Legion of Honour on 29 February 1916.Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Pelham No. 1303 E.C. | Sussex |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
24th November 1911 | 29th December 1911 | 26th January 1912 |
Gerald Stacey was initiated into Pelham Lodge No 1303, meeting at Lewes in Sussex, on 24 November 1911, passed to the second degree on 29 December and raised to the degree of master mason on 26 January 1912. In December 1913, he was elected as a joining member of Royal Rose Lodge No 2565, meeting in London, (where his cousin James Attenborough was a member) but appears never to have taken up his membership.
Gerald’s principal, Charles James Singleton, was also a Freemason, having been initiated into South Middlesex Lodge No 858 in 1871. In May 1894, Singleton was a founder member of Fulham Lodge No 2512; his co-founders included Stanley James Attenborough, Gerald’s uncle.
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley