Stanley Bacon 26494 was a Private in the Hampshire Regiment (14th battalion) (1st Portsmouth Pals) was entitled to a pair (British War & Victory Medals), originally he was in the Essex Regiment, having enlisted in Chelmsford. He was the son of William and Alice Bacon the former was the publican of the Hoop in Stock High Street, he had two sisters, Beatrice and Ada and two brothers, Harry and Frederick. According to the 1911 census, Stanley was employed as an assistant gamekeeper, he was 13 years old!

According to the Hampshire Regimental history they were relieved 12th Royal Sussex at Schwaben Redoubt (17/10). Here conditions of the worst kind - the wet, cold, mud and shortage of food, , being more unbearable than the enemy's constant shelling and counter attacks. Cut off from their support, the battalion made good use of the enemy's belongings - rations and clothing being taken from the dead, positions improved with German spades and his bombs and ammunition turned against him. Relieved by 17th K.R.R.C. (20/10) and to Pioneer Road - 'D' Company remaining in the line. 'D' Company in action against German attack (21/10). Not far short of 300 casualties all told were incurred by the Hampshire's from the time of their first occupying the Schwaben Redoubt. Rest of Battalion moved forward to Wood Post in support. To Senlis Camp (23/10)

He died of wounds received, during the final phases of the battles for the Somme. Unfortunately, the War Diary at both battalion and brigade level are poor in terms of the detail they contain and shed very little light on the number of casualties incurred during that period.

He is buried in the Contay British Cemetery, Contay. The site was chosen in August 1916 for burials from the 49th Casualty Clearing Station, which arrived at Contay at the end of August. It was joined by the 9th CCS in September. He was nineteen and died 12th November 1916.

Sources
Ancestry.com
CWGC