Stanley Kiernan was baptised on 24th November 1894 at St Stephen’s Church Bodfari. He was the son of James and Elizabeth Kiernan.His Flintshire Roll Of Honour gives his address as being Tyn Y Fford, Bodfari.

Corporal 1038 Stanley Kiernan 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, was formerly 23022 of the Grenadier Guards. Stanley was born in Bodfari, Flintshire and enlisited initially into the Grenadier Guards, in London.

The Welsh Guards was formed on 26th February 1915, by Royal Warrant of King George V, it was the last of the five Foot Guards Regiments to be formed.

The War Diary of the Welsh Guards, dated 17th August 1915, states that the Battalion paraded at Wellington Barracks, London and left Waterloo Station at 0430, 0530 and 0650 am respectively for the railway journey to Southampton. The Battalion embarked on SS St Petersburg. Corporal Kiernan qualified for the 1915 Star medal, on 17th August 1915, having being confirmed on his Medal Index Card. The Battalion arrived on 18th August 1915. The Welsh Guards arrived at Havre, France about 0100 am and disembarked at 0700 am after having breakfast. The Welsh Guards then marched three miles to the tented, number 5 Rest Camp, in France.

The 1st Battalion Welsh Guards War Diary, further states that on 1st July 1916, whilst the regiment was at La Belle Alliance. The entry states that 2nd Lieutant Crawford-Wood and five ‘Other Ranks’ were killed in an attack and another officer and 36 other ranks were wounded.

This is reinforced by the fact that 2nd Lieutant Crawford-Wood is buried in grave 2 and Corporal Kiernan is buried in grave 5 of Plot II Row J, Brandhoek Military Cemetery. Both men being killied on 1st July 1916, along with other comrades from the battalion.

There appears to be no other information about Stanley’s early life or next of kin details.

However, I have checked the Welsh Census of 1901 and 1911 to no avail.