Reuben Stanley was born in Buckley 12th May 1887, one of 14 children of Thomas and Elizabeth Stanley (nee Jones).
The family lived at Hawkesbury Place in 1881, Alltami in 1891, Liverpool Road in 1901 and Ewloe Barn Farm in 1911. Thomas Stanley was an engine driver. The listed children included Phoebe, Robert, Mary Jane, Thomas, Reuben, Louisa, John, Esther, Edward, Harold, Ethel, Wilson and Samuel.
In the census of 1901 Reuben aged 13 was a clerk’s assistant at brickworks. Later he was a bricksetter and he moved to Canada in about 1912. He joined the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force 24th July 1915 at which time he was a farmer living in Sewell, Manitoba. (Camp Sewell was a training camp located near Carberry, Manitoba.)
Reuben’s death was announced in newspapers in Buckley.
Liverpool Daily Post, October 25th 1918
Mr. Thomas Stanley, Barn Farm, Buckley, has received official intimation of the death in action of his son, Private Rueben Stanley, a dispatch rider in a Canadian regiment.
County Herald, October 1918
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Stanley, Ewloe Barn, have received official communication that their son, Trooper Reuben Stanley, Canadian Forces, had died of wounds sustained in action. He was 30 years of age, a brick setter by trade, having served his time with Messrs. W Jones and Sons, Glendale. He went to Canada in 1912. He joined the Canadians and landed in England in September, 1915, and shortly afterwards went overseas, where he spent some time as a dispatch rider. He was in many of the hard battles on the Western Front. He was of a bright and cheerful disposition. Brought up in a Christian home as a Primitive Methodist, he led a good life. Some of his comrades have written to the family sympathising with them in their bereavement. Mr. and Mrs. Stanley have three other sons with the Forces, serving in different parts of the war area.
Reuben’s Canadian attestation papers are viewable on line
Reuben is remembered on the memorial plaque in the Primitive Methodist Alltami and on the plaque at St. Matthews.
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