23483 Sgt Stanley Francis Elsegood, 15th West Yorkshire Regt

23483 Sergeant Stanley Francis Elsegood of the 15th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regt, died of wounds on 21st September 1916. He was 38 years old and the son of James Elsegood of Camberwell, London.

Stanley was born in Camberwell, and living in Teddington when he enlisted at Shepherd's Bush with the Royal Fusiliers. His RF number - 7185 - dates to 1914 although it's difficult to be precise as to which month in 1914 that was as the number could belong to the series issued to 5th (Reserve) Battalion men or to Kitchener recruits. If Stanley enlisted with the 5th Battalion, his number suggests a joining date of September or October 1914. If he was a Kitchener volunteer, the number pins him down to October.

Stanley Elsegood's medal index card reveals that he arrived in France as a private with the Royal Fusiliers on 6th March 1915. By the time of his transfer however, he'd been promoted, and his British War and Victory Medals are impressed with the rank of sergeant.

Sergeant Elsegood is buried in Calais Southern Cemetery; grave reference E.5.12. The 30th, 35th and 38th General Hospitals as well as No 9 British Red Cross Hospital and No 10 Canadian Stationary Hospital were stationed in Calais and it seems likely that Stanley Elsegood was a patient at one of these establishments when he died of his wounds.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission