Lieutenant John Raymond Evelyn Stansfeld of the 2nd Battalion, the Gordon Highlanders with a female relation in field uniform just prior to his embarkation to South Africa during the Anglo-Boer War.
John Raymond Evelyn Stanfeld was the born on 20 April 1880 to John Birkbeck Evelyn Stansfeld, Rector of Preston and late captain in the 6th West York Militia and the former Marie Agnes Barrenger.
He received his education and Uppingham and the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst and while there was the recipient of the Sword of Honor by the Commandant. Stansfeld was posted as 2nd Lieutenant to the 2nd Battalion, the Gordon Highlanders on 18 April 1899. His promotions were dated:
Lieutenant – 25 February 1900
Captain – 30 May 1904
Adjutant, 5th Battalion, the Gordon Highlanders – 26 August 1904
Adjutant, 2nd Battalion, the Gordon Highlanders - 1 January 1912
Brevet Major – 18 February 1915
Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel – 23 June 1915
Stansfeld (while Stansfeld appears to be the correct family name it often appears as Stansfield) deployed to South Africa during the Anglo-Boer War with his battalion at was present at many of most notable actions of the war including the Relief of Ladysmith, Colneso, Spion Kop and Tugela Heights. He was to receive two Mention in Despatches during the war (3 February and 30 March 1901). He was appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order for gallantry while attending to the wounded under fire at Spion Kop. He was presented with the DSO insignia by the Duke of Cornwall on 14 August 1901. For his services during the Anglo-Boer War Stansfeld received the Queen’s South Africa Medal with six clasps: “Belfast”, “Cape Colony”, “Orange Free State”, “Tugela Heights”, “Relief of Ladysmith” and “Laing’s Nek”. He also received the King’s South Africa Medal with the “South Africa 1901” and “South Africa 1902” clasps.
Returning home after the war we again went overseas with his battalion and from 1910 to 1914 served in India and Egypt. His stations in India included Thobba/Sialkot, Peshawar, Calcutta and Cawnpore. While in India he took part in the 1911 Delhi Durbar and received to medal for that event.
An article in the 8 May 1915 issue of The Advertiser (Adelaide, Australia) mentions Stansfeld as being the 1903 Combined Army and Navy heavy-weight boxing champion.
Being recalled to England at the outbreak of World War One he once more went to war with the 2/Gordon Highlanders and landed in Belgium with the 7th Division in October 1914. He was wounded a month later in First Ypres and again at Neuve Chapelle on 13 March 1915. The 15 March 1915 issue of The Craven Herald mentioned the incident: “Major J. R. E. Stansfeld, D.S.O., Gordon Highlanders, who was recently promoted, and mentioned in dispatches, has again been wounded at Neuve Chapelle by a shrapnel bullet in the shoulder, and is in hospital at Warley, Essex. The gallant officer had a narrow escape, as his cigarette case, tobacco tin and blotting pad were riddled with bullets. He is the brother of Mrs. Yorke, of Halton Place near Hellifield.”
While leading the 2/Gordons into action at Loos (25 September 1915) Stansfeld was mortally wounded and died on 28 September 1915. During the war he was Mentioned in Despatches no less than three times on 17 February 1915 again on 22 June 1915 and lastly on 1 January 1916. He is buried Chocques Military Cemetery, grave I B 3.
Stansfeld was entitled to the 1914 Star and the British War and Victory Medals. It seems likely that given his record had he survived the war Stansfeld would have received some additional recognition or honors from the Crown.
Stansfeld married Miss Constance Yolonde de Bourbel de Montpincon in April 1904. Their only child Captain John de Bourbel Stansfeld MC left a memorial to his parents in St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Montrose.
Cabinet Photograph
Harrods Ltd. Electric Studio - Photographer
Bromton Road, SW, England
November, 1899