Biography

Family background

Vincent Leonard Stanley appears on the 1939 National Registration living at The Bungalow, The Avenue, Collingham with his wife, Beatrice Marjorie Stanley. Vincent had been born on the 15th March 1903 in Wallsall, the son of Albert Henry and Priscilla Stanley. In 1911, the family lived at 22 Butts Road, Walsall where Albert was recorded as a 'Brown Saddler'. The changes to transport in the early part of the twentieth century would have reduced the need for saddlers but Albert skills could be useful in the new motor trade and at the time of the 1921 census Albert and family had moved to 64 Much Park Street, Coventry where Albert was employed by the Triumph company as a motor car body trimmer. By that time Vincent was 18 years old and had left education and had also joined the Triumph Company as a wages clerk.

In 1926, Vincent married Beatrice Marjorie Burgess.

Sometime between 1926 and 1939 Vincent changed his job within the motor trade, leaving wages, and becoming a salesman. In 1939, at the National Registration he was living with his family in Collingham, at The Bungalow on The Avenue. He was then described as a motor salesman and manager. With Vincent and Beatrice was at least one son.

Service record

In 1939 Vincent was aged 36 and was married. The National Service (Armed Forces) Act brought in conscription for all males aged between 18 and 41. These men had to register for service. Vincent was therefore eligible for conscription and he joined the RAF around the 1st February 1941 and gaining a commission as a Pilot Officer in the Training Branch.

On the 11th of April 1941 he was posted to No. 22 Squadron and he seems to have served with them for the duration of the war according to his record. His duties were listed as 'ATC'. Unfortunately, 'ATC' is an RAF term with two possible meanings - Air Training Corps or Air Traffic Control - and we cannot be certain which role he served in.

22 Squadron was a coastal command squadron based at Thorney Island, North Coates and St. Eval in Cornwall in 1941 and flying mine laying or bombing missions against the German invasion barges and anti-shipping strikes with the torpedoes in 1941.

22 Squadron was posted to the Far East in 1941/2 based first in Ceylon, now Sri Lanka. They carried out anti-submarine patrols and escort Allied shipping before a move from Ceylon to the Burma front. For the rest of the war it flew ground attack missions over Burma. During this period it also carried out air-sea rescue duties.

After the war

After the war we believe that Vincent Leonard Stanley returned to Yorkshire, but not to Collingham and we think he lived in Leeds and died there in 1968.

Biography last updated 20 October 2025 12:24:38.