Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Stacey, a railway goods guard, born 1864 in Swannington, Leics., and his wife Thirza Eliza Stacey (nee Allum, married in the 3rd quarter of 1889 in Burnley, Lancs.), born 1870 in Stanton, Suffolk. Simeon was born on the 12th December 1897 in Saltley, Birmingham, Warwks., he had one sibling, a sister, Julia T., born 1892 in Colne, Lancs., in March 1901 the family home was at Margaret Street, Coalville, Leics. The family later resided at 31, Park Road, Coalville, Leics.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday October 25th, 1918

COALVILLE SAILOR’S DEATH

FAMILY’S DOUBLE BEREAVEMENT

We regret to state that Mr and Mrs W. Stacey, of the Telephone Exchange, Park Road, Coalville, have sustained a severe bereavement by the death of their eldest son, Simeon, of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, who died from bronchial pneumonia at a war hospital, South Norwood, London, early on Saturday morning.

The young sailor, who had brilliant scholastic prospects, received his early education at the Belvoir Road School, where he won a scholarship and attended Coalville Grammar School for six years, gaining premier position in the school. He passed the Oxford Intermediate, and later went to Leeds Training College, previous to which he was a student teacher at Belvoir Road School. While at the Coalville Grammar School he distinguished himself on the cricket field, winning a bat for the highest average, and in the football field was a skilful player.

At Leeds college he carried off a bronze medal for swimming, and obtained a teacher’s certificate for the natatory art. As a Cadet in the Coalville Grammar School Corps, he rose to the rank of sergeant. The deceased attended only a month ago, the funeral of his sister, Mrs Reginald Hewes, who was laid to rest in the London Road Cemetery. His father is inspector of the Midland Railway at Coalville, and much sympathy is extended to the parents.


THE FUNERAL

The funeral took place at the London Road Cemetery on Wednesday afternoon amid many manifestations of public sympathy, there being a huge concourse of people to witness the internment. The service was conducted by the Rev. J. C. Mantripp, the first portion being in the Marlborough Square Primitive Methodist Church. The chief mourners were the father and mother, two sisters, brother, Miss V. Bourne, Mr and Mrs T. W. Bourne (Whitwick), Mr and Mrs G. H. Hewes, Miss Jones (Ravenstone), Messrs. F. and W. Hallam (Colney), Mr J. and Mrs Stacey (Sheffield), Messrs. S. Stacey, B. Stacey, Jos. and Mrs Stacey, Reuben Stacey, Mrs Scarlett, Mr and Mrs W. Wright, Mr and Mrs E. James, Mr C. W. Brown, and Mr J. Whyman. The deceased’s old schoolmaster, Mr T. Frith, and a number of the boys from the Belvoir Road Council School, also followed. Mr J. W. West, J.P., represented the Coalville Primitive Methodist Sunday School. Bluejackets from the Crystal Palace, all Coalville lads on leave, acted as bearers, and six men of the Coalville Company, Leicestershire Volunteer Regiment, under Sergeant Carey Brown, formed a firing party. Captain S. Turner, commander of the regiment, and instructor, Edgar Hawthorn, R.N.V.R., were also present.

The coffin bore the inscription “Simeon Stacey, died October 19th, 1918, aged 20 years.” It was placed in a grave lined with evergreens by the side of the grave in which the deceased’s sister was interred only a month ago. At the conclusion of the service, the hymn, “Jesu, lover of my soul,” was sung, and the Volunteers fired three volleys over the grave. There was a beautiful lot of floral tributes including two wreaths from the teachers and scholars of the Belvoir Road Council School, and one from the teachers and servicemen of the P.M. Sunday School. Mr F. Griffin carried out the funeral arrangements with entire satisfaction.

THANKS

Mr and Mrs Wm. Stacey and Family desire to tender their sincere thanks for the many kind tokens of sympathy received in the great bereavement they have sustained by the death of their beloved son, Simeon.

31, Park Road, Coalville.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 14/6/2018