Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Branson a shoe maker, born 6th January 1872 in Olney, Buckinghamshire and his wife Annie Sarah Branson (nee Walpole, married in the 4th quarter of 1895 in the Potterspury, Northamptonshire district), born 19th February 1872 in Grantham, Lincolnshire. Stanley Horace was born on the 23rd April 1899 in Leicester, he had one sibling, a brother Albert William, born 9th May 1896 in Leicester, in March 1901 the family home was at 2, The Leyslands, Blaby, Leicestershire. In April 1911 Stanley was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at Cemetery Road, Sileby, Leicestershire, together with his father, a shoe trade pressman, his mother and siblings, Albert, a shoe trade clicker, Constance Annie, a schoolgirl, born 6th October 1904 and Cicely Mary, born 26th June 1909, the latter two siblings were both born in Leicester. Stanley was awarded the British War and Victory medals.
In 1939 Stanley’s father, a retired shoe trade pressman and his mother were both residing in the family home at 82, Forest Road, Narborough, Leicestershire.
The War Diary records: 23 Aug-18 – ALBERT. Orders received for attack. For account of operations up till 1.00am 25th, when Battalion returned to command of 55th Brigade – see Appendix 13.
APPENDIX 13.
7th (S) BN. “THE QUEEN’S” REGIMENT.
REF. SHEET ALBERT.
REPORT ON ACTION ON THE 23RD AUGUST IN THE ATTACK ON TARA HILL, EAST OF ALBERT. W24: W29: W30: IN CONJUNCTION WITH 53RD INFANTRY BRIGADE.
AUGUST 22.
4.00PM. Orders were received from General Officer Commanding 53rd Brigade to attack TARA HILL at midnight. The 7th ROYAL WEST KENT REGIMENT and 10th ESSEX REGIMENT were to be on the right of the 7th QUEEN’S ROYAL WEST SURREY REGIMENT and the 38th Division on their left.
FORMING UP LINE – LIGHT RAILWAY W.29.c.
RIGHT FLANK – Enemy Communication Trench running W.29.d.2.5, W.30.a.4.0, W.30.b.5.5.
LEFT FLANK – ALBERT – BAPAUME ROAD – W.29.c.6.8 to W.24.d.4.7.
OBJECTIVE – Enemy trench W.30.b.5.5 to W.24.d.4.7 and strong point W.24.d.5.3 with posts pushed out in front.
7.00PM. These dispositions were retained, but Zero hour was altered to 4.45AM.
AUGUST 23.
1.00AM. The Battalion left the railway cutting West of ALBERT in E.3.3 and marched through the town to the assembly position just East of the town, in front of the light railway and immediately South of the ALBERT – BAPAUME ROAD. The Battalion was disposed – 2 Companies in the front line – “A” Company on right and “B” Company on left. “C” Company in support. “D” Company in reserve. 100 yards behind each other. Battalion Headquarters was established 300 yards East of BELLEVUE FARM, W.5.c.8.8.
3.15AM. Battalion in assembly position and in touch on flanks.
4.45AM. The barrage came down and tanks arrived to time in line with infantry. Very soon after the start some ROYAL WELSH FUSILIERS on the left of THE QUEEN’S ROYAL WEST SURREY REGIMENT carried the main road and got mixed up with them. There was also an inevitable mingling with the 7th ROYAL WEST KENT REGIMENT on our right owing to the fact that the right flank of the QUEEN’S ROYAL WEST SURREY REGIMENT was somewhat in advance of the left of the 7th ROYAL WEST KENT REGIMENT in the assembly positions.
The result of this was that support Companies failed to keep their distances and the whole advance on the left tended to become one advance in one long mixed line. This improved as the attack progressed, Companies on flanks of the QUEEN’S ROYAL WEST SURREY REGIMENT easing off to their proper positions.
5.00AM. The hostile Machine Gun fire was heavy all through the attack, especially at the start, but prisoners stated that our Machine Gun fire from the Brickfield was admirable.
6.00AM. One or two of our howitzers firing short caused some casualties and a certain disorganisation. This was promptly taken in hand by Lieutenant E. L. COLES and Lieutenant A. R. HOGG Commanding “C” and “A” Companies respectively, and largely thanks to the excellent work of these officers, the line pushed on. The enemy opposition on nearing the objective became quite slight.
6.20AM. Final objective reached and line pushed on with tanks over the crest, but ran into our protective barrage and was forced to withdraw to TARA HILL which was promptly consolidated and posts pushed out in front.
Lieutenant E. L. COLES who was now in command of the line in the trench came down to Battalion Headquarters and reported situation, leaving 2nd Lieutenant A. H. HAMPTON and 4 other officers, - the remainder being casualties, in charge.
8.15AM. At this hour the Intelligence Officer – 2nd Lieutenant J. B. LANCASTER reported the whole of the QUEEN’S ROYAL WEST SURREY REGIMENT on final objective, less a few men of 1 platoon of “D” Company who had got behind and were about half way up the hill. These were later pushed up to the Battalion.
8.30AM. Three Lewis Gun posts were put out in front and some observation Scouts went over the crest of the hill to get a view of the ground beyond.
8.45AM. The enemy shelled our objective with about 100 5.9’s while consolidation was proceeding.
9.00AM. The whole of the above events communicated to 53rd Brigade.
9.05AM. Our advanced posts could not be pushed out far enough owing to the protective barrage being short.
10.05AM. Brigade on left reported large bodies of enemy seen in X.14.c, X.15.a and Artillery dealing with them.
11.00AM. Commanding Officer proceeded forward and found organisation fairly sound under Command of 2nd Lieutenant A. H. HAMPTON. Ordered trenches to be deepened and scouts pushed out over ridge. Finding line held rather thickly ordered “A” Company – 1 officer and about 30 men to withdraw to gun pits about 200 yards in rear.
Post pushed out to X.19.a.5.0.
1.10PM. Signal communication obtained by wire to front line.
5.00PM. General BARKER arrived and issued orders for further operations at night. 8th ROYAL BERKSHIRE REGIMENT and 7th ROYAL WEST KENT REGIMENT to push forward to LA BOISSELLE. 7th QUEEN’S ROYAL WEST SURREY REGIMENT to remain in present dispositions. Except “A” Company who were to push on to road running North from X.19.c.9.1 to form a line of resistance on which the assaulting Battalions could withdraw if desired.
8.00PM. Lieutenant E. L. COLES returned to take command of line.
8.30PM. Message received from 2nd Lieutenant A. H. HAMPTON that enemy were massing in BECOURT. Artillery support asked for received in 5 minutes. Nothing further transpired.
10.00PM. Lieutenant E. F. BENNETT, M.C., and 2nd Lieutenant R. H. BAYLIS joined from Battle Surplus and proceeded to front line.
AUGUST 24.
1.00AM. Barrage opened – Slight retaliation.
7.30AM. Message from Lieutenant E. L. COLES that 8th ROYAL BERKSHIRE REGIMENT had gone forward successfully and that “A” Company had established themselves without opposition.
9.45AM. Commanding Officer left with 4 runners to establish forward Battalion Headquarters at W.24.d.3.0.
3.45PM. Message received from 53rd Brigade to be ready to move forward if required.
6.00PM. Orders received to remain as permanent garrison and to withdraw “A” Company to gun pits.
7th EAST KENT REGIMENT and 8th EAST SURREY REGIMENT to relieve the ROYAL WEST KENT REGIMENT and 8th ROYAL: BERKSHIRE REGIMENT. 10th ESSEX REGIMENT to remain as counter-attack.
9.00PM. Bosche still holding craters near LA BOISELLE.
10.00PM. Craters cleared by 8th ROYAL BERKSHIRE REGIMENT.
12.00 MIDNIGHT. Relief complete. The Battalion passed back to the Command of 55th Brigade.
CAPTURES: PRISONERS (Estimated) : 1 Officer and 70 other ranks.
MATERIAL: 1 77mm Gun. 11 Machine Guns.
Casualties: (Estimated) 12 Officers and 180 other ranks.