Stanley James Cussel

2^nd Lieutenant, Army Service Corps

Stanley James Cussel was a student at Alley’s until 1906. After leaving school, he moved to India but returned home to England after the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914. After returning home, Stanley decided to join the war effort as part of the Army Service Corps and came back to visit Alleyn’s briefly before left for overseas duty with the corps. During his time overseas, Stanley served as a 2^nd Lieutenant with the ASC on the Western Front and was attached to the Devonshire Regiment. In May 1918, he was serving with the Devon when the German Army launched an attack on the Aisne as part of the Spring Offensive. The German objective was to capture the ridge in the area before the American forces arrived in a few months. The German forces made some initial gains in the attack but the British were able to hold off the advancing forces until the attack eventually ran out of steam. Unfortunately, Stanley lost his life during this action on May 29^th 1918. He is commemorated on the Soissons Memorial.