Stanley, born on July 20 1888 in Newmarket, was the son of Harry Linzell, and his wife Jemima nee Way, whose building firm, established in Orwell Road, was responsible for the Floral Hall and St Mary’s Church Hall, Walton. Stanley Road, on which the Linzell firm built a property, was named in honour of Harry’s son. Stanley was the middle of five children & eldest son, his younger brother Ronald suffered from epilepsy & sadly died at the age of 14. Two of his sisters Emily & Nelly were nurses.

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Stanley was educated at The College, Bishop’s Stortford and Edinburgh University, graduating with a medical degree in 1912.  Whilst at University he was President of the Royal Medical Society. Around this time the Linzell family were living at the Lodge on High Road, Trimley St Mary. After qualifying Stanley worked as House Physician at the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh.

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He was commissioned into the RAMC as Lieutenant on January 30, 1914. Stanley passed second out of forty entrants. The outbreak of war saw Stanley posted to France in August. He was wounded in February 1915 and spent his recovery in England where he worked at hospitals in the Eastern Command. Promoted to Captain on March 30, 1915, Stanley wanted to return to the front line so, as a result of his many requests, he was posted back to France in May 1916. In September he was appointed Deputy Assistant Director of Medical Services for a division.

 

Stanley was awarded the Military Cross for work in November 1916- his citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in superintending the evacuation of the wounded. He continually visited the forward Battalion headquarters, passing under very heavy fire. When night after night he himself took up large parties of stretcher bearers to bring in the wounded. Working under heavy gunfire and great difficulties owing to waist deep mud, he set a splendid example of courage and determination throughout.

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Stanley was also awarded the Croix de Guerre for organising medical help for over 10,000 French civilians left in villages by the retreating Germans.

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Stanley was wounded again in March 1917. He was killed in action on April 3, 1917 near St Quentin at the age of 28. He is buried in Foreste Communal Cemetery in France and commemorated on his family’s headstone in St Peter and St Paul graveyard and remembered on Felixstowe Seafront Memorial. Stanley is also remembered on Edinburgh University WW1 Roll of Honour. In his spare time Stanley was a keen fell walker and his name appears on the war memorial on the top of Great Gable, in the Lake District.

 

 A brother officer wrote to his parents:

The award of the MC and the Croix de Guerre are but a small return for his splendid work and absolute fearlessness. His friends and our country have lost a splendid comrade and a very gallant gentleman.

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Another wrote:

He was an extraordinarily gallant fellow. We have mourned his loss very much and, as someone said the other day, we shall never beat the Germans without fellows like Linzell