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Bugler Stanley Christopher Reed of 45 Skinner Street, Chatham, son of William & Margaret was a boy of 16 in the RMLI aboard HMS Formidable on the night of New Year’s Eve 1914 - New Year’s day 1915. He was the youngest of 4 brothers & had been in the navy since he was 13
Formidable was torpedoed in heavy seas by U-24 and began to sink. She would take a second torpedo and capsize with massive loss of life (another of my threads on an aspect of the sinking ) https://twitter.com/jerijerod14/status/1388082048582225921
As the ship sank at 4:30 am on the f’castle young Reed was spotted on deck by a messmate, Pvt Henry Beal RMLI and asked if he was alright. Reed calmly responded he was.
Beal suggested Reed should keep hold of his drum to help him float on the rough seas.
Beal suggested Reed should keep hold of his drum to help him float on the rough seas.
Reed responded that he had already given it to one of the Ship’s boys for just the same reason.
Throughout the sinking Reed was seen dutifully assisting the ship’s officers in evacuating the ship and keeping people calm. He sounded the last bugler call “Everyman for himself”
Reed was last seen in the water where he was heard to remark he “was not afraid to die”
His body was never recovered and he is commemorated on the Chatham Naval memorial
His body was never recovered and he is commemorated on the Chatham Naval memorial
After the sinking a question was raised in Parliament as to whether the boy could be awarded something for his bravery. The response from Dr Macnamara on behalf of the Admiralty was;
‘There is no medal which could be given for an act of this sort, but the relations will get the War Medal. The Admiralty have already shown their appreciation of this boy’s courage by sending to his father a special letter.’
The letter read: ‘Sir, I am commanded by My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to inform you that they have received through General Sir Francis Thomas KCB, Royal Marine Light Infantry, the enclosed statement made by Private Herbert Beal, RMLI,
of a gallant act performed by your son, the late Bugler S. C. Reed, RMLI, on the occasion of the sinking of HMS Formidable in the Channel on New Year’s Day 1915 in which he unfortunately lost his life. My Lords desire me to convey to you their high appreciation of the courage &
