Gunner William Austin Stanley
201176 Machine Gun Corps (Tank Section)
Formerly 38166 Machine Gun Corps (A Coy)
Died of Wounds 17th November 1916, aged 23
Lived at 15 Belgrave Street
Buried in Contay British Cemetery, France - VIII.B.18.
Burnley Express 25th November 1916

William was the eldest son of a cycle maker, also called William Stanley, both men were born in Ashby de la Zouche.
He had three younger siblings

Gnr William Stanley was a crewman in the tank "We're all in it". This was a female tank which managed to penetrate the German front line between Thiepval and St Pierre Divion on 13 November 1916; the other two tanks tasked to assist the attack did not get into action.
William Stanley was injured when the tank became stuck and was evacuated by the accompanying infantry; he died of wounds 4 days later.
He is recorded as being born in Burnley, although according to the Commonwealth War Grave Commission records, he was the son of William and Hannah Stanley of 2 Wood St, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire.

(information courtesy of Stephen Pope)