Stanley Colt Faber — Royal Field Artillery, 47th Brigade

Major Stanley Colt Faber — Royal Field Artillery, 47^th Brigade

Birth and Family Background

Henry Mitford Faber, and Florence Ellen Colt
marriage certificate
Christ Church, Malvern, Worcestershire

Stanley Colt Faber was born in 1884, Malvern, Worcestershire,  he was the son of Henry Mitford Faber, and Florence Ellen Colt, who were married in 1882, Christ Church, Malvern, Worcestershire. 

1891 Census

At the time of the 1891 Census, the family were residing at 1 College Grounds, Great Malvern, Worcestershire, a property forming part of Malvern College. Henry M. Faber, aged 39 and born in Buckinghamshire, was recorded as a Clerk in Holy Orders, while his wife, Florence E. Faber, aged 36 and born in London, was present with their two sons, Stanley C. (aged 7) and Geoffrey C. (aged 1). Also living at the house were servants employed by the family: Louisa F. Allsop (21), born in Hampshire, working as Governess; Ellen E. (32), born in Gloucestershire; Emma Hill (29), of Worcestershire; Fanny Slaymaker (16); and Fanny Orton (18), born in Warwickshire.

1901 Census

By the 1901 Census, Stanley, then aged 19, was no longer at home but listed as a boarder and Military Pupil at the Cadets’ Hospital, part of the Woolwich Barracks, Woolwich, London. 

United Grand Lodge of England Freemason Membership Registers

Further records from the United Grand Lodge of England Freemason Membership Registers state that in 1910 he was initiated on 9 September into the Golconda Lodge.

1911 Census

At the time of the 1911 Census, Stanley had returned to 1 The College Grounds, Malvern. Henry, now aged 59, was recorded as School Master, and Florence Ellen, aged 56, was his wife. Their children present were Stanley (27), listed as a Lieutenant, Royal Field Artillery, and Dorothy (19).

Stanley Colt Faber and Evelyn Maria Barrett
marriage certificate
Holy Trinity Church, Consort Road, Westminster, London

Lady’s Pictorial

In April 1913, Stanley married Evelyn Frances Maria Barrett at Holy Trinity Church, Consort Road, Westminster, London. His address at the time was given as the Tenby Hotel, Parish of St. Mary, Swansea, and the marriage announcement appeared in Lady’s Pictorial.

Military Service and Death

Stanley Colt Faber

Stanley later served as a Major with the Royal Field Artillery, 47^th Brigade. By early 1917, artillery brigades such as the 47^th had been reorganised into larger “Army Brigades”, supporting higher-level commands and providing concentrated artillery power where needed.

As the British prepared for the forthcoming Battle of Arras, which would open on 9^th April 1917, the artillery was heavily engaged in preparatory operations. These included positioning guns, building and reinforcing emplacements, moving ammunition forward, and registering targets. Even though the infantry assault had not yet begun, artillery units worked under continuous risk from enemy shelling, counter-battery fire, and the inherent dangers of handling guns and explosives during an intense build-up phase.

Western Mail

Stanley Colt Faber
Faubourg D’Amiens Cemetery, Arras, France
credit - findagrave

Stanley Colt Faber
Great Malvern Priory Churchyard
credit - findagrave

Amid this period of front-line preparation, Major Stanley Colt Faber was killed in action on 30^th March 1917. He was buried at Faubourg D’Amiens Cemetery, Arras, France. A notice published in the Western Mail in April following his death recorded that Major Faber had been a popular adjutant of the 1st Welsh (Howitzer) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, based in Swansea.Stanley names is also commemorated on a memorial plaque at Great Malvern Priory Churchyard