British Army Veterinary Corps
William Stanley CARLESS
Major
Died 18 December 1918 · Aged 61
His story
Captain William Stanley Carless MRCVS was born at Stone, Staffordshire in 1857. He qualified from the Royal Veterinary College, London, in April 1878.
He practised in Claines near Worcester and was an inspector for the Board of Agriculture and Worcester City Council. In 1901, he gained a commission as a Lieutenant in the 1st Worcester Artillery.
During the war, he served with the 223 Mixed Brigade. He died suddenly on 18 December 1918, at Sheringham, Norfolk, while on active service. He was 61 years old and is buried in Worcester (Astwood) Cemetery.
Captain Carless’s death notice appeared in The Veterinary Record Dated 1 February 1919.
Before the war
- Nationality
- British
- Date of Birth
- 1857
- Place of Birth
- Stone, Staffordshire, England
- Veterinary College and Date of Graduation
- London - April 1878
Military service
- Last Rank
- Major
- Regiment/Service
- British Army Veterinary Corps
- First Theatre of War
- France and Belgium 1914
Medals and commemoration
- Name on RCVS Honour Board
- Yes
- Name In Officers who died in Great War
- Yes
- Medals and Awards
- 1914/15 Star; British War Medal 1914-1918; Victory Medal
Death and burial
- Date of Death
- 18 December 1918
- Age at Death
- 61
- Place of Death
- Sheringham, England
- Cause of Death
- Stroke
- Cemetery
- Astwood Cemetery
- Location
- Worcester, England
- Grave Reference
- 7824
- Commonwealth War Grave
- Yes
- Emblem or Badge on Headstone
- Private Headstone
Sources and further reading
- CWGC casualty and commemoration record
- Find a Grave memorial
- The Veterinary Record, 1 February 1919 — cited in the earlier biography
Cite this biography
Graham Hodgkins and Pete Matthews, “William Stanley Carless”, Veterinary Virtual War Memorial, https://vetsremembered.org/people/william_stanley_carless/.
Contribute information
Can you add a letter, family photograph or document that tells us more about his life before service? Please give its source and any permission needed for display.