Stanley Stair (1900–2008)

Enlistment and service

Stair joined the armed forces in 1918, enlisting into the Infantry. Very few personal details of his wartime experiences are publicly recorded, but his service during the final year of the conflict earned him the campaign medals awarded to those who served in the war.

Medals and recognition

At the close of hostilities Stair was awarded the campaign decorations commonly issued to First World War veterans, including:

• British War Medal — a medal given to those who served in the armed forces during the conflict.
• Victory Medal — issued to personnel who entered a theatre of war or served overseas.

Later life and death

After the war Stair returned to civilian life in Jamaica. He died in April 2008 at Animal Hill, Lucea, Jamaica, at the age of 107. His longevity and status as one of the last members of the BWIR to survive into the 21st century brought renewed attention to the role Caribbean soldiers played in the First World War. The place of his death is often given in accounts and local notices as Lucea, Jamaica.

British West Indies Regiment: context

The British West Indies Regiment was raised during the First World War from volunteers across the British Caribbean colonies. Men who served in the BWIR took part in operations beyond the Caribbean, with units deployed to several theatres including the Middle East and parts of Europe. The regiment's members served as infantry, labourers and support personnel; their contributions have been the subject of growing historical research, especially regarding the social and political consequences of colonial troops serving in imperial wars.

Legacy

Stair's life highlights broader themes: the significant but often under-recognised contribution of Caribbean soldiers to the First World War, the postwar experiences of colonial veterans, and the ways communities remember older generations. His medals and the reports of his service are among the many personal links that help historians and the public understand the multinational nature of the conflict and its long-term effects on former colonies and their peoples.