Trafford

Born on either the 22nd or the 27th June 1898. (his RAF record states both)
at St. Lawrence, Jersey, the younger son of Charles and Eliza Mossop (neé
Southward).

1901 Census - Bifrons, St. Lawrence, Jersey, Channel Islands.   Son (Listed
as C. Stanley Mossop) - aged: 2 - born: St. Lawrence, Jersey.   Head of
household - Charles Mossop - Married - aged: 37 - occ: Market Gardener (own
account) - born: England.   Also - Eliza Mossop - Wife - aged: 31 - born:
England.  Plus 1 elder brother.

1911 Census - Commercial Buildings, Pier, Jersey, Channel Islands.    Son
(Listed as Stanley Charles Mossop) - aged: 12 - Scholar - born: St.
Lawrence, Jersey.   Head of household - Charles Mossop - Married - aged: 47
- occ: Merchant & Commission Merchant - born: Calder Bridge, Cumberland.  
Also Eliza Mossop - Wife - aged: 41 - born: Liverpool.   Plus 1 elder
brother and 1 domestic servant.

He was an Apprentice Marine Engineer employed by Scotia Engine Works,
Sunderland from 18th August 1914 to 30th November 1916.  This eventually
became - Richardson, Westgarth Co , Marine Engineers of Hartlepool.

He originally enlisted in the Royal Naval Air Service and was drafted to
HMS Victory VI - the Crystal Palace Shore Station on the 17th December
1916.    From Crystal Palace he moved to Redcar on the 2nd March 1917 - to
Cranwell on the 5th May 1917 - to Calshot on the 4th June 1917.  He was
appointed Flight Sub. Lieutenant on the 30th August 1917.

His record shows that he had flown a wide range of aircraft, including -
NFLH, Curtiss Flying Boat, Avro 80hp Gnome, BE2C (75 hp Renault engine),
BE2C (100hp Rolls Royce engine), Bristol Scout, Short Seaplane (150hp
Sunbeam engine), Norman Thompson Flying Boat, FBA (Franco-British
Aircraft), Campania Short (375hp engine), [I believe that to be HMS
Camania, a converted aircraft carrier - flying Short A/c from it ???],
Wight Seaplane (300hp  engine).    To survive any flight in these
experimental aircraft was an achievement.

Awarded the Distinguished Service Cross on the 17th November 1917.

He was hospitalised on the 29th June 1918 and again on the 20th July 1918.

Death reported in the 24th and 26th August 1919 editions of the Liverpool
Echo which states that he was killed in a seaplane accident whilst on
patrol.  He was buried at Cherbourg on the 16th August.

I can find no connection to Stretford or to St. Matthew's Parish Church. 
His mother was born at Liverpool - it is possible that his Southward
grandparents moved to Stretford later in life and attended St. Matthew's
P.C. ???

His RAF record states that his parents were residing at 22 Commercial
Buildings, St. Helier, Jersey. and that he had a "Fair knowledge of
French"

French M.I. - "Dearly loved son of Mr. & Mrs. C. Mossop of Jersey. 
Resting".

On the 4th August 2015, "Jersey Post" issued a £1.00 commemorative
miniature sheet depicting Stanley and giving the following background
information:-

"The Miniature Sheet features an illustration of Jerseyman, Flt Lt Charles
Stanley Mossop DSC, the first man to sink an enemy submarine from the air
and the first Jerseyman to land a plane in the Island.

In August 1918, whilst on an aerial photo-reconnaissance mission, he
decided pay a visit to his parents in St Helier, and in doing so becoming
the first Jerseyman to land a plane in Jersey. Mossop was tragically killed
in a flying accident in France two days later."