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Stanley's parents were Isaac John SCALES (1859-1932) and Elizabeth (nee ENGLISH)(1861-?).
1901 they're in Great Welnetham, Suffolk with Ellen, Alice, Gerty & Stanley.
1911 they're in Roxwell, Essex (I have no idea why) with Isaac using his middle name of John. Ellen & Alice aren't with them as they're both married by then.

Isaac & Elizabeth had 8 children
Amina Elizabeth b1881, m1907 (William NUNN), d1911
Isaac William b1883, d1883
Ellen (Nell) b1884, m1904 (William MOTHERSOLE), m1925 (Thomas SHELDRAKE), d1938
Alice Maud May b1887, m1908 (William LOWE), d?
Florence May b1889, m1914 (Charles CANN), d1958
Gertrude Emma b1895, m1922 (George CANNELL), d?
Stanley Charles b1899, m1922 (Lily FEAKES nee BRIDGES), d?
Plus one other according to 1911 census (8 children, 6 living, 2 who have died).

Last night I found Lily in 1939!
Living with Charles HAWKE (as married) and son Bernard.

A child maintenance order in 1928 has Stanley "living with his parents" (no address noted in the newspaper article though). Lily's sister, Ada, taking over custody of Irene. Mention of another 5 year old child (grandma - who then went to live with Stanley's sister, Ellen), and a self-supporting older child (William).
William's father is Lily's first husband - William Charles FEAKES.
Irene's father is unknown as first husband was dead but she wasn't yet with Stanley but when Lily & Stanley married he apparently became responsible for her existing children.

I'm guessing that Lily & Charles didn't last though as when Lily died William gave her occupation as "husband of Stanley Charles SCALES".

I've searched Stanley's siblings in 1939 and not found him with any of them and not yet found his mother, Elizabeth although she could have died by then.

Well, that supports the family story that Lily "ran off with another man".
And also supports Ellen (Aunt Nell) being angry at Stanley - presumably for skimping on the child support payments.
The article is from Feb 1928 and would tie in with roughly when grandma said she last saw her dad.
But the WWI pension card is stamped 5 Dec 1923 with the pension to be paid to William (not either of the aunts looking after the children). As he the maintenance case was 1928 and Stanley pled guilty he evidently didn't die c.1923 so why would his pension be paid to his stepson?
Curiouser and curiouser!

Rule number 1 in Research.
Remember History is not a Record of the Truth
It is a Record of what people "Said" was the Truth
Which may not be the Truth.

Be Flexible in Research and never use 21st Century Accuracy Eyes

I have 4 relatives where their Birth Certificates at Registration
Show they were born weeks and months after the Priest Baptised them.

According to the custody documents for me I was born a year later than the date on either my birth cert or baptism - so it happens quite easily.

Oh! That makes sense, thank you.
Nothing fits with what I know as until I found this today I had zero inkling that he had served in the army at all.
This man has been a complete conundrum past 1911 other than his marriage in 1922 and grandma's birth in Jan 1923 (after which he "disappeared").