Stanley Readhead was part of the family that was John Readhead & Sons shipyard in South Shields.

His grandfather was founder, John Readhead, who formed the company as John Readhead & Company in 1872. When his sons (including Stanley's father, James) were taken on as partners in 1888, the name was changed to John Readhead & Sons.

Stanley's father married Ann Susanna Halder in 1877, and they had six children, James Halder, Mary, Stanley, Elsie, Harold, and one other who appears to have died at a very early age.

Stanley joined his older brother, James Halder, at the High School in 1889 (his younger brother would also go there, in 1896).

He left in 1892, and became a shipyard apprentice and, by 1911, was Dry Dock Manager.

Stanley joined the 7th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry, serving in France from March, 1916 as Captain.

He was wounded in action on 1-Oct-1916 and removed to Manchester hospital, and later that year was awarded the Military Cross for "conspicuous gallantry in action".

Stanley died while staying at Rendlesham Hall, a sanatorium in Suffolk, on 20-Nov-1926, at the age of 45.

.