Born in Deptford on 6 August 1891, Stanley Cundall was the son of Joseph, a commercial clerk from Chingford, and Margaret Cundall. In 1901 they were living at Craigmor, 12 Hollingbourne Road, Herne Hill. Margaret died at just 27 before Stanley was 10 years old, leaving him and his younger siblings, Doris and Cecil, to be raised by their father. The family employed a servant, Annie Jenkins. In 1901 Joseph remarried 26-year-old Henrietta. Stanley started at Dulwich College in 1906, but left just a year later. Joseph Cundal died in 1908. By 1911 Stanley was working as a clerk at the London Stock Exchange.

Stanley Cundall served as a Private in the 10th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers before, on 28 March 1917, being transferred as a temporary 2nd Lieutenant to the 9th Battalion of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. In 1918 the Battalion, part of the 21st Division, took part in the Battles of the Lys. The German Operation Georgette in Flanders had as its objective the capture of railways and supply roads to cut off the British Second Army at Ypres. After some initial success the German attack was held up.

On 21 April 1918 the 9th Battalion was in action near the Hooge Crater (Ypres Salient) when Stanley was killed by "friendly fire" at the age of 26. The Battalion's war diary is very specific about the incident.

"In spite of remonstration one of the guns continued to shell "B" Coy's trench during the early hours of the 21st inflicting the following casualties: 1 Officer killed. 2/Lieut. CUNDALL. 12 OR killed, 12 wounded..." The CO states that the offence merits a Court Martial. Stanley Cundall is buried in Klein-Vierstraat British Cemetery. His brother Cecil of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers had been killed in Flanders on 30 November 1917. Stanley left a widow, Florence Beatrice, who remarried in 1920. By the age of 25, Doris Cundall had lost both parents and both brothers.