stanley became an assistant master in a herefordshire school, but left this job to join the british army. he lived a nomadic lifestyle after this, travelling around the world with his military postings. initially serving in the 2nd west india regiment, he spent time in british guiana and ipswich before transferring to the 2nd regiment of foot which took him to ireland and manchester. a subsequent transfer to the north staffordshire regiment sent him to the west indies, before domestic appointments to lichfield, plymouth and portsmouth. he retired from the army in 1888 as a major. two years later, he joined the colonial service and was posted in 1892 as inspector general of the houssa force in lagos, nigeria. he had been in the role for four years when he was taken ill with malaria. while sailing home to england from lagos, he died on 7 april 1896, when the boat put into accra in ghana.