Norman Stanford enlisted into the General Service Corps and volunteered for airborne forces in 1945.Private Stanford undertook parachute training course B195 from 29 June to 26 July 1946 at RAF Upper Heyford. He went to the Holding Battalion and was later posted to the 2nd Parachute Battalion.

Pte Stanofrd died, aged 20 years, in Palestine on 25 October 1947 when the lorry he was travelling in collided with another military vehicle, killing fourteen military personnel. He is now buried in Khayat Beach War Cemetery, Israel.