Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Police Station, Lilydale, Victoria

Arriving, on 14 September 1887, in the locality south of Beeac, 19 km north of Colac, Charles Henry Stanbury, the only registered child of Susan Eastlake and Frederick Stanbury, upon completing his education, was employed as a farm labourer. Whether his parents operated their own farming enterprise or not has not been established.

Originally, the 40,000 acres between Lake Beeac and Lake Ondit, bore the name Ondit, an 1837 sheep grazing enterprise of Hobart born, Augustus Morris. Beeac being the name of the aboriginal tribal leader headquartered in Warrion Hills. Aboriginal word for salt water, between 1860 and 1950, Lake Beeac salt works produced commercial quantities of salt.

Venturing 150 km north-east to Melbourne, 24 years of age, 5’9”, Charles Henry Stanbury on, 28 September 1911, gained appointment to the Victoria Police Force. Apparently considered a gifted horseman, Charles Stanbury was sent to the Mounted Branch for police related training prior to being sent to Bright, on 12 February 1912, in north-east Victoria.

Experiencing ill-health, Mounted Constable Charles Stanbury returned to Melbourne in November 1912. Remaining at the Mounted Branch until February 1914, Charles Stanbury transferred to Whyalla, 180 km east of Melbourne.
Wood cutters and splitters, miners, together with a considerable Italian population, perhaps presented a challenging policing environment in the mountain village named for the German hall of fame, the Walhalla temple [Valhalla from Norse legend].

Perhaps proving an enjoyable posting, Charles Stanbury, in 1915, married Walhalla born Hilda Miriam Moyle. However, a reduction in the status of the local police station, with Sergeant Stephenson appointed in charge of Box Hill, and Constable Stanbury, transferred to Lilydale, whilst Mounted Constable Rawlings of Lilydale, remained the sole representative at Walhalla.

Transferring, in March 1915, to Lilydale, 27 years and 10 months of age, Mounted Constable Stanbury, of Lilydale, enlisted, on 19July 1915, for active service, citing his mother, Susan, of ‘The Pines’, Jennings Street, Colac West, Victoria as his next-of-kin.

Following two months with D Company 20 Castlemaine Depot Battalion, Trooper Charles Stanbury 1458, was assigned to 11 reinforcement 8th Light Horse Battalion. Embarking, on 13 November 1915, from Melbourne, aboard HMAT A6 Clan McCorquodale, Charles Stanbury was appointed temporary corporal for the sea voyage, reverting to his previous rank upon disembarkation at Egypt.

Formed, on 23 September 1914, at Broadmeadows, Victoria, the 6 Light Horse Regiment was, during the October AIF reorganisation, renumbered the 8 Light Horse, being part of the 3 Light Horse Brigade. Considered unsuitable for initial Gallipoli operations, the 8 Light Horse, deployed without horses, formed the first two waves of the disastrous attack on The Nek. Sustaining heavy losses, exhausted and understrength, the regiment played a defensive role until leaving the peninsula on 20 December 1915.

Returning to Egypt, becoming part of the ANZAC Mounted Division, the 8 Light Horse, reinforced by Trooper Charles Stanbury, together with his companions, followed the Turks’ retreat across the Sinai Desert from the Suez Canal.

Reaching the Palestine frontier, capturing, on 23 December 1916, the Turkish outpost of Maghdaba at bayonet point. Promoted, on 22 January 1917, to corporal, Charles Stanbury, participated in the two abortive attempts, 27 March as well as 19 April 1917, prior to executing the 31 October wide outflanking manoeuvre at Beersheba.

During this operation, the Officer in Charge, 8 Light Horse Regiment, in recommending the awarding of a Military Medal to Corporal-Temporary Sergeant Charles Henry Stanbury –

“In the reconnaissance of 4 July 1917 toward Beersheba, I ordered ‘B’ Squadron to cover the retirement of ‘C’ Squadron. ‘C’ Squadron was out of touch with Regimental HQ. The OC of ‘C; Squadron sent Sergeant Stanbury under a heavy shell fire and the advance of Turkish cavalry to find out if ‘C’ Squadron had retired and this he did and returned with the information required. ‘B’ Squadron were then able to cover the retirement successfully and in good order without any casualties.”

Approving the recommendation, such being proclaimed in Commonwealth Gazette No. 19, of 14 February 1918, Corporal Charles Henry Stanbury joined the elite list of nine 8 Light Horse Battalion men to be so rewarded for ‘acts of gallantry and devotion to duty under fire’ during the course of World War I.

Capturing, on 7 November 1917, Gaza, the Turkish position in southern Palestine collapsed, leading to the December capture of Jerusalem. During this time period Corporal Charles Stanbury experienced many up gradings to Temporary Sergeant, until achieving that rank, on 22 August 1917.

Qualifying, in June 1918, Charles Henry Stanbury was appointed Second Lieutenant being involved in the Jordan Valley operations, of the 8 Light Horse including the tactical failure of the Es Salt raid.

Launching a coastal offensive, on 19 September 1918, three days following, Charles Henry Stanbury was appointed Lieutenant.

Penetrating deep into the Turkish rear areas, the 8 Light Horse took part in the 25 September capture of Tiberius, as well as that of Sasa on 29 September. Entering, on 1 October, Damascus, by months end the Turks surrendered. Recalled, in March 1919, to quell the Egyptian revolt the remainder of 8 Light Horse was homeward bound.

Returning, on 17 July 1919, to Australia, the appointment of Lieutenant Charles Henry Stanbury MM was terminated, on 25 October 1920, from 3 Military District, Victoria.

Re-appointed, on 1 September 1919, to the Victoria Police Depot for 12 months, Constable Charles Stanbury transferred to Hastings as Officer in Charge Immediately involving himself in local community affairs, in 1921 Charles Stanbury was appointed secretary to the Repatriation Committee, assisting local returned servicemen and women.

Performing duties, at Pakenham, 36 miles from Melbourne, Charles Stanbury, on 1 February 1924, summoned by a local orchardist Charles Johnston, took charge of the remains of 31 years of age, Norman Alfred List lying in bush near the local railway station.

Murdering, at 6.30 p.m., on Wednesday 23 January 1924, by random shooting, four people, Marian Podbury, Eugenie Strohheiker, Frederick William McIlwaine and John Moxham, in the Botanical Gardens Melbourne, List, after travelling to Pakenham by train, suicided.

Transferring, on 6 November 1925, to the in charge of Cobram police station, Charles Stanbury, remained, until his 11 June 1929 promotion to Senior Constable at Russell Street.

Returning to north-east Victoria, Senior Constable Charles Stanbury, was placed in charge of Benalla Police Station, prior to transferring to Nagambie.
In October 1935 Senior Constable Stanbury, following four years at Nagambie police station, transferred to St. Kilda.

Receiving, in November 1939, notification of his promotion to second class sergeant, Charles Stanbury took charge of the Colac Police Station.

Robbing Colac, on Saturday 11 October 1942, of five youthful lives, Lake Colac waves capsized their boat, tossing six boys into its waters.

Aged between 15 and 17 years, being junior members of the Lake Colac Rowing Club, the group went for a practice row on that fateful afternoon. Only one, 15½ years of age, Donald Burns, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Burns, of Moore Street, Colac, survived, reaching the shore about six hours after the accident.
Roland Cunningham, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Cunningham, Manifold Street, Colac; Alex Leeney, son of Mr and Mrs. Leeney, of Wilson Street, Colac; Norman Lovekin, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Lovekin, Murray and Scott Streets, Colac; Bert Moon, son of Mr. Leslie Moon, of Calvert Street, Colac; Noel Stanley, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Stanley, Colac, all perishing in the freshwater lake north of the Western District town.

Co-ordinating the week-long search, Second Class Sergeant Charles Stanbury learned of the group decision to go for a 3 p.m. row, in a four-oared racing skiff. Experiencing little wind on setting out, after rowing into the centre of the lake, a cold boisterous south-easterly sprung up, attempting to turn, the skiff was swamped in a trough between the waves. With little assistance to their desperate efforts to remain afloat; experiencing cramp, as well as exhaustion, one by one, the boys slipped into their watery grave.

Clinging steadfastly to the upturned skiff, about 9.15 p.m., Donald Burns drifted toward the bank near Cororooke, allowing him to arrive safely ashore, to seek aid at a nearby farm house.

Passing away unexpectedly, on Sunday 23 February 1947, 54 years of age, Hilda Miriam ‘Dick’ Stanbury née Moyle, perhaps caused the greatest devastation to the personal life of her husband, Charles, the couple not sharing any registered children.

An exceedingly fine woman, held in the highest esteem by all with whom she came in contact. Hilda possessed a most likeable and kindly disposition, always ready to assist anyone in need.

Taking a lively interest in all movements which had for their aim some worthy object. An ardent worker for the servicemen of both World Wars, her death deeply regretted by a very wide circle of friends, Hilda Stanbury was laid to rest in eternal peace in the Nagambie cemetery, Victoria.

Six months following, on 14 September 1947, First Class Sergeant Charles Henry Stanbury MM 5695, in charge of Colac Police Station was superannuated from the Victoria Police Force.

Passing away, in 1959 at Bentleigh, Victoria, 71 years of age, Victoria Police Veteran, First Class Sergeant Charles Henry Stanbury MM 5695 [Retired] lies in eternal peace, alongside his wife Hilda Miriam, in Nagambie cemetery, Victoria.