ORCHARD, Stanley Hector
| Service Number: | VX5230 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 October 1939 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Glenferrie, Victoria, Australia, 18 April 1914 |
| Home Town: | Stanhope, Campaspe, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Herd Tester |
| Died: | Northcote, Victoria, Australia, 27 May 1985, aged 71 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Stanhope Cenotaph |
World War 2 Service
| 21 Oct 1939: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX5230 | |
|---|---|---|
| Date unknown: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX5230 |
Help us honour Stanley Hector Orchard's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Kim Denyse
Stan's father went off to war before he was 1 year old and died at the Somme when he was 4, so he never knew him. Then his mum put him and his siblings in an orphanage and as far as I can tell he only kept in touch with his younger brother later on in life.
All we know of Stan in his formative years is from his military records that tell us he worked as a herd tester in rural Vic before he enlisted and mentioned William as his NOK, so he knew where William (Percy) was.
Stan's military record is epic. His superiors kept promoting him and he kept reverting back to the rank of Private. He was wounded multiple times and served in Africa, the Middle East, Ceylon and also in New Guinea. He was sent on various courses to learn jungle warfare and gas warfare plus he suffered from malaria.
When he came home he became a mail clerk. How weird would that have been?
He married Jean Brown in about 1960 but unfortunately, this only lasted a few months.
Stanley died on May 27, 1985, in Northcote, Victoria, Australia, at the age of 71, and was cremated in Fawkner, Victoria, Australia.
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