Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Stanley Raymond Piercey was born in Longford, Tasmania and was the son of a Presbyterian (or Church of England) Minister, the Rev. Joseph. P. Piercey. On his first enlistment Stanley had stated his religion as Presbyterian but on his second enlistment paper as Church of England. Having completed at least 3 years of a dentistry apprenticeship Stanley had, at some time, come to Adelaide where he had met Julie Anne Griffin, daughter of Thomas and Ellen Griffin. When he enlisted at Morphetville on the 30th September 1914 Stanley listed his next of kin as his wife Julie Anne Piercey (nee Griffin) and her address as the Globe Hotel, Glenelg. Family records indicate that they were not married until the 2nd October at Glenelg. For some reason Stanley was discharged on the 15th October. When Stanley enlisted at Claremont, Tasmania twelve months later he declared his marital status to be married with two children, John Raymond and Edward. Julie’s address was noted as Burnie, Tasmania but was to change several times during Stanley’s service as she moved back to Adelaide. Her final address was c/- Stag Hotel, Rundle Street, Adelaide. At the time of his second enlistment Stanley was 26 years 1 month of age. He was initially posted to the 40th Battalion AIF and within 2 months had been promoted to Corporal. Two months after his enlistment Stanley embarked from Hobart aboard the troopship “Berrima” and disembarked at Plymouth, England on the 22nd August 1916. While at sea Stanley would have received notice that his brother, Captain Hubert Charles Piercey (60th Battalion AIF), was seriously wounded at Pozieres with a gunshot wound to the forehead. Fortunately he made a good recovery and returned to Australia in 1917. The 40th Battalion marched into Larkhill Camp and began immediate training for deployment to France. On the 23rd November Stanley, with his battalion, embarked from Southampton and disembarked at Havre. By the 2nd December they had left for Armentieres where they went into the line on the 10th. The battalion was relieved on the 16th before going back into the trenches on the 21st. On the 22nd Stanley was transferred to the 10th Field Ambulance but on the same day was detached to the 40th Battalion. The 10th Field Ambulance had a close liaison with 40th Battalion throughout the war in France and Belgium. It is unsure what role Stanley served in 10th Field Ambulance or if he in fact stayed with the 40th Battalion as a stretcher bearer working with the battalion’s medical officer. A letter from his father refers to him belonging to the 40th Battalion Australian Medical Corps. His name does not appear on duty lists for the three sections of the 10th Field Ambulance, the nominal roll of 10 Field Ambulance personnel who took part in the battle at Messines or on the roll of the 56 Dental unit attached to the 10th Field Ambulance. It is also mystifying that two soldiers serving in the same unit had the same service number: 989 Corporal S.R.Piercey and 989 Corporal H.A.Currington. Stanley joined the 10th Field Ambulance at a time of heavy fighting at Armentieres and over the next eighteen months saw heavy fighting at Messines, Ypres and the Somme. Stanley’s casualty sheet states that he suffered sickness from gas at Messines. On the 4th June 1918 Stanley transferred to the 11th Field Ambulance. At this time his new unit was at Villers-Brettonneux. At the end of July Stanley was again transferred, this time to No.1 Dental Unit attached to No.1 Australian Convalescent Depot at Havre. Again Stanley would have received news that his other brother, Captain Roy Lyndon Piercey (7th Battalion AIF), was wounded by gas poisoning at the Somme. This was only 3 days after Roy’s gallant action at Martin’s Wood for which he was awarded the Military Cross. Shortly after the armistice Stanley blemished his record when he went absent without leave. His record states that his crime was: “When on Active Service A.W.L. from 2100 on 15/11/18 to 1100 on 16/11/18”. Stanley was reprimanded by his C.O. and forfeited one day’s pay. Following this misdemeanour Stanley was granted five days leave to Paris. Stanley’s records show that he transferred to No.66 Dental Unit on the 7th January 1919 but the nominal roll of the Australian Army Medical Corps Dental Services verify that this was 18229 Private E.R.Piercy (note spelling) and that Stanley stayed with No.1 Dental Unit until the unit was demobilised and he returned to England on the 28th March 1919. Back in England Stanley was taken on strength of A.I.F. Headquarters in London where he was granted 8 months leave (with pay and subsistence) for Non Military Employment from the 14th April until 14th October. During this time he was undertaking dentistry with H.E.Cocks of 81 Harley Street, London W. On the expiration of his leave he transferred back to the Australian Army Dental Service and 3 days later was detached for duty with A.I.F. Headquarters. Stanley returned to Australia aboard the troopship “Aeneas” and disembarked on the 9th January 1920. He was discharged on the 16th March 1920.

But this is not the end of his story. Somewhere, sometime in 1919 he met a girl and borrowed 25 pound from her. Despite a promise to repay the loan Stanley returned to Australia still owing her 20 pound. 20 pound in 1919 would be worth in excess of one thousand dollars in 2013. The young lady wrote to the military authorities in an effort to trace Stanley and redeem her money.

52 Morley Road

E.Twickenham

8/6/20

The O.I/C Australian H.Q

Horseferry Rd

Dear Sir,

I should be very grateful to you if you could inform me as to the whereabouts of Sgt. Stanley Piercey (late) Dental Corps A.I.F.

The reason for my wishing to know this is that a little over a year ago I lent him £25 of which only £5 was paid back. Mr Piercey informed me that the whole amount would be paid back on his brothers return from Australia in a months time but this was not done. With the exception that his cousin Lt. Lance Piercey 40th Bn A.I.F was aware of this tran, I unfortunately have no proof of same. On my return to France next week where I live permanently and from which place the money was sent I will have a search to endeavour to find a letter from Mr Piercey in which reference is made to the loan.

Anything you can do to help me will be greatly appreciated.

After Monday next my permanent address is

c/o Lloyds & Nat. Provincial Foreign Bank Ltd.

1 rue de la Bourse

Havre (France)

but until Monday it is as over

(Miss) A.L.Paull

1 Rue de la Bourse, Le Havre

5th July 1920

The Officer in Charge

Base Records

Department of Defense

Melbourne

Dear Sir,

I beg to hand you herewith a letter which I addressed to thee C.O.  A.I.F. London and their reply therto, and I shall be greatly obliged if you could help me in the matter referred to.

I understand Mr. Piercey’s address is Hobarth, Tasmania and feel sure that if you will approach him in the matter that he will not deny the loan.

Thanking you in advance for anything you can do for me as I may say that the money lent was part of my savings which I earned while employed in the above mentioned Bank.

My address is:

Miss L.Paull

c/o Lloyds & Nat. Provincial Foreign Bank Ltd.

1 rue de la Bourse

Havre . S.I.

France

Yours faithfully,

A.L.Paull

Did she ever contact Stanley and did Stanley ever repay his debt? Did his brother Roy pay out the loan when he returned to England after the war?

            By 1922 Stanley was working as a dentist in his brother Hubert’s practice in Wynard and in 1923 had established his own practice with rooms at Furner’s Hotel in Ulverstone, Tasmania. In 1934 Stanley filed for divorce on the grounds of desertion but the case was dismissed. A counter petition brought by Julia in 1938 was sustained.