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Australia

Son of Alfred George VALE and Harriett Emily nee WESTLAKE

Son of Alfred George VALE and Harriett Emily nee WESTLAKE

"MOTOR CYCLIST KILLED.  COLLISION WITH CAR.  ACCIDENT AT MITCHAM

A collision between a motor cycle and sidecar and a motor car ended in fatally at Mitcham last night. Mr. Stanley Vale, of Corunna-avenue, Colonel Light Gardens, being killed outright. The motor cycle was being driven by Mr. Vale. The occupant of the side car was thrown out when the two vehicles crashed together in Princes road, Mitcham, but he escaped injury. The motor cycle struck the side of the car, and was considerably damaged. Ths car also suffered from the impact. One of the occupants of the car, Mr. John Kilmartin (24), of Hindmarsh place, Hindmarsh, sustained a strained shoulder and was taken to the Adelaide Hospital." - from the Adelaide Advertiser 04 May 1929 (nla.gov.au)

Stanley Robert Vale (1894–1929)

AIF soldier, returned serviceman, husband and father

Early Life

Stanley Robert Vale was born on 23 June 1894 at Hyde Park, Adelaide, South Australia, the son of Alfred George Vale and Harriett Emily (née Westlake).

He grew up in Adelaide and, prior to enlistment, worked as a driver (horse driver). He had also undertaken one year of Senior Cadet training, indicating some early military exposure before the war.

At the time of enlistment, his family was living at Cheltenham Street, Malvern, and his mother, Mrs Emily H. Vale, was listed as his next of kin.

Military Service (1915–1919)

Stanley enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 16 February 1915 at Keswick, South Australia, aged 20.

Service number: 6602 (also recorded earlier as 951)
Rank: Private
Unit: Initially 27th Battalion, later 6th Battalion
Embarked: 31 May 1915 aboard HMAT Geelong
He served overseas in England and France during the First World War.

Disciplinary Record and Court-Martial

Stanley’s service record shows a series of disciplinary issues during his time overseas:

December 1916: Absent without leave (AWOL) – punished (7 days)
February 1917: AWOL again – sentenced to 60 days detention
April–May 1918: Charged with desertion
 Following his arrest, Stanley was tried by court-martial:

Date of trial: May 1918
Charge: Deserting His Majesty’s Service (21 April – 5 May 1918)
Sentence: 5 years penal servitude, later commuted to 2 years
 These records are confirmed by official AIF court-martial documents and correspondence sent to his family.

A Mother’s Search (1919)

A deeply personal letter written by his mother in January 1919 reveals the distress experienced by families during wartime.

Having seen Stanley’s name published in a list of deserters, she wrote to military authorities seeking clarification. She noted conflicting reports of his sentence (reported as 8 years in newspapers, but officially 5 years) and pleaded for information about his whereabouts.

She wrote that he had always been “a real good son,” expressing both confusion and faith in him, and asking whether he might soon return home as the war was ending.

This letter provides rare insight into the emotional toll of wartime uncertainty on families in Australia.

Return to Australia and Discharge

With the end of the war, Stanley’s sentence was effectively remitted.

Returned to Australia: 3 September 1919 aboard HT Prinz Ludwig
Medical report (4 Sept 1919):Condition: “Feels well”
No disabling injuries recorded
He was formally:

Discharged: 4 October 1919 in Adelaide
Reason: Termination of enlistment
Despite his disciplinary record, he qualified for and was awarded:

1914–15 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
 

Marriage and Family

After returning home, Stanley rebuilt his life.

He married Gwendoline Louisa Beacham on 3 June 1922 at St Cuthbert’s Church, Prospect, South Australia.

Together they had four daughters:

Kathleen Rae Vale (b. 1923)
Shirley Dawn Vale (b. 1924)
Doreen Joy Vale (b. 1925)
Betty Jean Vale (b. 13 April 1928)
The family lived in Adelaide, including at Colonel Light Gardens.

Death (1929)

Tragically, Stanley’s life was cut short at the age of 35.

He died on 3 May 1929 at Mitcham, South Australia, following a motorcycle accident.

Newspaper reports stated:

He collided with a motor car while riding along Princes Road, Mitcham
His neck was broken, causing his death
The City Coroner, Dr Ramsay Smith, determined that an inquest was unnecessary
 

A legal claim for damages was later initiated on behalf of his widow and children but was abandoned when the key witness, Constable Emery, died before proceedings could continue.

Funeral Notice

A family notice published in The Advertiser (8 May 1929) reads:

“VALE.—On the 3rd May, at Mitcham, through accident, Stanley Robert, dearly beloved husband of Gwendoline, and also loving father of Kathleen, Shirley, Joy, and Betty. Peacefully sleeping.”

Burial

Stanley Robert Vale was buried in the AIF Cemetery, West Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia.

Legacy

Stanley’s life reflects the complex realities faced by many First World War soldiers:

A young man who volunteered early
Served overseas during a brutal conflict
Struggled under the pressures of war
Faced severe military discipline
Returned home and rebuilt his life as a husband and father
His story is further humanised by the surviving letter of his mother, whose determination to find and defend her son offers a poignant glimpse into the emotional cost of war on families.

Sources

Primary Records:

National Archives of Australia (NAA):
B2455, Service Record – VALE, Stanley Robert
AIF Court-Martial Records (within service file)
Medical and discharge records (1915–1919)
Civil Records:

South Australian Birth Register: 23 June 1894
South Australian Marriage Register: 3 June 1922
South Australian Death Register: 3 May 1929
Newspapers (Trove):

The Advertiser (Adelaide), 8 May 1929 – death notice
News (Adelaide), 7 May 1929 – accident report
News (Adelaide), 13 November 1929 – court proceedings
Register News-Pictorial, 14 November 1929 – compensation case
 

Biography by Trevor Pyatt 14/04/2026