Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Lt Colonel Stanley Sibb Caporn of Semaphore and later from Colonel Light Gardens was the father of Robert Ian Caporn VX103221 born in Waikerie March 1921, and Duncan Stanley Caporn VX112330 born June 1922 in Unley, and uncle of Colin Caporn VX153238 born in Mendindie 1926.

Stanley Caporn was born in Semaphore on 14 November 1893 and at the age of 14 joined the Post Master General’s Department as a telegram messenger boy - see photo attached.

On 14 January 1916 Stanley Sibb Caporn enlisted with the rank of Private, Number 2871 at Keswick to become a member of the 6th Reinforcement of Adelaide’s 32nd Battalion, 8th Australian Brigade,5th Australian Division.

At the time of embarkation at Outer Harbour on 11 April 1916 on H.M.A.T. A60 Aeneas, Stanley Caporn had been promoted to Corporal. Adelaide’s 32nd Battalion travelled via Egypt to Marseilles arriving on 30 June 1916. Embarkation photo attached.

Going by train to the Somme, the members of the 32nd Battalion were sent to Fromelles on 16 July 1916 where the fighting was among the bloodiest in Australia’s history with 5533 men killed, injured or captured in the 24 hours of 19 and 20 July 1916. Only approx 100 men from Adelaide’s 32nd Battalion of more than 1000 men were left standing in the morning. Years later Stanley Caporn told his grandson John that “they made a bit of a mistake” but said no more. He however was hospitalised with what was known as “trench feet” from all the time in the water and mud of the trenches. This troubled him for the rest of his life. The 32nd Battalion never fully recovered from the battle at Fromelles and many of the bodies of South Australia’s missing diggers from the battle of Fromelles were only discovered in a mass burial grave at Pheasant Wood in 2008.

Having somehow survived the carnage at Fromelles and having learnt Morse code from his time in the PMG, then Sergeant Stanley Caporn was selected on 9 December 1917 to go to Officer’s Signal Cadet School Haynes Park Bedford England joining Class S44 (Australian Component), after which he was promoted to Lieutenant.

Photo of Class S44 attached shows - standing L to R - Les Montague MM, Vic Field, Jim Moore MM, Les Hickey DCM, sitting L to R Stanley Caporn, Keith King MM, “Simmo” Sims DCM MM MC, Mickey Bonner MM)

Returning to France on 29 June 1918 he was transferred to the Australian Corp Signals Company as a Signals Officer under Lt General Monash. Photo attached shows Officer Aust Corps Signals Coy “Allenay” France Nov 8 1918. Stanley Sibb Caporn back row, 2nd from right.

Lt Caporn was engaged in the battle of Hamel which was the first time an entrenched enemy was attacked using combined arms tactics. The attack was made up of British, American and Australian Forces and was Monash’s first command. In deference to the Americans the attack was scheduled to occur on 4 July 1918. The main battle coordinated infantry, artillery and armour with aerial supplies and tank delivered supplies to troops. For the first time wireless communication was used by officers to send messages from captured objectives. All the Allies objectives were achieved in 93 minutes just 3 minutes more than Monash’s calculated battle time of 90 minutes. A German counter attack followed and at the completion of the consolidation and counter attack the Battle of Hamel Allied losses amounted to around 1400 killed or wounded including 1062 Australian casualties (including 800 dead) and 176 American casualties. Around 2000 Germans were killed and 1600 captured along with the loss of much of their equipment. Photo of the Wireless Section Aust Corps Signal Coy ‎Ham-sur-Heure-Nalinnes Hainault, Belgium attached.

Returning to Adelaide on 13 July 1919 Lieutenant Stanley Caporn continued his career with the PMG being appointed Post Master at Mannum and later promoted to a position in Melbourne. He was very proud to lead the ANZAC Day 1929 march and the photo attached shows him taking the salute.

Staying in the Army Reserves he resumed full time service during WW2. As a Captain he was sent to Bombay in 1941 as a transhipment officer. Then to Ceylon to negotiate the building of a 600 bed hospital for AIF personnel. He returned to Australia on duty, but hospitalisation to remove a lung prevented his return to India. He was then promoted to Major on appointment as administrative officer to Lt Colonel Mott of the King’s Royal Rifles and British Intelligence Unit MI5. A new Australian arm was set up with two units, M (Intelligence) Special and Z (Sabotage) Special. He was Adjutant of the famous Z Special Unit operating out of Airlie House Melbourne, and then promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and appointed to be the first commanding officer of M Special Unit in 1943.

In 1945 he returned to the public service and eventually retired in November 1953 after reaching the position of assistant director in the Social Services Department – Veterans Affairs, Melbourne.

Lt Col Stanley Caporn passed away on the Gold Coast on the 16 Feb 1980 at the age of 86. He was survived by his nephew Colin Caporn of Netley, grandsons Bruce Caporn of Moorabbin Vic, Keith Caporn of Brighton Vic and John Caporn of Burnside SA. The family service tradition continues with his great nephew Captain Vince Scotland Royal Australian Corp of Transport of Forrestville SA.

As with other employees of the South Australian Post Office who enlisted in WW1, Stanley Sibb Caporn’s name is recorded on the WW1 Roll of Honour Board in the Adelaide GPO.



September 20, 2020