BEST, Stanley Arthur
| Service Number: | 1939 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 November 1915, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Second Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 5th Divisional Ammunition Column |
| Born: | Adelaide, South Australia, 22 August 1897 |
| Home Town: | Gawler, Gawler, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Natural causes, South Australia, 12 March 1980, aged 82 years |
| Cemetery: |
St Judes Cemetery, Brighton, South Australia |
| Memorials: | Gawler Council Gawler Men Who Answered the Call WW1 Roll of Honor, Hackney St Peter's College Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Nov 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1939, 9th Light Horse Regiment, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Feb 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1939, 9th Light Horse Regiment, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Warilda embarkation_ship_number: A69 public_note: '' | |
| 10 Feb 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1939, 9th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Warilda, Adelaide | |
| 16 Jan 1920: | Discharged AIF WW1, Second Corporal, 1939, 5th Divisional Ammunition Column |
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Son of Sydney Thomas Charles BEST and Alice Adelaide nee UFFINDELL
Biography contributed by St Ignatius' College
Stanley Arthur Best was born in Norwood, Adelaide, South Australia, on the 22nd of August 1897 but later moved to Gawler. He had two older siblings, Alice Muriel Best and Sydney Harold Thomas Best. His parents were Sydney Thomas Charles Best and Alice Adelaide Uffindell. His records describe him having a medium complexion, dark eyes, and brown hair. It also states that he was part of the Church of England. Before enlistment, Stanley worked as a clerk in a local store. He had completed some military training with the Senior Cadets of Gawler for a few years before enlistment.
On November 1st, 1915, at 19 years old, Best enlisted to join the Australian Imperial Forces. He was entered into the Light Horse unit and begun his training at Mitcham in Adelaide.
On the 10th of June, 1916, Best embarked on the 2-month-long trip to Egypt on the HMAT Warilda (A69). The Warilda was a troopship converted into a hospital ship at the start of 1916. It was manned by a full Australian crew and was used to transport soldiers and supplies over to Egypt. Best was taken on strength to 3rd Reserve Regiment at Heliopolis 9th March 1916. He was hospitalised with an illness 22nd March 1916 and returned to duty on the 22nd April. He was transferred to the 5th Division Ammunition Ammunition Column later that month before being attached to the 10th Australian Army Service Corps in July
In Sepember 1917 he took leave in the UK. He was granted leave again in November 1918 after the war had ended and became ill with influenza and had to spend multiple days at the hospital.
On the 25th of June, 1919, Stanley Arthur Best was promoted to Second Corporal of the 5th Divisional Ammunition Column. Finally, on the 6th of October, 1919, Stanley boarded the ship Pakcha 37
to start his journey home.
After returning home, Stanley had to wait until the 16th of January, 1920 before he was officially discharged from the Australian Imperial Forces. After returning home, he married Jean Rosa Coulls on the 25th of March 1933. On the 12th of March, 1980, Stanley Arthur Best passed away at the age of 82. He was buried in St Jude’s Cemetery, Brighton, South Australia
Bibliography
“| the Australian War Memorial.” Www.awm.gov.au, www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search/people.
“Australian Conflict History.” Vwma.org.au, vwma.org.au/explore/conflicts.
“Australian Imperial Force Unit War Diaries, 1914-18 War.” Awm.gov.au, 2016, www.awm.gov.au/collection/AWM4.
Australian War Memorial. “Advanced Search | the Australian War Memorial.” Awm.gov.au, 2016, www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search.
“FamilySearch.org.” Familysearch.org, 2015, ancestors.familysearch.org/en/GFPB-9BV/stanley-arthur-best-1897-1980. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.
Terrace, Victoria. “View Digital Copy.” Naa.gov.au, 2025, recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3077454. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.
“The Hospital Troopship HMAT Warilda (A69), Which Was Taken over by the Admiralty in June 1916 And ...” Awm.gov.au, 2025, www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1212127. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.
Vwma.org.au, 2025, vwma.org.au/explore/memorials/1923. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.
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