Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Stanley, known as Stan, was the first of four children born to Frank Henry and Olive Beatrice Crowell at Maitland on the 23rd November 1919. He had three siblings, a sister Rita Margaret and two brothers Kenneth George and Allan John. The family lived and farmed in Price, on the Yorke Peninsula,( also known for its salt harvesting). Their father, Frank was a long serving Local Council Member in the Clifton Ward during the 40’s and 50’s.
The children attended their small local Price School, with Stan then working as a farm hand until the outbreak of WWII. Aged 21, he was an early enlistee in December ’40 with his close friend from the nearby town of Dowlingville, Harrold (‘Mick’) Allen. The two were allocated almost consecutive numbers with Stan being SX 11069 and Mick SX11067. An older local farmer 30-year-old Ernest Harmer had the intervening number SX11068. All three men were allocated to the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. (Coincidentally, Mick’s sister, Nellie (Gweneth Agnes Nellie) was also an important part of the friendship between Stan and the Allen family.) Stan and Nellie were part of a volunteer group which coordinated the Dowlingville Red Cross Circle strawberry fete at the end of ’39, raising about £16 with £9 as net profit.
Stan’s early days in the army saw him initially be involved with the advanced party at the mid-north Camp at Terowie, in preparation for conditions the young men would soon experience overseas. While on pre-embarkation leave and back home, in April a social was organised to honour Mick and Stan. Both young men were presented with a wallet from the district and a parcel of useful gifts from the Welfare Club. Private Ern Harmer and two other local enlistees were also presented with gifts, with speeches from the local RSL following. Stan then embarked on the Ile de France for the Middle East, arriving in May. Further intensive training followed at the Amiriya Staging Camp.
The very different conditions, including food, resulted in Stan and others contracting stomach issues, spending a few days recuperating in hospital. Similarly, the dust also contributed to upper respiratory tract infections and tonsilitis, both of which experienced by Stan. However, whist recuperating, Stan also spent time on ‘special duties’ as a batman.
By August ’42, Stan was able to return to his Battalion which continued to be involved in intensive fighting that would see them labelled as Rats of Tobruk – designed initially as a derogatory term, but which became a badge of honour for the proud, fighting men. Within months of his return, Stan was wounded in action with a compound fracture of the radius and ulna in his left elbow at the end of October ’42, an injury that also affected the nerve in his arm.
At that time, Montgomery had ordered the 9th Battalion to attack northward, with fierce fighting over the 25th and 26th October. Conditions at the time were ever-changing and the fighting continuous. Injuries were exacerbated following the carnage caused by the chance hit from an enemy shell on a truck loaded with mines. John Glenn in his book Tobruk to Tarakan, described the conditions at that time. ‘As the flies and heat made more than a couple of hours’ rest impossible, the men lolled in their holes and prepared their weapons for battle. When they moved off at 7:30 in the fading light there was little talking. There was a bitter night ahead. By ten o’clock the battalion was in position near Trig 29, waiting for the success signal of the 2/23rd.’
‘Waiting to go into battle is not a good thing and the 2/48th had long hours of it this night. As the hours dragged on some of the men dozed in the trucks while others moved up and down near their vehicles, often gazing at the exploding shells which seemed to be creeping nearer. One shell made a direct hit on a truck, and a man was killed, then another struck and seven were wounded.’ ‘Pieces of shrapnel were slapping into the ground near the 2/48th trucks, and men began scraping and digging shallow trenches.’
John Glenn described how ‘The attack continued, however, without pause…it was only after hard fighting, with heavy casualties on both sides, that they were able to consolidate on their objective. The troops had never been more tired.. The 2/48th had stirred up a real hornets’ nest; from first light until nine o’clock the enemy turned all their fury on the Trig area, with particularly heavy fire on 29 itself, hiding the position in a cloud of dust and smoke.’ A comment was later made about the heavy casualties. On that night alone 9 of the Battalion were killed and 20 wounded in action. Of these 16 were from South Australia and the remainder from Western Australia.
The battalion had been fighting hard for six days and had suffered many casualties. We thought of ourselves as few enough then. But surely even the bravest amongst us would have shuddered if they could have known to what a weary handful we would be reduced to by morning…’ Stan was one of the fortunate to survive.
Back home, the November issue of the Chronicle carried one of the many lists naming those killed or wounded. The numbers from the 2/48th Battalion were extensive. They included killed in Action: SX10325 Captain Peter Robbins of Malvern; Died Of Wounds. — SX6893 Pte Leslie C. Cutchie, Brompton Park; SX6672 Pte. Gordon F. Munday, Cowell- SX3917 Sgt. Francis G. Ziesing, St. Peters. Wounded In Action. SX9327 Lt. Thomas H. Bowman, Ardrossan; SX7093 Cpl. Norman L. Badman, Pinnaroo; SX11069 Pte. Stanley J. Crowell, Price; SX715O L/Cpl. Geoffrey Gardner, Bordertown; SX 12741 Pte. Jack Hoey, Kadina; SX6737, Pte. Ross. E. Hoskin, Kilkenny; SX11135 Pte, James N. Jarvis, Kent Town; SX8268 Cp! William K Mackay, Snowtown; SX7669 Pte. William Miller, Booleroo Centre; SX11753 Pte. Terrence C. O'Connor, Adelaide: SX7328 Cpl. H. Paton, Alma: SX13763 Pte. Eric. K. Reynolds, Novar Gardens;- SX5991 Pte. Stanley G. Smith: Croydon Park; SX7311 Pte. Rayner R. Stagg, Tarcowie and SX8539 Pte. Edward. J. . Young, Morgan.
Just days later, newspapers were also announcing the death of two Mangalo (near Cowell) soldiers, friends from childhood, who served with Stan. They were 24-year-old Frank Munday, SX6672 and 23-year-old Joseph (Mick) Cleave SX6662 who died within four days of each other. They would continue to be remembered.
Stan, with other wounded men, returned to Australia on a hospital ship via Melbourne. Following brief treatment there he was then able to travel back to South Australia in January ’43 for ongoing treatment and also precious leave back home. The remainder of his battalion returned in March. That year Stan and Mick posted a poignant tribute to their pals in the October issue of the Advertiser “CLEAVE —MUNDAY.—In memory of our pals P. J (Mick) Cleave and Frank (Doc) Munday, and officers and men who lost their lives at El Alamein.—Inserted by Pte. H. R. Allen (Mick) and S. J Crowell.” The following year both men again placed a memorial tribute to those with whom they served. ‘Advertiser Thursday 26 October 1944, “2/48 BTN.—A tribute of honor to the memory of our pals of 2/48th Battalion who paid the supreme sacrifice at El Alamein, July-October 1942.—Always remembered by Mick Allen and Stan Crowell (ex Coy.)’
In July ’43 Stan (A.I.F. Returned) and Nell Allen announced their engagement with the two marrying in February ’44 in the Dowlingville Methodist Church in an afternoon ceremony. By May, the Army made the decision that Stan’s medical condition meant that he would not be able to continue to serve in an active role, thus releasing him to return to manage his farm. He was formally discharged on the 21st August ’43.
Post war, Stan was actively involved in the Price Tennis Club, acting as a delegate in ’46 when the Club decided to join the North-East Yorke Peninsula Tennis Association, with at least 12 teams. He returned to his farm with he and Nellie welcoming three children, Yvonne Fay in July ‘47, Gwenda Nellie in August ’53 and finally Timothy.
Aged 61, Stan died on the 4th November 1981. Gwen lived to be 86 and died in October 2006, with both now resting in the local Price Cemetery. Stan’s plaque proudly proclaims that he ‘Served with the Rats of Tobruk’, a high tribute indeed.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes, SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.