Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Stan, born in Gawler, on the 1st January 1916 was the third son of Steve and Ethel Maud Murch. He grew up in Bordertown in the South-East of SA, one of eight siblings. These included older brothers Albert (Alby) and Harry then Stan, Colin Lloyd, George and Max and sisters Hazel and Noela.
Their father, Stephen worked as a dayman to the Tatiara Council until June ’42 when he became manager of a grazing property on the Frances Gap Road. Stephen also spent many years droving for stock firms in the district and earned the distinction of being the best drover in the South East as well as having a reputation for training sheep dogs.
At a gathering on Wirrega Oval for the Annual Picnic Sports, eight-year-old Stan gave the first indication of his sporting prowess, coming second in the under 10 long drop football kick and first in a dead heat in the sprints with Joe Brennan. The two paired up for the end of year Wonga Vale School Picnic with a win in the three-legged, trial and egg and spoon races. Typically, fruit and lollies completed the day. Stan completed the year with a win for his raffia work in the Tatiara Agricultural and Horticulture Show. By 1930, Stan was blitzing school sporting competitions. He won a Gold medal as the Boys’ Champion, having also won the long jump and flag race. He was also part of the Boy Scout’s Tatiara movement, being awarded both his cook’s and second-class badges in the Bordertown Institute in ’31.
It was inevitable that Stan also turned his skills to football. He played for Bordertown with Geoff Weise (and the two later both enlisted together). They were frequently both mentioned in the best player lists.
As a 19-year-old farm labourer, Stan, affectionately known as ‘Nobby’ sustained a broken collarbone transferring sheep at "Stoneleigh", Buckingham. He was thrown from his horse when his sheep dog unexpectedly attacking the heels of his horse.
During Easter ’38, Stan’s oldest brother, Albert married Molly Hillier in the Bordertown Congregational Church. Stan was chosen to fill the role of best man.
Aged 25, Stan and Geoff Weise enlisted together at Wayville on the 17th May, ’41. Stan was allocated the number SX12818 and Geoff SX12819. Initially Stan was placed in the 2/43rd reinforcements but was able to join the 2/48th in September with Geoff.
Three of Stan’s brothers also enlisted. Colin Lloyd on the 18th January ’43 in the field, Western Australia as SX32033 in the Mechanical Equip Co 1. He was eventually discharged on the 4th December ’45. George David enlisted in May ’43 in Northern Territory as SX29640 and was discharged on 3rd December ’45. Albert Ernest 1908 enlisted 22 June ’42 S5923 having served in the 3rd Lighthorse Regiment as 86386.
For Stan and his friend Geoff, a farewell was organised for the young men in the Mundulla Institute, which was beautifully decorated with flowers, ferns and red berries. Songs, musical solos and duets were part of the entertainment. ‘Wish Me Luck’ was sung, followed by tributes from the boys’ church leaders and the fervent hope that the armistice would soon be signed. The speaker added that ‘if Hitler knew Stan and Geoff were coming, he would delay no longer, but sign on the dotted line immediately.’ The Comforts Fund, Red Cross and sporting clubs all followed, praising both young men expressing the sentiment that it would be extremely difficult to find two boys more admired. Stan was described as one of Mundulla’s most stubborn backs. Both were wished a speedy and safe return and a presentation made, accompanied with the wish to meet again soon. Mr Jack Ryan spoke on behalf of district sporting bodies, saying it would be extremely difficult to find two more well-known and admired boys. Of all the boys who had left the district to serve abroad, these two were preeminent as a pair. the evening closed with "For they are jolly good fellows," and three hearty cheers. The usual generous supper was served by the ladies, and dancing was enjoyed.
Stan arrived in the Middle East in October ’41. While serving overseas, the local soldiers wrote home, explaining how they enjoyed reading back-copies of the local ‘Border Chronicle’. In November ’41 Stan also mentioned that they had "received a power of stuff from the Comforts Fund" for which they were particularly grateful. The following month Pte Stan wrote "You can't realise how much excitement a parcel causes over here. The night I received mine, two of my tent-mates received one also, so we had a party. You ought to have seen us, blown up like poddy calves. No one wanted any breakfast."
By June ’42 Stan developed an extremely high fever, Pyrexia of Unknown Origin, followed by malaria, spending almost a month in hospital. He wrote home again in August ’42 from Palestine sharing that he was well. In a letter received the same day, in June 22, Stan said that they were all O.K. in his unit apart from George Gapper, who was in hospital' suffering from the effects of sandfly fever. The temperature had reached as high as 118 degrees, he said, and they had all seen enough of hills, being camped in mountainous country. The "Wogs' "apricots and plums were ripe (and had been suffering at the hands of the Australians) and a kind of cucumber, which they ate skin and all.
Finally, their battalion was able to return home at the start of February ’43, via Melbourne. Stan and Geoff Wiese were amongst the eleven locals who returned home on leave in March, the same time Stan’s brother Tpr Col. Murch has transferred to the AIF and was serving at a battle station ‘somewhere in Australia’. In a packed Bordertown Hall, a musical feast was presented to the men in a proud day for the town. A year’s membership in the RSL was also made to each, and a membership badge presented to the new generation of Diggers.
At the time, efforts for fundraising were creative and included a Photo Exhibition Competition with Stan being in a Bordertown Group that October. This coincided with Stan, having completed training in the tropical conditions of Queensland in preparation for facing a very different enemy in the heat and humidity of New Guinea. He arrived in Milne Bay in August but soon developed Impetigo and facial dermatitis, then a return of the high temperature he had experienced in the Middle East.
Stan returned to Brisbane in February ’44, before his final foray to Tarakan in May ’45. A welcome return to South Australia was timed for Christmas ’45. An extra celebration marked the new year with Stan marrying Grace Matilda Carn of Quorn. Their wedding was celebrated in the Colonel Light Gardens Methodist Church on the 19th January ’46 before Stan was finally discharged on the 5th March. The following month a huge Welcome Home was staged in the crowded Mundulla Hall for fourteen of the local men. So many local organisations were represented from churches to sporting clubs and Red Cross. Singing and performances were followed by supper and dancing into the early hours.
Ironically, the following year Stan was involved in a painful accident, which nearly cost him the sigh of his right eye. His modern rifle did what is generally known as a ‘blow back’. The puzzling question was why it should have happened in the hands of an experienced rifle man, especially for Stan, having been through three vicious campaigns in the war without a scratch and recognised as an experienced rifleman. Fortunately, the skills of the local Dr Krantz prevented Stan’s sight from being permanently impaired. The newspaper carried a warning that anybody handling that type of rifle should make sure that the bolt was securely locked before attempting to fire it. The puzzling question remained about why that particular rifle bolt became loose.
Grace and Stan welcomed Robert Stanley at the Tatiara Hospital in February ’47 then later, Philip.
84-year-old Grace pre deceased Stan on the 29th August 1992, six months prior to 77-year-old Stan’s death on the 10th March 1993. He was buried in the Millicent Cemetery.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee daughter of Bryan Holmes, SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.

Born in Canning Town, East London to the north of the Royal Victoria dock on the 19th September 1912 It was known for its ships, factories and rail links. The docks however made it a prime target during the Blitz
Martin met Elvera Clarice Carlson, one of ten children. She was aged 20 when the two married in ’35 then lived in Rosewater Gardens, an eastern suburb of Adelaide. They had three children, two pre-war Martin Jnr, and Patricia Joan. Kaye Elvira arrived during peace time.
Martin, known as Marty, had been working as a blacksmith striker, which had left him marked with burn scars on his right arm. With the outbreak of WWII, 27year old Marty enlisted on the 13th July 1940 and was given the number SX8836 in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. His early days were spent in the Motor Pavilion at the now Royal Adelaide Showgrounds. From there the new enlistees travelled to Woodside in the Adelaide Hills for intensive training.
Following brief leave, Marty embarked for the Middle East on the 4th February, disembarking in the Middle East on the 23rd March ’41. He and the new enlistees then marched to the Amiriya Staging Camp for intensive training.
While overseas, efforts were made to link families at home with those serving in the Middle East in the lead up to Christmas. Broadcasts were made for families to hear greetings from their soldiers prior to Christmas ‘41. Newspapers published the names of servicemen and the disc on which their greeting would be broadcast. By either coincidence, but probably design, Marty, SX8446 Pte. Ron Matthews and SX11122 Pte. Bill McEvoy, both of Broken Hill were grouped together on the broadcast.
Marty gained the unofficial title of being a Rat of Tobruk. This taunt was designed to destroy morale and encourage the men to surrender but instead was seized on as a badge of honour. The jibe of ‘living like rats’ in the fly and rat-infested dugouts only strengthened the resolve of the young soldiers.
By the last days of July, ’42 Marty was wounded in action with a gunshot wound to his right thigh. At the time orders had been received to capture West Point in a dawn attack. John Glenn in Tobruk to Tarakan described how ‘It was to be a daylight show, and the troops did not like it. As they moved across the flat, German shells whined overhead on their way to Point 26. ‘When the troops were well forward of the start line they came under terrific fire from shells and mortars from the front and left, suffering heavy casualties.’ The nature of Marty’s injury meant that his ability to march and carry heavy equipment was severely compromised.
A list of those from the 2/48th Battalion wounded with Marty appeared in the newspapers. They included SX13682 Pte. Lesley N. Dacey, Midland Junction, WA; SX7501 Pte. Ronald H. Gerlach, Angaston; SX10377 Pte. Alfred E. Inwood, North Adelaide; SX7642 Pte. Donald J. Kerin, Burra;' SX8836 L/Cpl. Martin Meredith, Rosewater Gardens; SX7876 Pte Frank Stevens, Mount Barker; SX7748 Pte. Richard. Stewart, Solomontown; SX12819 Pte. Geoffrey L. Wiese. Bordertown .
Marty returned to Australia on a hospital ship via Melbourne, then travelled on to Wayville, Adelaide. A fellow injured returnee Lieut. J. L Gough was interviewed and reflected the gratitude towards the Red Cross by others returning home. Besides clothing he mentioned "The delicacies of food, which were the only things some patients could eat, were provided by the Red Cross. This is more important than it might appear to men who had nothing to diversify months of parching, days and sweaty nights but the three meals. There were regular distributions, too, of chocolate and cigarettes.” He added “"In a word, “we do not know what we would have done without the help of the Red Cross."
On his return to Adelaide in October ’42 Martin those at home were anxious for news on the progress of the war and how their own family member was going. Lance Corporal Martin was interviewed and his responses published widely. The daily Telegraph reported that ‘long-range planning for desert fighting was now paying dividends. Troops who first went to Egypt a year ago found, just before they left for home, that the Army had a mass of equipment and material, improved transport facilities, and new buildings, while all preparations were proceeding rapidly. * These soldiers say; 'Jerry's got it coming to him.' The most heartening change in conditions was the Allies' aerial superiority. Lance-Corporal Martin Meredith, of -Rosewater, said the Huns were good soldiers, but the Australians had a little on them. He told of a 1,000-yard advance by two companies on a German position at El Alamein, during which the Nazis put down a terrific artillery and mortar barrage. Meredith was put out of action early with a bullet through a leg but he said that the Germans, although numerically stronger, got the shock of their lives to see our boys going through the barrage. This, he said, upset the morale of the Germans. and they turned tail.’
Despite several week’s leave, Marty’s leg did not heal, and he developed palsy which affected his mobility, caused loss of sensation and function. He had unofficial leave over Christmas and immediately pleaded guilty to being AWL. He was fined a day’s pay and forfeited 6/6 pence. In January ’43 his record indicates a gunshot wound to his foot, rather than his leg, but regardless, it was obvious that he was ‘temporarily unfit for service.’
Marty had a stint being attached to the Stationery Depot which lasted until March ’43 and brought with it a promotion to Corporal. By November ’45 he was further promoted to Sergeant. In June the following year Mary and Elvera welcomed the arrival of their second daughter and third child, Kaye Elvira.
By the time Marty was discharged, he was marked with burn scars on his right arm from his pre-war civilian work and a gunshot wound to his right leg from his army service. That injury also contributed to permanent foot drop. Marty continued to have time in the Repatriation Hospital until he was finally discharged on the 27th February ’47.
In a gesture designed to help returned soldiers relax and enjoy post war life, they were able to economically access cartons of cigarettes. Marty contracted lung cancer and aged 72 died on the 17th October ’84 at Pennington. His remains are in the Enfield Memorial Park Cemetery in the Eastern Niche Wall, Number 2 RSL AN9. His service is also remembered at Centennial Park Cemetery in the SA Garden of Remembrance, Wall 6 Row H.
Elvera lived to be 74 and died in January 1990. She now also rests with Martin in the Enfield Memorial Park Cemetery.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee daughter of Bryan Holmes, SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.