Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Stan was born and raised in Barmera on the 26th March 1920. His parents were Leslie James (Tim) and Ada Gordon. In the early days of settlement, Barmera was an important point for the overland drovers moving between New South Wales and South Australia. Post WWI a reliable irrigation system was established. WWI diggers under the soldier settlement scheme, quickly moved to the area, establishing flourishing orchards.
Stan attended the local Barmera School which was founded in 1922. Post school he became a yardsman before being employed in the local Barmera Hotel.
With the outbreak of WWII, Stan immediately signed up for three years with the Militia in February ’39 and was placed in the 43/48th. The following year, having just turned 20, he and his 23-year-old brother James William, a mechanic, enlisted together at Woodside on the 19th June 1940. They were allocated consecutive numbers, Stan SX7284 and officially placed in the 2/48th Battalion. James became SX7285 serving as a mechanic. Their younger brother, 19-year-old Henry Charles enlisted in October ’41 as SX29662, in the 6 Army Troops Company RAE.
So many others from the Riverland followed Stan, including 30-year-old Grant Thorpe SX8031, a fellow employee at the Barmera Hotel. They were two of 13 casual and permanent staff from the Hotel to enlist in the AIF, a record of service of which the Hotel was justifiably proud. Other employees also joined the R.A.A.F.
Granted pre-embarkation leave at the end of October, Stan was amongst 18 young men who were farewelled by 400 Barmera people at the Bonney Theatre in October ’40. Many of these young men had been allocated to the 2/48th with Jack, including SX8060 Archibald McFarlaine and SX7028 Murray McFarlaine, SX8031 Grant Thorpe, SX8035 Harold Short, SX6884 R.A. Altschwager, SX7893 Ian McLeod, SX5466 Jack Stoddart, SX6935 George T. Brown (who was later killed in action on May 1st ’41) , SX7189 Lewis Semmens (who died of wounds in New Guinea on the 22nd November, ’43), SX8055 Victor Semmens and SX7969 Donald Wing.
Part of the farewell speech from the R.S.A. representative included the prediction that ‘History would repeat itself in that what had been dared by the old Diggers would be done again by the young Diggers. The mothers, sisters and sweethearts, he urged to be of good cheer and courage. The Prime Minister had given the answer that the boys would have the finest of fighting equipment. That, combined with intense training in Egypt, should make them fit enough for anything. On behalf of the local R.S.A. Sub branch, he conveyed to the men congratulations and best wishes, and gave them the assurance that they would not be let down by those left behind.’ Colonel Dean added that ‘he spoke with mixed feelings. Those feelings were of disgust and disappointment and pride. The first two because the men of the old A.I.F. were not permitted to finish the job they went away to do; the last because the men of the Second A.I.F. were going to carry on the fight and finish it, with victory. By going forth to fight the men today were giving the country their greatest service. in this they had the support of the whole of Australia, backed up with the most modern of fighting weapons. He felt confident that they would give a good account of themselves and prove second to none. He wished them good luck and God speed.’
Each of the young men were then given a gift of a pound note before they responded personally to the well-wishers. With formalities over, supper and dancing followed.
Probably because of his time in the Militia, prior to leaving Australia Stan was appointed Lance Corporal. The large contingent from the 2/48th Battalion, including those from the Riverland, then embarked on the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 7th November 1940. arriving on the 17th December 1940. Stan’s promotion was short-lived as he did not attend a compulsory parade or obey ‘standing orders’ so reverted to being a Private. In the Middle East, the recruits completing a few months training in Cyrenaica. From there, Stan was soon on his way to serve in Tobruk, Syria and Egypt. By the start of April 1941, the 2/48th were in Tobruk where the dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to new enlistees. Stan was to become one of the famed Rats of Tobruk.
Grant Thorpe, the Night Steward from the Barmera hotel wrote home with his letter published in the local Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record. He described how ‘we were divebombed and machine gunned by a Messerschmidt 109, and saw a dog fight and so we thought we had been Introduced to the lot, but no. The next day the Fritzy artillery found us, but now we don't take a great deal of notice of them. Each meal time they open up and land about four to five hundred yards away and as they have been doing this for days we say "Here he comes," and don’t dive into safety as we did at first.”
Grant’s astute assessment of his fellow soldiers was also included: “The Tommies with us are a fine lot of fellows and honestly I believe they regard us as the best lot of troops they have ever met. We are well looked after in the line, and we are to have a rest soon, but the lads hate the idea of a rest. They would prefer to stay here, but they will appreciate the let up when it comes. Cigarettes are plentiful, which is just as well as I used seven packets the first day in, but have settled down now and smoke makings—a sure sign that the nerves are steady.”
He also commented on the area where they were fighting compared with back home on the Murray. “The Barmera lads are as fit as fiddles, this is the weather we are used to, and the country too is similar to the limestone around Morgan, minus the River of course, but dust always. A number of the Hun 18 lb. shells are duds. That suits me, but their anti-tank shells are nasty. I don't like them.”
Stan’s service was short-lived. In April he received a gunshot wound to his left hand and right thigh causing him to spend time in hospital. Soon after in June he was again injured in an accident. Back home, Stan was reported injured in the June ’41 issue of the Chronicle. At the same time two of his fellow 2/48th battalion members, Privates Henry Boothey SX6839 from Renmark, and Herbert Neumann SX8014 were killed in action. The local Murray Pioneer also reported that ‘Mr. and Mrs. Tim Gordon were notified during the week that their son, Pte. Stan Gordon, had been wounded in action. Before enlisting Pte. Gordon was a popular member of the staff at the Barmera Hotel, and his many friends wish him a quick and complete recovery.’ By August he was preparing to return home to Australia from the Middle East, classified as ‘medically unfit’.
By September that year Stan was on convalescence leave and warmly welcomed by the Barmera RSL Sub-branch. At the meeting he told of his service at Tobruk and jokingly made reference to ‘being a starter in the Benghazi Handicap’. Just prior to his leaving the war zone, Stan shared that he had seen many of the local ‘boys’ who were “all in wonderful spirits in spite of sand fleas, flies and dive bombers.” Stan also expressed his sincere thanks for those who quietly worked to improve conditions of those in the front lines, including ‘the Australian Red Cross and F.F.C.F. for the wonderful work they are doing all through the war zone, and pays a great compliment to the Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy for their splendid support given to the land forces in the defence of Tobruk.”
In a crowded Bonney Theatre that month two of the invalided local men, Staff Sergeant Hardy Easther, SX9390 of the 25/33 Battalion (who had also served in WWI) and Stan were honoured with a social. Both had been wounded at Tobruk. The Council chairman, on behalf of the residents of Barmera expressed the pride locals had of men who had chosen to take up arms in the fighting- forces. His speech was followed by the R.S.L. President who vowed the group would do ‘all in its power to help the fighting forces, and to watch the interests of the men who through the hardships and rigours of war are sent home to recover their health. "We deem it an honour," said Mr. Caddy, "to help our serving and returned men, and later the R.S.L. will watch for a satisfactory repatriation scheme to enable the soldiers to be absorbed into civilian life.” The local M.P. then praised the huge number of enlistees from the area, adding that “the young men could feel quite at home in the Middle East, because they would there see nearly all the eligibles from their home-town.” The Murray Pioneer reported his final comment was that “Tobruk, would always mean a great deal to the fighting forces and people of Australia. The defenders of Tobruk had shown that the new Digger has all the fighting qualities of the Anzac, and that they also had that tenacious spirit which enabled them to hang on to any place which they may be chosen to defend. Upon their return to civilian life, these men of Tobruk and Greece and Crete are worthy of the best the nation can offer, and it was up to us who are left behind to see that the Federal Government has no repatriation muddles as we saw after the last Great War.”
Hardy then spoke on behalf of Stan and himself that “the boys in Tobruk all deeply appreciated the good work of the Red Cross and F.F.C.F., and they trusted that the public would continue their generous support to these fine patriotic institutions.”
Stan’s injury did not improve, with him spending time in Kapara and the Wayville Hospital where the decision was finally made in October to amputate his badly damaged fingers. Aged just 21 he was inevitably discharged in December ’41.
In March ’44, the Barmera District held a huge welcome home to the ‘boys' returning to civilian life and to honour them for the great sacrifices they had made. Poignant wishes were made that the troops would never again be called upon to fight in the defence of Australia. Most of the returned men had seen 3-4 years in Africa and New Guinea, and unfortunately ‘some were returning to us not in the same physical fitness as they left.’ The Murray Pioneer reported that the RSL president observed ‘the old Digger of World War I had watched most of the men grow up from "little tackers" and that they had grown up under a soldierly instinct. Many had not waited the call to Arms but had gone at the first. Many were "Tobruk Rats" and "New Guinea Mice" and they had lived up to the traditions of the best fighting men in the world.’ Mr. Malone assured the men that conditions would be much improved on those following the last war, and that they would not have to suffer the difficulties of the Old Digger.
The RSL vice president had been a member of the farewell Committee, and this made it a greater pleasure for him to welcome the men home. Patriotically he added that their sacrifices would not be forgotten and the community looked forward to welcoming home all the surviving men. To honour those young men who had enlisted, an Honour Roll was initiated with the aim to assist the men post war. An added pressing need was for homes, but ironically no provision was made to help the troops ahead of civilians.
Stan’s brother, James was discharged in August ’45 and the younger Henry was discharged in March ’46.
Stan returned to work at the Barmera Hotel where he was the popular winning entrant in the Ugly Man Competition for the Fitness Association fundraiser in October ’45. He received 8,650 votes with the girls of the Hotel staff, by their own effort raising £22 for his candidature.
Stan married Caramel Frances with the couple having three sons, Trevor, Mervyn and Danny.
In November ’91 Stan’s 71-year-old wife, Carmel died. Eight months later, aged 72 Stan also died on the 19th July ’92. As were his parents, Stan and Carmel were buried at Barmera.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133 2/48th Battalion.