Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Stanley, generally known as Stan, was born at Hindmarsh, a suburb of Adelaide, on the 9th February 1914. As a 26-year-old labourer he enlisted on the 20th June ’40, becoming SX5991 and was allocated to the 2/48th Battalion. Stan’s initial days were spent in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds, before he and other new enlistees headed to Woodside for their preliminary training.
Just prior to Christmas, Stan was home on a week’s pre-embarkation leave. Soon after, he and his fellow 2/48th Battalion, boarded the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 7th November 1940 and disembarked on the 17th December. The next stop was to Tobruk at the start of April 1941 where the dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to these fresh new enlistees. Once there, they completed a few months training in Cyrenaica. Stan was to become one of the famed Rats of Tobruk.
On the 27th September ’42, Stan was on an eight man patrol with Lieutenant Bill Laird who had instructions to bring in a prisoner. As they came over a rise, the patrol was challenged by a German, to which the patrol responded with sub-machine and rifle fire. With the required prisoner then in hand, the patrol were given the bearing to head back when they came under fire from a returning German patrol and a platoon guarding the minefield. Under intense fire, the patrol split up and despite attempts, were unable to all meet up. With ammunition supplies almost exhausted, orders were received to head back with the German prisoner, who provided much valuable information. John Glenn in Tobruk to Tarakan reported that ‘Private S. Smith, who was on this patrol, later turned up in our lines further south.’ A lucky escape.
Whilst still in the Middle East Stan was wounded in action with a gunshot wound to his arm in October ’42.
Joh Glenn in his book Tobruk to Tarakan, describes 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.’
‘On the morning of the 30th October the khamsin rose and blotted out the sight of “man’s inhumanity to man”. It spread like a great shroud over Egypt, half burying the dead, and hid for a brief moment the hate and passion of war. And under its cover plans were laid for the final blow by the 2/48th Battalion.’ ‘The task was a tremendous one. 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 extremely fortunate to survive. He was hospitalised before being able to return to the 2/48th in November.

The Chronicle of November ’42 carried an extensive list of those injured. Stan was one of many from his battalion with others including SX9327 Lt,Tom H. Bowman, Ardrossan; SX7093 Cpl. Norm L. Badman; SX11069 Pte. Stanley J. Crowell. Price; SX 12741 Pte. Jack Hoey, Kadina; SX8268 Cpl William K Mackay, Snowtown; SX7669 Pte. William Miller, Booleroo Centre; SX11753 Pte. Terrence C. O'Connor, Adelaide: SX13763 Pte. Eric K. Reynolds, Novar Gardens; SX5991 Pte. Stanley G. Smith Croydon Park; SX7311 Pte. Rayner Stagg, Tarcowie and SX8539 Pte. Edward J. Young, Inf., Morgan.
He was one of several soldiers from the 2/48th who remembered the popular Lieutenant, Lance Heffron SX 11171 who was killed in ’42. Advertiser Thursday 22 July 1943, HEFFRON A tribute to the memory of Lieut. L. H. Heffron. killed in action at El Alamein July 22. 1942. One of the best: his duty nobly done.—inserted by Stan Smith and the boys. AIF.
Stan was able to eventually leave the Middle East arriving in Australia via Melbourne but he continued to experience an undiagnosed loin pain, severe bunions on his feet and scoliosis (a curvature of the spine that can be exacerbated from carrying heavy loads on the back – an almost daily occurrence in the army.)
All too soon, in September ’43 Stan was again sent overseas to New Guinea via Port Moresby to face a totally different enemy and in very different tropical conditions. Illness continued to plague him. In January ‘44, Stan experienced fibrositis in his back, a form of rheumatism caused by habitual strain and emotional tension, a very common form of backache and spasms. By May that year he finally returned to Australia via Sydney before being discharged on the 13th October ’45.
Two months after his 65th birthday, Stan died on the 18th April ’79. He was buried at Centennial Park Cemetery in the Derrick Gardens, Path 38, Grave 696B.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes, SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.