STAPLETON, Albert Roy
| Service Numbers: | 7054, Q90466 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 October 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 15th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia, 11 April 1898 |
| Home Town: | Nambour, Sunshine Coast, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Nambour, Queensland, Australia , 13 January 1980, aged 81 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Nambour Garden Cemetery, Qld |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 4 Oct 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 7054, 15th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Nov 1916: | Involvement Private, 7054, 15th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Beltana embarkation_ship_number: A72 public_note: '' | |
| 25 Nov 1916: | Embarked Private, 7054, 15th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Beltana, Sydney | |
| 25 May 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 7054, 42nd Infantry Battalion, France | |
| 12 Aug 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 7054, 42nd Infantry Battalion, France - GSW hand | |
| 12 Aug 1918: | Honoured Military Medal | |
| 3 Nov 1918: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 15th Infantry Battalion | |
| 8 Sep 1919: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 7054, 15th Infantry Battalion, per HT Rananga |
Vietnam War Service
| 15 Dec 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 7054, 15th Infantry Battalion |
|---|
World War 2 Service
| 19 May 1941: | Involvement Q90466 | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 May 1941: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lance Corporal, Q90466 | |
| 19 May 1941: | Enlisted | |
| 19 Apr 1944: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lance Corporal, Q90466 | |
| 19 Apr 1944: | Discharged |
Help us honour Albert Roy Stapleton's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Chris Buckley
Albert was the youngest of four children of William Joseph Stapleton (b1870 in Newcastle NSW) and his first wife Mary Ann Achilles McAuliffe (b1873 in Mackay, QLD). William (a Letter Carrier) and Mary married in 1891 in Charters Towers, QLD. Following Mary's death in 1917 William remarried, and worked as a Postal Assistant.
Albert was a Letter Carrier in Charters Towers in 1916 when he enlisted in the AIF. He served as a Private (Service No:7054) with 42nd and 15th Infantry Battalions. He was WiA on two occasions in France in 1918 and awarded the Military Medal in 1919 for actions on the Somme near Propart. Brother Claude Augustine (Service No:481; Sergeant, Lieutenant; 26th Infantry Battalion) also served in WWI and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (1916), the Russian Cross of St George, Fourth Class (1917) and the Military Cross (1917).
Albert married Lucy Emily Boyce (b1900 in Ipswich, QLD) in 1921 in Brisbane, QLD. Albert and Lucy settled in Nambour, QLD where Albert was a Labourer. In 1933 the family moved to Cliftonville in Mirani, QLD where Albert was a Farmer until relocating to Nambour in 1937.
In May 1941 Albert was a Labourer in Nambour QLD when he enlisted in the ACMF (Lance Corporal; Service No:Q90466). Albert served with 1 and 32 Garrison Battalions and was attached to 3 Tent Colour Unit when he was Discharged in April 1944. Albert's brother, brothers-in-law and sons also served in WWII.
Albert and Lucy continued living in Nambour QLD where Albert was a Labourer. He died in 1980 and Lucy in 1985.
Biography contributed by Robert Kearney
Contributed by Stephen Brooks
Born Roy Archilles Stapleton, Albert was the fourth child of William Joseph Stapleton and Mary Ann McAuliffe. He was a young man of about 19 years when he enlisted for the Great War on 4 October 1916 at Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia. His occupation was a letter carrier at the time.
Albert disembarked Devonport, England on 29 January 1917. He was charged on 26 May 1917 with being absent without leave for 13 hours. He was awarded a total forfeiture of 3 days’ pay. He was charged again on 24 September 1917 with being A.W.L. for five days. He was placed in custody for 3 days awaiting trial and awarded a total forfeiture of 13 days’ pay. On 12 November 1917, Albert was again charged, this time for being found out of bounds without a pass. He was awarded a total forfeiture of 7 days’ pay. Later that month, Albert was charged with (1) failing to answer his name when undergoing, and (2) breaking camp whilst undergoing. He was awarded a total forfeiture of 21 days’ pay. In December 1917, Albert proceeded overseas to France and on 18 December, he had taken on strength of 42 Battalion.
On 26 May 1918, Albert was wounded in action when he suffered the effects of being gassed. A month later, he was discharged from F.M. (Field Medical) to his unit, but it took another month for Albert to re-join his mates. Albert was wounded in action (2nd occasion) on 12 August 1918, when he suffered a gunshot to his right hand. He was awarded the Military Medal for his exploits on this day. The report read: “On the 12th August 1918 during operations on the SOMME near PROYART this man was advancing with a party on a strong point, when the No. 1 of the Lewis Gun Team became a casualty, he immediately took charge of the Lewis Gun and firing from the hip engaged a hostile machine gun crew at 20 yards thus preventing it swinging round on the rest of the party. His quickness and accuracy undoubtedly assisted in capturing the enemy garrison.” He was invalided to the U.K. (United Kingdom) and admitted to the Bath War Hospital on 20 August 1918.
Albert was charged in London on 1 October 1918, when he was A.W.L. about 8 hours. He was admonished and awarded a total forfeiture of 1 days’ pay. On 18 October 1918, Albert was charged with neglecting to obey an order on 16 October 1918. He was awarded 3 day’s C.B. (confined to barracks).
Albert was returned to Australia on the 8 September 1919.
Albert’s older brother, Augustine Claude (Claude) Stapleton also served during both World Wars. During the First World War, Claude was decorated with the D.C.M. (Distinguished Conduct Medal), the Cross of Saint George 4th Class (Russia), the Military Cross and Bar. So the two brothers were decorated for bravery on five separate occasions. - contributed by Stephen Brooks
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