Benjamin Stanley

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Mon, 21/09/2015 - 09:43

First Name:

Benjamin

Last Name:

Stanley

Mother's Name:

Harriett (nee Frost)

Father's Name:

Thomas Stanley

Date Enlisted:

Tuesday, August 17, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

45th Battalion

Company:

C Company

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Wednesday, April 10, 1918

Place of Death:

France

Cause of Death:

Died of wounds received

Details:

Benjamin Stanley (Service No 4308) was born in Sydney, NSW in 1895. At the time of enlistment he was a single 21 year old miner from Helensburgh who had served in 37th Infantry Militia.

He embarked on HMAT A60 Aeneas with 13th Reinforcements, 13th Battalion on 20th December 1915. After arriving in Egypt Benjamin was transferred to 45th Battalion on 6th March 1916 and sent to France with 12 Platoon, C Company where he saw service on the Western Front. On 12th August 1916 he was admitted to hospital suffering shell shock but returned to his unit on 16th August 1916 and was involved in the fighting on the Somme.

On 14th February 1917 Benjamin was admitted to hospital with influenza but returned to the front on 1st March. He was again admitted to hospital on 27th April 1917 with trench foot. He recovered and saw service without incident until 5th April 1918 when he was hit by a shell exploding in the trenches. Benjamin was admitted to 13th Australian Field Hospital for treatment to multiple shrapnel wounds to his feet and buttocks but his wounds were so serious he was unable to recover from them. He died on 10 April 1918 and is buried in Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension Plot III,Row F, Grave 28.

His brother James (Service No 264) also served and returned to Australia in January 1919.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, STANLEY BENJAMIN