View source for Mervyn Alexander Stalker

{{infobox soldier
| image           =[[File:Unknown.png|border|400px]]
| caption         =
| image2          =
| caption2        =
| dateofbirth	  = 4 Jun 1887
| placeofbirth	  = Balmain, Sydney, New South Wales
| death	          = 8 Jun 1968, aged 81
| placeofdeath	  = Repatriation Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia
| enlistmentage	  = 28 years old
| description	  = 5'8" (1.73m) tall; weight 138lbs; fresh complexion, blue eyes, brown hair
| height          = 5'8" (1.73m)
| weight          = 138lbs
| complexion      = fresh
| eyes            = blue
| hair            = brown
| descriptionnote = 
| occupation	  = Labourer
| religion	  = Church of England
| address	  = PO Gosnells, Western Australia
| relation	  = Wife
| nextofkin       = Mrs Blanche Stalker
| regnumber	  = [https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8091738 2403]
| enlistmentdate  = 20 Jun 1916
| rank	          = Private
| unit     	  = 44th Battalion, 4th Reinforcement
| embarkationdatefrom = 13 Oct 1916
| embarkationdateto = 12 Dec 1916
| shipembarked	  = HMAT A39 Port Macquarie
| embarkedshipnote = Fremantle to Plymouth
| embarkationdatefrom2 = 
| embarkationdateto2 = 
| shipembarked2	  = 
| embarkedshipnote2 =
| dateofreturnfrom = 15 Sep 1918
| dateofreturnto  = 10 Nov 1918
| shipreturned    = HMNZT Arawa
| shipreturnednote =
| dateofreturnfrom2 = 
| dateofreturnto2  = 
| shipreturned2    = 
| shipreturnednote2 =
| fate1	          = WIA 28 Mar 1918 Sailly-le-Sec, France
| fate2           = Returned to Australia
| fate3           = 
| fate4           =
| monument1     = Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll
| monumentnote1   =
| monument2     = Gosnells Ward Honour Roll
| monumentnote2   =
| monument3     = 
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| monument5     = 
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| monumentawm     =
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| monumentothernote =
| medal1	  = British War Medal
| medal2          = Victory Medal
| medal3          =
| medal4          =
}}


==Pre War==
In 1914 Mervyn married Blanche Alvena Starick (1893 - 13 Feb 1931) in the Canning district. A daughter Rita Alvina was born on 6 Jun 1915, died 2009.

==War Service==
Mervyn entered Blackboy Hill camp on 20 Jun 1916, ands on 22 Jul 1916 he was allocated to the 4th reinforcement draft for the 44th Battalion, travelling with them to England aboard [[HMAT A39 Port Macquarie]], disembarking in Plymouth on 12 Dec 1016. On the day of his arrival in England he was admitted to the Devonport Military Hospital with a fractured leg, before being sent to the [[11th Training Battalion]] on 29 Dec 1916 to prepare for service on the Western Front. However, he again required medical attention and was readmitted, and was not released until 9 Feb 1917.


On 9 Feb 1917 Mervyn proceeded to [[Perham Downs]] for a medical assessment before being sent to the [[11th Training Battalion]] at Durrington on 11 Feb 1917. On 29 Mar 1917 Mervyn was charged with Neglecting to Obey Routine Orders in quitting camp while on light duties without permission. He was awarded 3 days Field Punishment No 2. (see notes).  On 11 Nov 1917 he was transferred to the [[10th Training Battalion]] at Sutton Mandeville, before proceeding overseas on 16 Jan 1918 via Southampton.


In France, after several days in the base depot, he was sent with 26 others to join the [[44th Battalion]] which on 23 Jan 1918 was preparing to move back into the front lines at Ploegsteert Wood. During the evening of 28 Mar 1918 the 41st and 44th Battalions were to advance up the northern bank of the Somme river near Sailly-le-Sec.  After coming under heavy machine gun fire they dug in to consolidate their gains.  During the action, 10 men were killed, 48 Wounded and 8 were missing the following morning. Mervyn's wound was a gun shot wound to his left arm which had caused a compound fracture to it.


Treated by the [[11th Field Ambulance]], he was sent back on 30 Mar 1918 to the 8th Stationary Hospital in Wimereux, before being evacuated to England aboard [[HS Jan Breydel]] on 5 Apr 1918. On arrival in England Mervyn was admitted to the 2nd Eastern General Hospital in Brighton.  On 22 Jun 1918 he was transferred to the [[1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital]] at Harefield.  On recovery he was found to be medically unfit to continue for 6 months or more, and so was marked for return to Australia where he was discharge on 21 Apr 1919 by the 5th Military District.

==Post War==
Children born after Mervyn's return were: Joan (1919 - 1986); Lionel (1921 - ); Joyce Henrietta (1925 - ); a one other son.

Electoral Roll entries: 1918 Gosnells, labourer; 1925 - 1931 Newdegate, farmer; 1936 Edendale, Kardardup, farmer; 1943 Katanning hotel, night porter; 1943 - 1949 Bunbury road, Wungong, barman; 1954 - 1958 Robin Hood avenue, Armadale, carpenter.
==Notes==
Field punishment could be awarded by a court martial or a commanding officer for any offence committed on active service.
There were two categories of field punishment. Field punishment No. 2 consisted of heavy labouring duties. All offenders awarded field punishment would march with their unit, carry their arms and accoutrements, perform all their military duties as well as extra fatigue duties, and be treated as defaulters.

<references />

==External Links==

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stalker , Mervyn Alexander}}

[[Category:Soldier]]
[[Category:Born Australia]]
[[Category:Born NSW]]
[[Category:Labourer]]
[[Category:Church of England]]
[[Category:44th Battalion]]
[[Category:1918 WIA]]
[[Category:Returned to Australia]]
[[Category:Gosnells]]