Mervyn Alexander Stalker

Mervyn Alexander Stalker

Personal Information
Date of Birth	4 Jun 1887
Place of Birth	Balmain, Sydney, New South Wales
Death	8 Jun 1968, aged 81
Place of Death	Repatriation Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	28 years old
Description	5'8" (1.73m) tall ; 138lbs 62.596 kg ; fresh complexion ; blue eyes ; brown hair
Occupation	Labourer
Religion	Church of England
Address	PO Gosnells, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs Blanche Stalker
Military Information
Reg Number	2403
Date of Enlistment	20 Jun 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	44th Battalion, 4th Reinforcement
Date of Embarkation	13 Oct 1916 ‒ 12 Dec 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A39 Port Macquarie Fremantle to Plymouth
Date of Return	15 Sep 1918 ‒ 10 Nov 1918
Ship Returned On	HMNZT Arawa
Fate	WIA 28 Mar 1918 Sailly-le-Sec, France Returned to Australia
Monument	Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll Gosnells Ward Honour Roll
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

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, and 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 1916. 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 discharged 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.