Stanton Edward McKenna

Stanton Edward McKenna

Personal Information
Date of Birth	2 Jan 1910
Place of Birth	Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Death	5 Jan 1985, aged 80
Place of Death	Bayswater, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	30 years 7 months
Description	5'4" (1.63m) tall ; ; medium complexion ; grey-blue eyes ; dark brown hair ; scars on right knee and right arm
Occupation	Forrestry worker
Religion	Roman Catholic
Address	Karragullen, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs Agnes Hope McKenna
Military Information
Reg Number	WX7482
Date of Enlistment	6 Aug 1940
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	2/28th Australian Infantry Battalion
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	5 Jul 1941 ‒ 25 Jul 1941
Transport Details	HMT Aquitania Fremantle to Port Tewfik, via Ceylon
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	19 Jun 1945 ‒ 17 Jul 1945
Transport Details	J12 Britain to Fremantle
Post War Details
Fate	POW captured at Ruin Ridge, Egypt Returned to Australia
External Monument(s)	The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Ballarat, Victoria
Medals	1939-45 Star Africa Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

Married with two children.

War Service

Enlisted in the 2nd AIF on 6 Aug 1940 at Claremont and ten days later was posted to the Melville Training Depot. On 2 Sep 1940 he was posted to the No 3 Depot Battalion in Northam before being posted on 14 Jan 1941 to the 13th Australian Infantry Training Battalion as a member of the 4th reinforcemnt draft for the 2/28th Australian Infantry Battalion.

Stanton was granted pre-embarkation leave from 23 Apr 1941 until 2 May 1941, and on 5 Jul 1941 he embarked on HMT Aquitania that was part of Convoy US 11A. He disembarked in Egypt on 25 Jul 1941, joining the 24th Australian Infantry Training Battalion. On 23 Aug 1941 he was posted to the 2/28th Australian Infantry Battalion, joining them on 28 Aug 1941 in Tobruk.

On 27 Jul 1942 Stanton was posted as Missing following the Battle for Ruin Ridge when a large proportion of the battalion was surrounded by German armour and Infantry and forced to surrender. He was officially reported as being a Prisoner of War on 30 Sep 1942. With the invasion of Italy by allied forces, Stanton was moved from a POW facility in Italy to Stalag 18A in Germany. His POW number was 6550.

Stanton was recovered and on 25 May 1945 flown from Germany to England where he was posted to the 1st AIF Transit Camp UK. On 19 Jun 1945 he embarked on J12 for Fremanle were he disembarked on 17 Jul 1945 and was sent to the Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot. On 9 Aug 1945 he was tansferred tothe 109th Australian Convalescent Depot for a medical report, returning to the discharge unit on 29 Sep 1945, classified as A1. He was discharged the following day.