Stanley Gordon Curtis

Stanley Gordon Curtis

Personal Information
Date of Birth	18 May 1918
Place of Birth	Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Death	2 Feb 1942
Place of Death	Kokopu, East New Britain, PNG
Age at Enlistment	22 years, 4 months
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Horace Curtis
Military Information
Reg Number	WX10626
Date of Enlistment	14 Jan 1941
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	2/1st Independent Company
Post War Details
Monument(s)	Armadale War Memorial WW2 Plaque
Australian War Memorial	Australian War Memorial
Medals	1939-45 Star Pacific Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

In 1925 he was living with his family in Bedfordale. In 1941 he married Arvonia Jean Watts (1919 - 2002). Jean later married Thomas William Law and they had a son and five daughters

War Service

Enlisted at the Western Command details Camp at Claremont and was designated a General reinforcement.

From the history of the unit, it appears that Stanley was killed when on 2 Feb 1942 he schooner that they were attempting to escape from larger Japanese forces was sighted by a Japanese plane which subsequently attacked, causing considerable damage to the vessel as well as destroying one of its lifeboats and causing a number of casualties. (Stanley was to die from wounds received). For those that survived the strafing, The Induna Star had begun taking on water and as a result the men were forced to surrender. Under escort by a Japanese aircraft and then later a destroyer, they were instructed to sail to Rabaul where they became prisoners of war.

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  Rabaul Memorial - Stanley is commemorated on Panel 12

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