Stanley Charles Gregory
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 5 Aug 1920 |
| Place of Birth | Fremantle, Western Australia |
| Death | 7 Feb 2005 |
| Place of Death | Armadale, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 20 years, 11 months |
| Description | 5'10" (1.78m) tall ; ; dark complexion ; grey eyes ; dark hair |
| Occupation | Dairy hand |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Prospect road, Armadale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr Albert Gregory |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | W20667 & WX29308 |
| Date of Enlistment | 21 Jul 1941 |
| Rank | Gunner |
| Unit/Formation | 'E' Australian Heavy Battery (Coast) |
| Military Movement | |
| 1st Departure from Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 2 Nov 1942 ‒ 8 Nov 1942 |
| Transport Details | SS Tasman Townsville to Milne Bay |
| Return to Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 7 Feb 1944 ‒ 14 Feb 1944 |
| Transport Details | USAT City of Houston Milne Bay to Brisbane |
| 2nd Departure from Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 4 Apr 1945 ‒ 13 Apr 1945 |
| Transport Details | USAT Fred C Ainsworth Brisbane to Morotai |
| Transfers | |
| Journey Dates | 4 Jul 1945 ‒ 13 Apr 1945 |
| Transport Details | USS LCI 701 Morotai to Labuan |
| Return to Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 26 Sep 1945 ‒ 26 Sep 1945 |
| Transport Details | plane Labuan to Singapore |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate | Returned to Austalia |
| Monument(s) |
ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford) Byford WW2 Honour Roll |
| Medals |
1939-45 Star Africa Star Pacific Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
Pre War
War Service
Stan was called up for full time service on 21 Jul 1941 and was posted to Kingstown Barracks on Rottnest Island as a member of Fixed Defences Fremantle. From 20 - 23 Aug 1941 he was admitted to the Rottnest Camp Hospital, and on 14 Nov 1941 Stan volunteered to join the 2nd AIF, but it was not until 17 Jul 1942 that he was formally accepted, and allocated a new Army Number - WX29308. On 8 Sep 1942 he was transferred to Queensland where he joined 'D' Australian Heavy Battery (Coast) before being reposted to 'E' Australian Heavy Battery (Coast). On 2 Nov 1942 they embarked on SS Tasman for Milne Bay in Papua, disembarking there on 6 Nov 1942, and moving to Sideia Island at the mouth of Milne Bay to construct a gun emplacement to protect the US amphibious base at Dawa Dawa. On 27 Jan 1943 he was graded as GPII Instrument Operator which he was to relinquish on 10 Sep 1943.
On 7 Feb 1944, along with the rest of the unit he boarded USAT City of Houston at Milne Bay for Brisbane where they disembarked on 14 Feb 1944. On 10 Sep 1944 he was granted proficiency pay, but soon after on 23 Sep 1944 he was admitted to 102nd Australian General Hospital with a Malaria Relapse. Transferred to the 2/12th Australian General Hospital on 28 Sep 1944, he was released to duty on 9 Oct 1944, and rejoined the battery two days later. On 29 Dec 1944 he was posted as AWOL, but this was later deleted as he had been admitted to the 115th Australian General Hospital at Heidelberg on 26 December.
On 2 Jan 1945, Stan was with the Queensland Line of Communication Area Recruit Reception & General Details Depot awaiting re-allocation to a new unit. On 12 Jan 1945 Stan was transferred to Australian Reinforcement Training Battalion (Jungle Warfare) to train for jungle warfare, and on 13 Mar 1945 he was transferred to the 1st Australian Advance Reinforcement Depot to be allocated to a new unit. On 4 Apr 1945 Stan embarked on USAT Fred C Ainsworth in Brisbane for Morotai where he disembarked on 13 Apr 1945, and was transferred to the 2/8th Australian Field Regiment. On 4 Jul 1945 he embarked on USS LCI 701 for British North Borneo. On 24 Sep 1945 he was transferred to a holding depot and two days later (26 Sep 1945) he emplaned at Labuan for Singapore where he was to perform staff duties on POW ships returning to Australia. His records at this point lack detail, but on 5 Nov 1945 he was at Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot's Discharge Depot. On 27 May 1946 Stan was made a member of the unit's staff, and then on 30 Sep 1946 he embarked on SS Chitral in Fremantle as a POW Guard for the trip to Italy. After a time in England, he returned on SS Dominion Monarch, disembarking in Melbourne on 23 Dec 1946. Stan was transferred to Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot for discharge which took place on 16 Jan 1947.
Post War
During 1950 Stan married Ivy Isabel Pratt (1927 - 2017).
Electoral Roll entries: 1949 Prospect road, Armadale, no occupation; 1954 - 1958 Fifth road, Armadale, armament assistant; 1968 - 1980 at 96 Eighth avenue, Armadale, labourer
Notes