Australian Dictionary of Biography

Arthur Stanley, Korea, 1952

Australian War Memorial, HOBJ3282

Arthur George Stanley (1925–1997), soldier, was born on 15 March 1925 at Bedgerabong, New South Wales, fourth of eight children of New South Wales-born Herbert Joseph Peter Stanley, labourer, and his English-born wife Alice Maude, née Longley. Arthur grew up in Bedgerabong and attended Forbes Public School where he attained his sub-intermediate certificate. His father died in 1936 and Stanley, after leaving school, became an apprentice machinist.

Overstating his age in order to serve in World War II, Stanley began full-time duty in the 18th Battalion, Citizen Military Forces, in Sydney on 24 January 1942 and transferred to the Australian Imperial Force in August. He served with the 2/12th Battalion in Papua (December 1942 to March 1943), with the 7th Division Carrier Company in Papua (August 1943 to March 1944), and, back with the 2/12th Battalion, at Balikpapan, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies (Indonesia) (July to October 1945). That month, promoted to corporal, he transferred to the 65th Battalion, which, from February 1946, formed part of Australia’s contribution to the British Commonwealth Occupation Force, Japan. The AIF gave way to the Interim Army in 1947, and in November that year Stanley was promoted to sergeant. He transferred to the newly formed Australian Regular Army in June 1948. Three months later he returned to Australia, and on 19 March the following year married Victorian-born Audrey Bertha Dawson, a nurse, at St Paul’s Presbyterian Church, Condobolin, New South Wales.

After the Korean War broke out in June 1950, Stanley was promoted to temporary warrant officer, class two, and in July 1951 was posted to the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), in Korea, becoming company sergeant major of ‘C’ Company, led by Major Jack Gerke. His ‘zeal, efficiency and courage above the ordinary’ (NAA B2458) during the battle of Maryang San in October 1951 and during a subsequent raid on Hill 227 in January 1952, saw him awarded the Military Medal. Officers recalled with admiration his reliability in ensuring resupply and evacuation of the wounded, despite being concussed by enemy mortar fire.

Stanley returned to Australia in July 1952 and served as an instructor with the 13th National Service Training Battalion until May 1956 when he became an instructor at the Royal Military College, Duntroon, Australian Capital Territory. In September 1960 he was posted as a student instructor to the British Army’s School of Infantry, where his superiors found him to be ‘a charming man with plenty of confidence’ (NAA B2458). He returned to Australia in January 1962, and three months later rejoined 3RAR, as regimental sergeant major (RSM).

The battalion deployed to Terendak camp, Malacca, Malaysia, in August 1963 as part of Australia’s commitment to the Far East Strategic Reserve amid the Confrontation between Indonesia and the newly created Federation of Malaysia. In October 1964 Stanley was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. 3RAR deployed to Sarawak in March 1965, and spent six months on operations against Indonesian forces.

3RAR returned to Australia in October 1965, and the following June Stanley was posted to the Australian Army Staff at the Australian embassy in Washington, DC. He was appointed MBE in January 1967. After his return to Australia in July 1969 he became RSM at the Infantry Centre, Ingleburn, New South Wales. He saw active service again when he deployed to South Vietnam in early May 1971 as part of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam.

In April 1972 Stanley was posted to Headquarters, 1st Division, Sydney. His final assignment was as RSM Army Training Command. On 30 October 1974 he was discharged after more than thirty-two years in uniform, and with a reputation as an outstanding warrant officer. In retirement he was active in veterans’ groups. On 26 August 1997 he died in St George Hospital, Kogarah, survived by Audrey, their two daughters Margaret and Wendy, and son Ian. He was cremated at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Leppington.