Apr 242015
 


Raymond Augustus Stanley

Born 14 April 1883 Died 20 July 1930

Employed as an Assistant Government Analyst Queensland from 1908

He was very active in the Militia prior to the Great War so when he enlisted he went in at rank of Captain
Enlisted 19/10/1914 in Brisbane aged 31 Captain in 2nd Light Horse, 2ndSignal Troop

Embarked 22/12/1914 HMAT A30 Borda

Arrived Gallipoli 11/5/1915

Wounded in action 13/11/1915 Gallipoli  Remained on Duty
Disembarked Gallipoli when Gallipoli was evacuated

 
Honours and Awards

Mention in Despatches

3-9thNovember 1915 on Gallipoli

On the night of 3-4 November a forward movement on a pre-arranged plan was made from Chatham’s Post towards the Bird trenches. The arrangements involved the reconnaissance by night of the enemy’s front and the construction of a tunnel towards a knoll 100 yards distant. The forward movement, the unopposed occupation of the knoll and the construction of a fire trench were completed on the 3-4 November. On the night of 4-5 November the enemy made four unsuccessful attempts on the new position which was improved and consolidated during the 5th under heavy rifle and shell fire. On the night of 7-8 November a further advance of 30 yards was made under enemy bombing and rifle fire and the position finally secured. During the operations Captain Stanley rendered excellent service. The communications were maintained in a most excellent manner during each advance.

One of the interesting things in his military file downloaded from the Australian National Archives is there is a lot of medical detail including this temperature chart

Joined 5th Divisional Signal Company

Promoted to the rank of Major on April 1, 1917

Mention in Despatches 24 October 1918

Mention in Despatches 31 December 1918

Distinguished Service Order

For meritorious service and devotion to duty Major Stanley has been in command of the 5thAustralian Divisional Signal Company since 14 March 1915.

During the period 22 September 1917 to 24th February 1918, his work has been of the greatest assistance to the Division. During the operations east of Ypres September and October 1917, his organisation and maintaining communications very often under difficult conditions of weather and shell fire contributed in a very large measure to the success of the operations of the Division.

Returned to Australia: 9/12/1918 aboard the  Leicestershire

Date of discharge 25/3/1919

 

Returned to work at the Government Analyst Department

The Queenslander 6 August 1921

Major R. A. Stanley, D.S.0., who commanded the 5th Australian Division Signal Company in the A.I.F. has been promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Died 20 July 1930 leaving a widow and one daughter

Obituary

Courier Mail Monday 21 July 1930

Lieut.-Col. R. A. Stanley.

The death took place at 10 o’clock yesterday morning, at his late residence Appell-street, South Brisbane, of Lieutenant-Colonel Raymond Augustus Stanley, DSO, VD, after a long illness. The late Colonel Stanley was born in Brisbane on April 14 1883. He took an eager interest in defence matters in his early years, and joined the   electrical section of the Corps of Australian Engineers in February, 1903, transferring to the Submarine Mining Company the following year. He was promoted to commissioned rank as lieutenant in 1908, and obtained his captaincy in 1913. 
He served with the AIF throughout the World War, leaving Brisbane on November 6, 1914 as captain of the 2nd Signalling Troop, and was transferred to the 5th Division Signallers on March 14 1916. He was promoted to the rank of major on April 1, 1917 and was demobilised on March. 25, 1919. On return from active   service he was a major in the   Signal Division, and on March 31, 1921, was appointed to command of signals for Queensland, with the rank of Lieutenant-colonel. His period of command was extended until March 31,   1926 when he was transferred to the unattached list.


For his services with the AIF he was awarded the DSO, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal. He was mentioned in despatches on three occasions. He was awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Force Officers Decoration in 1923. His war service included operations in Egypt, Gallipoli and with the Egyptian   Expeditionary Force to January 1916, and operations in France and Belgium until September 10 1918. He was one of the first three officers to be gazetted to the Queensland Cadets prior to Federation.

For two years the late colonel was  president of the United Service Club and he was a prominent figure in Masonic circles. He was worshipful   master of the Naval and Military Lodge for 1928-29 and was immediate past master of that lodge at the time of his death He is survived by his widow (formerly Miss Ruby Orton) and a daughter (Anne), aged 10 years. The late Colonel Stanley was an officer of the Government Analyst’s Department and by his genial personality   kindly consideration and unswerving loyalty to his friends he was held in  the highest esteem by all sections of the community. The funeral service will take place at All Saints’ Church at 4 o clock this afternoon, and the remains will be laid to rest in the Toowong Cemetery.