Karuah, Breelong, Gilgandra,
434
1st Light Horse Regiment, C Squadron
RTA 15.11.1918
Private 434 Alvin Stanley 1st Light Horse Regiment
Alvin Stanley was a Gallipoli veteran who survived the horrors of the trenches and the desert campaigns to return to Gilgandra and raise his family. He was a quiet, gentle, family man who was involved in the establishment of the RSL and proudly bore the flag each Anzac Day. Our family always knew that Anzac Day was special. Anzac Day was to get together with mates and comrades and to remember the men who didn’t return or who were damaged in some way. Anzac Day was not there to celebrate war or relive the clever strategy of battles, it was to make sure that ‘we will remember them; lest we forget’
Alvin Stanley was farming at ’Karuah’, Breelong, with his brother, Robert Stanley in Gilgandra NSW when he enlisted in Sydney on 22 August 1914 and joined the 1st Light Horse Regiment, C Squadron, along with many local young men. He was born in Horsham, Victoria to Robert and Mary Jane Stanley and was 21 years and 9 months old when he enlisted.
Private Alvin Stanley 434 embarked from Woolloomooloo Sydney on board the Transport A16 “Star of Victoria” on 20th October 1914. The horses had a poor time tied in stalls below decks and Alvin’s horse died on the trip. He had bought the horse from Mr Butler at Breelong.
They disembarked at Alexandria, Egypt, where the troops did their basic training at Mena Camp, Cairo.
Alvin served at the Gallipoli Peninsula and in the Middle East in Egypt, Sinai and Palestine. Whilst serving in the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, Alvin was wounded in action, suffering a gunshot wound to the hip and he spent time in a Cairo hospital.
Alvin returned to Australia in November 1918, and was discharged from the 1st Australian Imperial Force in Victoria on 22 February 1919.
Medals issued were the 19/14 Star, the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the Anzac Commemorative Medallion.
He settled with his sweetheart Grace Morgan at ‘Lowan’, Gilgandra, and raised 3 daughters, Marie (Barden), Gwen (Prout) and Jessie (Howard).
The family has a wonderfully personal collection of letters, photos and postcards that Alvin sent to his future wife, Grace, during his service overseas. His bullet, dog tags and medals are on display at the Gilgandra Services Club.
