In 1916 he was a
draper's
assistant living at the Zealandia Hotel, Wellington and listed in the
First Reserves NZEF that year. In 1917 he was living with his mother
at 73 Mein Street, Newtown, Wellington. She seems to have sold or
rented her house at Napier to move closer to him. Later that year he
became Private 59442, B Company, Wellington Infantry Regiment, part
of the 2nd Draft, 29th Reinforcements. On 15
August 1917 he embarked on the troopship “Ruahine” for
Glasgow via Panama and Halifax.
His attestation records
that he
had passed the 4th Educational Standard, was employed by
James Smith's of Wellington as a draper. It also records that he had
been previously discharged as “unfit” from the 9th
Hawkes Bay Regiment because of “fits and dizziness”. He
stated a preference to join an artillery unit.
He was medically
examined and
found “Free from any physical defects likely to interfere
with efficient performance”. But, to the question “Have
you ever had a fit?, the Medical Officer wrote - “Said
to have” and in “Remarks” he wrote - “Tinnitus.
No evidence what the fits are”. “Fits
February last”. “Classification
FIT A1”.
His unit arrived at
Glasgow in
October 1917. He had spent much of the voyage in the ship's hospital
with appendicitis and after embarkation transferred to the Army
Hospital at Walton and thence to that at Codford in March 1918. He
was attached to a machine gun unit at Grantham in May that year where
he overstayed special leave by 6 days and was deducted 18 days' pay.
His sickness record
shows he
had
appendicitis, hysteria and epilepsy. He returned to New Zealand in
May 1919 having had no “active” service. His intended
address was C/- YMCA, Wellington, but his mother's address - Russell
Terrace, Wellington was substituted, with date 22 June 1925. On 29
June 1925 he advised the Army Personnel that his address was C/-
Kirkcaldie and Staines Ltd, Wellington. Something seems to have
occurred between those dates. He moved to Australia and according to
family lore wrote a begging letter to his mother asking for money, to
which she apparently did not reply. He was never heard of again and
his fate in Australia, or elsewhere, has not been established though
I sense he became one of those harassed by homophobic detectives in
Sydney or Melbourne.
If
family lore is
correct, Stan
aka “Queenie” probably did not marry. And so, the Flying
Ace turned out to be an involuntary infantryman who never set foot in
France or Belgium. Given his obvious physical health at enlistment
one wonders why he was enrolled or not sent home after his “mental”
condition became apparent. The country must have been desperate
indeed. Or did the MO decide that a stint in the army would make a
“man” of him. Quite possibly I think. But to his credit
he did not claim conscience to remain in New Zealand, unlike some who
went on to become sabre rattling politicians in the next war. Rest in
peace Stanley.
NB With the kind assistance of a fellow researcher in Australia (Thanks again Bronwyn!) Stanley has been found. He died in the Sydney suburb of Surry Hills in 1956 aged 60. The informant for the death registration did not know Stanley's parents' names. His passing was not reported to his family in New Zealand.
NB With the kind assistance of a fellow researcher in Australia (Thanks again Bronwyn!) Stanley has been found. He died in the Sydney suburb of Surry Hills in 1956 aged 60. The informant for the death registration did not know Stanley's parents' names. His passing was not reported to his family in New Zealand.
