“Records I have been able to access on the National Archives website show Stan was born in Tinonee and served in Belgium and France.” Sue said. 

“He was awarded a Distinguished Conduct Medal in April 1918.  

“From his letters he was obviously a good friend of my grandfather and they had many mutual friends from Tinonee who also served.

“He describes times in training, travelling to England and then Europe by boat, serving in the trenches, being wounded and on leave.”

Sue said she has not been able to find any record of him having married or of any descendants. He did sometimes mention brothers in his letters. 

“I don't know if there are any descendants of this family now living in the Manning area.”

Stan died in 1978 and is buried in the Tinonee Cemetery close to the graves of his parents.

“I've been doing some research myself on Stan and the family, particularly trying to get the link between him and my grandfather,” Sue said.

“With the help of Tinonee Museum and the family history group from Taree Library I was given some information and suggestions.

“We found Stan was mentioned, with a photo in Rebecca Linton's book (published 1998) on Crowdy Head. Information in this book briefly mentions Stan's war service and adds that he worked as a labourer on the lighthouse at Crowdy and also at the fish co-op and in about 1942 moved into one of the shacks there overlooking Crowdy Bay, where he lived until a few weeks before he died.

“In later years Mrs Marj Ward from the Post Office cooked him a meal each day - I do not know if she would still be alive, but perhaps there are some from this family who have some information? A book on Tinonee history mentions his family living in the town in the 1890s or so.”

Sue has also discovered Stan's sister Annie was Mrs C Klumpp of Harrington. “She died in 1961, interestingly she's buried in Tinonee Cemetery. But maybe there are some descendants still around the area.”

Sue said she would be very pleased to hear from anyone with any information, particularly on Stan's younger years and the years immediately following his return from the war.  Also, it would be great to have photos if anyone has them!

“A few days ago I put a request for info on "You’re from Taree If" but have only got a few people saying they remember Stan's hut, and not really any more info.

“I have typed out Stan's letters so that they are easier to read and I plan on putting it all together in a booklet form to keep. I'd be really happy to find any more information which I could include.

“Researching Stan's war service records and reading the letters has been quite a moving experience for me, and I would love to honour Stan's memory for his brave service for Australia, and his friendship with my grandfather,” Sue said.