ARTHUR, Stanley Oswald Darley

ARTHUR, Stanley Oswald Darley – A Southern Downs Veteran

CONFLICT : WWI
SERVICE NO : 43
RANK : Sergeant
UNIT : 13th Field Artillery Brigade
ENLISTMENT DATE : 11/11/1914
AGE : 27
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT : Holsworthy, New South Wales
PLACE OF BIRTH : Inverell, New South Wales
RELIGION : Church of England
OCCUPATION : Assistant Stock Inspector
DATE OF DEATH : 21/10/1946
PLACE OF BURIAL : Melbourne, Victoria

MEMORIALS : Yelarbon War Memorial, Yelarbon Roll of Honour, Nullamanna Honour Roll, Inverell and District Memorial Pool WWI Honour Roll

View Veteran’s Service File : ARTHUR, Stanley Oswald Darley

NOTES : Born in Inverell in 1997, Stanley was the son of George and Margaret (nee Vivers) Arthur. Stanley enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 11 November 1914. His brothers Errol Norman Audley Arthur 6275 and Nigel Earl Douglas Arthur 777 also enlisted. Errol returned home wounded and Nigel returned medically unfit for service.

Stanley departed from Australia on 9 December 1914 aboard HMAT Ajana A31 bound for the Middle East as part of the Army Veterinary Corps during World War One. Later he was seconded to the 13th Field Artillery Brigade. He returned to Australia four years later on 23 September 1918.

Stanley married Helena Elizabeth Arthur and the couple moved to Yelarbon where they raised their two sons, Wilfred Stanley born 7 December 1919 and Norman George born 6 July 1921. Stanley owned and maintained the families small property named Keetah and also worked as the local stock and tick inspector.

Both of his sons joined the Services during the Second World War. Eldest son Wilfred Stanley Arthur (565) joined the RAAF and was awarded the DSO and DFC. His younger son Norman George Arthur (QX21604) joined the 2/31 Australian Infantry Battalion and was killed in action on 9 November 1942 in Papua New Guinea.

Copyright 2026 Deborah C Wheeler and Duncan McLean, Southern Downs Military History

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