STANLEY FIELD 11-12-1921 – 14-1-2014 As previously advised Stan Field the clubs oldest living member has passed away. Esther Field, Stans wife passed away in July. The following is from an article by our club historian Arthur Wintle titled “Esther and Stanley Field and Cockatoo RSL.”that tells their early history. Stanley George Field was born in London in 1921. He was placed in an orphanage at the age of seven when his father died. When he was 16 he migrated to New South Wales to work as a farmhand. Stanley Field, service number QX63256, joined the Citizen Military Forces on August 5, 1943. He was selected to be trained in wireless telegraphy and posted to Bonegilla for basic training, with other postings for specialised training. He served as a wireless telegraph operator in the Solomon Islands for about 18 months, then after Japan surrendered in August 1945 he helped to look after the tens of thousands of Japanese prisoners held at Rabaul on New Britain. On February 6, 1945, Stan had transferred from the CMF to the Second Australian Imperial Force. Returning to Australia, Stan was promoted to Sergeant and posted to Balcombe Army base in charge of training new recruits for the occupation forces in Japan. He did this for about six months. He refused officer training and chose to be discharged from B CORPS SIGNALS on January 8, 1947. His period of active service totalled two years in Australia and almost a year and a half overseas. Stan obtained a position with the Defence signals division doing communications for ASIO and did this work for 31 years until he retired at the age of 57. Esther Jean McKay was born in 1916 in Queensland and raised in country Victoria. After completing Year 10 at Swan Hill High School, she worked for a draper. On August 10, 1943, Esther enlisted in the Australian Women’s Army Service as a private, service number VF512232. She trained as a signaller at Bonegilla and at Albury learnt to drive and maintain three-ton Army trucks. While posted to Brisbane as a signaller, Esther became sick and was sent to Melbourne for brain surgery. She was discharged as medically unfit on May 1, 1945, and returned to Nyah West on a part pension. Esther and Stan met at Bonegilla in 1943 but lost touch and did not reconnect until Esther responded to a Christmas card Stan sent in 1946. LEST WE FORGET.
Posted on: Thu, 16 Jan 2014 11:14:36 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015