Stanley Gordon Curtis

Stanley Gordon Curtis

Wedding of Stan Curtis and Jean Watts. Courtesy Jan Kramer
Personal Information
Date of Birth	18 May 1918
Place of Birth	Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Death	2 Feb 1942
Place of Death	Kokopu, East New Britain, PNG
Age at Enlistment	22 years, 4 months
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Horace Curtis
Military Information
Reg Number	WX10626
Date of Enlistment	14 Jan 1941
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	2/1st Independent Company
Post War Details
Monument(s)	Armadale War Memorial WW2 Plaque
Australian War Memorial	Australian War Memorial
Medals	1939-45 Star Pacific Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

In 1925 he was living with his family in Bedfordale. In 1941 he married Arvonia Jean Watts (1919 - 2002). Jean later married Thomas William Law and they had a son and five daughters

War Service

Enlisted at the Western Command details Camp at Claremont and was designated a General reinforcement.

From the history of the 2/1st Independent Company, it appears that Stanley was killed when on 2 Feb 1942 the schooner that they were attempting to escape on from larger Japanese forces was sighted by a Japanese plane which subsequently attacked, causing considerable damage to the vessel as well as destroying one of its lifeboats and causing a number of casualties. (Stanley was to die from wounds received). For those that survived the strafing, The Induna Star had begun taking on water and as a result the men were forced to surrender. Under escort by a Japanese aircraft and then later a destroyer, they were instructed to sail to Rabaul where they became prisoners of war.

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  Rabaul Memorial - Stanley is commemorated on Panel 12

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