Stanley Thomas Marsh

Personal Information
Date of Birth	unknown
Place of Birth	Wungong, Western Australia
Death	1 Sep 1980, aged 81
Place of Death	Armadale, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	18 years old
Description	5' 10" (1.78m) tall; weight 165 lbs (74.8 kg); fresh complexion, brown eyes, brown hair
Occupation	farm hand
Religion	Church of England
Address	Wungong, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father Mr Robert George Marsh
Military Information
Reg Number	3411
Date of Enlistment	10 Jan 1917
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	51st Battalion, 9th Reinforcement / 13th Brigade, 4th Division
Date of Embarkation	29 Jan 1917 - 27 Mar 1917
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A28 Miltiades
Date of Return	9 Dec 1918 - 18 Jan 1919
Ship Returned On	HMAT A8 Argyllshire
Fate	Wounded in Action 24 Apr 1918 2nd Villers-Bretonneux Returned to Australia
Monument	Armadale (West Armadale panel) Armadale Congregational Church Honour Board
Medals	British War Meal Victory Medal

War Service

As soon as Stanley entered camp he was allocated to the 9th reinforcement draft for the 51st Battalion, and within three weeks he was embarked for England, such was the shortage of men at that time.

On arrival in England he spent three months with the 13th Training Battalion at Codford, before proceeding to France on 25 Jun 1917 through Southampton. Stan was taken on strength by the 51st Battalion on 15 Jul 1917 while they were in the front line near Ploegsteert Wood 3 km north of the French border. He was granted UK Leave from 23 Feb 1918 to 12 Mar 1918.

In the evening of 24 Apr 1918 the battalion participated in the counter attack on Villers Bretonneux. They were to the north of the village, and sustained heavy casualties with 76 killed, 253 wounded and 60 missing the next day. Stan's wound was caused by a machine gun bullet to his head, fracturing his skull.

Seen first by the 25th Field Ambulance on 25 Apr 1918 he was passed the next day to the 12th Casualty Clearing Station and then sent on, and admitted to the 9th General Hospital in Rouen on 28 Apr 1918. The next day he was evacuated to England aboard HMHS Essequibo.

Admitted to the London General Hospital in Camberwell where he was operated on twice, in April 1918 to remove bone fragments pressing on the brain causing amongst other things paralysis of the right arm. He improved steadily after the second operation on 30 Apr 1918, including regaining some use of his arm.

Stan had recovered enough by 8 Aug 1918 to be transferred to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford. On 2 Oct 1918 he was transferred to the No 2 Convalescent Depot to continue his recovery.

On 4 Oct 1918 he was declared to be permanently unfit for General or Home Services and 100% disabled for pension purposes. Returned via Albany on 18 Jan 1919 and admitted to the 8th General Hospital in Fremantle where bone grafts were used to close the hole in his skull. Discharged from hospital on 4 Apr 1919.

Discharged 2 May 1919 at 5th Military District.

Local papers reported that Stanley Marsh of Wongong had been wounded.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries - 1922 Rum Jungle, NT labourer, and Wyndham, labourer; 1925 - 1958 Mundijong, farmer; 1963 - 1977 at 18 Thomas street, Armadale, retired; 1980 16 Deerness Way, Armadale