The AIF Project

Stanley Holm WATSON

Date of birth24 October 1887
Place of birthParkside, South Australia
SchoolPlympton Primary School, Sturt Street Advanced School, Adelaide, South Australia
Other trainingSchool of Mines; University of Adelaide, South Australia
OccupationRailway draftsman
AddressBay Road, Plympton, South Australia
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation27
Height5' 9"
Weight156 lbs
Next of kinWife, Mrs S.H. Watson, Bay Road, Plympton, South Australia
Previous military serviceServed in the 25th Signal Company, Australian Engineers; still serving at time of AIF enlistment.
Enlistment date17 August 1914
Rank on enlistmentLieutenant
Unit nameDivisional Signal Company 1
AWM Embarkation Roll number22/11/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A10 Karroo on 20 October 1914
Rank from Nominal RollMajor
Unit from Nominal Roll1st Division Engineers
Promotions

Major


Unit: 2nd Division Signal Company Engineers
Promotion date: 6 January 1917

Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Mention in Despatches


Awarded, and promulgated, 'London Gazette', Fourth Supplement No. 29664 (11 July 1916); 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 176 (30 November 1916).

Mention in Despatches


Awarded, and promulgated, 'London Gazette' No. 31089 (31 December 1918); 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 61 (23 May 1919).

Mention in Despatches


Awarded, and gazetted, 'London Gazette', second Supplement, No. 30448 (28 December 1917); 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 57 (18 April 1918).

FateReturned to Australia 24 September 1918
Medals

Distinguished Service Order


Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 61
Date: 23 May 1919

Military Cross


Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 103
Date: 29 June 1917

Order of the White Eagle - 5th Class (with swords) (Serbia)


Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 116
Date: 25 July 1917

Discharge date22 January 1919
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 5 April 1915.

Admitted to hospital, 4 July 1915; discharged from 1st Australian Stationary Hospital, Lemnos, 12 July 1915; rejoined unit, 13 July 1915 (no further details recorded).

Transferred to 3rd Signal Company, 2nd Division, 27 July 1915.

Detached to Egypt for duty, 26 July 1915; disembarked Alexandria, 29 july 1915.

Embarked Alexandria for Gallipoli, 19 September 1915.

Appointed Captain, 3 November 1915.

Disembarked Alexandria, 3 January 1916 (general Gallipoli evacuation).

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 16 March 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 21 March 1916.

Attached to 2nd Division Artillery Headquarters, 18 April 1916.

In charge of leave party to England, 30 May 1916.

Awarded White Eagle (5th Class) by King of Serbia 'in recognition of distinguished services rendered during the M.E.F. Campaign', 2 December 1916.

Appointed to temporary command, 6 January 1917, and granted temporary rank of Major.

Awarded Military Cross.

Appointed Major, 6 January 1917.

Mentioned in Despatches.

On leave to England, 27 December 1917; rejoined unit from leave, 8 April 1918.

Mentioned in Despatches.

Commenced return to Australia from Taranto, Italy, on board HT 'Kasir-a-Hind', 24 September 1918; transshipped at Suez to HT 'Devon' and departed 13 October 1918; disembarked Melbourne, 23 December 1918, for onward travel to Adelaide; appointment terminated (discharged), 22 January 1919.

Medals: Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross, Order of the White Eagle, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Date of death5 May 1985
Age at death97
Place of burialCentennial Park Cemetery, Adelaide, South Australia
SourcesNAA: B2455, WATSON Stanley Holm

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