Harrison, Stanley
3523 Private Stanley James Harrison - 44th Battalion AIF
Stanley Harrison was born in Geraldton WA in 1897 to Daniel Thomas and Catherine Harrison. He had a sister Evline born in 1899.
He was initially educated in Geraldton and then the family moved to Fremantle where he completed his schooling. His father was employed as a Carter in the Fremantle area.
The family lived at 91 McCleery Street Beaconsfield. (Later renumbered to 29 McCleery)
After leaving school Stan took up employment as a clerk, during which time he also served in the 86A Cadets and the 86th Regiment of the Citizens Military forces.
His Father Daniel enlisted early 1917 and was assigned to the Australian Tunnelling Corps.
Stan had tried to enlist earlier in the war when he was under 18 but was rejected due to insufficient chest size. However he tried again on the 30th April 1917 in Fremantle. This time he was accepted for service, with the medical examiner recording Stan's physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 4 inches;
Weight - 114lbs;
Chest Measurement - 29-31 inches;
Complexion - Fresh;
Eyes - Brown;
Hair - Brown.
Upon his successful enlistment, Stan was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the 9th Reinforcements to the 44th Battalion AIF. He trained with this group in WA for the next two months.
On the 23rd July 1917 Stan and his group departed from Albany Harbour aboard the troopship Port Melbourne and set sail for England, arriving at Liverpool on the 16th September 1917. The men were then disembarked and sent to the 11th Training Battalion at Durrington Camp.
He trained at this camp for the next two months, then on the 5th November 1917 was transferred to the 10th Training Battalion at Sutton Mandeville Camp. He was here for a further two months and on the 23rd January 1918 Stan departed for France.
Upon arrival he was sent into the Australian Infantry Base Depot Camp at Rouelles. He spent six days here and was then taken on strength of the 44th Battalion on the 29th January 1918.
From December 1917 to March 1918 the 44th Battalion held the line in Belgium south east of Ypres, between Hollebeke and Messines.
As a result of the German offensive on March 21st 1918 which broke through the British front line further south, the Australian Divisions were sent to the Somme to help stop the German advance. The 44th Battalion were sent to an area near the Somme River at Sailly-le-Sec and Sailly Laurette. The 44th Battalion advanced till they met the Germans in the field near Sailly Laurette and though the German fire stopped the 44th from advancing, the Germans were also stopped.
Stan and the 44th Battalion were in this sector for the next few months. On the 4th July 1918 the 44th Battalion took part in the successful capture of Hamel village. Stan came through this action unscathed.
On the 7th August 1918 Stan was evacuated ill and was sent to the 47th General Hospital at Le Treport. He was there for a few weeks and then had some time in a convalescent camp. Stan rejoined the 44th Battalion on the 12th September 1918.
He served with his unit for the next few weeks but on the 29th September fell ill again and was sent to hospital. He rejoined the 44th Battalion on the 17th October 1918.
The 44th battalion had been withdrawn for a rest period and they were still out of the line when the Armistice was announced on the 11th November 1918.
When the Germans withdrew to behind their own borders, the Australian units were sent into what had been German occupied parts of Belgium and France. Stan remained with the 44th Battalion till the 13th January 1919 when he was granted a two week furlough to England. He then returned to France on the 29th January 1919.
Stan then remained in France till the 23rd April 1919. He was then returned to England and sent into camp to await being assigned a berth on a transport ship home. It would be a few months to wait and during this tome Stan was utilised as part of the Guard at Tidworth Camp.
On the 23rd July 1919 Stan boarded the transport ship Main and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 28th September 1919. Stan was discharged from the AIF on the 28th October 1919.
He then returned home to 91 McCleery Street and resumed his work as a clerk.
Stan remained in McCleery Street for the next thirty years, though he took up labouring work in the 1930's.
Stan died on the 27th November 1956. He was buried at Fremantle Cemetery plot Roman Catholic MON CC 1043.