James Allan Stanton

STANTON, James Allan- – – – SPC 1904-1906

DoB:- – 29 August 1892, Stawell, VIC

Father:- – Walter Stanton

Mother:- – Elizabeth Annie, nee Mathers

Allan (as he was known while at school) Stanton was a boarder at St Patrick’s from Koroit in western Victoria.

Service No:- –

Rank:- – Lieutenant

Unit:- – 46th Battalion

Allan Stanton enlisted on 19 July 1915, aged 22 years and ten months. He was a single man who worked as a clerk. He was five feet, nine inches tall, with a fair complexion, grey eyes and brown hair.

While still in Australia he was attached to the 23rd Depot Battalion at Royal Park on 30 October 1915. He was provisionally appointed to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in January 1916, prior to embarking in April from Australia aboard the Euripides.

After some weeks of further training in England, he proceeded overseas to France in July. He joined the 46th Battalion in the field on 5 September 1916.

The following year, in April 1917, (now) Lieutenant Stanton was recommended for the award of Military Cross:

-‘At BULLECOURT on 11 April 1917 during an attack on the HINDENBERG LINE, this Officer took charge on the left flank after the Company Commander has been killed. He rallied his men again and again and by his example encouraged his men to further efforts which proved successful and drove back the enemy for 100 yards.

Later he took charge of bombing parties on the right flank which achieved great success until the supply of bombs ran out. He was then organising a bayonet counter-attack when the enemy forced them to retire. He took charge and rallied the men so that the retirement was orderly.

He was about the last to leave the trench. Just prior to the retirement he was knocked insensible by a bomb but on recovery took charge again and continued his good work.’

In September 1917 he proceeded to England for duty, and was seconded to the 12th Training Battalion at Codford. In the early months of 1918, he was frequently in hospital getting treatment for piles and stricture of the anus. One can only wonder about the quality of the food provided to the troops -“ it is no wonder so many suffered from chronic digestive issues.

By 27 May 1918 Lieutenant Stanton was pronounced unfit for active service, but fit for home service. After a brief time at Codford, he was returned to Australia on 18 December 1918 aboard the Aeneus, as an invalid. He reached Melbourne on 5 February and was discharged from the AIF on 22 March 1919.

Allan married Mollie Cornish in 1929 when he was 37 years old. They had one son born in 1932. The family lived in the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda, and Allan worked as a gas fitter. At some point prior to Allan’s death, he and Mollie divorced.

James Allan Stanton died on 11 March 1956, aged 63 years. The cause of his death was a heart attack. He was buried at Brighton Cemetery.

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