STANLEY ARTHUR CRAWFORD

Born

On 20 April 1918 at Pine Road.

Connection to South Riana

Attended school in South Riana.

Parents

Arthur Stephen James CRAWFORD and Edith Caroline SUSHAMES who were married in 1902 at Sulphur Creek.

Siblings

Cyril Stephen 1904 – 1964

Zillah May 1907 – 1996

Rex Levi 1912 – 1913

Died

On 24 June 1944 and is buried in Singapore.

School Records

Enrolment number336 at South Riana. His father was Arthur Crawford, a farmer from South Riana, living 13/4 miles from the school. Stanley was admitted on 3 February 1925 and placed in P. In 1926 he was in Grade I, 1927 II, 1928 III, 1929 V, 1930 VI and 1931 VII passing his Compulsory Standard. He left school in September 1931 with the reason ‘working at home’.

Military Records

Service number TX3751, enlisting in Launceston on 4 July 1940. He gave his next of kin as Arthur, his father. He was placed in the 2/3 Machine Gun Company as a Private. He was described as just over 22 years of age, a single butcher. He served in the Middle East (possibly spending some time in Syria) from 14 April 1941. In 1942 he embarked on the SS Arcades for Batavia, where he was wounded in action on Java and then missing in March 1942. It was reported he was a P.O.W. – ‘missing, believed deceased’, and finally ‘Died whilst a P.O.W. by drowning on 24 June 1944.’ 

Photograph courtesy of Sally Cotterell, and can be found in the South Riana Hall.