The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Haly
First Name:
Standish O’Grady
Nick Name:
Stan
Rank:
Private
Regimental #:
WX14830
Classification:
Driver
Company:
'C' Company, No. 12 Platoon
Enlisted:
3.07.1941
DOB:
25.01.1916
Place of Birth:
Toowong, Queensland
Father's Name:
Arthur Haly
Mothers's Name:
Doris Christabel Haly (nee de Winton)
Religion:
Church of England
Pre-war Occupation:
Station Overseer and Truck Driver
Memorial:
Labuan War Cemetery, Collective Grave, Plot 16, Row B, Grave 4-9, Age 29.
Singapore:
Selarang Camp Changi
Force:
'B' Force Borneo
POW#:
800
Cause of Death:
Malaria
Place of Death:
Sandala Estate, 12 miles from Sandakan, 2nd Ranau march.
Date of Death:
15.06.1945

General Description

Stan Haly previously enlisted 21.11.1940 with the Australian Military Force’s 13th Field Company Western Australia, and then transferred on 27 February 1941 to Western Australian Army Service Corps. He was discharged on 2 July 1941 to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force the following day. After training in South Australia, Private Haly was graded as a ‘Grade III Driver’. On 30 December 1941, Private Haly embarked for service overseas with ‘C’ Company Platoon No. 12,  2/4th Machine Gun Battalion and disembarked at Singapore on 24 January 1942.

Please read about men of ‘C’ Company No. 12 Platoon

He was selected with ‘B’ Force to sail to Borneo as a workforce to construct an aerodromes at Sandakan.  The Force left Singapore on 8 July 1942 on a 9-10 day journey in terrible conditions to arrive at Sandakan, British North Borneo.  Read further.
After the war and following the recovery of bodies It was suggested Stan Haly may have escaped from either Sandakan or during the Third Death March.  Unfortunately there were conflicting reports from survivors –  in this instance Bombardier Richard Braithwaite and Warrant Officer Bill Sticpewich who both left on 29th May 1945 on Second Death March from Sandakan.  One reported Haly had died before the Second Sandakan Death March, and the other believed Haly was alive when they left.
Private Haly’s remains were recovered after the war from the Sandala Estate, four miles from Sandakan Camp, where local people had buried him and five others in a group grave. His remains were recovered on 24 September 1945.  His name may have been known to the locals who buried him or the remains had some identifying features.

Please read about men who died Sandakan-Ranau

 

 

Stan Haly’s remains were later buried at Labuan War Cemetery.

 

Below:  Haly family wedding Qld 1902
Stan Haly was born Toowong, Queensland 1916 to Doris Christabel de Winterton and Arthur Haly.  He was their second child.   We know Arthur Haly was working in the WA’s north-west in the early 1900s.   It is believed Doris returned ‘home’ to her family in Queensland to give birth to her three children.    In the 1917 Electoral Roll records Arthur and Doris  are residing  Molla Bella Station, Halls Creek where Arthur was Station Manager. Stan,  brother Cyril and older sister Barbara were all born in Queensland –  however we know Arthur Haly was in WA in early 1900s.

Stan’s father died in 1929 aged 51 years and his mother died in 1950.  In the 1937 Electoral Roll, Stan was recorded living at Port Hedland and his occupation was ‘travelling saddler’.

Above:  it appears Arthur Haly’s father was living in Queensland when Arthur died.

Below:  there were many obituaries for Arthur Haly.

 

Below:  Stan’s mother is residing West Perth 1934.

Below:  Stan’s sister announces her engagement in 1934.

 

Below:  Stan participates in the fun day Aug 1940.    He is jockey on Cradle Son in the Maiden Handicap.

 

 

Below:  Arthur Haly’s Career.

Camp Locations:

  • Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
  • Sandakan - Borneo ***
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