The Soldier's Details

 

 

 

Stanwell enlisted AIF 10 Aug 1940 later joining 2/4th MGB  ‘D’ Company Headquarters as a driver under Commanding Officer Major Alf Cough with Capt. Gwynne 2IC. Stanwell became Transport Corporal.

On 12 February, 1942 during fighting at Reformatory Road, Singapore the second of an Amoured Car Detachment led by Cpl. Ollie Stanwell intercepted and fought a sharp engagement with enemy on Holland Road just south of Racecourse village and although their vehicle was  disabled they halted a dangerous outflanking movement by the the Japanese.

The successes achieved by the limited use of carriers and light armoured vehicles underlined the role played by tanks in the Japanese breakthrough in Malaya and on Singapore.  We had no tanks and in general the infantry defence against them was limited to a rifle and bayonet and hand grenades -molotov cocktails were not standard issue!’  P. 165-166 ‘Ghosts in Kahki’ by Les Cody.

You can read further about the Platoons of ‘D’ Coy.

Please read about ‘E’ Force Borneo

 

 

 

 

 

STANWELL, Corporal, OLIVER MOIR, WX7798, A.I.F. 2/4 M.G. Bn., Australian Infantry. 12 March 1945. Age 39. Son of Richard Arthur and Rachel Stanwell; husband of Marjorie Irene Stanwell, of Bayswater, Western Australia. Panel 18.

Labuan Memorial, Malaysia.

 

Oliver Moir married in 1940 to Marjorie Kensal.

Oliver was born Moora 1905, second son to Richard Arthur Stanwell and Catherine Rachel Iffla.  Catherine Iffla,  known as Rachel was daughter to Charles Henry Iffla and Ann Eliuzabeth Moir.

In 1907, the Stanwell family left Moora.

 

Oliver’s father died Sept 1932 aged 66 years.

 

In august 1935, Oliver’s mother Catherine ‘Rachel’ Stanwell died aged 54 years.