Axtill Stanley John 1891

Stanley John Axtill

 

1891-1956

Father Nm: William Thomas Axtill b. 1864, Ballarat, Victoria d. 15 May 1943, Bendigo, Victoria

Mother Nm: Alice Emma Blencowe [8441] born 5.5.1863 One Tree Hill died 1908 St Kilda ;Oldest Known Ancestor-Thomas Blencowe 1475 Marston St Lawrence.

Marriage Dt:

  1. 1930 Leeton

Kin comments: Father William Thomas served with 22nd Battalion. Nephew Stanley John ( (1918) served in WW2 as a Lieutenant in the Australian Army.

Spouse Comments:

  1. Lily M Webb

Children:

Research: BFA database, Ancestry

WW1
Gallery 23rd Divisional Train 3rd Div.

Stanley John Axtill,Lance Corporal, Driver, 10802, 22nd and 23rd Australian Army Service Corps C 3 Div Train

Note: Explanation of Divisional Train numbers used in this history; Per Col Michael Young’s history of the ASC (see Annex Q, page 317)
ASC Companies 867, 868, 869 & 870 were all formed on 23rd November 1916 and served with the 3rd Australian Divisional Train on the Western Front.
These four companies were also designated the AASC’s 22, 23, 24 & 25 Companies (HT)
The four companies were disbanded in October 1918.The Kew file ref is given as WO95/3394
1915

  • 19-20 Jul. Two attestation forms exist both have different Service numbers and it might be given his first number MY 1486/1 that it was intended initially that John join the Motor Transport section of the ASC. However the next day he attested again with the AASC and given a new Serial number 10802. Stanley’s age 23 years, a Grocer from Birchip Vic. who had worked for 6 years at Hannah Brothers. The note gives eldest brother Percy as next of kin. John is attested and placed with the Australian Army Services.
  • 18 Oct. Stanley writes to the Army to request he joins his father at Ascot Vale this is approved.
  • 22 Oct. Joined the AASC at Ascot Vale.
  • 15 Dec. Transferred to Broadmeadows Vic. where it seems he was training to be a driver of Horse transport.
1916
  • 26 February . Kitbag stolen see Police Gazette cutting
  • 25 Mar. Transferred to the 3rd Division HQ Coy. as a Driver.
  • 3 Jun. Embarked on ‘Persic’ for England.

    Departure of HMAT Persic (A34) with members of the 37th Battalion bound for England. 3 June 1916
  • 21 Nov. Proceeding overseas to France with the 3rd Div. 23rd  Divisional train. It would appear he was then transferred to the 22nd Div. Train or 867 Coy as it was known in the division.
1917
  • The 3rd Division and its Divisional ASC was based at Steenwerck west of Armentieres
  • 7-28 Jan. La Creche. John is sick with Mumps and sent to first to No 11 Australian Field Ambulance at Steenwerck. On the 13th January Stanley is transferred to No 7 General Hospital. He was discharged to rejoin the Regiment on 28th January..

The records show that Stanley was recorded with the 867 Coy or the 22nd Divisional Train during the war. The 3rd Divisional Train War Diary gives the locations of the 867 Coy during the war and is referenced. It’s important to note that the Divisional train was used to supply from behind lines often at railheads to the near front line, hence locations and movements of the Third Division and its battles plus the 3rd Div. Train are included in the following dates/locations.

 

  • Jan-Apr. The 867 Coy was stationed just east of Bailleul at La Creche for this entire period,
  • Apr. After a period in the Hazebrouck area the 3rd Division was moved the 135km south to Ploegsteert in the Messines–Wytschaete Ridge section of the line in Belgium.
  • May. The 867 Coy moved to Le Kirlem near Steenwerck. for of the month moving on the last day to Nieppe.6
  • 7-10 Jun. The Battle of Messines. In the march to the front on 6th June the 3rd Division came under heavy gas shell bombardment and this resulted in 2000 casualties before the battle had begun. The use of mines under the German positions was a surprise to the enemy and the 3rd took the Messines Ridge. The 3rd took no part in the subsequent fighting.
    • Based at Nieppe for the attack, the Divnl. Train casualties were 15 for the period.
  • Sept.The 867 Coy stationed at Dickiebusch until end of the month.6
  • Oct. The 867 Coy stationed at Vlamertinghe.6
  • 1 Oct. The 3rd Division moved up into the line from Winnezeele.the DHQ moving the Ramparts at Ypres shortly afterwards.
  • 4 Oct. Battle of Broodseinde Ridge.“The attack began before dawn on 4 October 1917. The Australian troops involved were shelled heavily on their start line and a seventh of their number became casualties even before the attack began. When it did, the attacking troops were confronted by a line of troops advancing towards them; the Germans had chosen the same morning to launch an attack of their own. The Australians forged on through the German assault waves and gained all their objectives along the ridge. It was not without cost, however. German pillboxes were characteristically difficult to subdue, and the Australian divisions suffered 6,500 casualties.”4
  • 12 Oct. The First Battle of Passchendaele.”As a part of the continuing Third Battle of Ypres on the Western Front, Australian, New Zealand and British troops were involved in an unsuccessful attempt to seize the Passchendaele Ridge from the defending Germans on 12 October 1917. The vicious fighting took place in the most appalling of waterlogged conditions, which helped render the name Passchendaele a synonym for slaughter. The 3rd Australian Division’s attempts to struggle forward to their objective with little artillery protection represented the last major Australian participation in the Third Battle of Ypres.“4
  • Nov.The 867 Coy moved back to point close to Sailly sur Lys and Steenwerck.6.
  • 29 Dec.-5 Jan. Stanley was granted leave to Paris.
1918
  • Feb. Located at Bianche Maison west of Armentieres.6
    • 2 Feb. Div Train WD records an unexploded anti arircraft shell went off near the train wounding 5 men and killing one horse.
  • 1-23 Mar. Located at Bianche Maison west of Armentieres.6
  • 28-31 Mar. German Spring Offensive. On March 23, the Australian 3rd and 4th Divisions are ordered to proceed to Amiens to strengthen the retreating British 5th Army..7 The Divisional train moved south the Mametz zone and the 867 Coy. to Behencourt (west of Albert).
  • 4-5 Apr. Germans attack with 15 Divisions towards Amiens at dawn. The first battle of Villers-Bretonneux commences. The 9th Brigade of the Australian 3rd Division and the British 18th Division, which were holding the northern sector, are eventually driven back to the outskirts of Villers-Bretonneux. Adjacent German attacks capture both Hamel ( north ) and Hangard Wood ( south of Villers-Bretonneux . April 5, 1918 – A counter-attack by the 36th Battalion of the Australian 3rd Division at dawn halts the German advance beyond Villers-Bretonneux. The hard-fought action costs the 9th Brigade ( Australian 3rd Division ) 660 casualties but prevents further advances towards Amiens.7
  • April The 867 Coy was located at La Houssoye from 1st-27th Apr. they moved to Pont Noyelles. The 3rd Div. train suffered 3 men wounded GSW in the month.6
  • Early May – Australian 3rd Division advanced the front by a mile and gained the heights to the east of Villers-Bretonneux. This  resulted in 15 killed and 80 wounded.7
  • May. The 867 Coy was located at Pounlainville, St Ledger and Pont Remy.6
  • Jun. The 867 Coy was located at Amiens.6
  • Jul.The 867 Coy was located at Amiens.Two Casualties reported for the 3rd Div. Train.6
  • 27 Jul-12 Aug. Stanley granted leave to the UK.
  • Aug. The 867 Company on the move in August as the Allied army pressed forward but still located in the Amiens Sector. Located at  Amiens, Daours, Corbie, Resieres, Corbie and Cerisy.6
  • Sept. The 867 Company continued on the move eastwards in Sept. Located at Feuilleres, Frise, Peronne and Roisel.6

  • Oct. The 867 Company continued on the move eastwards . Located at Ronnsoy, south of Bellicourt, Joncourt, Bohain, Busigny and Walincourt.

  • Nov. The 867 Coy returned to the Armentieres sector and were located just west of Armentieres.

On 10th November the War Diary records a 3rd Division Horse Show, Stanley isn’t amongst the winners of the different entries but his MSM seems to be regarding his excellent work in keeping his Horse and equipment in fine condition.

  • 7 Dec. Promoted to Lance Corporal.
1919
  • 15 Jun. Return to Australia on the Thermosicles arrived Melbourne on the 7th August 1919.
  • 22 Sept. Discharged from the Army.
Sources
  1. Service Records of S J Axtill
  2. 3rd Division Administration HQ war diary
  3. The AIF in France
  4. Australian War Museum
  5. Col Michael Young’s history of the ASC
  6. Third Divisional Train War Diary
  7. ANZACs in France
Medals

 

Awarded 1914-15 Star, British war and Victory medals.

Stanley John was also awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) in 1918

Nb. The Meritorious Service Medal was instituted on 19 December 1845 for the British Army, to recognise meritorious service by non-commissioned officers. Recipients were also granted an annuity, the amount of which was based on rank

After the War
1930 Marriage Leeton
1934 leeton

A butcher living with wife Mabel Liliy

1947 Marriage

At Leeton, NSW to  Gloria Greig Byrne (1920–1961)

Died 1956

Name: Stanley John Axtill
Residence Place: Leeton
Death Date: 13 Apr 1956
Occupation: Wool Skin Produce Agent

 

GALLERY

Service Records Stanley john Axtill MT1486/1