RUSSELL, Walter Edward

Stan Parker was born at Albert Park, Victoria on 23 September 1890. Unfortunately his father died when Stan was only 6 weeks of age. His mother re-married and as Stan did not enjoy a harmonious relationship with his step-father, he moved to Western Australia and started work in a biscuit factory in Fremantle at 12 years of age.

In 1905 he travelled to the South West of W.A. and boarded with the Chapman family who had a farm in the Preston Valley/Ferguson area. He spent most of his working life prior to the First World War in timber mills at Mornington, Wellington, Kirrup and Lowden as a timber cutter, prior to acting as guard on the Lowden to Bunbury timber trains.

Stan voluntarily enlisted in the Army immediately War was declared. Shortly after enlistment on 19 August 1914, he completed formal training at Blackboy Hill and embarked on the ship Ascanius on 2 November 1914.

He was amongst the first ANZAC soldiers to set foot on the sandy beaches of Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. After advancing approximately 1000 metres, he was shot by the Turks and fell to the ground, to be examined later by the Red Cross during an agreed cessation of hostilities — who pinned a red tag on his chest reading "Bullet in lower left rib — no exit." After collection from the beach by the Field Ambulance Officers, Stan was issued the last rites by the Roman Catholic priest.

Later that evening a Medic discovered that Stan still had a pulse and he was transferred to a hospital ship en route to Heliopolis Hospital near Cairo. The doctors decided it was too risky to remove the Nickel .303 calibre bullet, as it was lodged extremely close to his spinal cord — a diagnosis confirmed many years later when an X-ray detected its location and modern surgeons also confirmed that removal was too risky. Stan was to carry this lodged bullet with him until his death. After three weeks in hospital he was passed fit and re-united with his fellow ANZACs in the resumption of fighting at Gallipoli. After the ANZAC evacuation from Gallipoli in December 1915, Stan was transferred to the Western Front in France.

Shortly after his return to Australia in 1919, Stan married his dear wife Katie (whom he had previously acquainted at Lowden). They produced three children and Stan resumed working at the Mornington Mill until it closed down. Life was extremely difficult during the Depression years, and in 1932 Stan relocated with his family to Bunbury, purchasing vacant land and building a home at 51 Spencer Street.

Stan worked for the Bunbury Town Council from 1934 until 1959 in a wide range of roles, retiring from the workforce at the age of 74 years. This 25-year period was broken by Stan's insistence on enlisting again for the Second World War effort. After initially being advised he would not pass a medical check, Stan completed enlistment on 10 October 1940. He was deployed to the Port Hedland Garrison, joining the team led by Captain Raymond Arthur Clarke — one of his original 11th Battalion mates from Gallipoli. Stan completed his second war duties (Service No. W 30627) and was one of the Army personnel who accompanied the Italian Prisoners of War on their voyage back to Italy, being discharged on 16 January 1947.

Stan proudly marched in the annual Bunbury ANZAC Day parade, wearing his medals on his chest, with his final march in 1979, only three months prior to his passing. He had been previously honoured with Life Membership of the Gallipoli Legion of ANZACs.

Stan was very proud of his wife's involvement in various voluntary organisations on the home front. His daughter Lillian Maxine was a member of the Voluntary Aid Division (Nursing) and the Voluntary Air Corps (plane spotting) during the Second World War. His daughter Norma Lolene served with the RAAF (Service No. 103730, discharged 2/10/1945). His son George Stanley served with the RAAF and later the Royal Australian Navy from 1946–1958, then retired from 27 years with the Department of Defence.