Stanley Douglas Green was born on the 10th September 1918 Ebbw Vale (Ebber Vale) a small mining town in the Rhonda Valley, (coal mining area] South Wales, United Kingdom.   Stanley was the youngest child of Edward Wilkins Green and Lena Green.  

Due to the depression Stanley’s Father lost his job, however he was offered a job at the Newcastle NSW Steelworks which involved migrating to Australia.  The family sold their home and migrated to Newcastle, NSW settling in Merewether West in 1925 when Stanley was 7 years of age.  Stanley’s Father worked in the open hearth, which worked 24/7 all through the depression.

Stanley attended The Junction School and then attended Newcastle Boys High, where he gained the Leaving Certificate.  Stanley joined the Army cadets at Fort Scratchley and then when old enough he joined the Militia.

Due to the very high levels of unemployment during the pre World War 2 period Stanley was able to secure employment working in a dairy as a hand/labourer at Gloucester NSW.  

At the outbreak of World War 2 Stanley enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force and was allocated to Artillery to the 2nd/1st Field Regiment serving throughout the middle east and Papua New Guinea.   It was whilst serving with the 2nd/1st as a Signaller in Wewak, Papua New Guinea that Stanley was awarded the Military Medal for his bravery among other things.   Stanley served from 3rd November 1939 until the 13th October 1945.   Due to migrating from the United Kingdom to Australia at a young age Stanley was accepted as an Aussie with those around him unable to detect his Welsh accent.

The 2nd/1st Field Regiment served throughout the 2nd World War in Palestine, Egypt, Libya, Cyrenaica, Greece and Crete, Ceylon and in New Guinea.   As a result of Stanley’s bravery in New Guinea he was awarded the Military Medal.

At Wewak fighting from his weapon pit out of ammunition Stanley was attacked by a Japanese Officer with a samurai sword whom he quickly dispatched with his own sword.   More on this particular encounter can be read under the link to “Military Medal”.

Due to malaria Stanley did not work for 12 months following his discharge.   In the words of Dr Idris-Morgan, who was the repatriation Doctor at the time, Stanley had contracted the worst case of malaria he had ever seen.

Following Stanley’s prolonged illness he was successful in gaining employment with BHP in Newcastle as a Clerk.  After 10 years with BHP Stanley was successful in gaining employment with the Education Department of NSW and following studies and qualifications went on to become an Accountant.

Stanley suffered the first of a number of heart attacks in 1960 and following a number of other heart attacks, Stanley retired.   In 1978 Dr Victor Chang performed a triple by pass on Stanley.   While the operation was a success ultimately Stanley’s deteriorating health saw him pass away in 1984 aged 66.    Stanley was a very modest man never wearing his medals yet always attending the Dawn Service and Anzac Day march in Newcastle, followed by the reunion at the Newcastle RSL.   Stanley was a keen sportsman, playing in the local area cricket, rugby league and was also a member of the Merewether Surf Club.

Stanley first met the love of his life and wife to be (Olga) at a high school dance, correspondence quickly followed and when on leave in 1943 they were married.

A few years after Stanley died Mr John Howard (the Commanding Officer of the 2nd/1st Field Regiment informed his son Douglas Green that his father had been offered a field commission on 3 occasions during the war, once in the middle east and twice in New guinea all of which were politely declined.