The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of QX24629 Private Stanley Walter Ashton, 47th Battalion, Second Australian Imperial Force

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Craig Berelle, the story for this day was on (QX24629) Private Stanley Walter Ashton, 47th Battalion, Second Australian Imperial Force, Second World War.

QX24629 Private Stanley Walter Ashton, 47th Battalion, Second Australian Imperial Force
Killed 14 August 1943

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Stanley Walter Ashton.

Stanley Ashton was born on 15 June 1909 in Yerra, Queensland, to Annie and Christopher Ashton, a dairy and cane labourer. Stanley grew up alongside three younger sisters, Eunice, Iris, and Daphne, and attended school at Myrtle Creek.

Stanley’s mother died when he was 15, and he took up work with his father in the cane industry. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church and well-known and popular in the Tiaro and Bauple districts.

On 18 February 1939 Ashton enlisted in the Australian Military Forces, joining the 47th Battalion. He was called up for full time duty on the 21st of December 1941, and joined the Second Australian Imperial Force.

On 19 March 1943 Ashton embarked with his unit to New Guinea aboard the transport ship Tarooma, and arrived in Milne Bay. That year, Allied forces in New Guinea began a major campaign to take the Japanese-occupied port of Lae. Australian forces were directed towards Salamaua in order to divert Japanese forces from the main target. On 23 August the 5th Division, to which the 47th Battalion belonged, took over the advance on Salamaua, and successfully took the objective after three weeks of heavy fighting.

The Salamaua campaign cost the Allies 343 dead, including Private Ashton, who was killed in action near Lake Salus on 14 August 1943. He was among men of the 47th Battalion ordered on an operation near the lake, where they were attacked by a strong Japanese force. Ashton was one of seven killed in the attack. He was 34 years old.

Private Ashton was buried at Lake Salus, but was later reinterred at the Lae War Cemetery. His headstone bears the inscription “Resurgam”, which in Latin means “I shall rise again”.

The Bauple district people extended their sympathy to the Ashton family, and the Tiaro councillor noted that Ashton was one of the first three young men of the district to fall in the war.

Private Stanley Walter Ashton’s name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my left, along with some 40,000 others from the Second World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private Stanley Ashton, and all those Australians who have given their lives in service of our nation.

Christina Zissis
Editor, Military History Section