Stanley Alfred Gedling was born on 13 October 1894 at Ballarat, Victoria to Grace and Alfred Gedling.
As a boy, he was part of the Ballarat Naval cadets who wished to see the arrival of the American Naval fleet into Melbourne in 1908. After being denied funding from the government for travel, they set out by foot to travel to Melbourne. The journey took them three days but they saw the fleet. They had also garnered so much recognition along the way that the government funded their transportation back to Ballarat.
Gedling enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy as an Ordinary Seaman on 26 February 1913 for a period of 7 years. He spent his first nine months training in Melbourne. In October 1913, he was transferred to HMAS Melbourne, his first 'Real' Ship and spent most of the First World War aboard this ship. He also commenced his training as a signalman, obtaining that rank in September 1915.
Gedling took part in the operations in German New Guinea in September 1914 whilst aboard HMAS Melbourne. Gedling recorded in his diary the daily working of life aboard HMAS Melbourne including her encounters with other ships, the experiences of escorting the first Australian and New Zealand convoy from Albany, Western Australia and his time in Bermuda.
In April 1918, Gedling left HMAS Melbourne and was transferred to HMAS Cerberus, becoming a leading signalman in December 1918. He joined HMAS Brisbane in October 1919. He served with this ship until just before his engagement expired in March 1920.
After discharge, Gedling become an electrician and married Helena Charlotte Griffin in 1920. Stanley Alfred Gedling died on 18 April 1969.