STANSFIELD William
public servant and citizen soldier 1874-1946
William Stansfield was born in Wadsworth Yorkshire on 19 November 1874 to Mitchell Stansfield, bootmaker and Margaret Jane Forrester, he accompanied his family when they migrated to Brisbane in 1887, and was educated at Kelvin Grove State School. He took up employment as a printer, and after marriage in 1897 and the prospect of a family, found secure employment as a clerk in the Queensland Railways the following year.
He joined the militia Moreton Regiment in 1900, then served in its post-federation successor 9 Australian Infantry Regiment and rose through the ranks to 2Lt in 1911. He then transferred to 5 Coy AASC, and on the outbreak of WW1 in August 1914, joined the AIF in 5 Coy AASC, 1 LH Bde’s Train, being promoted to Captain and Brigade Supply Officer in October. He sailed with the first convoy to Egypt, and accompanied his brigade when it landed at Gallipoli as reinforcement in May 1915. There he was given command of the Beach Supply Depot for 1 NZ and A Div, which he held until the evacuation back to Egypt in December.
In March 1916, as the infantry divisions began leaving for the Western Front, he was promoted to major, and given command of AASC units in both Egypt and Anzac Mtd Div. He controlled support of the operations in Sinai and the first two Gaza battles. He was recommended for a DSO for the battle of Romani, but was given an mid. Then in 1917, when Sir Harry Chauvel formed the Desert Mounted Corps, he was promoted Lt Col and became ADS&T of the Corps. Although the shortage of vehicles prevented the formation of the usual motorised supply columns for cavalry units, he was able to maintain the DMC during its rapid advances to Beersheba and Jerusalem in 1917 and Megiddo, Damascus and Aleppo in 1918. For the former the 'Queensland magician of supply and transport' was awarded the DSO and the latter the CMG. He was also awarded two additional mids.
On repatriation to Australia in 1919, Stansfield resumed his position in Queensland Railways, however his mentor Chauvel advised the Commissioner for Railways of his talents, and he was subsequently appointed to Inspector of Passenger Rolling Stock – Country, a modest but acceptable lift in both remuneration and status. He was also appointed State Transport Officer for the royal visits in 1920, 1927 and 1934.
He commanded 5 Div Train and AASC Units 1 MD 1922-27, giving way to younger generation but remaining on the Reserve of Officers until retirement in 1937 as an honorary colonel. Then came a brief reappearance in 1939 as Assistant Director of Remounts until a policy decision in 1940 to dispense with retired officers returned him to retirement.
He was then able in retirement to indulge his recreations of golf and sailing. He had married Amy Louisa Rogers in 1887 and had three sons and two daughters, who survived him on his death on 19 May 1946.