Remembered
The West Australian of 21 May 1901, noting that Reid "was for some time the minister of the Presbyterian Church at Boulder", reported that "he was regarded as a fine soldier, and one who had a more than ordinary moral influence over his comrades in the field".
In its 20 July 1901 tribute to Reid, The Western Mail, having made reference to his academic and clerical careers, reported that Field Marshal Lord Roberts, the Commander in Chief of the British Forces in Second Boer War, had said of Reid: "He is one of the best men on the field of battle".
At the same time the newspaper observed that "his death has caused sorrow in many a home", and reported that a memorial service had been held in Boulder on Sunday 14 July 1901 for the town's former Presbyterian minister and that "many Roman Catholics and people of other denominations attended to show their respect to the memory of one who had proved himself a man among men". The Kalgoorlie Western Argus also published an obituary.
After his death his commanding Officer wrote to his mother:
Both officers and men under my command feel acutely the loss of your gallant son who by his kindliness and manly bearing had endeared himself to everybody with whom he was associated.
His conduct in the field was most exemplary.
During our engagement at Breakpan he was severely wounded in the stomach, but not withstanding the severity of his wound he continued in action, and led his division until the close of the action.
For his conspicuous bravery I mentioned him in despatches, and to the general commanding this column was pleased to forward it on to the commander in chief.
In a match against Trinity College on Tuesday, 9 July 1901, not long after the news of Reid's death had reached Melbourne, the Ormond College football team all wore black arm-bands as a mark of respect for their former captain.
Reid was specifically mentioned in the address given by Sir James George Steere, the chairman of the W.A. Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Committee, on Friday 26 July 1901 in Kings Park, when Steere formally invited the Duke of York (later King George V) to lay the foundation stone for the monument that was to serve as a memorial to the 4 officers and 24 men (of the more than 900 that went to South Africa in six different contingents from Western Australia) who were killed in action or died of their wounds in the Boer War.
Stanley Spencer Reid is commemorated on war memorials at:
- Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
- Caulfield Grammar School, St Kilda East, Victoria.
- King's Park, Perth, Western Australia
- Ormond College, Parkville, Victoria.
- Scotch College, Hawthorn, Victoria.
- Middelburg Cemetery, Mpumalanga, South Africa.
Read more about this topic: Stan Reid
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—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)
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