William Edward Hanley Stanner - WW2 Military Service

WW2 Military Service

In March 1942 his pre-war experience in Northern Australia led to him being directed to "raise and command" to what became the 2/1st North Australia Observer Unit (NAOU), otherwise known as 'Stanner's Bush Commandos'. At this time he enlisted in the 2nd AIF (1942–1946). Known colloquially as 'Nackeroos', the men were deployed in small groups throughout the rugged north of Australia, where they observed and reported on signs of enemy activity, often patrolling on horseback. As the unit's Commander, Major Stanner made contact with many local Aboriginal groups, and employed some to assist his troops as guides and labourers. Nackeroo operations were scaled down as the threat of Japanese invasion passed, and the unit was eventually disbanded in March 1945. The history of the unit was documented in detail by Dr. Amoury Vane.

Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) in 1943, Stanner served in Europe, Britain and then in British North Borneo (Lt-Col) as Senior Civil Affairs Officer for the British Borneo Civil Affairs Unit (BBCAU) until the conclusion of the war.