I was informed by Vince Stanaway that today marks the 73rd year to the day when Sargent Vincent Stanaway (his dad) earned, through the battle for Cassino, the Military Medal (MM).

Vincent is the son of John Aloysius Stanaway and the grandson of Henare Stanaway.

Vince has kindly shared some insight on his fathers military exploits.

• Name: Vincent Stanaway
• Last Known Rank: Sergeant
• Serial No: 63019
• Date of Birth: 28 July 1918
• Occupation: Grocer
• Address: Helensville

Background

Cassino –  Italy, this town was considered the gateway to Rome, if the Allies could take it they would open up the road (Route 6) and the railway link all the way to Italy’s capital city. The Allies needed to capture Cassino, the Germans needed to hold it.

Capturing Cassino however was never going to be an easy task. The landscape in which the town sits at the base of the mountains and with a narrow passage through to the Liri Valley had always presented a very strong defence against attackers in past centuries. It also had the vantage point of the Benedictine monastery on top of Monte Cassino, from where defenders could see virtually anything happening in the approaches to the town below for miles.

The Germans also strengthened the town and positions around the hillsides with concrete and steel structures to create strongpoints for their machine-guns and mortars. And around the town they had broken river stop-banks and flooded the pastures to ensure tanks and vehicles approaching could only use the roads, which of course the German artillery had “taped” firmly in their sights. Furthermore any attack on the town by the Allies would involve crossing the Rapido River  so the Germans had destroyed the bridges to make this more difficult.

It was 73 years ago today that the Second Battle of Cassino was taking place, and this was the first of three battles the New Zealanders were directly involved in there. On the 15th of February 1944 a large force of 142 Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses, 47 North American B-25 Mitchells and 40 Martin B-26 Marauders of the United States Army Air Force bombed and destroyed the Abbey on the top of Monte Cassino (the imposing mountain behind the town of Cassino).

We pick up Vincent’s involvement from the 24 Battalion Official History page 231-232 – we read;

“March the 15th dawned with a clear sky, and at half past eight, in bright sunshine, the first wave of bombers flew over Cassino to drop their lethal cargoes, and thereafter until midday squadron followed squadron in successive waves, raining high explosive on the town. The wisdom of moving all troops back behind a safety line was amply demonstrated by the number of bombs which fell near C and D Companies’ former positions. During intervals in the aerial attack O’Brien’s gun crew, consisting of Corporals Stanaway and Bryant, fired on enemy pillboxes around Point 193 and then went to ground again as soon as the bombing was renewed. Eventually the platform of loose stones which served as an emplacement was shaken down by the concussion of the bombing, and they were obliged to cease fire. Since nothing more could be done, the crew retreated to B Echelon, leaving their gun behind, and were subsequently employed in the arduous and dangerous duty of carrying supplies to forward troops. Stanaway received the MM as an immediate award for his conduct on this occasion.”

Citation

AWARD OF THE MILITARY MEDAL TO TEMPORY LANCE SERGEANT VINCENT STANAWAY SECOND NEW ZEALAND EXPEDITIONARY FORCE. 1944.

“Prior to the bombing of Cassino on 15^th March, 1944, this non-commissioned officer, who was in charge of one of the unit’s anti-tank gun crews was, at his own request given permission to remain with his gun crew 500 yards inside the bomb line to engage known targets on point 193 of Monte Cassino. After the first flight of bombers had dropped their bombs, considerable movement was observed around the pillboxes on the feature and severe toll of the enemy was taken by fire from his gun. He maintained his gun in action till the concussion from the bombing threw the gun off line. When the bombing was completed, he ordered his crew to swing the gun into position and carried on with his task thereby restricting the fire of the enemy till the feature was taken. The excellent qualities of leadership, determination and courage shown by this non-commissioned officer during this and other battles were outstanding.”

We have included photographs of Vincent’s medals, which include;

• Military Medal (MM)
• 1939-1945 Star
• The Italy Star
• Africa Star
• Defence/War and NZ Service Medals

Arch Scott mentions Vincent Stanaway in his kiwi war book “Dark Side of the Moon”

….the fertile mind of a prankster who knew how to sail “close to the wind” where any lesser mortal would have floundered…

Vince says – “pretty much the old man to a tee. He was usually two sheets to the wind as well!”

 

 

 

We have added to the Rowlands branch of the web site (Phoebe Stanaway and Donald Rowlands) – now these are still draft but are a start on these pages.

The pages we have started – but not finished –  are;

• Roderick Kenneth Rowlands
• Frances Katherine Rowlands
• Helena Evaline Rowlands
• Laura Rowlands
• Sarah Pearl Rowlands
• Horace Edward Rowlands

If you have further information or corrections to any of these pages (or others) please let us know by “leaving a reply” at the bottom of that particular page.

I have recently been sent some fantastic photographs from Vince Stanaway – a descendant of Henare Stanaway. the photographs are of John his wife Nora and his older brother Henry. So I have updated a couple of the pages. check out the following;

John “Jack” Aloysius Stanaway

Henry Patrick Stanaway

 

I have received some correspondence from Kerry Stanaway a descendant of Henare Stanaway along with the attached photograph. The photograph was copied to Kerry from one of his relatives Lynette McManemin the great grand daughter of Margaret McElroy, who was Henare’s wife, Rose’s sister.

 

Emails have been flowing around on who the people are in the photograph, the date and occasion.

We have so far come to the following;

1. This is a wedding photograph
2. Date – somewhere between 1900 to 1910
3. Perhaps the couple seated are Henare and Rose Stanaway – see comparisons below
4. Due to number 3. above we have to assume then it is one of their children’s wedding
5. If we are correct with the dates then it could be either – Joseph and Ethel (1902), James and Elizabeth (1904), or Henry and Emily (1906) – at this stage I am not sure if this could be John and Nora (1911) as Rose had passed away in 1910.

Authors Note – I have since had some correspondence that we do not think the couple are Joseph and Ethel

The clue to unlocking this may lie with the 2 gentlemen standing – The gentleman on the left looks very similar to Archibald Stanaway.

Authors note – Do all three men in the photograph have the same nose?

 

In Henare Stanaway’s comparison – can we confirm these are one in the same person, same chin, nose , similar facial hair and brow.

Authors note – It is possible that Henare looked more European in appearance in latter years much like his older half brother William, and much like my grandmother did

Rose Stanaway nee McElroy comparison

Authors note – I believe this looks very much like Rose

We would like help especially from those descendants of Henare and Rose Stanaway who may be able to identify who the people are and who’s wedding this is. Please leave a reply below.

Many thanks to Lynette McManemin for sharing this photograph – hopefully someone out there can help answer these questions.