Private Stanley Breakell
- Rank
- Private
- Service number
- 2352
- Unit
- 28 Battalion
- Cause of death
- Killed in Action
- Place of death
- Montauban, France
- Date of death
- 3 November 1916
- Age
- 23
- Plaque number
- M279B
- Co-located plaques
- M279 - PTE Sydney Dunstan
- M279A - PTE George Durrant
- Dedicated by
- Family on 13 February 2021
- More information
Biography presented during plaque dedication:
Private Stanley Breakell of 28 Battalion, was born in 1893 at Preston in country Lancashire, England to parents Henry and Agnes Breakell. He had four brothers and two sisters.
He attended St Matthew’s Church of England School in Preston. While at school he was a member of the boys brigade and also played in the school band. Upon leaving school he was apprenticed in the trade of iron moulder.
In 1911, at the age of 17, Stanley emigrated with all his family except the oldest brother, to Western Australia. His father purchased 1,000 acres of virgin land 180 miles north east of Perth – an area later to be named Bencubbin. They cleared and worked the land, and Stanley continued as a rural worker until he enlisted in the AIF in July 1915.
Stanley is remembered as a gentle lad who had an affinity with injured animals. He had a keen ear for music and played several instruments.
Upon enlistment Stanley completed initial training at Blackboy Hill Training Camp, and in October 1915 left Fremantle aboard HMAT “Themistocles” bound for Egypt. After additional training his unit proceeded to France where 28 Battalion was part of the 2 Australian Division.
The battalion took part in its first major battle at Pozieres between 28 July and 6 August 1916 and in October was part of the costly fighting east of Flers, in the Somme Valley.
Private Stanley Breakell, service number 2352, was killed in action at Montauban, France on 3 November 1916. He was 23 years old.
Stanley has no known grave and is commemorated on the Villers-Brettoneux Memorial at Picardie, France as well as honour boards in Australia and Preston, England.
His plaque is placed alongside Private Sydney Dunstan and Private George Durrant, who were in the same 28 Battalion and died on the same day.