His enlistment document describes him as 5 foot 6 1/2 inches tall, with a dark complexion, brown hair and blue eyes.
He married Vera Joan Farrington on 24 Nov 1941 in Dorchester. She was a WAAF at RAF Warmwell and they married in Warmwell church.
| Unit or location | Role | Posted from | until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined Sussex Scout Section | Scout Section Member | 21 Jul 1944 | 31 Jan 1944 |
| SAS 1944-1945 | SAS combatant | 02 Feb 1944 | 23 Mar 1944 |
| SAS 1944-1945 | SAS combatant | 02 Feb 1944 | 23 Mar 1944 |
Engineering
15 Jul 1939 Enlisted in the East Surrey Regiment for 4 years service.
16 Nov 1939 Posted to 1/6 Battalion The East Surrey Regiment at Lyme Regis in Dorset. The Battalion War Diary records 32 Other ranks arriving the day before from the Depot and no others for a week, so likely he was in this party
5 Apr 1940 Posted overseas with the British Expeditionary Force. The Battalion travelled to Axminster and then went by train to Southampton where they embarked on the SS Ulster Prince and crossed to Cherbourg. They were billeted in various towns in Northern France before being moving into Belgium after the German invasion. They took part in fighting in Belgium, retreating to La Panne
1 Jun 1940 Evacuated from Northwest Europe to England. The Battalion broke up on the beach at La Panne, some men being taken off the beach and others marching to nearby Dunkirk to embark. The Battalion reformed at Milborne Port from 4 Jun 1940.
10 Feb 1941 Appointed unpaid Lance Corporal
20 Oct 1941 Attached to Royal Navy
26 May 1942 - 17 Jun 1942 Attached EF HQ. The War Diary mentions that The Guard returned from Force HQ at this time and were complimented on their activities. The Battalion were based at Carronbridge Camp, Dumfries, as part of 10th Infantry Brigade within 4th Division.
10 Mar 1943 to 17 Apr 1943 Absent without Leave for 38 Days. His wife was pregnant with twins and due to deliver at the start of March. His regiment was due to sail for the Mediterranean and this meant he would not be sent. Instead he was tried by Court Martial and sentenced to 28 days detention and forfeiture of 45 days pay. He earned 4 days remission for excellent service in detention at Fort Darland Detention barracks at Chatham. Following this he was returned to 12 Infantry Training Centre rather than his battalion which was normal after a prolonged absence.
21 Jul 1943 Posted to Auxiliary Units HQ, Highworth. He was posted to the Combined Sussex Scout Section based at Tottington Manor. This is confirmed by a letter sent to him there by his father's wife in Sep 1943.
1 Feb 1944 Posted to Airborne Forces Holding Unit
2 Feb 1944 Posted to 1 SAS Regiment, relinquishing rank of Lance Corporal. During this period the SAS were training around Darvel in Scotland.
23 Mar 1944 Posted to 3 Infantry Depot.
28 Mar 1944 Permanently attached to Depot in excess of War Establishment.
11 May 1944 Posted to 12 Infantry Training Centre (The East Surrey Regiment)
8 Jun 1944 Posted to the War (T) reserve on compassionate grounds. Home address 65 Alexandra Road, Croydon, Surrey
13 Apr 1945 Taken on strength 12 Infantry Holding Battalion
5 Nov 1945 Posted to Draft (as a reinforcement for units overseas)
6 Nov 1945 Posted to Central Mediterranean Forces
10 Mar 1946 Attached to 28 Brigade Workshops
31 Mar 1946 Middle East Forces (he did not move unit, this was the result of Greece coming under Middle East Forces)
9 Apr 1946 Embarked from Middle East for United Kingdom
26 Apr 1946 Arrived home
22 May 1946 Discharged to Reserve.
He appears to have also been re-registered with the number 10013788 as Stanley Edward Gater though reverted to his other Army number, once the error was recognised.
War Diaries 1/6 Battalion The East Surrey Regiment
Ancestry.co.uk
Service Record Stanley Edwin Gater (A Poier)