PRESUMED KILLED
AN INVERCARGILL OFFICER
Advice has been received by Mr and Mrs William Green, 98 Nith street, Invercargill, that their son, Lieutenant Stanley John Green, who was previously reported missing, is now presumed to have been killed in Crete. Lieutenant Green was born in Invercargill. On leaving the Southland Boys’ High School he was employed by the Wellington Woollen Mills and was later transferred to Invercargill as traveller. He was a keen swimmer and was for several years secretary of the Southland Swimming Centre. He was 30 years of age. -Otago Daily Times, 24/7/1941.
Stanley Green was killed on a desperate day for the NZ Army, at the village of Galatas on Crete. German forces had taken the village and were threatening the New Zealand position. A counter-attack was ordered and Sergeant Kimber of the Bren gun platoon saw the action: "As Lt Bain was senior officer he assumed charge of us, and I would like to pay tribute … to the determined and gallant manner in which he led that bayonet charge and pressed it home. Nothing short of a 25-pounder would have stopped him….
At the church we were held up by MG fire, so Lt Bain and about half a dozen men went one side [while] Lt Green and six of us went to the other side. We were just turning the corner into a narrow lane [when] an MG opened up at about 20 yards' range … [killing Lt Green and a machine-gunner, wounding Private Dave Whittaker and a man from 18 Battalion] -Official History of 20 Battalion and Armoured Unit.
Stanley Green was buried in the Soudos Bay War Cemetery.
Roll of honour
Green - In loving memory of our beloved nephew, Lieutenant Stanley John, who died in Crete on May 25, 1941.
We have lost, but God has gained,
One of the best this world contained.
B. and L. Drake, Waimiha. -NZ Herald, 25/5/1942.
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