Stan Reid
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Stanley Spencer Reid (12 July 1872 – 23 June 1901) was an
Australian rules football Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval field, often a modified cricket ground. Points are scored by k ...
er with the
Fitzroy Football Club The Fitzroy Football Club is an Australian rules football club currently competing in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA). Formed in 1883 to represent the inner-Melbourne municipality of Fitzroy, the club was a member of the Vi ...
from 1894 to 1898. Soon after his retirement from VFL football, he became an ordained minister of the
Presbyterian Church Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their nam ...
. He also, later, became a member of the Imperial Forces in the
Anglo-Boer War The Second Boer War ( af, Tweede Vryheidsoorlog, , 11 October 189931 May 1902), also known as the Boer War, the Anglo–Boer War, or the South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer Republics (the Sout ...
, firstly as a trooper in the Second Western Australian (Mounted Infantry) Contingent (2WAMI) in 1900, and then as a
commissioned officer An officer is a person who holds a position of authority as a member of an armed force or uniformed service. Broadly speaking, "officer" means a commissioned officer, a non-commissioned officer, or a warrant officer. However, absent context ...
in the Sixth Western Australian (Mounted Infantry) Contingent (6WAMI) in 1901. He died in active service in the Anglo-Boer War.


Early life

Stanley Spencer Reid was the third child of Rev. John Bentley Reid (1843–1910) and Sibyl Rose Reid, née Drury (1849–1943). He was born in
Swan Hill, Victoria Swan Hill is a city in the northwest of Victoria, Australia on the Murray Valley Highway and on the south bank of the Murray River, downstream from the junction of the Loddon River. At , Swan Hill had a population of 11,508. Indigenous Peopl ...
on 12 July 1872, and was one of their five sons and two daughters. The Reids had arrived in Australia in 1871 on the ''Hampshire'', and moved straight to
Swan Hill, Victoria Swan Hill is a city in the northwest of Victoria, Australia on the Murray Valley Highway and on the south bank of the Murray River, downstream from the junction of the Loddon River. At , Swan Hill had a population of 11,508. Indigenous Peopl ...
where Rev. John Reid became its first Presbyterian minister. He was ordained as soon as Swan Hill's first Presbyterian Church, ''The John Knox Church'', was completed in December 1872. After spending some time in Victoria Rev. John Bentley Reid moved to Western Australia. He was the joint minister of both the Leederville and the Subiaco Presbyterian churches in 1899. He died on 10 August 1910, in Victoria, aged 68.


Education

He attended
Caulfield Grammar School Caulfield Grammar School is an Independent school, independent, co-educational, Anglican Church of Australia, Anglican, International Baccalaureate, day school, day and boarding school, located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Founded in 1881 as ...
, Scotch College, and the
University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria. Its main campus is located in Parkville, an inner suburb nor ...
, where he was a resident of
Ormond College Ormond College is the largest of the residential colleges of the University of Melbourne located in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is home to around 350 undergraduates, 90 graduates and 35 professorial and academic residents. Hi ...
. He graduated from Melbourne University with a
Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four years ...
in 1896.


School sports

As well as playing football whilst he was at Scotch College — he played for the Scotch College First XVIII in both 1889 and 1890 — he also played cricket. In a match against Wesley College in 1888, he took 7 wickets for 16 runs in the first innings. He also competed in, and came second in the open age pole vault and the running high jump at the Scotch College School Sports in 1888.


University sports

In 1893 and 1894, whilst attending Melbourne University, he participated in a number of lawn tennis tournaments. He won the high jump championship at the 1897 Melbourne University sports meeting, representing the Arts faculty, with a jump of 5 ft. 5in; was captain of the Ormond rugby team and, also, came second in the 120 yards hurdles championship race.


Football


VFA footballer (1894–1896)

Reid made his debut for
Victorian Football Association The Victorian Football League (VFL) is an Australian rules football league in Australia serving as one of the second-tier regional semi-professional competitions which sit underneath the fully professional Australian Football League (AFL). It ...
(VFA) team
Fitzroy Fitzroy or FitzRoy may refer to: People As a given name *Several members of the Somerset family (Dukes of Beaufort) have this as a middle-name: **FitzRoy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan (1788–1855) ** Henry Charles FitzRoy Somerset, 8th Duke of Beau ...
, as a backman, on Saturday 9 June 1894, at the Richmond Cricket Ground. It was Fitzroy's seventh game for the 1894 season, and Fitzroy won 10 goals 7 behinds to Richmond's 3 goals 11 behinds. In its match report ''The Argus'' commented that "The Fitzroy captain Tom_Banks.html" ;"title="Tom Banks (Australian rules footballer)">Tom Banks">Tom Banks (Australian rules footballer)">Tom Bankswas immensely pleased with the high marking of Reid, a former Scotch College boy". In its report, ''The Age'', noting that "it was his first game in the maroons' ranks", and that "he is a decided acquisition to the team", remarked that "Reid, among the backs, played almost perfect football throughout". He played a number of senior VFA games for Fitzroy between 1894 and 1896, and came to be considered as one of the game's best defenders.


VFL footballer (1897–1898)

By the start of 1897, when the Fitzroy Football Club left the VFA and took part in the inaugural VFL competition, Reid was already well established as a defender, and had gained a reputation for his strength, his high making and his long kicking. He played a total of 24 senior
Victorian Football League The Victorian Football League (VFL) is an Australian rules football league in Australia serving as one of the second-tier regional semi-professional competitions which sit underneath the fully professional Australian Football League (AFL). It ...
(VFL) games; eight in 1897, and sixteen in 1898. In his first VFL match, at the
Brunswick Street Oval The WT Peterson Community Oval, best known as the Brunswick Street Oval and also as the Fitzroy Cricket Ground, is a cricket and Australian rules football ground located in Edinburgh Gardens in Fitzroy North, Victoria. History Australian Rule ...
, on Saturday 29 May 1897, Reid played an outstanding defensive game — "Reid was playing a sure and fast game"; "Reid marked beautifully and invariably got in a splendid long low kick" — in a team that was unexpectedly very soundly beaten by a very inexperienced Essendon side, 6.6 (42) to 2.8 (20); the three-quarter time score had been 5.5 (35) to 1.3 (9).


Representative team (1897)

In June 1897, in the first season of the new V.F.L. competition, the Victorian Football League arranged a match between a combined team of V.F.L. players and a combined team from what was, perhaps, the second strongest competition in Australia at that time, the Ballarat Football Association. Whilst the selected team was listed as "Melbourne", and the match spoken of as the Ballarat v. Melbourne match, all of the contemporary newspaper accounts indicate that most people referred to them as "The Metropolitans" (by contrast with the "Country" team from Ballarat). There is no record of the team ever being referred to as either the "Victorian" team or the "V.F.L." team. The representative match was originally proposed to take place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday, 12 June 1897; however, for some trivial reasons, relating to the question of the free admission of V.F.L. delegates to the Members' Reserves,Follower, "The Football Season: The League Beaten by Ballarat"
''The Age'', (Monday, 14 June 1897), p. 3
the Melbourne Cricket Club refused to allow the V.F.L. to use its pavilion facilities, and the V.F.L. decided well before the match to transfer the game to the
Brunswick Street Oval The WT Peterson Community Oval, best known as the Brunswick Street Oval and also as the Fitzroy Cricket Ground, is a cricket and Australian rules football ground located in Edinburgh Gardens in Fitzroy North, Victoria. History Australian Rule ...
in
North Fitzroy Fitzroy North is an inner-city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia, north-east of Melbourne's Melbourne central business district, Central Business District, located within the Cites of City of Merri-bek, Merri-bek ...
. Reid was not selected in the original team, which contained players from Melbourne, Essendon, South Melbourne, Fitzroy, Geelong, Carlton and St Kilda. However, for reasons that were never made quite clear, six of the selected twenty players,
Firth McCallum Firth William McCallum (27 December 1872 – 11 July 1910) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Geelong in the Victorian Football League (VFL). At the end of the 1899 season, in the process of naming his own "champion playe ...
and
Henry Young Sir Henry Edward Fox Young, KCMG (23 April 1803 – 18 September 1870) was the fifth Governor of South Australia, serving in that role from 2 August 1848 until 20 December 1854. He was then the first Governor of Tasmania, from 1855 until 1861. ...
from the
Geelong Football Club The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed the Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club based in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. The club competes in the Australian Football League (AFL), the sport's premier competition, and are the 2022 ...
, Bill McCulloch from the
Melbourne Football Club The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed the Demons, is a professional Australian rules football club that competes in the Australian Football League (AFL), the sport's elite competition. It is based in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, ...
, and Jim Anderson,
George Vautin George James Phillips Vautin (23 April 1869 – 9 January 1949) was an Australian sportsman who played Australian rules football for the Essendon Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL) and first-class cricket for both Tasmania and ...
and
Harry Wright William Henry "Harry" Wright (January 10, 1835 – October 3, 1895) was an English-born American professional baseball player, manager, and developer. He assembled, managed, and played center field for baseball's first fully professional team, t ...
all of the
Essendon Football Club The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed the Bombers, is a professional Australian rules football club. The club plays in the Australian Football League (AFL), the game's premier competition. The club was formed by the McCracken family in their A ...
failed to turn up for the match. The match did not start on time, and there was a rush to find last minute replacements. Eventually, Ernie Walton from the
Carlton Football Club The Carlton Football Club, nicknamed the Blues, is a professional Australian rules football club that competes in the Australian Football League (AFL), the sport's top professional competition. Founded in 1864 in Carlton, an inner suburb of Mel ...
, Joe O'Grady from the
St Kilda Football Club The St Kilda Football Club, nicknamed the Saints, is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Victoria. The club plays in the Australian Football League (AFL), the sport's premier league. The club ...
, and Tom Banks, Bill Cleary,
Bill McSpeerin William Joseph McSpeerin (25 September 1874 – 3 June 1943) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Fitzroy Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Family The son of James McSpeerin (1846-1909), and Catherine McSp ...
, and Stan Reid, all from the
Fitzroy Football Club The Fitzroy Football Club is an Australian rules football club currently competing in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA). Formed in 1883 to represent the inner-Melbourne municipality of Fitzroy, the club was a member of the Vi ...
took the field in place of the absentees in the Metropolitan team. Thus, Stan Reid played for the first combined Victorian Football League side that ever played in metropolitan Melbourne – earlier in that same week, a far weaker combined V.F.L. team had travelled to Bendigo, and played a combined team there, winning the match 14.14 (98) to 9.4 (58). Reid was injured early in the game, was unable to continue, and left the field; which, according to the rules of the day, which allowed for twenty "run on" players for each team with no replacements, left his team one man short (he was, however, fit enough by the following Saturday to play for Fitzroy against South Melbourne). Another of the Metropolitan team, Norm Waugh, from the
Essendon Football Club The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed the Bombers, is a professional Australian rules football club. The club plays in the Australian Football League (AFL), the game's premier competition. The club was formed by the McCracken family in their A ...
, was very badly concussed during the match; he remained on the field for the whole match, but was of no help to his team-mates at all. The well trained and highly skilled Ballarat team beat the VFL side – no doubt because the VFL team had not trained together, had the six last minute replacements, played as separate, selfish individuals, and effectively played two men short — by a score of 13.11 (89) to 8.6 (54).


VFL Grand Final (1898)

His last game for Fitzroy was in the
1898 VFL Grand Final The 1898 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Essendon Football Club and Fitzroy Football Club, held in Melbourne on 24 September 1898. The match was played to determine the premiers for the 1898 VFL sea ...
, on Saturday, 24 September 1898, at the Junction Oval, the first ever VFL Grand Final Match. Selected on the full-back line, he played a strong game and was one of Fitzroy's best players.


After the VFL

Once in Western Australia, he continued to play football; he played for one of the local teams, the Boulder City Rovers. Although stationed on the West Australian goldfields, Reid kept in touch with his old team. On Monday 1 April 1901, at the annual meeting of the Fitzroy Football Club held at the Fitzroy Town Hall, prizes were awarded to
Mick Grace Michael John Grace (24 July 187421 May 1912) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Fitzroy Football Club, Carlton Football Club and St Kilda Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Family The son of Thomas Grace, a ...
and
Ern Jenkins Ernest Merrett Jenkins (4 October 1879 – 21 December 1927) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Fitzroy Football Club, coach of the Richmond Football Club and an umpire in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Jenkins was uncl ...
for having been the most "consistent" players in the 1900 season. The prizes had been donated by the Rev. Stanley S. Reid of Boulder, and the West Australian dental surgeon, Edgar Henry McGillicuddy.


Presbyterian Church

Because Melbourne University was a secular institution in the nineteenth century, it did not offer degrees in
Divinity Divinity or the divine are things that are either related to, devoted to, or proceeding from a deity.divine
. Consequently, Reid had to pursue his theological studies at the separate Presbyterian theological college that was situated on the university's campus,
Ormond College Ormond College is the largest of the residential colleges of the University of Melbourne located in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is home to around 350 undergraduates, 90 graduates and 35 professorial and academic residents. Hi ...
, graduating at the end of 1898.Main & Allen, D., (2002), p. 7., Whilst he was at Ormond College he was also captain of the College's football team.Football: Ormond v. Trinity
''The Argus'', (Wednesday, 10 July 1901), p. 8
He was ordained as the first minister to the newly formed St. George's Presbyterian Church in the Western Australian gold mining town of
Boulder In geology, a boulder (or rarely bowlder) is a rock fragment with size greater than in diameter. Smaller pieces are called cobbles and pebbles. While a boulder may be small enough to move or roll manually, others are extremely massive. In c ...
on 15 March 1899, having arrived there in December 1898. On Monday 5 June 1899, as a mark of the high esteem with which he was already held by the congregation (and the citizens of Boulder in general), the ladies of St George's Presbyterian Church presented Reid with a silk gown. At the same gathering, presided over by the Mayor of Boulder, Mr. John M. Hopkins, Reid was also presented with an illuminated address to mark the auspicious occasion.


Military service


Victorian Mounted Rifles

Whilst still in Victoria, Reid had served for 18 months as a member of the self-funded voluntary citizens' military force known as the
Victorian Mounted Rifles The Victorian Mounted Rifles (VMR) was a regiment composed of Australian forces that served in the Second Boer War. It was first raised by Colonel Tom Price in the mid-1880s, composed of voluntary forces. It was composed of several contingents, th ...
. The men were required to supply and maintain their own horse, and supply their own uniform, rifle, saddles, harness, and all other equipment. They were trained in various cavalry activities, such as marksmanship and both mounted and dismounted parade drills. Reid was a highly skilled horseman. More than a year after leaving Victoria and taking up his post at Boulder in Western Australia, he was still able to produce a good performance. He competed in the "Military Sports" division of the four-day carnival arranged to aid the St George's Presbyterian Church in Boulder. Reid competed in the tilting at the ring without success, came second in the
tent pegging Tent pegging (sometimes spelled tent-pegging or tentpegging) is a cavalry sport of ancient origin, and is one of only ten equestrian disciplines officially recognised by the International Equestrian Federation. Used narrowly, the term refers to ...
competition, came third in the umbrella and cigar race, came second in his heat of the rescue race, and won his first bout in the horseback wrestling only to lose his second bout to a much heavier and stronger opponent.


Chaplain Reid

Soon after the
Second Boer War The Second Boer War ( af, Tweede Vryheidsoorlog, , 11 October 189931 May 1902), also known as the Boer War, the Anglo–Boer War, or the South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer Republics (the Sout ...
had broken out in October 1899, Reid volunteered to serve as a chaplain to the Second Contingent of the Western Australian Mounted Infantry. His offer to serve as a chaplain was not successful because there were no vacant positions at the time of his application.


Trooper Reid

He eventually enlisted as a private in the Second Western Australian (Mounted Infantry) Contingent (2WAMI) which left Australia on 3 February 1900. On Wednesday, 26 December 1899, Reid was given a special farewell by the town council and residents of Boulder. In his response to the toasts, he said that whilst "he had got over the youthful glamor of war" he was also totally "prepared to take his part in what was in store for him" in South Africa. He added that he hoped that, ''if'' he returned, those present "would be able to say that they had given a farewell to a man who had taken his part for the British Empire". He also stressed that his enlistment had been thought out at some length and was not the consequence of a momentary whim, remarking that "to outsiders… it might seem peculiar for a clergyman to join as a common soldier"; however, in his view, "when the time and opportunity offered… every man should act patriotically as well as talk patriotism", and that " lthoughthere might be questions as to the beginning of the war" it was clear that, "now that it had started they should all unite to see it through. (Loud applause.)" He was a popular soldier and he was well respected for his military skills by his fellow troopers. The contingent (consisting of 6 officers, 97 other ranks, 125 horses, one spring cart, and one wagon) left Australia on the SS ''Surrey'' on 3 February 1900. Immediately the West Australian contingent arrived in South Africa it was attached to the 11th Division of the South Africa Field Force, commanded by Lieutenant-General Reginald Pole-Carew. On 25 July 1900, as the division began its advance to
Komatipoort Komatipoort is a town situated at the confluence of the Crocodile and Komati Rivers in Mpumalanga province, South Africa. The town is 8 km from the Crocodile Bridge Gate into the Kruger Park, and just 5 km from the Mozambique border ...
on the
Komati River The Komati River, also known as the Inkomati River or Incomati River (in Mozambique, from Portuguese Rio Incomati), is a river in South Africa, Eswatini and Mozambique. Originating in north-western Eswatini, it is joined by the Crocodile R ...
, at the frontier between
Mozambique Mozambique (), officially the Republic of Mozambique ( pt, Moçambique or , ; ny, Mozambiki; sw, Msumbiji; ts, Muzambhiki), is a country located in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi ...
and
South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
, Reid became separated from his Division, and was listed as "missing" for twelve days. He rejoined his Division at
Middelburg Middelburg may refer to: Places and jurisdictions Europe * Middelburg, Zeeland, the capital city of the province of Zeeland, southwestern Netherlands ** Roman Catholic Diocese of Middelburg, a former Catholic diocese with its see in the Zeeland ...
. The Division eventually reached Komatipoort on 24 September. During this first tour of duty, Reid had seen action in Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast, Cape Colony, and Orange Free State.


Arrest and repatriation to Australia

During this time Reid had written a letter from Middelburg, dated 22 August 1900, to his mother in Perth. In his letter he was highly critical of a senior officer. Although he did not name him in the letter to his mother, the officer was later identified as one "Sergeant Robinson", who had been promoted to "Captain Robinson". Consequent upon matters connected with the Bush Veldt Carbineers and "the Handcock-Morant military scandal" Robinson was relieved of his command, and reduced to "Corporal Robinson", thus effectively exonerating Reid, and verifying that his privately expressed views were reliable. ''The West Australian'' newspaper obtained the letter from his mother, and noting that "this letter gives an account of his experiences during a very anxious time" (viz., the time that he was missing), published it on 11 October 1900, without seeking Reid's permission to do so. As soon as the military authorities in South Africa became aware of the letter's publication, Reid was arrested and repatriated to Australia (he reached
Fremantle Fremantle () () is a port city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River in the metropolitan area of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth. The Western Australian vernacular diminutive for ...
, along with the rest of the Second Western Australian (Mounted Infantry) Contingent, on 8 December 1900).


Charges dropped

Having returned to Australia under arrest, Reid had the reasonable expectation that he would be court-martialled. However, no official investigation of any kind was ever made into the circumstances of the publication of the letter; and, for some undisclosed reason, his case was unexpectedly dropped altogether.Main & Allen, D., (2002), p. 8. In the absence of any "official" explanation, is reasonable to suppose that one or more of several possible influences may have played a part in the decision of the authorities not to proceed against Reid: * His father and himself were ordained ministers of the Presbyterian Church (and, apparently, held in high regard). * Despite still being part of the "Imperial Forces" when he returned to Australia on 8 December 1900 (effectively as a member of the military forces of the Colony of Western Australia), he was released after the Australian Commonwealth Government (in ''Commonwealth Gazette'' No. 9 of 20 February 1901) had authorized the formation of the Commonwealth Military Forces, effective from 1 March 1901. * The Sixth Western Australian (Mounted Infantry) Contingent, being composed of just 14 officers, 214 men, and 237 horses, were greatly in need of the experience and leadership of a man who had already displayed great military talent in the South African conditions. * His younger brother was also in the contingent.


Lieutenant Reid

Having been released from custody, and having been selected as one of the 25 returned soldiers to represent the State of Western Australia at the celebrations held in Sydney to celebrate the Federation of Australia on 1 January 1901, Reid was promoted to Lieutenant on 7 March 1901, and he joined the Sixth Western Australian (Mounted Infantry) Contingent in camp at Karrakatta., His younger brother, Surgeon-Captain Francis Bentley Reid, was medical officer to the same unit. The entire contingent left Western Australia on 10 April 1901 on the ''S.S. Ulstermore''. Reid made a speech at the quayside and a presentation of a purse of sovereigns to the W.C.T.U. on behalf of the members of the contingent who had received their support at Karrakatta. The contingent arrived in South Africa on 29 April 1901. Reid's unit saw action in Eastern
Transvaal Transvaal is a historical geographic term associated with land north of (''i.e.'', beyond) the Vaal River in South Africa. A number of states and administrative divisions have carried the name Transvaal. * South African Republic (1856–1902; af, ...
; and, on 16 May 1901, Reid was badly wounded in the stomach in a heavy fire fight at a farm near
Brakpan Brakpan is a mining town in the Gauteng province of South Africa. History The name Brakpan comes from a small pan on a farm called Weltevreden, which was filled with very brackish water and was probably referred to as the "brakpan," and it was nea ...
. Reid was taken to a field hospital 39 miles from Carolina. Both Reid and his brother were
mentioned in despatches To be mentioned in dispatches (or despatches, MiD) describes a member of the armed forces whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which their gallant or meritorious action in the face ...
for their bravery at this time: Reid recovered from his stomach wound and returned to action with his unit. In 1902, Mr. Collick, a military chaplain, reported that when he had gone up to the wounded Reid (Collick had been riding in company with Dr. Francis Reid) and told him that he would call an ambulance, pointing to the two wounded men by his side, Reid had responded "Don't mind me; see to these fellows". Collick also remarked that, he was one of the bravest officers in South Africa; and that, although "Reid's wound was serious enough to get him three months' leave of absence", he insisted on returning to action immediately he had recovered sufficiently and leading his men.Civic Reception
''Kalgoorlie Western Argus'', (Tuesday, 13 May 1902), p. 13


Death

On 23 June 1901, during a reconnaissance at Renshoogte Farm, near Ermelo, Reid was once again shot in the stomach. His brother placed Reid and the other wounded in an ambulance cart and set off back to their camp. In a letter to their parents, written after Reid's death, his brother described his wounding: Three days later, on the morning of 29 June 1901, Reid died of his wounds at Middel-Kraal: his brother described the circumstances in his letter to their parents: He was buried in a grave especially arranged by the men he had commanded – situated beneath a clump of Australian wattles, with a large wooden cross bearing his name at its head – with full military honours in a ceremony, attended by his commanding officer Colonel Campbell and his staff, representatives of all of the regiments comprising the Sixth W.A.M.I., conducted by regimental chaplain and Reid's old friend, Mr. Collick. A fellow officer, Lieutenant Bernard Bardwell, reported that "His brother, the doctor, was almost mad with grief. It will take a strong hand to pull him together again, as he is utterly broken down, poor fellow." In 1902, Mr. Collick praised Reid, stating that "though Stanley Reid went to South Africa as a soldier he lived up to the high standard of life that he would have had to live as a minister, and in every way he set a good example to his men. Reid, the second VFL player known to have died in active service, is buried at the
Middelburg Middelburg may refer to: Places and jurisdictions Europe * Middelburg, Zeeland, the capital city of the province of Zeeland, southwestern Netherlands ** Roman Catholic Diocese of Middelburg, a former Catholic diocese with its see in the Zeeland ...
Cemetery,
Mpumalanga Mpumalanga () is a province of South Africa. The name means "East", or literally "The Place Where the Sun Rises" in the Swazi, Xhosa, Ndebele and Zulu languages. Mpumalanga lies in eastern South Africa, bordering Eswatini and Mozambique. It ...
.Graves and Memorials of Australians in the Boer War 1899–1902: Middelburg Cemetery, Transvaal, Memorial to those who fell at Brakpan (Groblersrecht and Middelkraal)
At probate, in April 1902, his estate was worth £200.


Remembered

The ''West Australian'' of 21 May 1901, noting that Reid "was for some time the minister of the Presbyterian Church at Boulder", reported that "he was regarded as a fine soldier, and one who had a more than ordinary moral influence over his comrades in the field". In its 20 July 1901 tribute to Reid, '' The Western Mail'', having made reference to his academic and clerical careers, reported that
Field Marshal Lord Roberts Field marshal (United Kingdom), Field Marshal Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts, (30 September 1832 – 14 November 1914) was a British Victorian era general who became one of the most successful British military commanders of his tim ...
, the Commander in Chief of the British Forces in Second Boer War, had said of Reid: "He is one of the best men on the field of battle". At the same time the newspaper observed that "his death has caused sorrow in many a home", and reported that a memorial service had been held in Boulder on Sunday 14 July 1901 for the town's former Presbyterian minister and that "many Roman Catholics and people of other denominations adattended to show their respect to the memory of one who had proved himself a man among men".Main & Allen, D., (2002), p. 10. The ''Kalgoorlie Western Argus'' also published an obituary. After his death his commanding Officer wrote to his mother: In a match against
Trinity College Trinity College may refer to: Australia * Trinity Anglican College, an Anglican coeducational primary and secondary school in , New South Wales * Trinity Catholic College, Auburn, a coeducational school in the inner-western suburbs of Sydney, New ...
on Tuesday, 9 July 1901, not long after the news of Reid's death had reached Melbourne, the Ormond College football team all wore black arm-bands as a mark of respect for their former captain. Reid was specifically mentioned in the address given by Sir James George Steere, the chairman of the ''W.A. Fallen Soldiers' Memorial Committee'', on Friday 26 July 1901 in Kings Park, when Steere formally invited the Duke of York (later
King George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936. Born during the reign of his grandmother Que ...
) to lay the foundation stone for the monument that was to serve as a memorial to the 4 officers and 24 men (of the more than 900 that went to South Africa in six different contingents from Western Australia) who were killed in action or died of their wounds in the Boer War. Stanley Spencer Reid is commemorated on war memorials at: *
Australian War Memorial The Australian War Memorial is Australia's national memorial to the members of its armed forces and supporting organisations who have died or participated in wars involving the Commonwealth of Australia and some conflicts involving pe ...
,
Canberra Canberra ( ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The ci ...
*
Caulfield Grammar School Caulfield Grammar School is an Independent school, independent, co-educational, Anglican Church of Australia, Anglican, International Baccalaureate, day school, day and boarding school, located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Founded in 1881 as ...
,
St Kilda East, Victoria St Kilda East is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the Cities of Glen Eira and Port Phillip local government areas. St Kilda East recorded a population of 1 ...
* King's Park,
Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...
*
Ormond College Ormond College is the largest of the residential colleges of the University of Melbourne located in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is home to around 350 undergraduates, 90 graduates and 35 professorial and academic residents. Hi ...
, Parkville, Victoria * Scotch College, Hawthorn, Victoria *
Middelburg Middelburg may refer to: Places and jurisdictions Europe * Middelburg, Zeeland, the capital city of the province of Zeeland, southwestern Netherlands ** Roman Catholic Diocese of Middelburg, a former Catholic diocese with its see in the Zeeland ...
Cemetery,
Mpumalanga Mpumalanga () is a province of South Africa. The name means "East", or literally "The Place Where the Sun Rises" in the Swazi, Xhosa, Ndebele and Zulu languages. Mpumalanga lies in eastern South Africa, bordering Eswatini and Mozambique. It ...
, South Africa.


Private papers

Reid's personal diary and a collection of letters that were written by Reid whilst on active service in South Africa are held by the
Australian War Memorial The Australian War Memorial is Australia's national memorial to the members of its armed forces and supporting organisations who have died or participated in wars involving the Commonwealth of Australia and some conflicts involving pe ...
in Canberra.PR04267 – Reid, Stanley Spencer (Lieutenant, d: 1901)
/ref>


See also

*
List of Victorian Football League players who died in active service Since the inception of the Victorian Football League in 1897, many of its players have served in the armed services, including the Anglo–Boer War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War (in which Melbourne's Geoff Collins served as a fi ...
*
1898 VFL Grand Final The 1898 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Essendon Football Club and Fitzroy Football Club, held in Melbourne on 24 September 1898. The match was played to determine the premiers for the 1898 VFL sea ...
*
List of Caulfield Grammar School people This is a list of notable past students and staff of Caulfield Grammar School and/or Malvern Memorial Grammar School (amalgamated with Caulfield in 1961). Alumni of the school are known as "Caulfield Grammarians" and are supported by the Caulf ...


Footnotes


References

* Atkinson, G., ''The Complete Book of AFL Finals (2002 Edition)'', The Five Mile Press, (Melbourne), 2002.
British Concentration Camps of the South African War (1900–1902): Middelburg Concentration Camp, Camp Register: Mrs Johanna van Niekerk (87499)
* Burridge, J., ''Western Australian Contingents to the South African War'', John Burridge, (Perth), 1972. * Chamberlain, M., "The Action at Brakpan", ''Sabretache: The Journal and Proceedings of the Military Historical Society of Australia'', Vol.45, No.4, (September 2004), pp. 41–46. * Holmesby, R. & Main, J., ''This Football Century: "The Greatest Game of All"'', Wilkinson Books, (Melbourne), 1996.
Lee, R., "The Army's Birthday: An Ongoing Debate"
Army History Unit, (Canberra), 2004 * Main, J., ''Fitzroy: Merging into The Future: The History of the Fitzroy Football Club, Incorporating the Brisbane Bears and the Brisbane Lions'', Bas Publishing, (Melbourne), 2007. * Main, J. & Allen, D., "Reid, Stanley", pp. 7–10 in Main, J. & Allen, D., ''Fallen – The Ultimate Heroes: Footballers Who Never Returned From War'', Crown Content, (Melbourne), 2002. * Main, J. & Holmesby, R., ''The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers'', Crown Content, (Melbourne), (2002).
Murray, P. L. (ed), ''Official Records of the Australian Military Contingents to the War in South Africa''
A.J. Mullett, Govt. Printer, (Melbourne), 1911 * Price, J. E., ''They Proved to all the Earth: A Source Book of Victoria's Dead in the South African War, 1899–1902'', J. E. Price, (Cheltenham), 1981. * Rogers, S. & Brown, A., ''Every Game Ever Played: VFL/AFL Results 1897–1997'' (Sixth Edition), Viking Books, (Ringwood), 1998.
Stirling, J.F., ''The Colonials in South Africa, 1899–1902: Their Record, Based on the Despatches''
W. Blackwood and Sons, (Edinburgh), 1907 * Webber, Horace, ''Years may pass on . . . Caulfield Grammar School, 1881–1981'', Centenary Committee, Caulfield Grammar School, (East St Kilda), 1981.


Newspapers


The Presbyterian Church in Western Australia: A Twenty Years' Retrospect: Church Extension on the Goldfields
''The West Australian'', (Saturday, 30 September 1899), p. 10
Summary of News
''The West Australian'', Vol.15, No.4312, (Thursday, 28 December 1899), p. 4
Boulder Clergyman Volunteers
''The West Australian'', (Thursday, 28 December 1899), p. 5
Western Australian Mounted Infantry: List of Men Enrolled: 41. Stanley Spencer Reid
''The West Australian'', (Friday, 29 December 1899), p. 5
The Scottish Members of the Force: An Enthusiastic Send-Off
''The West Australian'', (Saturday, 20 January 1900), p. 5
War Shots: A Warlike Parson
''Northern Territory Times and Gazette'', Vol.22, No.1370, (Friday, 9 February 1900), p. 3
Letter from Rev. Stanley Reid
''Kalgoorlie Western Argus'', (Thursday, 31 May 1900), p. 8
Australian Casualties
''The West Australian'', (Wednesday, 15 August 1900), p. 5
Cablegram from Lord Roberts: High Praise of West Australians
''The West Australian'', (Thursday, 11 October 1900), p. 5
Soldiers' Letters: From the Front: From the Rev. S.S. Reid
''The West Australian'', (Thursday, 11 October 1900), p. 9
News and Notes: Scots' Church Fremantle
''The West Australian'', (Saturday, 2 February 1901), p. 5
The Officers Appointed
''The West Australian'', (Thursday 7 March 1901), p. 5
The Sixth Contingent: At Karrakatta Camp
''The West Australian'', (Saturday, 6 April 1901), p. 9
Casualties— Sixth W.A. Mounted Infantry
''The West Australian'', (Tuesday, 21 May 1901), p. 5
The Boer War: West Australian Casualties: Severely Wounded
''The West Australian'', (Thursday, 23 May 1901), p. 5
Australian Casualties
''The Sydney Morning Herald'', (Thursday, 23 May 1901), p. 7
Lieutenant Forrest Killed
''The Brisbane Courier'', (Thursday, 23 May 1901), p. 5
West Australian Casualties: Death of Lieut. Stanley Reid
''The West Australian'', Vol.17, No.4784, (Saturday, 6 July 1901), p. 5 * The War: Casualties, ''The Times'', No.36500, (Saturday, 6 July 1901), p. 13, col.A.
Australian Casualties
''The Sydney Morning Herald'', (Monday, 8 July 1901), p. 7
Deaths and Mischances
''The Mercury'', (Monday 8 July 1901), p. 2
Australasian Casualties
''The Advertiser'', (Monday 8 July 1901), p. 7
Colonial Casualties
''The Brisbane Courier'', (Monday, 8 July 1901), p. 5
Death of Lieutenant Reid
''The Argus'', (Tuesday, 9 July 1901), p. 5
Football: Ormond v. Trinity
''The Argus'', (Wednesday, 10 July 1901), p. 8
Kalgoorlie
''The West Australian'', (Monday, 15 July 1901), p. 5
Honouring the Dead
''The Argus'', (Tuesday, 16 July 1901), p. 6 also a
''Nelson Evening Mail'', (Wednesday, 14 August 1901), p. 2

Portrait: The Late Lieutenant Stanley S. Reid
''Western Mail'', (Saturday, 20 July 1901), p. 25
The Late Lieutenant Reid
''Western Mail'', (Saturday, 20 July 1901), p. 33
The Scene in the Park: Laying the Foundation Stone
''The West Australian'', (Wednesday 24 July 1901), p. 6
The Late Lieutenant Reid
''The Argus'', (Friday, 9 August 1901), p. 5
The Late Lieut. Stanley Reid: Letter From His Brother
''The West Australian'', (Tuesday, 13 August 1901), p. 6
Letter from Captain Campbell
''Western Mail'', (Saturday 17 August 1901), p. 47
At the Front: With the Sixth Contingent: Letter from Lieut. Bardwell
''The West Australian'', (Tuesday, 27 August 1901), p. 5
Portrait: The Late Rev. Stanley Reid
''Kalgoorlie Western Argus'', (Tuesday 8 October 1901), p. 26
School Speech Days: Scotch College
''The Argus'', (Friday, 13 December 1901), p. 7
"Picquet", Military Matters: Notes and Comments, ''The West Australian'', Saturday, 19 April 1902, p. 11

Civic Reception
''Kalgoorlie Western Argus'', (Tuesday, 13 May 1902), p. 13
Ormond College Memorial
''The Argus'', (Tuesday, 1 July 1902), p. 5


External links

*
AFL Player Statistics (Round by Round): Fitzroy Football Club 1897

AFL Player Statistics (Round by Round): Fitzroy Football Club 1898


* ttp://www.awm.gov.au/nominalrolls/boer/person.asp?p=13381 Boer War Nominal Roll: Stanley Spencer Reid
Honours and awards: Stanley Spencer Reid (Mention in Despatches)

Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour: Stanley Spencer Reid

Boer War Nominal Roll: Francis Bentley Reid

Honours and awards: Francis Bentley Reid (Mention in Despatches)

Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour: George Westcott (413)

Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour: Clarence Chudleigh Clifford (348)


* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070910041113/http://www.afl.com.au/TheClub/History/FitzroyLions/FitzroyFirsts/tabid/5177/Default.aspx "Fitzroy Firsts: Etched in History", (Brisbane Lions Football Club official website, 1 May 2006)]
Heraldry & Genealogy Society of Canberra Inc. — Graves and Memorials of Australians in the Boer War 1899–1902: Photographs (Perth, WA, Kings Park)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Reid, Stan 1872 births 1901 deaths People from Boulder, Western Australia Australian rules footballers from Victoria (Australia) Fitzroy Football Club players Fitzroy Football Club Premiership players People educated at Caulfield Grammar School Australian Army soldiers Australian Army officers Australian military personnel killed in the Second Boer War University of Melbourne alumni Australian Presbyterians Australian Presbyterian ministers People educated at Scotch College, Melbourne One-time VFL/AFL Premiership players Military personnel from Victoria (Australia)