Roy Blackwell and Stanley Roberts Memorial

This marble tablet is dedicated to two men who served and died overseas in the Second World War: Roy Blackwell and Stanley Roberts. It features a stylised Australian Army emblem with the names of the two men written in lead lettering. 

The tablet was unveiled in the Halls Creek Hall, which was later converted to a private residence. It is now located in the military room at the Manilla Heritage Museum, which is run by the Manilla Historical Society. It is available for viewing when the museum is open to the public.

About the servicemen

Roy (Arthur Roy) Blackwell was born on 13 September 1915 at Manilla. He enlisted at Manilla on 1 November 1939. As a Sergeant in the 2/2nd Australian Infantry Battalion, he was killed in action at Papua on 5 November 1942. He is listed on the Port Moresby Memorial and Manilla Honour Roll. 

Stanley Roberts was born on 27 February 1917 and the birth was registered at Tamworth. Living at Woolbrook near Walcha, he enlisted at Tamworth on 18 June 1940. As a Private in the 2/18th Australian Infantry Battalion, he died as a Prisoner of War from illness on 19 June 1945 in Borneo. His death is commemorated in the Labuan War Cemetery, Malaysia. He is also on the Woolbrook World War Two Honour Roll.