Stan Carpenter

Stanley Franzien Carpenter was an Australian rugby league player.

Biography

Carpenter was born in the Sydney suburb of Woolloomooloo, [New South Wales|Woolloomooloo] and raised in Newcastle, New [South Wales|Newcastle], where he worked as a coal miner. He played his early rugby with local sides Carlton and Central Newcastle.
A strong forward, Carpenter captained the Newcastle Rebels for their only two New South [Wales Rugby League Premiership|NSWRFL] seasons in 1908 and 1909, playing beside his brother Les. He topped Newcastle's points-scoring in both seasons.
Carpenter represented Australia national [rugby league team|Australia] in three matches against New Zealand Māori in 1909.
During World War I, Carpenter served with the Australian Army Medical Corps as a stretcher bearer and was in the third wave of troops that arrived at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. His efforts in rescuing soldiers while under fire earned him a Distinguished Conduct Medal. He was part of the Battle of Pozières in 1916 and got recommended for a Victoria Cross by Major Harold Walker.