STOKER, Edward Alexander James (1897-1967)Edward Alexander James Stoker was born at Bairnsdale on 29 March 1897. He was the son of Henry Graves and Mary nee Poe.
He became a boarder at Geelong College in 1909, leaving in May 1916. His address at enrolment was Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. He rowed in the 1st Rowing VIII in 1915.
During World War I, he enlisted (No. 14546) in the AIF on 1 July 1916, and embarked from Melbourne for service as a Corporal on
HMAT (No 2 Hospital Ship) Kanowna on 7 July. His father, Major Henry Stoker, was Senior Medical Officer on the ship. Major Henry Stoker died in 1926, aged 68, while at the Royal Military College, Duntroon.
Edward Alexander Stoker returned to Australia, embarking on 25 February 1918, and was discharged on 8 March 1918.
He died in April 1967.
His probable brother,
James Poe Stoker (1913-1942), also an Old Geelong Collegian, of the 46th (The Liverpool Welsh) Royal Tank Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps, was killed in action in North Africa on 28 October 1942, aged 29, and was buried at El Alalnein War Cemetery, Egypt - Grave XVII.D.22.
Sources: ‘Geelong Collegians at the Great War’ compiled by James Affleck. p 321 (citing National Archives; Commonwealth War Graves Commission; The Pegasus; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western Desert Campaign).