STOKER, James Poe (1913-1942)James Poe Stoker was born on 29 March 1913, the son of Dr Henry and Mary Stoker.
He was enrolled as a boarder at the College on 13 February 1924, and left in May 1931. At the College, he was a member of the 1st Rowing VIII (1930-31), a keen boxer, winner of the senior essay and debating prizes, and an officer of the OTC, as well as being a School Prefect in 1930, and Head Prefect in 1931. Later, he was part donor of the Stoker-Shannon Cup for inter-house shooting at the College.
On leaving the College, the army was his career choice. He completed a fine course at Sandhurst, England, and served in the 46th (The Liverpool Welsh) Royal Tank Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps, as Major J P Stoker. He was killed in action in North Africa on 28 October 1942, aged 29, and buried at El Alamein War Cemetery, Egypt, Grave XVII.D.22.
James Stoker died during the El Alamein Campaign, a series of intensive battles between the British Eighth Army commanded by General Bernard Montgomery and German and Italian forces commanded by General Erwin Rommel.
A probable brother,
Edward Alexander James Stoker (1897-1967), was also educated at Geelong College.
Sources: Based on an edited extract from ‘Geelong Collegians at the Second World War' ’ compiled by James Affleck. pp 90-91 (citing The Pegasus; Australian War Memorial; Commonwealth War Graves Commission; James Affleck); Geelong Collegians at the Great War; Photo Geelong College Prefects 1930.