Gurney VC Rest Area
Lake George, NSW
Federal Highway (M23)
At a Glance
About
The Gurney VC Rest Area is stop 14 of 20 along the Remembrance Driveway, sitting beside the Federal Highway (M23) near Lake George in New South Wales. Travelling between the Gratwick VC Rest Area to the south and the Badcoe VC Rest Area ahead, this stop honours Private Arthur Stanley Gurney of the 2/48th Infantry Battalion — a Western Australian who gave his life during one of the most critical engagements of the North African campaign. Born on 15 December 1908 at Day Dawn on the Murchison goldfields, Stan Gurney grew up in the remote mining communities of Western Australia before enlisting in the Second Australian Imperial Force on 6 December 1940. He departed Fremantle for the Middle East in July 1941, was posted to D Company of the 2/48th Infantry Battalion, and endured the Siege of Tobruk — earning him the distinction of being one of the 'Rats of Tobruk.' On 22 July 1942, during the First Battle of El Alamein at Tel el Eisa, Egypt, Gurney's company came under intense machine-gun fire from fortified enemy positions. With heavy casualties mounting and all officers killed or wounded, Private Gurney acted with singular resolve. He was killed in action that same day, aged 33. His Victoria Cross recognised an act of extraordinary courage at a moment when the weight of command had fallen, unasked, onto his shoulders. The rest area itself is open 24 hours a day and is well suited to the mix of travellers making their way along the Remembrance Driveway. Facilities include toilets, covered shelter, and picnic tables — enough to make a proper break of it. Dedicated truck and caravan parking bays mean larger vehicles can pull in without difficulty, making this a practical stop whether you're in a passenger car or towing. The Lake George area provides a broad, open backdrop that invites a few quiet minutes before continuing north or south along the route.
Victoria Cross Recipient
Private Arthur Stanley Gurney VC
2/48th Infantry Battalion
Arthur Stanley 'Stan' Gurney was born on 15 December 1908 at Day Dawn on the Murchison goldfields in Western Australia. He grew up in the remote mining communities of the Western Australian outback and worked a variety of jobs. He joined the Second Australian Imperial Force on 6 December 1940 and departed Fremantle for the Middle East in July 1941, where he was posted to D Company of the 2/48th Infantry Battalion. He served with the battalion during the Siege of Tobruk, becoming one of the famous 'Rats of Tobruk.'
On 22 July 1942 at Tel el Eisa in Egypt, during the First Battle of El Alamein, intense machine-gun fire from fortified positions held up Gurney's company and inflicted heavy casualties, killing or wounding all the officers. Realising the seriousness of the situation, Private Gurney charged the nearest machine-gun post, silencing the guns and bayoneting three of the crew. Without hesitating, he charged a second post and bayoneted two more of the enemy. A grenade then knocked him down, but he rose and continued to advance before he was killed.
Gurney was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. His fearless one-man assault broke the deadlock and enabled his company to advance. He was thirty-three years old. His medal group, including his Victoria Cross, came into the National Collection in 1994 and is on permanent display at the Australian War Memorial.
Born 15 December 1908, Day Dawn, WA. Died 22 July 1942, Tel el Eisa, Egypt.
References
Remembrance Driveway →
Stop 14 of 20 along the Remembrance Driveway
View all 20 stops
- Sir Roden Cutler VC Rest Area
- Partridge VC Rest Area Southbound
- Kenna VC Rest Area
- Keith Payne VC Rest Area
- Gordon VC Rest Area
- Mackey VC Rest Area
- Kingsbury VC Rest Area
- Chowne VC Rest Area
- Derrick VC Rest Area
- French VC Rest Area
- Kibby VC Rest Area
- Edmondson VC Rest Area
- Gratwick VC Rest Area
- Gurney VC Rest Area
- Badcoe VC Rest Area
- Wheatley VC Rest Area
- Anderson VC Rest Area
- Middleton VC Rest Area
- Newton VC Rest Area
- Edwards VC Rest Area
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Nearby
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