World War II Victoria Cross Recipient. He received the award posthumously for his actions as a private in the 2/48th Battalion (South Australia) of the Australian Imperial Force at the First Battle of El Alamein, Egypt on July 22, 1942. Born in Day Dawn, Western Australia, he joined the 2nd Australian Imperial Force in December 1940, following the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, and was sent to the Middle East where he participated in the North African Campaign, including the Siege of Tobruk, Libya. He was killed in combat at the age of 33 during his heroic action at the First Battle of El Alamein. His Victoria Cross citation reads: "No.WX.9858 Private Arthur Stanley Gurney, Australian Military Forces. For gallant and unselfish bravery in silencing enemy machine-gun posts by bayonet assault at Tell El Eisa on 22 July 1942, thus allowing his Company to continue the advance. During an attack on strong German positions in the early morning of 22 July 1942, the Company to which Private Gurney belonged was held up by intense machine-gun fire from posts less than 100 yards ahead, heavy casualties being inflicted on our troops, all the officers being killed or wounded. Grasping the seriousness of the situation and without hesitation, Private Gurney charged the nearest enemy machine-gun post, bayoneted three men and silenced the post. He then continued on to a second post, bayoneted two men and sent out a third as a prisoner. At his stage a stick grenade was thrown at Private Gurney which knocked him to the ground. He rose again, picked up his rifle and charged a third post using the bayonet with great vigour. He then disappeared from view, and later his body was found in an enemy post. By this single-handed act of gallantry in the face of a determined enemy, Private Gurney enabled his Company to press forward to its objective, inflicting heavy losses upon the enemy. The successful outcome of this engagement was almost entirely due to Private Gurney's heroism at the moment when it was needed." In addition to the Victoria Cross, he received the British 1939-1945 Star Medal, the African Star, the British Defence Medal, the British World War II Medal, and the Australian World War II Service Medal. His medals are on display at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, Australia.