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Joseph Stanley Verco, known as Stan, was born in North Adelaide, South Australia his hometown on the 5th of November and, Adelaide South Australia and he was single. His schooling was at Prince Alfred College & University of Adelaide. Stanley family consisted of his father William James Verco and his mother Elizabeth Margaret Verco, and he had three Sisters named Clara Isabella Verco, Jessie Constance Verco and Daisy Verco. Then he enlisted on the 7th of October 1914 in Keswick South Australia.

Before WWI, he served 18 months as Volunteer Cadet and Commanding Officer of 50th AMC, Fort Largs, SA. When enlisting he was described as 24 years 11 months old; single; 5' 10" tall; 146 lbs. His occupation was a medical practitioner/house surgeon for the army. His service number was S2675, his army rank was captain when he enlisted by got promoted to major and his last known rank was Lieutenant Colonel. His first unit was Stationary Hospital 1. Then he returned to Australia on the 21st of December 1918 and then later was discharged on the 7th of April and was recommended the award of efficiency or clasp.

After serving in World War Two, he sadly died in Adelaide South Australia on the 26 of July 1971, aged 81 years of natural causes.  He was also awarded three medals the 1914/1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.  

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=30880380&isAv=N

https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=308612

https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/explore/people/83632

https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/rslvwm/comfy/cms/files/files/000/000/780/original/Writing_a_Biography.pdf

An interesting life (VERCO Joseph Stanley 1889- 1971) MBBS (Adel) FRCRA

Joseph Stanley Verco, known as Stan, was born in North Adelaide, the son, and the youngest of ten children, of William James Verco, a miller, and his wife Elizabeth. His grandparents had arrived in the colony of South Australia just before Christmas 1840.His father died in an influenza epidemic at the age of 49 when Stan was just two years old. He was educated at PAC where he excelled at academically and at athletic events. He failed first year at Adelaide University but subsequently topped each year of the medical course, obtained a half blue for lacrosse, won the Thomas Davies, and in his final year (1913) the Everard Scholarship. He undertook his resident medical officer training at the Adelaide Hospital. His passions included sailing and photography; they were to endure throughout his life. He was appointed a provisional captain in the AAMC on 25 August 1914.

Captain Verco joined 1 AGH on 07 Oct 1914, he was 5'10 3/4" tall and weighed 146lbs. He sailed to Alexandria on the Kyarra arriving on 14Jan1915; the unit travelled to Maadi, a suburb of Cairo on 23 Jan 15.  Maj Powell, Maj Newland and Capt Verco were sent (27Jan15), to Ismailia to provide medical support during the first Turkish attack on the Suez canal. They were commended in the dispatches of the General Officer Commanding. He arrived in Mudros with 1 AGH on 5 Mar 15, and subsequently he was to go to Gallipoli with 1 ACCS, served on Mudros, on hospital ships (including the Aquitania) and in taking the wounded back to Alexandria. He was evacuated from Lemnos in October 15 with dysentery. His Gallipoli souvenirs included a Turkish bayonet, a pair of felt muffled rowlocks and piles of printed photographs.He arrived in London in October and after a relatively short convalescence at 3LGH and he joined 6AAH (Moreton Gardens) and later, as only fit for home service, promoted Major and joined 1 AAH, Harefield in May 1916. He married one of the  Australian VADs, Dorothy Elise Willis, in South Kensington in 1917.He was posted to 1 AGH, Rouen, in July 1917 and it is there that his interest in Radiology, initially stimulated on Lemnos and Gallipoli, was greatly enhanced. He was, again evacuated October 1918 and returned to Australia with his wife and eldest daughter, in 1919.

He entered general practice with his entrepreneurial older brother, William Alfred Verco, was surgical registrar at the Adelaide Children's Hospital, bought a house in North Adelaide, increased the family size with a son and daughter and, in 1921, embarked on a career in Radiology. He had rooms in Verco Buildings on North Terrace and later Harley Chambers in North Adelaide. He was joined in his practice by Colin Gurner and later, Bronte Smeaton. He was appointed radiologist in charge of X-Ray services for the Army 1939-43. He commenced full time service on 16Mar42, as Major, when 101 AGH was established and later DADMS and President of Medical Boards, SA. He was promoted LtCol in 1944. His various hospital appointments included Honorary Radiologist at the Adelaide and Adelaide Children's Hospitals. He was the advisor to the SA government on Mass Chest X-Ray Health Survey from 1942. He was the first president of the College of Radiologists

(Australia and New Zealand) now the RACR and described by his colleague, Dr ATH Nisbet, 'his friendly, anxious, kindly manner must endear itself to all. Furthermore, his definite opinions and wise decisions when in the chair have shown members their first president is a man of wide knowledge and untold experience. The College was indeed fortunate to be initiated with him in command". The practice of Verco, Gurner and Smeaton,after Smeaton's death became Verco and Gurner, and the two seniors were joined by their radiologist sons, PW Verco and Colin Gurner junior. Verco continued to practise until shortly before his death in 1971.  His life-long love in sailing had culminated in final yacht, 'Solace', and indeed he would often go to the RSAYS, row out to the Solace, have a pipe and a glass of scotch and reflect on the world. Predeceased by his wife he was survived by his son, Peter, also to follow his father as President of the RACR, and two daughters. All served in the Army in WW2. His grandsons have all served in the ADF, two in the RAADC and one in the RAAFSR.

Compiled and written by his Grandson Christopher J Verco  - RFD MD FRCOG FRANZCOG

Born 5 November 1889 in North Adelaide, South Australia
(SA Birth Record 1842 - 1906 Book: 448 Page: 212 District: Ade.)

Father William James VERCO and Mother Elizabeth Margaret Verco (nee Rogers).

Siblings:
Sister    Clara Isabella VERCO    (b. 1/4/1877 North Adelaide - d. 15/10/1938 North Adelaide)
            (SA Birth record 1842 - 1906 Book: 181 Page: 307 District: Ade.)

Sister:   Jessie Constance VERCO  (b. 24/3/1879 North Adelaide - d. 5/1/1949 North Adelaide)
             (SA Birth record 1842 - 1906 Book: 217 Page: 418 District: Ade.)

Sister:   Daisy VERCO  (b. 14/3/1881 North Adelaide - d. 5/7/1959 South Australia)
             (SA Birth record 1842 - 1906 Book: 257 Page: 324 District: Ade.)

Prior to enlisting Stanley was a House Surgeon (noted on his embarkation roll),
working with the Adelaide Hospital.

Prior to enlisting he was living with C E Verco, at 'Sunnybrae', Stathalbyn, SA.

1913 Graduated from University of Adelaide with Bachelors Degree in Medicine

Prior service:
18 months Volunteer Cadet
Commanding Officer of 50th AMC (detail of 19th AMC), Fort Largs, SA

Described on enlisting 24 years 11 months old; single; 5' 10" tall; 146 lbs;
Church of England

7/10/1914      Enlisted at Keswick, South Australia

31/10/1914    Commanding Officer appointed Joseph to
                     1st Australian Stationary Hospital

5/12/1914      Embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on board HMAT Kyarra A55
                    as a Captain with the 1st Australian Stationary Hospital (AAMC)

20/1/1915      transferred from 1st Australian Stationary Hospital to
                     1st Australian Auxillary Hospital

2/3/1915        Proceeded to join Mediterranean Expeditionary Forces, GALLIPOLI

20/10/1915    Sent to Base (England), ex Lemnos with dysentry
27/10/1915    admitted to - No.3 London General Hospital, England

20/5/1916      Taken on strength of 1st Australian Auxillary Hospital, Harefield

6/7/1916        1st Australian Auxillary Hospital, Harefield

7/8/1916        Promoted to temporary Major, 1st Australian Auxillary Hospital

12/10/1916     granted 14 days sick leave

14/11/1916     Promoted to Major, 1st Australian Auxillary Hospital 

8/5/1917         rejoined 1st Australian Auxillary Hospital, from hospital

4/7/1917         proceeded overseas to France
5/7/1917         transferred from AIF Headquarters to 1st Australian General Hospital
6/7/1917         appointed Registrar, 1st Australian General Hospital

2/11/1917       proceeded on leave to UK, ex Roen, France
25/11/1917     rejoined hospital from leave

5/7/1918         proceeded on leave to UK, ex Roen, France
21/7/1918       rejoined hospital from leave

20/7/1918       attached to 2nd Australian General Hospital

7/10/1918       unfit for service, Rouen, Fance
                      sick leave to England

21/10/1918     on sick leave in UK, selected to return to Australia on furlough (leave)
                      and to remain in UK awaiting embarkation

21/12/1918     Returned to Australia on board Miltiades, ex England (at own expense)
5/2/1919         disembarked into Australia

7/4/1919         Discharged from service with AIF WWI

Medals:
1914-15 Star (8373); British War medal (1403); Victory medal (1404)

Married:        Elise Dorothy Verco (nee Willis) at Kensington, England on 17/1/1917
1937             living at 7 Fitzroy Terrace, Thorngate, SA.
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Service #S2675 in  WWII

16/3/1942      Enlisted as a Major, and commenced duty in WWII
                     commenced full time duty in 101 General Hospital

21/3/1946      Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Stanley Verco
                     Discharged from service in WWII

Sourced and submitted by Sharyn Roberts and Julianne T Ryan.  17/2/2015.  Lest we forget.

Josephs complete list of siblings as provided by his grandson Chris Verco on  22 October 2016

William Alfred Verco       1867-1942

Emily Margaret Verco      1869-1970 never married

Jane Elizabeth Verco       1872-1910 m Arthur William Pearce

Mary Eleanor Verco          1874-1875

Clara Isabella Verco         1877-1948 m Albert henry Riggs

Jessie Constance Verco    1879-1949 m Frank Amos Verco

Daisy Verco                      1881-1959

Charles Edwin Verco         1884-1962  m Josephine Saxe Mackie

Marian Annie Verco          1887-1976   m Stanley Hewin Clutterbuck