Stanley Williams was born in Mackay, Queensland, on 12 November 1906. His father, Charles Emmanuel Williams, had an MD from Melbourne and had been awarded an honorary FRACS when that College was instituted. His mother was Effie Mary née McLean. Stanley was educated at Ipswich Grammar School, Queensland, and St Paul's College in the University of Sydney. After junior appointments at the Royal Prince Alfred and Royal North Shore Hospitals in Sydney, he went to England to work at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, under J R Griffith. He joined the RAF in 1940 and rose to the rank of Wing Commander. He passed the FRCS in 1942. He returned to Australia to practice in Mackay. There he was examiner for the Queensland Ambulance Transport Bridge from 1948 to 1968. He married Esme Ivy Hyland in 1940 and they had no children. He enjoyed lawn bowls and playing duplicate bridge. He died in July 2001.