FACEY, Stephen George
| Service Number: | 5366 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 February 1916, Melbourne, Vic. |
| Last Rank: | Second Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 59th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Corop, Victoria, Australia, 1887 |
| Home Town: | Tolmie, Mansfield, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Tolmie School, Barkers Creek School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Killed In Action, France, 4 July 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Mericourt-L'Abbe Communal Cemetery Extension Plot III, Row E, Grave No. 1 |
| Memorials: | Daysdale & District WW1 Honour Roll, Daysdale Roll of Honor, Mansfield War Memorial Gates, Stanhope Carag Carag State School No. 2034 Roll of Honor, Stanhope Cenotaph |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, 5366, Melbourne, Vic. | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Jul 1916: | Involvement Private, 5366, 5th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ayrshire embarkation_ship_number: A33 public_note: '' | |
| 3 Jul 1916: | Embarked Private, 5366, 5th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ayrshire, Melbourne | |
| 3 Nov 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 59th Infantry Battalion, France | |
| 9 Nov 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 59th Infantry Battalion, France | |
| 6 Dec 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 59th Infantry Battalion, France | |
| 8 May 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Sergeant, 5366, 59th Infantry Battalion, Bullecourt (Second) | |
| 26 Sep 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Sergeant, 5366, 59th Infantry Battalion, Polygon Wood | |
| 31 Oct 1917: | Honoured Distinguished Conduct Medal, Polygon Wood, For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He attacked an enemy machine gun post, killing three of the garrison and capturing one officer and ten other ranks. On another occasion he captured the whole garrison of an enemy "pill-box" single handed. | |
| 1 May 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 59th Infantry Battalion, England. Also awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre 16 February 1918. | |
| 4 Jul 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 59th Infantry Battalion, Le Hamel - Blueprint for Victory, Ville sur Ancre | |
| 4 Jul 1918: | Involvement Second Lieutenant, 59th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: 59th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Second Lieutenant awm_died_date: 1918-07-04 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
Son of Thomas and Ellen FACEY
Distinguished Conduct Medal
'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He attacked an enemy machine gun post, killing three of the garrison and capturing one officer and ten other ranks. On another occasion he captured the whole garrison of an enemy "pill-box" single handed. He carried out difficult patrols under heavy fire, and rendered very valuable service throughout the operations.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 95
Date: 27 June 1918
Croix de Guerre (Belgium)
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 185
Date: 27 November 1918
THE LATE PTE. S. G. FACEY, D.C.M.
Mrs. T. Facey, of Tolmie, has handed us the following letter for publication concerning tho death of her son, who was well known in the Coreen and Lowesdale districts;—
My Dear Mrs. Facey,—
It is with profound regret that I have to tell you of the death of your
son Stephen George Facey, D.C.M., late 50th Battalion, who fell early on the morning of the 4th Instant, gallantly and nobly doing his duty. When arrangements had been made for the attack by his battalion, your son was specially selected by his Commanding Officer on account of his skill as a bomber, to establish a bomb stop in the enemy's trench; this duty was admirably performed. About two hours later the enemy made a most determined attack in considerable force, and it was while withstanding this attack that he
was shot dead by a German sniper. His stout resistance enabled his comrades to organise some men in support of the bomb stop party, who charged the enemy and made good the position. Your boy's previous service had been brilliant in the extreme. His fearless
courage and unfailing, cheerfulness during the awful winter (1916-17) on the Somme brought him into prominence, and he signally distinguished himself by constantly volunteering for most dangerous patrol work immediately before the German retirement beyond
Bapaume in March, 1917. At Polygon Wood last September he distinguished himself so greatly that he was nearly recommended for tho V.C. It was said that he captured single-handed several pill-boxes, several machine guns, and 50 prisoners. As you are aware, he was at the time of his death in possession of tho D.C.M. and Croix de Guerre, and had he lived I am quite sure further honours would have been his.
His Brigadier states that he has never heard such unanimous regret expressed throughout the Brigade on the death of an officer as for your son, he was a very fine athlete, and idolised by his men.
I feel sure that the above facts will help you in some measure to bear up in your great loss. I am sure that it must be a cause of great satisfaction to you to know that your son has so nobly and gallantly done hls duty, oven though he sacrificed his life in the service of
his country.
Please accept from his comrades and myeslf our deepest sympathy.
Yours sincerely,
J. TALBOT HOBBS
Major-General.
Commanding 5th Australian Division.
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