STEVENSON, William
| Service Number: | 342 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 August 1914, Broadmeadows, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 13th Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Euroa, Victoria, August 1890 |
| Home Town: | Violet Town, Strathbogie, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Boho State School |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Mooroopna, 1974, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Violet Town Public Cemetery, Victoria |
| Memorials: | Euroa Telegraph Park, Moglonemby School No. 2911 Honour Roll, Violet Town 'Unknown' WW1 Honour Roll, Violet Town Honour Roll WW1 |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 342, 4th Light Horse Regiment, Broadmeadows, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 1914: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 342, 4th Light Horse Regiment, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Wiltshire embarkation_ship_number: A18 public_note: '' | |
| 19 Oct 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 342, 4th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Wiltshire, Melbourne | |
| 4 Nov 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 342, 4th Light Horse Regiment, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 24 Jun 1920: | Discharged AIF WW1, Sergeant, 342, 13th Light Horse Regiment |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Elsa Reuter
STEVENSON William 342 SGT
4th Light Horse Regiment
1889-1974
William (Bill) Stevenson and his older brother Jim enlisted on the same day, 18 August 1914. Jim was 29 and Bill was 24. They remained together fairly consistently, doing their initial training before embarking on HMAT Wiltshire on 19 October. After an adventurous trip during which the German Emden was sunk by HMAS Sydney, they arrived at Alexandria on 11 December. The camp at Mena was their next posting, with duties in and around Cairo as well as the perpetual training to keep the troops in top condition. Bill spent a week in hospital at this time suffering from influenza.
On 19 May he embarked on City of Edinburgh for Gallipoli where he served at Courtney’s Post and Shrapnel Gully. In December he was promoted to the rank of CPL.
Back in Egypt after the evacuation of Gallipoli the troops were engaged in training and patrolling duties of the Suez zone. Bill and Jim embarked on board the Castrian for Marseilles the following March. They then entrained for Armentieres for CRE duties which included despatch riding, patrolling and acting as guides, all on horseback. In December Bill spent a week in hospital suffering from influenza; soon after his return to duty he was slightly gassed.
In August 1917 he was promoted to the rank of SGT. In November Bill was detached for duty as a temporary Assistant Provost Marshall. Soon after re-joining his unit he received a gunshot wound to his right shoulder. For this he was invalided to the Horton Auxiliary Hospital in London. He was awarded 75 days long service leave. Sometime between January and March 1918 he married Mabel Oliver at St Anne’s Church, Bishop Auckland, Durham, England. Bill’s NOK was transferred to Mable on 25 April 1918.
There was some delay in shipping all the troops home after the war and Bill and Mable had to await their turn. On 5 December 1919 they embarked from England, arriving on 20 January 1920. Bill was discharged soon after.
There was a warm welcome to Bill and his English bride, the report of which appeared in the Violet Town Sentinel. ‘The chairman of the proceedings for the happy night, President Wilson, said “he was pleased that SGT Stevenson had not been thinking of the war all the time but had taken time to pick out a bonny English bride to bring home with him.” On behalf of the Boho residents he gave Mrs Stevenson a very hearty welcome to “Aussie” and he was sure all would join in making her feel at home and help her to forget her grief at parting from her people. He sincerely hoped that they would settle down to enjoy many happy years in Boho . . . SGT and Mrs Stevenson in a few well-chosen words thanked the people for their kind reception.’
Bill and Mable settled down to farming at Boho and raised five children, Margaret, Billy (1921-1999), Heather Patricia, Marjorie and Nancy.
Mabel died in 1955, leaving Bill who died in Mooroopna hospital in 1974.
Service Medals: 1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal
Memorials: Main Honour Board, Memorial Hall, Violet Town
Boho State School Honour Board
Boho Honour Board
Copper Plaque affixed to exterior wall of Memorial Hall, Violet Town
Tree No 49 was planted in 1917 by Seth Stevenson (brother).
In 2013 a Ceratonia siliqua – Carob – was planted by Stephen Bertram (grandson) and JaniceThomas (grandniece).
© 2016 Sheila Burnell
Click images to start slideshow.