STEAVENS, John Edward
| Service Number: | 3171 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 6 September 1915, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 55th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, 5 August 1884 |
| Home Town: | Annandale, Leichhardt, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Tram Driver |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Fromelles, France, 20 July 1916, aged 31 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 6 Sep 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3171, Depot Battalion (AIF), Sydney, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Dec 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3171, 17th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Suevic embarkation_ship_number: A29 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Dec 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3171, 17th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Suevic, Sydney | |
| 8 Feb 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3171, 17th Infantry Battalion, Admitted -- 3rd Auxillery Hospital -- Circumcision -- Heliopolis | |
| 11 Feb 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3171, 17th Infantry Battalion, Discharged to Duty -- Rejoined Battalion | |
| 11 Mar 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 55th Infantry Battalion, T.O.S. from 17th Infantry Battalion | |
| 19 Jun 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3171, 55th Infantry Battalion, Embarked Alexandria for B.E.F per H.M.T. "Caledonian" | |
| 29 Jun 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3171, 55th Infantry Battalion, Disembarked Marseilles, France | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3171, 55th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix) | |
| 20 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3171, 55th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), Killed In Action | |
| 20 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3171, 55th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3171 awm_unit: 55th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-07-20 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by John Oakes
John Edward STEAVENS (Service Number 3171) was born in Newcastle on 5th August 1884. He joined the Tramways in Newcastle as a conductor in December 1905. In February 1907 he transferred to Sydney, but returned to Newcastle in June 1908. He transferred to Sydney in November 1909. He became an electric tramdriver in 1911. Hiis driving certificate was cancelled for some misdemeanour that year. He regained it in August 1911. In August 1914 he was again demoted to conductor for three weeks. He was reinstated as a driver the following month. In August 1915 he was released from duty to enlist in the AIF in Sydney. His next of kin was given as his wife, and they were living in Annandale at the time.
he was allotted to the 7th Reinforcements of the 17th Battalion. He was embarked for the Middle East in December 1915. He was transferred to the 55th Battalion in Egypt and ‘taken on strength’ by them in February 1916. In June he was sent to France.
On 20th July 1916 he was reported missing in action, at Fromelles. A Court of Enquiry convened a week later determined that he must have been killed in action in that battle, when he was posted missing. He has no known grave but is remembered with honour at the VC Corner Australian Cemetery & Memorial, Fromelles.
A war pension was granted to his widow.
- based on the Austraian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Hojnour Board.
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