Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

NAME: Harold Burris Stephenson
SERVICE NUMBER: 3132
PARENTS: John Stephenson and Salome Stephenson (nee Butler)
PLACE OF BIRTH: Kersbrook
DATE OF BIRTH: 26 January 1894
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT: Adelaide
DATE OF ENLISTMENT: 12 October 1916
AGE AT ENLISTMENT: 22 Years 8 months
MARITAL STATUS: Single
NEXT OF KIN: Mother, Salome Stephenson
OCCUPATION: Laborer
RELIGION: Methodist
RANK: Private A.I.F. Canteens 9th Light Horse 24th Reinforcement
MEMORIALS: Hope Valley & Highbury Heroes of the Great War Roll of Honor; Kersbrook Roll of Honor; Tea tree Gully / Hope Valley Methodist Church & District Roll of Honor.
Harold as he was always known enlisted as Harold Burris, but his actual name was Bariss Harold.
Embarkation Roll( www.awm.gov.au) incorrectly records Christian Names as Harold Burns. Attestation paper (recordsearch.naa.gov.au) records Christian names as Harold Burris”. (www.vwma.org.au)
Harold’s unit, the 9th Light Horse Regiment embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A6 Clan McCorquodale on 5 December 1917 and disembarked at Suez, Egypt, on 12 March 1917 and were marched into Camp Moascar. He was admitted to Citadel Hospital at Cairo, where he was treated for venereal disease from 8 May to 15 May. Harold was treated for myalgia at 54 and 26 Casualty Clearing Stations, and Sly Hospital at Kantara. Myalgia continued to cause Harold pain, resulting in further treatment at the 14th General Hospital. From there he was transferred to the Convalescent Comp at Abbassia on 7 August.
On 22 September Harold served at the Australian Division Stores at Ghezireh, the Anzac provost Corps in Cairo in October, before being stationed at the details camp at Moascar. Diarrhoea and otitis (inflammation of the ear) resulted in being admitted to No.2 Australian General Hospital on 16 February 1918. He was stationed at Depot Stores on 20 March. A thyroid infection required treatment at Ghezireh during August and September. Harold was treated for malaria throughout September and November 1918.
On 19 January 1919, Harold embarked H.T. Orsova at Suez for Australia, disembarked on 18 February and was discharged on 4 June.
Harold was awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Harold Stephenson died at Clare on 2 June 1979 and was buried at Clare - White Hut Wesleyan Cemetery.
Source www.naa;B2455; Stephenson.H.B. Barcode 8089462
www.vwma; Stephenson.H.B.