Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Early Life

Cyril Forster Stephens was born on the 16th of June 1890, at Laura, South Australia, the son of John James Stephens and Alice Day Jacobs. His siblings were Alice (1887), Eric (1892), Nellie (1895) and Alan (1898).

Cyril’s father was the Head Master at the Laura Public School when Cyril was born. John then moved to Wallaroo Mines School in 1893 and Moonta Public School in 1901. From 1907 John was the Head Master of various schools in Adelaide.

Schooling

Cyril attended primary school at Wallaroo Mines and Moonta. While at Moonta he passed his primary examinations (1903), Junior Examinations in English, History, Arithmetic & Algebra (1904) Physics & Botany (1905) and Senior examinations Arithmetic & Physics (1906).

Early Career

When the family moved to the city Cyril commenced working at the Union Bank of Adelaide, where he remained two years. He then proceeded to Mr. A. W. Wearing's farm at Weetulta, Y.P. and worked there for two years gaining practical farming experience.

Roseworthy Agricultural College

From 1911 to 1913 Cyril was studying toward a Diploma of Agriculture. He was an excellent student as described below.

ROSEWORTHY COLLEGE. (1913, March 15). The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), p. 22. Retrieved May 25, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5382738

"I must, in the first place, congratulate most heartily the gold-medalist, Mr. CF. Stephens, his general diploma- average of 90 per cent, is the highest every secured at the institution, and he has taken honors in every subject but one. In addition, he has won every class prize it was possible for him to win; and, finally, he has been recommended for the "John Ridley Memorial" scholarship, entitling him to £80 per annum, for two years if he elects to continue his studies at the university. I have no hesitation in stating that by his general conduct, his assiduous attention to his studies and outside work, Mr. Stephens has proved himself one of the best students that have ever been through the institution."

Adelaide University

Cyril was appointed assistant in the chemical laboratory at Roseworthy in 1914.

Cyril commenced a Bachelor of Science degree in 1914 and was a recipient of the Ridley Memorial Scholarship in 1914-1915. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in December 1916 and was awarded the Lowrie scholarship for research in agriculture.

World War I

Cyril enlisted at Keswick, South Australia on the 14 Nov 1916 (SN 6654).
He was 5’9¾”, 138 lbs with a medium fair complexion, blue eyes and medium fair hair.

He was a Private in both E and A Company of the 2nd Depot Battalion then the 9/48 before being assigned to the 19/27 Infantry on the 19th January 1917. On the 24th January 1917 he embarked from Adelaide onboard the A28 “Miltiades ”. On arriving in the UK he marched into the 7th Training Battalion at Rollestone. He proceeded overseas to France via Southampton on the 24th September arriving at the 2 Divisional Base at Havre and was taken on the strength of the 27th Battalion in Belgium on the 13th October. On the 5th January Cyril was appointed a Lance Corporal.

By the 10th May 1918 Cyril had pyrexia (fever) of unknown origin and was taken from a Casualty Clearing Station to the 6th General Hospital at Rouen (north west France). On the 21 May Cyril was at the Australian Infantry Base Depot in Havre and he rejoined his unit on the 1st June 1918.

Death

The Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Files 1914-1918 War 1DRL/0428 contains a number of accounts of Cyril’s service and death. He joined the 27th Bn at Ypres in Oct/Nov 1917 so was considered a “late re-enforcement” and was a Machine Gunner with B Coy. On the 10th June 1918 he was in a wheat field at Morlancourt near Sailly-le-Sec and went over the top and was gunned down by enemy fire. His body was later found by the 48th Bn. He was buried at the Dive Copse British Cemetery, Sailly-le-Sec, France.

THE LATE LCE.-CPL. C. P. STEPHENS (1918, October 26). Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 - 1931), p. 39. Retrieved May 25, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article164165542

“THE LATE LCE.-CPL. C. F. STEPHENS
Lce.-Cpl. C. F. Stephens, who previously was reported missing, has been killed in action. He was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Stephens, of Fullarton. and was born at Laura on June 16, 1890. After having received education up to the University junior stage, he joined the Union Bank of Adelaide, where he remained two years. He then proceeded to Mr. A. W. Wearing's farm at Weetulta, Y.P., and having worked there for two years, entered Roseworthy College. In 1913 he received his diploma, won the gold medal, old students' cup, the first Ridley scholarship, and broke all previous college records. He spent another year in matriculating, and at chemical work at the college. At the University he took his B.Sc. degree in agriculture in 1916, and the first Lowrie research scholarship. He then enlisted, and went to England in January, 1917, with 27th Battalion reinforcements. After nine months in France he was reported missing on June 10. A younger brother was killed in action while serving with the same battalion on April 30 of last year.”

The younger brother was Alan Hall Stephens who enlisted on the 15th of November 1915, and served with the 27th Infantry Battalion. Lance Corporal A.H. Stephens was killed in action on the 30th of April 1917, aged 20 and is buried at the Noreuil Australian Cemetery, France.

Cyril’s family later received news that the Dive Copse British Cemetery “suffered considerably from shelling a one time” and that it was no longer possible to identify Cyril’s grave.

Cyril is commemorated at Special Memorial 5, South of War Stone with the inscriptions “Son of John James and Alice Day Stephens, of Carlton St., Fullarton, South Australia and Their glory shall not be blotted out”.

Cyril’s surviving brother Eric Goyne Stephens attempted to enlist in the AIF in December 1917, but was rejected as medically unfit due to his previous nervous breakdown. After teaching at Rockhampton Boys’ Grammar School, Queensland he enlisted in the AIF in June 1918. On the 26th of September 1918, Eric was discharged as medically unfit while still in depot.

During his life-time Eric made two gift to the Roseworthy Agricultural College Library in his brother’s memory. On his death he made a further substantial gift to the College.

Sources
Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1478539
National Archives of Australia recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=1923999
State Records South Australia GRG26/5/4/682
National Library Australia https://www.library.gov.au/ various newspaper articles tagged “Cyril Forster Stephens”
Adelaide University https://www.adelaide.edu.au/legalandrisk/trusts-bequests/historical-records/e-g-stephens-bequest

Author - EE (Beth) Filmer