Stephen COLLETT DCM and Bar

COLLETT, Stephen

Service Number: 3058
Enlisted: 12 July 1915
Last Rank: Sergeant
Last Unit: 58th Infantry Battalion
Born: Millicent, South Australia, Australia, 4 October 1891
Home Town: Strathalbyn, Alexandrina, South Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Farmer
Died: Mildura, Victoria, Australia, 29 August 1989, aged 97 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Red Cliffs Pioneer Cemetery, Victoria
Memorials: Goolwa War Memorial
Show Relationships

World War 1 Service

12 Jul 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3058, 22nd Infantry Battalion
26 Nov 1915: Embarked Private, 3058, 22nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Commonwealth, Melbourne
26 Nov 1915: Involvement Private, 3058, 22nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Commonwealth embarkation_ship_number: A73 public_note: ''
15 Mar 1916: Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 58th Infantry Battalion
22 Apr 1917: Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 58th Infantry Battalion
10 May 1917: Wounded AIF WW1, Corporal, 3058, 58th Infantry Battalion, Bullecourt (Second), Shrapnel wound right shoulder, transferred to England
26 Jul 1918: Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 58th Infantry Battalion
2 Sep 1918: Wounded AIF WW1, Sergeant, 3058, 58th Infantry Battalion, Gassed
22 Aug 1919: Discharged AIF WW1, Sergeant, 3058, 58th Infantry Battalion

Help us honour Stephen Collett's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks

Distinguished Conduct Medal

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This N.C.O. was in charge of the Lewis gun teams of his company, and kept moving from post to post under heavy machine gun fire, keeping the guns in action, and when casualties occurred often firing the gun himself until a fresh gunner was sent up from the rear. His coolness and determination under difficult conditions was of the highest order'

Bar to DCM

'For marked gallantry and good work during the period 25 February - 16 September, 1918. At Ville-sur-Ancre, on the nights of 3-4 July, when all Lewis guns were out of action owing to being clogged with mud, he placed captured enemy machine guns in position under heavy fire, and instructed his men in the use of them. He did great execution himself with one of these guns during the enemy counter attack. Again, on 9 August east of Harbonnieres, he rendered great service to his company when they were held up by enemy machine gun fire by working Lewis gun sections round the enemy's flank, and causing them to surrender.'

Read more...