77569
STEVENS, Eric Stanley
| Service Number: | 389 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 January 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
| Born: | Broken hill, NSW, 25 May 1897 |
| Home Town: | Broken Hill, Broken Hill Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Norwood Primary School |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Died: | Kadina, South Australia, 27 March 1970, aged 72 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Kadina Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: | Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Broken Hill Barrier District Roll of Honour, Broken Hill Blende Street Methodist Church Honour Board, Broken Hill Wesley Uniting Church Memorial Windows, Broken Hill Zinc Corporation Roll of Honour, Norwood Primary School Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 4 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 389, 43rd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Jun 1916: | Involvement Private, 389, 43rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Jun 1916: | Embarked Private, 389, 43rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Adelaide | |
| 11 Apr 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 389, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), The first battle of Bullecourt | |
| 11 Apr 1917: | Imprisoned | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Private, 389, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) | |
| 4 Jun 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, 389, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) | |
| Date unknown: | Wounded 389, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Adelaide Botanic High School
On the 25th of May 1897 in Broken Hill, New South Wales, Ada Georgine Jeal had given birth to a baby boy when she was only 19 years old. That boy would grow up to be Eric Stanley Stevens, a WWI soldier.
Eric was the eldest of four children. He had two younger sisters, Effie (1 year younger) and Hilda (2 years younger), he also had a younger brother, Thomas (5 years younger). When Eric was born, William, Eric’s father, was not married to Ada, Eric’s mother, they would eventually marry a year after their third child was born.
As a child, Eric attended Norwood Primary School with his siblings. Before enlisting, Eric had an occupation as a miner. He had been doing senior cadets from the age of 14 and he had done 1 year of CIT forces and was still serving while he was enlisting for war.
He was only 18 years old when he enlisted, and he was 5 foot 4 and ½ which was above average at the time. He enlisted on January 14th, 1916, in Adelaide and was enlisted to the 43rd Infantry Battalion. He embarked to England on the HMAT Afric ship on Friday the 9th of June 1916.
Eric did not engage in any battles while in the 43rd Infantry Battalion and he was TOS to the 16th Infantry Battalion on the 4th of October 1916. During his time with the 16th Infantry Battalion, he was caught being in the cafeteria during prohibited hours and was unfortunately Awarded one day's pay, which meant that he was deducted one day's pay.
On the 23rd of September 1916, He proceeded overseas to France where he would be involved in The First Battle of Bullecourt. The attack on Bullecourt was originally scheduled for the 10th of April 1917, but due to the delay of the tanks, the battle was postponed to the next morning, the 11th of April 1917. The 16th Battalion fought alongside the 4th Infantry Battalion, the 12th Infantry Battalion, and the 62nd British Division. The battle ended in failure, approximately 3,000 Australians had been killed or wounded and more than 1,100 were taken prisoner, which was the case for Eric Stevens.
Eric was injured during battle and was proclaimed missing on the 11th of April 1917. The Honorary Secretary had informed Erics' family and they had informed the public by a newspaper article. The article reads: “PRIVATE E. S. STEVENS MISSING. Mr. and Mrs. W. Stevens, of 67 Kent Terrace, Kent Town, have been officially informed that their son, Private Eric S. (“Snowy”) Stevens, of the 16th Battalion, has been reported wounded and missing since April 11. Private Stevens formerly resided in Mica-street, Broken Hill.”
On the 2nd of June 1917, he was reported to be a POW (prisoner of war) in a POW camp located in Soltau, Germany, the camp was later shut down in 1918.
Eric was rescued on the 8th of August 1917 and disembarked for England on the 31st of December 1918 and remained in hospital until he embarked for Australia on the 2nd of March 1919 and finally disembarked on the 12th of April. After three years of service, He was later discharged on the 4th of June 1919 for cessation of hostilities.
Eric was only 21 years old when he returned to Australia. His younger sister, Effie Lilian, passed away on the 29th of December 1930 in Adelaide, South Australia. Effie was only 32 years old when she passed, Eric was 33 years old.
Eric married Mary Agnes Suridge on the 4th of August 1932 in Adelaide, South Australia, when he was 35 years old, and she was 41 years old. The couple never ended up having any children.
On the 30th of June 1949, a death notice appeared in the Chronicle under “DEATHS”, it read: “Family Notice: STEVENS – On June 23, at hospital, William, dearly beloved husband of Ada Stevens, and loving father of Eric, Hilda, and Jack, also Effie (deceased). Aged 76 years”. His mother, Ada, passed away on the 18th of August 1964 in South Australia when she was 86 years of age.
Eric eventually passed away on the 27th of March 1970 at the age of 73. He and his wife, Mary Agnes, now share a grave located in Kadina, District Council of Copper Coast, South Australia, Australia. The inscription on the grave reads: “STEVENS ~ In loving memory of ERIC. Died 27 March 1970. Aged 73 yrs. Beloved husband of AGNES. Died 24 April 1981. Aged 88 yrs.” They were married for a total of 37 years.
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