STEPHENS, Francis Dyer
| Service Numbers: | 732, 732A |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 12 February 1917, Bendigo, Vic. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 7th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | St Arnaud, Victoria, Australia, 20 August 1887 |
| Home Town: | Eaglehawk, Greater Bendigo, Victoria |
| Schooling: | State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Boot repairer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 14 April 1918, aged 30 years |
| Cemetery: |
Aval Wood Military Cemetery, Vieux-Berquin Plot I, Row AA, Grave No. 15, Aval Wood Military Cemetery, Vieux-Berquin, Nord Pas de Calais, France, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France, Senlis Communal Cemetery Extension, Senlis-le-Sec, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Eaglehawk St Peter's Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 12 Feb 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 732, 2nd Machine Gun Company, Bendigo, Vic. | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Jun 1917: | Involvement Private, 732, 2nd Machine Gun Company, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '21' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Suevic embarkation_ship_number: A29 public_note: '' | |
| 21 Jun 1917: | Embarked Private, 732, 2nd Machine Gun Company, HMAT Suevic, Melbourne | |
| 1 Jan 1918: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 7th Infantry Battalion, France. Allotted SN 732A | |
| 14 Apr 1918: | Involvement Private, 732A, 7th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 732A awm_unit: 7 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1918-04-14 | |
| 14 Apr 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 732A, 7th Infantry Battalion, German Spring Offensive 1918, Hazebrouck |
Help us honour Francis Dyer Stephens's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Bendigonian, Thursday 16 May 1918, page 22.
PRIVATE F. D. STEPHENS. Mrs. Stephens, of Simpson's-road, Eagle-hawk, was notified last week that her husband, Private Francis Dyer Stephens, had been killed in action on 14th April. The deceased soldier was employed as a carpenter prior to his enlistment, and had a large number of friends in the borough. Additional sadness is lent to the bereavement sustained by the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Stephens, of Eaglehawk, owing to the fact that another son (Allan) has been missing for nearly three years. He wrote one card only after his embarkation, and since then no tidings have been received. The military allotment has ceased, but the pension authorities regard the missing soldier as still on active service. Mr. F. P. Morris is making inquiries into the case of Allan Stephens, and would welcome any information that may be forthcoming.
Francis Dyer Stephens was the father of two infant children.
Biography contributed by Robert Wight
Pte 732 Francis Dyer Stephens was killed in action on 14 April 1918 at Nieppe Forest (near Hazebrouck) during the 1st Division's defence of the area during the German Spring Offensive.
Brother: 1273 Pte Alan STEPHENS, 14th Bn, killed in action, 25 April 1915.
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