SA5095
STEPHENSON, Arthur Mayne
| Service Number: | 2789 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 2 September 1915, at Adelaide |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 50th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Kersbrook, South Australia, July 1896 |
| Home Town: | Highbury, Tea Tree Gully, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Memorials: | Hope Valley & Highbury Heroes of the Great War Roll, Kersbrook Roll of Honor, Tea Tree Gully Hope Valley Methodist Church and District Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 2 Sep 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2789, 50th Infantry Battalion, at Adelaide | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Oct 1916: | Involvement Private, 2789, 50th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Port Melbourne embarkation_ship_number: A16 public_note: '' | |
| 23 Oct 1916: | Embarked Private, 2789, 50th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Port Melbourne, Adelaide | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Sergeant, 2789, 50th Infantry Battalion |
Arthur Mayne Stephenson
NAME: Arthur Mayne Stephenson
SERVICE NUMBER: 2789
PARENTS: John Stephenson and Salome Stephenson (nee Butler)
PLACE OF BIRTH: Kersbrook
DATE OF BIRTH: 13 June 1896
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT: Adelaide
DATE OF ENLISTMENT: 2 September 1915
AGE AT ENLISTMENT: 19 years 2 months
MARITAL STATUS: Single
NEXT OF KIN: Mother, Salome Stephenson
OCCUPATION: Farmer
RELIGION: Methodist
RANK: Sergeant 50th Battalion (last rank)
MEMORIALS: Hope Valley and Highbury Heroes of the Great War Roll of Honor; Kersbrook Roll of Honor; Tea tree Gully/ Hope Valley Methodist Church & District Roll of Honor.
Upon completion of basic training, with D Coy and A Coy 2nd Depot Battalion, Arthur attended the School of Musketry at Cheltenham and was appointed Acting Sergeant, then provisional Sergeant and provisional Corporal with A Coy. The 50th Battalion embarked HMAT A16 Port Melbourne from Adelaide on 23 October 1916, disembarking at Devonport on 28 December.
Arthur was stationed at Codford with the 13th Training Battalion on 29 December. He was docked one days’ pay for being absent without leave on 22 January 1917. His unit was sent to France on 19 April, where they fought in several areas including Dernancourt, Corbie, Gentelles Wood and Beaumetz. Arthur was appointed lance Corporal in France on 5 November.
On 15 March 1918 Arthur was treated for hernia and later was admitted to the General Hospital at Boulogne with mild spinal meningitis, rejoining his unit on 20 July. He was transferred from the 50th Battalion to the Australian General Base Depot for demobilisation duties on 29 January 1919. Arthur was promoted to Sergeant on 1 March, and served at Sutton Veny and Hurdcott in May, before returning to Australia. During the journey home, he was treated for fever on board the hospital ship Febricula on 31 July. He disembarked in Adelaide on 22 August and was discharged on 29 September 1919.
Arthur was awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
The Journal of 8 May,1923 announced that Arthur married Mabel Scott on 31 March at “Airlie”, Milltown.
Arthur Stephenson died at Clare on 22 August 1971, aged 75.
Source: www.naa;B2455; Stephenson.A.M.
Barcode 1924347
www.trove.nla.gov/digitised newspapers.
Submitted 25 September 2023 by christopher collins
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