Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Early Life

Alan Hall Stephens was born on the 20th January 1898, at Kensington, South Australia, the son of John James Stephens and Alice Day Jacobs. His siblings were Alice (1887), Cyril (1890), Eric (1892) and Nellie (1895). Although names Alan Hall Stephens, he was known as Bob.

Bob’s father was the Head Master at the Moonta Public School when Cyril was born. From 1907 John was the Head Master of various schools in Adelaide.

Schooling

Bob commenced his primary schooling at the age of five at Moonta on Yorke Peninsula and transferred to Grote Street in 1906 or 1907. He later attended Adelaide High School.

Career

The Commonwealth Gazette records that Bob was appointed as a Telegraph Messenger from the 28th October 1912. Prior to enlisting he worked in the Stores Branch of the GPO in Adelaide.

World War I

Bob’s enlistment papers (dated 8th November 1915) record his name as Allan Hall Stephens (SN 4764). He was 18 ¾ years old and worked as an Office Boy. He had served as a bugler for 4 years in C Coy, 74th A. He was 5’7”, weighed 126 lbs with a fair complexion and fair hair and blue eyes.

Bob was assigned to the 27th Battalion (12th Reinforcements) and departed Adelaide onboard the HMATA 60 “Aeneas” on the 11th April 1916, arriving at Fremantle, WA on the 17th April and Suez on the 14th May.

It is unclear when Bob arrived in the UK but on the 26-27 November 1916 at Rollestone, England he was Absent With Out Leave and was “Admonished” by Major P Currie and docked two days pay. He was based with the CO 7th Training Batallion. During this time he was part of the bugle band.

On the 28th December 1916 he proceeded overseas to France onboard SS “Princess Clementine” via Folkestone to Estaples, France. He was at the 2nd Divisional Base Depot until early February 1917 when he proceeded to join his Unit. He was taken on Strength of the 27 Battalion.

On the 4th April 1917, he was appointed Lance Corporal.

Death

On 30 April 1917, the 27th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) was located in the vicinity of Bullecourt, France within the larger region where the heavy fighting between Bapaume and Bullecourt was taking place.

Bob was killed in action on the 30th April 1917 is buried at the Noreuil Australian Cemetery, France. While his headstone records his age as 20 years, Bob was only 19 years and 3 months old.

LATE LCE.-CPL. A. H. STEPHENS. (1917, May 19). The Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1912 - 1923), p. 3 (NIGHT EDITION). Retrieved May 26, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article208045485

“LATE LCE.-CPL. A. H. STEPHENS.
The late Lce.-Cpl. Alan H. (Bob) Stephens, killed in action, was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Stephens, of Carlton street, Fullarton. The deceased soldier was born on January 20, 1808, and prior to enlisting, was connected with the Stores Branch of the G.P.O. Adelaide. He went into camp in October, 1915, and on April 11 of the following year left for Egypt as a bugler with the 12th Reinforcement of 27th Battalion. After being a few weeks in Egypt, lie landed in England, where for several months he was a member of the bugle band, but on this being disbanded he again joined the infantry, and crossed over to France. He first entered the firing line at the beginning of .March of this year, and met his death on April 30. Lce.-Cpl. Stephens won his stripe in the trenches.”

Bob’s mother later received a package which returned to Australia onboard the “Marathon”. The contents were “Steel Mirror, 2 Wallets, Testament, Diary, German Lapel, German Cap, Letters, Photos, Prayer Book, Cards, German Papers, German Card Case”.

Brothers

Cyril Forster Stephens (Roseworthy Diploma of Agriculture and BSc, The University of Adelaide) enlisted 14 Nov 1916 (SN 6654). He served with the 19th Reinforcements of the 27th Battalion, AIF. He was killed in action on 10th June 1918. He was buried at the Dive Copse British Cemetery, Sailly-le-Sec, France.

Bob’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.

Sources
National Archives Australia
recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=1923592
State Records South Australia
GRG26/5/4 Photographic Portraits of South Australian Soldiers, Sailors and Nurses who took part in World War One Number 683 SRSA ref: GRG26/5/4/683
National Library Australian – Newspaper and Gazette items tagged “Alan Hall Stephens”

Author EE (Beth) Filmer