STEVENSON, John Francis
| Service Number: | 2260 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 21st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Boho, Victoria, 1888 |
| Home Town: | Violet Town, Strathbogie, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Boho State School |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Violet Town, 1977, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Violet Town Public Cemetery, Victoria |
| Memorials: | Euroa Telegraph Park, Violet Town 'Unknown' WW1 Honour Roll, Violet Town Honour Roll WW1 |
World War 1 Service
| 14 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1 | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Sep 1915: | Involvement Private, 2260, 21st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' | |
| 27 Sep 1915: | Embarked Private, 2260, 21st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Melbourne |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Elsa Reuter
STEVENSON John Francis 2260 CPL
21st Battalion
1888-1977
Jack and his brother Joe enlisted together on 14 July 1915, the last of the Stevenson brothers to leave the farm at Boho to serve their country. Jack was 27, Joe was 29.
At the end of September, after training at Broadmeadows the two brothers embarked on HMAT Hororata for Egypt. Soon after arriving at Alexandria they were posted to Tel-el-Kebir where they were taken on strength by the 21st battalion.
In March they embarked from Alexandria to Marseilles from where they were posted to Pozieres. It was while engaged here that Joe was killed.
In December Jack was hospitalised for a week with influenza. In October 1917, while serving at Amiens he was promoted to ACPL. In September 1918 after returning from leave in England he was promoted to CPL. During November and December he was hospitalised with trench fever. In October 1918, the 21st Battalion had been disbanded and its members had been taken on strength by the 24th Battalion.
Jack was sent to AGBD at Havre to await a ship home. In July 1919 he returned to Australia aboard the Rio Negro. In 1919 he received word that he had been ‘Mentioned in Despatches’ by General Haig. Other than reference to ‘conspicuous services’ there is no evidence of how Jack earned this honour.
He returned to the farm at Boho where he remained until his death in 1977.
He is buried in the Violet Town cemetery.
Decoration: Mentioned in Despatches
Service Medals: 1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal
Memorials: Main Honour Board, Memorial Hall, Violet Town
Boho State School
Copper Plaque affixed to exterior wall, Memorial Hall, Violet Town
Tree No 46 was planted in 1917 by Jack’s brother, Seth.
In 2013 a Ceratonia siliqua - Carob tree - was planted by members of the Stevenson family.
© 2016 Sheila Burnell
Click images to start slideshow.