| Regimental number | 3171 |
| Place of birth | Wickham, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Tram driver |
| Address | 58 View Street, Annandale, New South Wales |
| Marital status | Married |
| Age at embarkation | 31 |
| Height | 5' 7.25" |
| Weight | 136 lbs |
| Next of kin | Wife, Mrs R J Stevens, 58 View Street, Annandale, New South Wales |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll | |
| Place of enlistment | Sydney, New South Wales |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 17th Battalion, 7th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/34/2 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A29 Suevic on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 55th Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | V.C. Corner (Panel No 13), Australian Cemetery, Fromelles, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 161 |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Admitted to No 3 Auxiliary Hospital, Heliopolis, February 1916 (circumcision); discharged to duty, 11 February 1916. Taken on strength of 55th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 11 March 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916. Posted missing, 20 July 1916. Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 26 July 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 20 July 1916'. Note, Red Cross File No 2610409: 'No trace Germany. Cert. by Capt. Mills 10.10.19.' Statement, 2604 Pte F. CURTIS, 55th Bn (patient, No 2 Canadian General Hospital, Le Treport), 20 November 1916: 'His number is 3171 and he was in D. Coy. 15 Platoon. He was shot by a machine gun bullet just after gettig over the parapet the 1st night he joined the Battalion. I was in charge at the time and close to him.' Second statement, 3574 Pte E.W. McCARTHY, A Company, 55th Bn, 12 February 1917: 'He was in the Band with me. We knew him as Darky. He is now listed as K/A. One of the men in the Bn. saw his dead body during the action and gave evidence to this effect at an enquiry.' Third statement, 25 Pte V.E. HEBER, 55th Bn, 27 April 1917: 'I saw Steavens killed in the German 2nd line trenches at Fleurbaix, about 3 a.m. on the morning of the 20th of July. He was resting on a sandbag when he was killed outright by a bullet which went through him. I don't know what happened to his body as we evacuated the trenches shortly afterwards.' Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, STEAVENS John Edward
Red Cross File No 2610409 |
Postal Address:
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Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
