William Dobson Stevens

Personal Information
Date of Birth	5 May 1877
Place of Birth	Cannington, Western Australia
Death	8 Dec 1940, aged 53
Place of Death	Harvey, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	38 years, 3 months
Description	5' 11" (1.80m) tall; weight 152 lbs (68.9 kg); fair complexion, blue eyes, fair hair, scar right side of back.
Occupation	sleeper cutter
Religion	Church of England
Address	Armadale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife Mrs Ellen Margaret Robinson Stevens
Military Information
Reg Number	4002
Date of Enlistment	2 Aug 1915
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	16th Battalion, 12th Reinforcement transferred to 48th Battalion / 12th Brigade, 4th Division
Date of Embarkation	22 Dec 1915 - unknown Port Suez
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A31 Ajana
Date of Return	15 Feb 1918 - 6 Apr 1918
Ship Returned On	HMHS Llanstephan Castle
Fate	Wounded in Action 12 Oct 1917 at Passchendaele Ridge Returned to Australia
Monument	Armadale (Bedfordale panel) Bedfordale Honour Board
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

Entered the Blackboy Hill camp on 23 Aug 1915, but not allocated to 12th reinforcement draft for the 16th Battalion until 16 Oct 1915.

In Egypt he entered No 4 Auxiliary Hospital Abbassia with mumps from 31 Jan to 14 Mar 1916, and on recovery was transferred to the newly formed 48th Battalion at Serapeum.

Embarked in Alexandria for England on 6 Jun 1916 where he joined the 12th Training Battalion in Rolleston.

Embarked for France on 4 Sep 1916 and was taken on strength of the 48th Battalion on 25 Nov 1916 in the front line trenches full of mud and water at Flers.

In the early morning of 12 Oct 1917 the 48th Battalion with others including the 47th Battalion attacked the Passchendaele Ridge in very heavy conditions due to steady rain. Of the 621 men who were in the attack, 375 were killed, wounded or missing at the end of the day and they were driven out of their objectives by strong counter attacks. Back to their start point, they were required to hold here against enemy action for another day until relieved.

William was evacuated to England through Boulogne on the 17th, with a shell wound to his left ankle, and admitted to the Edmonton Military Hospital. William tells medical staff in No 3 Command Depot at Hurdcott in Jan 1918 that he was hit in the left foot by a piece of enemy shrapnel while he was in a shell hole on the battlefield. He also confesses to being 47 years old. Released from 3 Auxiliary Hospital on 26 Nov 1917, he is assessed in Hurdcott where it is decided to send him home. He embarked on the HMHS Llanstephan Castle on 17 Feb 1918 for Australia.

Discharged 5th Military District 3 May 1918.

"...Sailed to Egypt with the 12th Reinforcements of the 16th Battalion on the 22nd December 1915. Now serving in France with the 48th Battalion."

Post War

Wife was Helen Margaret. His son Stanley predeceased him, other children being Gladys, John, Jean, Olive, George, David, and Peter. Bill's sister Annie married Edward Bailey.

Electoral Roll entries - 1925 a labourer living in Seventh road, Armadale.

Death Notice "Stevens, William Dobson, suddenly on December 8 at Harvey; late 48th Battalion, A.I.F,. and member Armadale R.S.L. Funeral notice advises that he was still living in Seventh road at the time of his death in Harvey.