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Difference between revisions of "Stephen Gittins"

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{{Infobox
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{{infobox soldier
| name           = Stephen Gittins
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| image           = [[File:Unknown.png|300px|]]
 
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| caption         =
| title          =
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| image2         =
| above          =
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| caption2       =
| subheader      =
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| dateofbirth   = Not known
 
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| placeofbirth   = North Perth, Western Australia
 
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| death           = 11 Aug 1918
|  image        = [[File:Unknown.png|300px|]]
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| placeofdeath   = Lihons, France
| caption       =  
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| enlistmentage   = 21 years, 1 month
|   image2       =  
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| description   = 5' 6¾" (1.70m) tall; weight 150 lbs (68 kg); fair complexion, blue eyes, fair hair
| caption2       =
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| height          = 5' 6¾" (1.70m)
 
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| weight          = 150 lbs
|headerstyle  = background:#ccf;
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| complexion      = fair
|labelstyle  = background:#ddf;
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| eyes            = blue
|datastyle    =
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| hair            = fair
 
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| descriptionnote =
| header1  = Personal Information
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| occupation   = Labourer
 
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| religion   = Church of England
|  label2  = Date of Birth
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| address   = Karragullen, Western Australia
data2  = Not known
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| relation   = Father
 
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| nextofkin      = Mr Alfred Gittins
|  label3  = Place of Birth
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| regnumber   = [https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=5099331 6585]
data3  = North Perth, Western Australia
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| enlistmentdate = 16 Oct 1916
 
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| rank           = Private
| label4  = Death
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| unit      = 28th Battalion, 19th Reinforcement / 13th Brigade, 4th Division
|  data4  = 11 Aug 1918
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| embarkationdatefrom = 29 Jan 1917
 
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| embarkationdateto = 27 Mar 1917
|  label5  = Place of Death
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| shipembarked   = [[HMAT A28 Miltiades]]
data5  = Lihons, France
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| embarkedshipnote =
 
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| embarkationdatefrom2 =
|  label6  = Age at Enlistment
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| embarkationdateto2 =
data6  = 21 years, 1 month
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| shipembarked2   =
 
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| embarkedshipnote2 =
|  label7  = Description
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| dateofreturnfrom =
data7  = 5' 6¾" (1.70m) tall; weight 150 lbs (68 kg); fair complexion, blue eyes, fair hair
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| dateofreturnto  =
 
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| shipreturned    =
| label8  = Occupation
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| shipreturnednote =
|   data8  = labourer
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| dateofreturnfrom2 =
 
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| dateofreturnto2 =  
| label9  = Religion
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| shipreturned2    =
data9  = Church of England
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| shipreturnednote2 =
 
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| fate1           = MIA wounded, later confirmed to be Killed in Action 11 Aug 1918 at Lihons  
|  label10  = Address
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| fate2          =
data10  = Karragullen, Western Australia
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| fate3          =
 
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| fate4          =
| label11 = Next of Kin
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| monument1   = [[Kelmscott War Memorial]]  
|   data11 = Father  Mr Alfred Gittins
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| monumentnote1  = (North panel)
 
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| monument2   = [[Villers-Bretonneux Memorial]]
| header12 = Military Information
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| monumentnote2  =
 
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| monument3   =
|  label13 = Reg Number
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| monumentnote3  =
data13 = [https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=5099331 6585]
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| monument4   =
 
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| monumentnote4  =
label14 = Date of Enlistment
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| monument5   =
|  data14 = 16 Oct 1916
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| monumentnote5  =
 
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| monument6   =
| label15 = Rank
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| monumentnote6  =
|  data15 = Private
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| monumentawm    = [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1730319 Australian War Memorial]
 
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| monumentawmnote =
|  label16 = Unit/Formation
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| monumentother  =
|   data16 = 28th Battalion, 19th Reinforcement / 13th Brigade, 4th Division
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| monumentothernote =
 
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| medal1   = [[British War Medal]]
| label17 = Date of Embarkation
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| medal2          = [[Victory Medal]]
|   data17 = 29 Jan 1917 - 27 Mar 1917
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| medal3          =
 
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| medal4          =
|  label18 = Ship Embarked On
 
data18 = [[HMAT A28 Miltiades]]
 
 
 
label21 = Fate
 
|   data21 = MIA wounded, later confirmed to be Killed in Action 11 Aug 1918 at Lihons
 
 
 
| label22 = Monument
 
data22 = [[Kelmscott War Memorial]] (North panel)<br />[[Villers-Bretonneux Memorial]]<br />[https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1730319 Australian War Memorial]
 
 
 
| label23 = Medals
 
data23 = [[British War Medal]]<br />[[Victory Medal]]
 
 
 
 
}}
 
}}
  

Revision as of 17:55, 11 October 2018

Stephen Gittins
Unknown.png
Personal Information
Date of Birth Not known
"Not known" contains an extrinsic dash or other characters that are invalid for a date interpretation.
Place of Birth North Perth, Western Australia
Death 11 Aug 1918
Place of Death Lihons, France
Age at Enlistment 21 years, 1 month
Description 5' 6¾" (1.70m) tall ; 150 lbs
68.039 kg
; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; fair hair
Occupation Labourer
Religion Church of England
Address Karragullen, Western Australia
Next of Kin Father , Mr Alfred Gittins
Military Information
Reg Number 6585
Date of Enlistment 16 Oct 1916
Rank Private
Unit/Formation 28th Battalion, 19th Reinforcement / 13th Brigade, 4th Division
Date of Embarkation 29 Jan 1917 ‒ 27 Mar 1917
Ship Embarked On HMAT A28 Miltiades
Fate MIA wounded, later confirmed to be Killed in Action 11 Aug 1918 at Lihons
Monument Kelmscott War Memorial (North panel)
Villers-Bretonneux Memorial
Australian War Memorial
Medals British War Medal
Victory Medal



Pre War

War Service

A week after entering Blackboy Hill camp, Stephen is made a signaller and was trained accordingly as part of the 19th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion.

On arrival at Devonport in England he undertook additional training with 7th Training Battalion at Fovant until 17 Oct 1917 when he journeyed to France via Southampton.

Joined the 28th Battalion at Steenvoorde, just over the French border from Ypres on 23 Oct 1917, as one of 263 reinforcements. On 11 Aug 1918 Stephen was one of the "very light casualties" suffered by the 28th Battalion during an attack on the German front lines (9 KIA; 71 WIA).

Initially Stephen was not accounted for, but it was eventually accepted that he had perished, probably due to enemy artillery fire. Note in his records reads "Buried ½ mile east of Vauvillers and ¾ mile south of Framerville. Listed on the VILLERS-BRETONNEAUX MEMORIAL Son of Alfred and Elizabeth A. Gittins. Born in Western Australia.

Casualty List 432 contains Stephen's death.[1]

  • Viller-Bretonneux Memorial - 2015 photo L Reynolds
  • Part of 28th Bn tablet at Villers-Bretonneux Memorial 2015 photo L Reynolds


Post War

On 14 Aug 1930 portion of a list of names to be included in the new State War Memorial on Mt Eliza was published, and Stephen's name and unit (28th Battalion) are on the list of names.[2]

References

  1. "WESTERN AUSTRALIA.". The West Australian. XXXIV, (5,152). Western Australia. 9 October 1918. p. 7. Retrieved 22 June 2017 – via National Library of Australia. 
  2. "STATE WAR MEMORIAL". Western Mail. XLV, (2,322). Western Australia. 14 August 1930. p. 13. Retrieved 22 June 2017 – via National Library of Australia. 

External Links