WW1 British War & Victory Medals
- Casualty: KIA - Messines, Belgium
- Name: Walter Edwin Stephens
- Service No: 1763
- Unit: 59th Battalion
- Naming Details: British War and Victory medals both impressed - 1763 SGT. W.E. STEPHENS. 59 BN. A.I.F.
Additional Information
Record of Service:
Walter Stephens was born about 1893 in Neerim, Victoria. He enlisted in the A.I.F on the 2nd of September 1915 and was allocated service number 1763. He embarked from Melbourne on the 4th of May 1916 with the 2nd Reinforcements, 59th Battalion.
Walter disembarked at Suez on the 10th of June 1916 and on the 2nd of August 1916 he proceeded to join the B.E.F. On the 29th of September 1916 he was taken on strength with the 59th Battalion. Walter was promoted to Lance Corporal on the 20th of October 1916 and Corporal on the 7th of December 1916.
On the 16th of December 1916 Walter was admitted to hospital suffering from Trench Feet. Recovering from his ailments, Walter was taken on strength with the 67th Battalion on the 6th of May 1917. He was promoted to Sergeant on the 18th of August 1917 and returned to the 59th Battalion on the 2nd of November 1917.
Walter was Killed in Action on the 29th of November 1917 on the front line at Carlow Farm, Belgium (Messines). An eye witness states “Stephens was hit by a whizz-bang.” Another witness states “He was caught by a piece of shell, which hit him about the head, death being instantaneous.”
Notes:
British War and Victory medals both impressed 1763 SGT. W.E. STEPHENS. 59 BN. A.I.F.