The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (13163) Bombardier Robert William Argyle Stevenson, 4th Australian Field Artillery Brigade, AIF, First World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Craig Berelle, the story for this day was on (13163) Bombardier Robert William Argyle Stevenson, 4th Australian Field Artillery Brigade, AIF, First World War.

13163 Bombardier Robert William Argyle Stevenson, 4th Australian Field Artillery Brigade, AIF
Died of wounds 18 September 1918

Today we remember and pay tribute to Bombardier Robert William Argyle Stevenson.

Robert Stevenson was born in 1892 in Maldon, a goldmining town about 140 kilometres from Melbourne, the son of Rowena and William Stevenson.

Known as Bob, he grew up in Yarraville, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne, where he attended the local state school. He then took on a three-year apprenticeship, before working for a Yarraville grocer.

He also served in the Naval Reserve Forces, which drilled part-time in nearby Williamstown, and was a member of the local Masonic lodge.

On 20 July 1915, Robert Stevenson enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force.

Given his experience with the naval reserve, he first joined a naval unit. In August 1915 he transferred to a hospital unit for about a month. In September he was posted to the Military Police, but after a few months he was transferred to miscellaneous reinforcements.

In March 1916, Stevenson embarked from Melbourne on the troopship Malwa, bound for overseas service.
Shortly before sailing, he married his sweetheart Elizabeth Edith Hodgkins, commonly known as “Edie”.

Landing in Egypt in April 1916, Stevenson was sent to France the following month, making his way to the 4th Field Artillery Brigade and gaining the rank of gunner.
The brigade and its 18-pounder guns and vehicles had reached Armentieres shortly before being joined by Stevenson. Located near the French–Belgium border, the fighting at Armentieres was less intense than in other areas along the Western Front, and the allies used the location as a “nursery sector” where new units could be introduced to the rigours of trench warfare.

Stevenon’s first major offensive was the battle of the Somme. The 4th was deployed near Pozieres in late July, and was involved in constant action against the Germans. In September there was relief, as Stevenson and his comrades moved to Ypres in Belgium, but in November they returned to the Somme, to the town of Bapaume, ten kilometres north-east of Pozieres. As the harsh winter began to set in, the brigade experienced its first gas attacks.

In March 1917 the Germans withdrew to the Hindenburg Line and the 4th moved forward to Bullecourt.
In April, Stevenson reported sick with the skin complaint psoriasis, but after treatment he was discharged the following month.

In June, his brigade moved to Flanders. The men were in constant action supporting allied attacks on Messines, Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde, and then Passchendaele, as part of the Third Battle of Ypres. Stevenson had a period of leave in England in September 1917, but returned to France with a promotion to bombardier, as his brigade suffered its heaviest casualties of the war.

In March 1918, Stevenson was briefly detached from his unit in order to attend salvage school. As the Germans launched their Spring Offensive, he rejoined his unit to support the Australian forces as they absorbed the German push. When the Germans broke through to Villers-Brettoneux the next month, the 4th moved to the Somme. As the Australian offensive began in August, the brigade supported the infantry as it broke German lines at Peronne and Mont St Quentin.

After the capture of Mont St Quentin, in early September the men of the brigade were given a brief period of respite. There was a brigade sports day held on the last day out of the line, with two bands and visiting officers and nurses adding to the spectacle.

Returning to the fray on the 12th of September, the brigade began a series of forward pushes against the Hindenburg Line. In the unit’s war diary, note is made that, while orders were often late in coming through, the batteries were well organised and “took an absolute minimum of time to work their barrage out”.

It also noted that “casualties have regrettably grown”.
Among the casualties was Bombardier Robert Stevenson, who was wounded in action on the 18th of September. Stevenson was brought to a field ambulance after his left leg had been shattered by a shell, and died of his wounds shortly afterwards.

He was 26 years old.

Today his remains lie in the Cerisy-Gailly French National Cemetery, beneath the inscription chosen by his grieving wife, Edie: “Beloved husband of E.E. Stevenson. Not my will but thine be done.”

Among his belongings eventually returned to Australia was a lock of his wife’s hair.

Robert Stevenson’s name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among more than 60,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Bombardier Robert William Argyle Stevenson, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Duncan Beard, Editor
Military History Section