The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (560) Private George Stevens, 11th Australian Machine Gun Company, 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 , the story for this day was on (560) Private George Stevens, 11th Australian Machine Gun Company, First World War.

560 Private George Stevens, 11th Australian Machine Gun Company
DOW 29 September 1917

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private George Stevens.

George Stevens was born on 29 March 1897 near Warwick, Queensland. The eldest of nine children born to grazier George Stevens senior and his wife Elizabeth, he received his education at Rookwood State School, before moving to Toowoomba where he continued his studies at Bullocks College. George enjoyed both tennis and fishing and was also a member of the local militia. At the outbreak of the war in 1914, he was working as a grazier on his father’s property “Rookwood” near Warwick.

George Stevens enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 28 May 1916. He was assigned to the 11th Machine Gun Company and began a short period of training in Australia. He embarked for active service from Melbourne in February the following year on board the troopship Osterley.

Private Stevens arrived in England in early April 1917. He was sent to the village of Grantham where he continued training at the machine-gun depot. After two months there, he embarked for the Western Front, joining his unit in Belgium in mid-June. He spent the first few weeks of active service in billets behind the lines, training, cleaning and checking stores.

In July, the 11th Machine Gun Company relocated to Warneton, east of Messines. Allied units were attempting to advance their position to place themselves within striking distance of the German lines. His brigade was been tasked with digging a new front line hundreds of metres forward from their previous position. Under constant attack from enemy lines, they worked under difficult conditions. Their efforts at Warneton were later remembered as “the eighteen days”. During this time, Private Stevens worked with his unit to support infantry raids and attacks on German outposts and defensive positions fortified by barbed wire and concrete blockhouses.

A major attack was launched by the 9th Brigade at the end of the month which resulted in the capture of the German outposts which they then firmly held, despite heavy counter attacks from the enemy. By August 1917, the allied front line had advanced another few hundred metres.

The 11th Machine Gun Company later moved to billets behind the lines and continued training throughout August. The following month the men were moved to the Belgian village of Poperinghe where they camped in tents before their return to the front line. They were preparing to march out the front on 29 September when their camp was attacked by enemy aircraft. The attackers bombed the tent lines, killing and wounding more than 60 men, including Private Stevens. His comrade described the attack:

“We had been at Poperinghe and were going up the line to mend the trenches when we were attacked by a German aeroplane some miles behind the lines. Two bombs were dropped causing us several casualties, including Stevens who was severely wounded … he was a very lively, talkative and willing man and was very good natured”.

Private Stevens was transferred to a Canadian Casualty Clearing station for treatment, but his wounds were too severe and he died shortly after arrival. He was later buried nearby at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, where he lies today.

His parents later posted a memorial notice to George in the local newspaper which read:

“We pictured his safe returning, and longed for a clasp of his hand, but God has postponed the meeting, some day we will understand.

“Somewhere in France there’s a sacred spot, ‘tis a grave just two years made … it’s sheltering our boy from perils and ills with which life’s battle is played.

“He has finished his part, we must still keep on, trying like him to be brave; our sacrifice is in what we have lost, his in what he gave.”

Private George Stevens was 20 years old.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among almost 62,000 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 Private George Stevens, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Meghan Adams
Researcher, Military History Section