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{{Infobox
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{{infobox soldier
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| name           = Stephen Gittins
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| image           = [[File:Unknown.png|300px|]]
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| caption        =
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| image2          =
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| caption2        =
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| dateofbirth   = c1895
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| placeofbirth   = North Perth, Western Australia
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| death           = 11 Aug 1918
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| placeofdeath   = Lihons, France
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| enlistmentage   = 21 years, 1 month
 +
| description   = 5' 6¾" (1.70m) tall; weight 150lbs (68 kg); fair complexion, blue eyes, fair hair
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| height          = 5' 6¾" (1.70m)
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| weight          = 150lbs
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| complexion      = fair
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| eyes            = blue
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| hair            = fair
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| descriptionnote =
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| occupation   = Labourer
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| religion   = Church of England
 +
| address   = Karragullen, Western Australia
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| relation   = Father
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| nextofkin      = Mr. Alfred Gittins
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| regnumber   = [https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=5099331 6585]
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| enlistmentdate  = 16 Oct 1916
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| rank           = Private
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| unit      = 28th Battalion, 19th Reinforcement
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| embarkationdatefrom = 29 Jan 1917
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| embarkationdateto = 27 Mar 1917
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| shipembarked   = [[HMAT A28 Miltiades]]
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| embarkedshipnote = Fremantle to Devonport
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| embarkationdatefrom2 =
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| embarkationdateto2 =
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| shipembarked2   =
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| embarkedshipnote2 =
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| dateofreturnfrom =
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| dateofreturnto  =
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| shipreturned    =
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| shipreturnednote =
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| dateofreturnfrom2 =
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| dateofreturnto2  =
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| shipreturned2    =
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| shipreturnednote2 =
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| fate1           = MIA wounded, later confirmed to have been Killed in Action 11 Aug 1918 at Lihons
 +
| fate2          =
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| fate3          =
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| fate4          =
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| monument1   = [[Kelmscott War Memorial]]
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| monumentnote1  = (North panel)
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| monument2   = [[Villers-Bretonneux Memorial]]
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| monumentnote2  =
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| monument3   = [[WA State War Memorial]]
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| monumentnote3  =
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| monument4   =
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| monumentnote4  =
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| monument5   =
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| monumentnote5  =
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| monument6   =
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| monumentnote6  =
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| monumentawm    = [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1730319 Australian War Memorial]
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| monumentawmnote =
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| monumentother  =
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| monumentothernote =
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| medal1   = [[British War Medal]]
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| medal2          = [[Victory Medal]]
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| medal3          =
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| medal4          =
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}}
  
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| title          =
 
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| above          =
 
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| subheader      =
 
  
  
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|  image        = [[File:Gittins_Stephen.jpg]]
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==Pre War==
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| caption        =  
 
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|  image2      =  
 
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| caption2      =  
 
  
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|headerstyle  = background:#ccf;
 
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|labelstyle  = background:#ddf;
 
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|datastyle    =
 
  
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| header1  = Personal Information
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==War Service==
 +
On 3 Nov1916, a week after entering Blackboy Hill camp, Stephen was made a signaller and was trained accordingly as part of the 19th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion. They embarked on the [[HMAT A28 Miltiades]] on 29 Jan 1917 for the UK. On arrival at Devonport in England on 27 Mar 1917, he undertook additional training with [[7th Training Battalion]] at Rollestone until 17 Oct 1917 when he journeyed to Le Havre in France via Southampton. On arrival he entered the 2nd Division's Base Depot at Le Havre before being sent forward to join his unit.
  
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|  label2  = Date of Birth
 
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|  data2  = unknown
 
  
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|  label3  = Place of Birth
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Stephen joined the [[28th Battalion]] at Steenvoorde, just over the French border from Ypres on 23 Oct 1917, as one of 263 reinforcements. He remained with the 28th Battalion through the winter and then participated in the battles to both halt the German advance of 1918, and then the early battles as they were forced back up the Somme valley.
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|  data3  = North Perth, Western Australia
 
  
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|  label4  = Death
 
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|  data4  = 11 Aug 1918
 
  
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|  label5  = Place of Death
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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 recorded as Wounded in Action, but this was to change later to Killed in Action. There is a note in his records which reads "Buried ½ mile east of Vauvillers and ¾ mile south of Framerville - (Rainecourt). However, it would appear that after the war, his grave was unable to be found and thus he is listed on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial. At 2:00am on 11 August the battalion had moved to their jumping off point between the lines, with a heavy bombardment of enemy lines (matched by their counter artillery and machine gun fire) commenced at 4:00am preceding the attack which commenced at 4:15am. All objectives had been secured by 4:45am
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|  data5  = Lihons, France
 
  
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|  label6  = Age at Enlistment
 
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|  data6  = 21 years, 1 month
 
  
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| label7  = Description
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Casualty List 432 contains Stephen's death.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27492264 |title=WESTERN AUSTRALIA. |newspaper=[[The West Australian]] |volume=XXXIV, |issue=5,152 |location=Western Australia |date=9 October 1918 |accessdate=22 June 2017 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
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|   data7  = 5' 6¾" (1.70m) tall; weight 150 lbs (68 kg); fair complexion, blue eyes, fair hair
 
  
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| label8  = Occupation
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<div><ul>
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|  data8  = labourer
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<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:Villers_Bretonneux_Memorial.jpg|thumb|none|400px|Viller-Bretonneux Memorial - 2015 photo L Reynolds]] </li>
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<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:Gittins_Stephen-memorial.jpg|thumb|none|400px|Part of 28th Bn tablet at Villers-Bretonneux Memorial
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2015 photo L Reynolds]] </li>
 +
</ul></div>
  
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|  label9  = Religion
 
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|  data9  = Church of England
 
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|  label10  = Address
 
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|  data10  = Karragullen, Western Australia
 
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|  label11 = Next of Kin
 
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|  data11 = Father  Mr Alfred Gittins
 
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| header12 = Military Information
 
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|  label13 = Reg Number
 
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|  data13 = 6585
 
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|  label14 = Date of Enlistment
 
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|  data14 = 16 )ct 1916
 
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|  label15 = Rank
 
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|  data15 = Private
 
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|  label16 = Unit/Formation
 
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|  data16 = 28th Battalion, 19th Reinforcement / 13th Brigade, 4th Division
 
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|  label17 = Date of Embarkation
 
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|  data17 = 29 Jan 1917 - 27 Mar 1917
 
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|  label18 = Ship Embarked On
 
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|  data18 = [[HMAT A28 Miltiades
 
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|  label21 = Fate
 
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|  data21 = MIA wounded, later confirmed to be Killed in Action 11 Aug 1918 at Lihons
 
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|  label22 = Monument
 
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|  data22 = [[Kelmscott]]
 
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|  label23 = Medals
 
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|  data23 = [[British War Medal]]<br />[[Victory Medal]]
 
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}}
 
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==Pre War==
 
  
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==Notes==
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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.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38507569 |title=STATE WAR MEMORIAL |newspaper=[[Western Mail]] |volume=XLV, |issue=2,322 |location=Western Australia |date=14 August 1930 |accessdate=22 June 2017 |page=13 |via=National Library of Australia}} </ref>
  
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==War Service==
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Son of Alfred and Elizabeth A. Gittins.  Born in Western Australia.
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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.
 
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Listed on the VILLERS-BRETONNEAUX MEMORIAL  Son of Alfred and Elizabeth A. Gittins.  Born in Western Australia.
 
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Casualty List 432 contains Stephen's death.<ref>The West Australian 9 Oct 1918 p.</ref>
 
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==Award Comment==
 
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==Post War==
 
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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.<ref>Western Mail 14 Aug 1930 p.13</ref>
 
 
   
 
   
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==Notes==
+
==References==
 
<references />
 
<references />
  
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
 +
*[https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=112030 AIF Project]
 +
*[https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/explore/people/172520 RSL Memorial]
  
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gittins , Stephen}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gittins , Stephen}}
  
 
[[Category:Soldier]]
 
[[Category:Soldier]]
 +
[[Category:1918 Deaths]]
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[[Category:1918 KIA]]
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[[Category:Killed in action]]
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[[Category:Born Australia]]
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[[Category:Born WA]]
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[[Category:labourer]]
 +
[[Category:Church of England]]
 +
[[Category:Armadale-Kelmscott]]

Latest revision as of 11:30, 11 December 2023

Stephen Gittins
Unknown.png
Personal Information
Date of Birth c1895
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 ; 150lbs
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
Date of Embarkation 29 Jan 1917 ‒ 27 Mar 1917
Ship Embarked On HMAT A28 Miltiades Fremantle to Devonport
Fate MIA wounded, later confirmed to have been Killed in Action 11 Aug 1918 at Lihons
Monument Kelmscott War Memorial (North panel)
Villers-Bretonneux Memorial
WA State War Memorial
Australian War Memorial
Medals British War Medal
Victory Medal



Pre War

War Service

On 3 Nov1916, a week after entering Blackboy Hill camp, Stephen was made a signaller and was trained accordingly as part of the 19th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion. They embarked on the HMAT A28 Miltiades on 29 Jan 1917 for the UK. On arrival at Devonport in England on 27 Mar 1917, he undertook additional training with 7th Training Battalion at Rollestone until 17 Oct 1917 when he journeyed to Le Havre in France via Southampton. On arrival he entered the 2nd Division's Base Depot at Le Havre before being sent forward to join his unit.


Stephen joined the 28th Battalion at Steenvoorde, just over the French border from Ypres on 23 Oct 1917, as one of 263 reinforcements. He remained with the 28th Battalion through the winter and then participated in the battles to both halt the German advance of 1918, and then the early battles as they were forced back up the Somme valley.


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 recorded as Wounded in Action, but this was to change later to Killed in Action. There is a note in his records which reads "Buried ½ mile east of Vauvillers and ¾ mile south of Framerville - (Rainecourt). However, it would appear that after the war, his grave was unable to be found and thus he is listed on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial. At 2:00am on 11 August the battalion had moved to their jumping off point between the lines, with a heavy bombardment of enemy lines (matched by their counter artillery and machine gun fire) commenced at 4:00am preceding the attack which commenced at 4:15am. All objectives had been secured by 4:45am


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


Notes

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]

Son of Alfred and Elizabeth A. Gittins. Born in Western Australia.


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

Retrieved from "https://www.birtwistlewiki.com.au/index.php?title=Stephen_Gittins&oldid=66369"