Contributed by Ron Inglis, October 2021:
Harold Lancelot Stevens ’20 yrs 9 mths’, the son of Albert and Grace Stevens of ‘Belmont’ Cumberland Road, Auburn, was a member of the Auburn Methodist Church. A ‘machinist’, Harold Stevens was the second last Auburn Memorial man to sign up for the AIF.
Private Stevens enlisted at Granville on 11 December 1917. It appears he may have tried to enlist earlier for he declared on his enlistment paper ‘rejected - deficient chest measurement’. Harold embarked on the Nestor in February 1918, arriving in Liverpool, United Kingdom, on 20 April 1918. When he arrived he was admitted to hospital with mumps. He recuperated in Australian camps in England during which time he had to forfeit 1 day’s pay for going AWL ‘till arrested by provost’.
Harold crossed to France on 8 July and was killed on 23 August 1918, during the Australian advance up the valley of the River Somme. Harold had been in the AIF for nine months and on the Front for 45 days. Harold, along with two other Auburn Memorial men, was buried in the Heath Cemetery, Harbonnieres, the military cemetery in France containing the highest number of Australians (910 out of 1499 burials are Australian). Almost all these soldiers were casualties of the great allied advance of August 1918.
For his gravestone, Harold's parents chose the inscription: IN MEMORY OF THE DEAR SON OF MR & MRS A. STEVENS OF AUBURN, SYDNEY
Harold Stevens is honoured on the following memorials in Australia:
- Auburn War Memorial
- Municipality of Auburn 1914-1919 Honour Roll
- Auburn Methodist Church First World War Honour Roll
- Roll of Honour Australian War Memorial Canberra
His decorations:
- British War Medal 1914-20
- Victory Medal
