Name
Leonard Armstrong Stephenson
1883
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/08/1916
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
16th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MEMORIAL
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Apsley memorials
Pre War
Leonard Armstrong Stephenson was born in 1883 in Hemel Hempstead, Herts, the son of Leonard Anthony and Jane Stephenson and one of five children.
Before Leonard was born the family were living at Apsley Mill, Kings Langley, Herts on the 1881 Census. It is likely the family emigrated to Australia soon after as they have not been found on a Census search in the UK after that time.
On enlistment Leonard's occupation was given as Clerical, Accountant.
His father lived at Mildura, Victoria, later moving to 'Airlie', Irymple, Victoria, then Ivanhoe', Pastoria East. His father died in 1923 and records gave the address of his older brother Thomas Stephenson, as Mollison Street, Kyneton, Victoria.
Wartime Service
Leonard enlisted on 14 June 1915 and applied for a Commission, passing the Officers School of Instruction on 5 August 1915, joining the Australian Infantry, A.I.F. as a Second Lieutenant.
He embarked from Freemantle, Australia on HMAT Ajana on 17 December 1915 and was absorbed on the strength of the 16th battalion on 7 March 1916. They joined the BEF at Alexandria, Egypt on 1 June 1916 and sailed for Marseilles, France on HMT Canada.
He was reported killed in action on 30 August 1916 in an attack on Mouquet Farm near Pozieres (Somme). It was a night attack and (records state) it was not possible to remove his body. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, France.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.naa.gov.au
