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Create new list‘I vividly recall our progress along the duck-boards and taking up position in No Man’s Land, as we silently awaited our barrage, one of the Company proceeded to light a cigarette without trying to shield the light: needless to say he soon put it out. After the German barrage had been going for some while, a round object fell into the shell-hole in which three or four of us sat. In the semi-darkness we were loath to touch it, as we thought it was a human head. Eventually one of us picked it up and, to our relief, we found it was a loaf of bread tossed up by the burst that had probably killed the poor troop carrying it. One can still recall that ‘relief unutterable’ when our guns opened up, but I can never forget the colossal blaze of M.G. fire which, for the time being, outdid the barrages and bursting shells.’
Corporal W. R. Stevenson recalls events at Broodseinde Ridge on the night of 3 October 1917, shortly before collecting his second wound; Our Dear Old Battalion - The Story of the 7th Battalion, A.I.F., 1914-1919, by Ron Austin, refers.
A notable Great War M.M. group of three awarded to Corporal W. R. Stevenson, 7th Australian Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, who was wounded on three separate occasions, the last of them necessitating the amputation of his left leg
Military Medal, G.V.R. (3268 Cpl. W. R. Stevenson, 7/Aust. Inf.); British War and Victory Medals (3268 Cpl. W. R. Stevenson, 22 Bn. A.I.F.), good very fine (3) £800-1000
M.M. London Gazette 20 August 1919. The original recommendation states:
‘During the attack west of Peronne on the night of 9 August 1918, this N.C.O. displayed great gallantry and devotion to duty. The enemy held some gun pits and the fire from these pits was continually checking the advance. Corporal Stevenson took charge of a party and skilfully worked his way up communication trenches to these pits and captured them. This action enabled the advance to continue. Corporal Stevenson was badly wounded that day. During the period July to September 1918, Corporal Stevenson’s work was of a very high standard in and out of the line, and his courage in the line had been a stimulating example. His work out of the line has been very efficient and he materially assisted in the thorough training of the men of his company.’
William Richard Stevenson was born in Mansfield, Victoria in 1896 and enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in July 1915. Drafted to the 22nd Battalion, he was embarked for Egypt in late November 1915 and, having transferred to the 7th Battalion in the interim, was embarked for France in March 1916. During the course of his subsequent services on the Western Front, he was thrice wounded. Thus gunshot wounds to his chest and elbow received on the Somme on 22 July 1916; a gunshot wound to his left foot, received at Broodseinde Ridge on 4 October 1917, and a serious gunshot wound to his left thigh during the course of winning his M.M. near Peronne on 9 August: the latter necessitated amputation. He was discharged in Australia in July 1919 and died in January 1975; sold with copied research, including M.M. recommendation.
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