Certificate
1919
Arthur Edward Stevenson enlisted on 17 September 1914 and served with the 14th Battalion of the AIF. He was killed in action at Gallipoli on 20 August 1915 at age 28. His personal effects of a belt, hairbrush, knife, postcards and photos were returned to his brother John in June 1916. Later that year, John Stevenson wrote to the Officer in Charge of base records, asking for confirmation of his brother’s death, as he had received a letter from Arthur dated 27 August 1915, seven days later than the date on which he was reportedly killed. The Army confirmed that Arthur had in fact died, and concluded that he had likely misdated his letter. In 1920, Arthur’s sister Rachel wrote to the Department of Defence, asking whether her brother’s grave had been located and again querying the date of his death. Later, she completed a form that was sent to next of kin seeking information on deceased soldiers for the Australian War Memorial’s Roll of Honour. Arthur Stevenson’s death is recorded at the Lone Pine Memorial on the Gallipoli Peninsula.
Wodonga Historical Society Collection
Image: ss-5885
1923
Arthur Ernest Beard enlisted in the 10th Battalion in 1914 and was discharged as medically unfit in 1918 after three years and 211 days of service, which included three years and 115 days of service abroad. He was gassed during his war service, resulting in ill health after the war. Beard applied for and received an incapacity pension as a result of his condition. Despite his ill health, he participated in a great many community activities, among them the Wodonga Boys’ Club, Wodonga Public Library Committee, the Wodonga and District Progress Association and the Soldiers Memorial Committee. He died in 1940, leaving a wife, Jessie, and a daughter. Jessie, still a Wodonga resident, applied for the Gallipoli Medallion on behalf of her late husband in 1967.
Wodonga Historical Society Collection
Image: ss-5907
