STEVENSON, Charles Edward
(Service number 6/554)
The postcard bears the slogan and title: "Honour the brave and forget them not" and "Some heroes who fell in this great war, 1915". The men pictured are Sergeant S E Bassett (Rosewill), Sergeant J H Wallace (Timaru), Major David Grant (Timaru), Sergeant W Rutherford (Timaru), and Private C Stevenson (Timaru) [Note it should be C not G Stevenson as it appears to read on the original] (South Canterbury Museum 4033)
| First Rank | Private | Last Rank | Private |
|---|
Birth
| Date | 20/01/1888 | Place of Birth | Timaru |
|---|
Enlistment Information
| Date | 13 August 1914 | Age | 26 yrs 7 mths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Address at Enlistment | P. O. Box 23, Fairlie | ||
| Occupation | Motor driver | ||
| Previous Military Experience | |||
| Marital Status | Single | ||
| Next of Kin | Miss Elizabeth STEVENSON (sister), York Street, Timaru | ||
Military Service
| Served with | NZ Armed Forces | Served in | Army |
|---|
Embarkation Information
| Body on Embarkation | Main Body | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit, Squadron, or Ship | Canterbury Infantry Battalion | ||
| Date | 16 October 1914 | ||
| Transport | Tahiti or Athenic | ||
| Embarked From | Lyttelton, Canterbury | Destination | Suez, Egypt |
| Other Units Served With | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Last Unit Served With | Canterbury Infantry Battalion | ||
Military Awards
| Campaigns | Gallipoli | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Medals | 1914-15 Star; British War Medal; Victory Medal | ||
Award Circumstances and Date
No information
Prisoner of War Information
| Date of Capture | |
|---|---|
| Where Captured and by Whom | |
| Actions Prior to Capture | |
| PoW Serial Number | |
| PoW Camps | |
| Days Interned | |
| Liberation Date |
Death
| Date | 8 May 1915 | Age | 28 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Death | Dardanelles, Gallipoli, Turkey | ||
| Cause | Killed in action | ||
| Memorial or Cemetery | Twelve Tree Copse (New Zealand) Memorial, Twelve Tree Copse Cemetery, Helles, Turkey | ||
| New Zealand Memorials | On Memorial wall, Timaru; Chalmers Church Honour Roll; Fairlie War Mamorial | ||
Biographical Notes
Charles Edward STEVENSON was the son of James Orr and Elizabeth (nee KAE) STEVENSON, of York Street, Timaru. He was educated at Timaru Main School.
Stevenson established a world record for small cars by completing a non-stop run of 740 miles from Invercargill to Christchurch and back to Timaru in March 1911.
At the time of enlistment he was working in Fairlie as a motor driver for H. A. Le Cren. He enlisted on 13 August 1914, one of the first to answer the call, and joined the Canterbury Infantry Battalion. He was one of the additional men passed and sworn in on the night of 13 August. The next morning, 14 August, they were to fall in at the Drill Shed at 9.30 and leave Timaru at 1.30 for the camp at Addington. They were to be photographed prior to leaving. The Stipendiary Magistrate very kindly sent a big bundle of literature and some packs of playing cards for the use of the troops and another gentleman gave magazines, all of which were appreciated. Mr T. G. Towley, dentist, was also thanked for attending to the teeth of the men, free of charge, and doing all that was possible for all those whose teeth required attention. They actually left by the first express on 17 August after parading at the Drill Shed and being addressed by Archdeacon Jacob, who trusted God would guide and protect them, and the Deputy-Mayor (Mr W. A. Pearson), who said that all must "feel very proud to see that so many of the young men had volunteered to serve their country in this the greatest crisis they had ever known." and he wished them God speed and a safe and speedy return.
Charles's father, James Orr STEVENSON (d.1907), had previously taken a prominent part in volunteering and was one of the original members of the Garrison Band. His brother Walter STEVENSON was killed in action in 1902 in the South African War. Pte B. S. Graham, of York Street, in a letter to his brother, noted that he was with Charlie Stevenson and Bill Wall when they were hit - "I can tell you that you have no idea what it is like here." Charlie's medals were sent to his sister, Miss Elizabeth M, STEVENSON, while his plaque and scroll were sent to his brother James (living in Timaru). Charlie executed a Will prior to leaving Christchurch in August 1914; he appointed his sister Elizabeth Merion STEVENSON the sole executor and the sole beneficiary.
Sources
Cenotaph Database [16 March 2014]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK18805 W5553 0109207) [23 April 2014]; CWGC [16 March 2014]; Timaru Herald, 23 October 1907; 14 & 18 August 1914, 17 August 1915 (Papers Past) [16 March 2014; 12 September 2014]; Will (Archives NZ & FamilySearch) [13 June 2014]; SCRoll web submission from I Barnett, 20 April 2015 (Quoting Poverty Bay Herald,Grey River Argus,Evening Post, 7 march 1911); Timaru Herald 13 March 1911
External Links
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