Staff-Sergeant John Cowan Stevenson M

STAFF-SERGEANT JOHN COWAN STEVENSON M.M. 289 – 1st Tunnelling Company

John Cowan Stevenson was born about 1887 the son of John and Martha/Margaret (nee Dewar) Stevenson in Tranent, Scotland. His previous Military Experience was with the 8th Battalion Royal Scotland Regiment for 5 years before coming to Australia.

At the Recruiting Depot in Brisbane, Qld on September 29, 1915 the twenty-six year old miner applied to enlist for active service abroad. Passing the medical examination Forms of Attestation were completed and describe him on enlistment as 177cms (5ft 9½ins) tall, weighing 64.5kgs (142lbs) with a chest expansion of 92-97cms (36-38ins). Complexion was dark with brown eyes that tested to good vision and had light coloured hair. Distinctive mark was one vaccination scar on his left arm. Religious faith was Presbyterian and nominated his mother Mrs Martha Stevenson of 50 New Row, Tranent, Scotland as next-of-kin. He signed at took the ‘Oath of Allegiance’ the same day.

After basic military training he arrived at the Mining Corps camp at Casula, near Liverpool, NSW and assigned to the No. 1 Company of the Corps in the rank of Sapper with the regimental number 289. On January 12, 1916 was promoted to the rank of Corporal until January 31 and in Routine Order No. 32 promoted to Sergeant on February 1.

At a civic parade in the Domain, Sydney on Saturday February 19, 1916, a large crowd of relations and friends of the departing Miners lined the four sides of the parade ground. Sixty police and 100 Garrison Military Police were on hand to keep the crowds within bounds. The scene was an inspiriting one. On the extreme right flank, facing the saluting base, were companies of the Rifle Club School; next came a detachment of the 4th King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, then the bands of the Light Horse, Liverpool Depot, and the Miners’ on the left, rank upon rank, the Miners’ Battalion.

The Corps boarded HMAT A38 Ulysses in Sydney, NSW on February 20 and sailed for the European theatre. Arriving in Melbourne, Victoria on February 22 the Miners camped at Broadmeadows for a stay of 7 days while further cargo was loaded.

Another parade was held at the Broadmeadows camp on March 1, the Miners’ Corps being inspected by the Governor-General, as Commander-in-Chief of the Commonwealth military forces.

Leaving Melbourne on March 1, Ulysses arrived at Fremantle, Western Australia on March 7 where a further 53 members were taken on board.

On Wednesday March 8, 1916 the whole force, with their band and equipment, paraded at Fremantle prior to leaving Victoria Quay at 9.30 o’clock.

The ship hit a reef when leaving Fremantle harbour, stripping the plates for 40 feet and, although there was a gap in the outside plate, the inner bilge plates were not punctured. The men on board nicknamed her ‘Useless’. The Miners were off-loaded and sent to the Blackboy Hill Camp where further training was conducted.

The Mining Corps comprised 1303 members at the time they embarked with a Headquarters of 40; No.1 Company – 390; No.2 Company – 380; No.3 Company – 392, and 101 members of the 1st Reinforcements.

Finally departing Fremantle on April 1, Ulysses voyaged via Suez, Port Said and Alexandria in Egypt. The Captain of the ship was reluctant to take Ulysses out of the Suez Canal because he felt the weight of the ship made it impossible to manoeuvre in the situation of a submarine attack. The troops were transhipped to HM Transport B.1 Ansonia, then on to Valetta, Malta before disembarking at Marseilles, France on May 5, 1916. As a unit they entrained at Marseilles on May 7 and detrained on May 11 at Hazebrouck.

A ‘Mining Corps’ did not fit in the British Expeditionary Force, and the Corps was disbanded and three Australian Tunnelling Companies were formed. The Technical Staff of the Corps Headquarters, plus some technically qualified men from the individual companies, was formed into the entirely new Australian Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring Company (AEMMBC), better known as the ‘Alphabetical Company’.

On August 23, 1916 Sergeant Stevenson was awarded the Military Medal for “Bravery in the Field.”

The Unit Diary for the July-August period shows Sections of the company were working on Trench Mortar emplacements at Bailleul on three trenches at Ploegsteert, (trench 123), Prowse Point and Bullring (61&2)

Base Records informed his mother on December 5, 1916 that her son had been awarded the Military Medal as follows:

HIS MAJESTY THE KING has been graciously pleased to award the Military Medal for bravery in the field to the undermentioned non-commissioned officer: 289 Sergeant JOHN COWAN STEVENSON

On December 29, 1916 he went sick to the 6th London Field Ambulance suffering Pyrexia (Fever) then went to the 47th Divisional Rest Station and rejoined his Unit on December 24, 1916. Five days later was transferred to the 1st Tunnelling Company in the field.

Details of the Company’s members and their honours including Sergeant Stevenson’s were printed in the:

Sydney Morning Herald on Friday August 3, 1917 AUSTRALIANS HONOURED News has been received that members of No. 1 Company of the Australian Mining Corps have been honoured as follow:—Military Cross: Lieutenants, Carroll, Yates and Seaborn-Jones and Captain McBride; DCM: Sergeants Stevenson and Mitchell. The latter has also received a Montenegrin decoration.

He was wounded in action on June 10, 1917 and taken to the 1st Canadian General Hospital in Etaples with a severe gunshot wound to his left shoulder and ear. Five days later was conveyed from Calais to England on the hospital ship Princess Elizabeth and admitted to the Lewisham Military Hospital.

The entry in the Unit Diary for the week records the following:

Poperinghe June 1917 7/12th Enemy shelled craters consistently Carried our small repairs in dugouts Constructed trench through lip of “A” crater Constructed 2 O.Ts across No Man’s Land on right of cutting. 5 men wounded; 1 man killed.

A transfer to the 1st Auxiliary Hospital on July 4, 1917 at Harefield for ten days then moved to the No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth. On August 15, 1917 marched into the No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs for training at the Overseas Training Brigade.

His name was listed in the Roll of Honour published in: The Northern Miner Saturday July 14, 1917 ROLL OF HONOUR The following is a continuation of Casualty Lists 211 and 212: WOUNDED Sergeant John Cowan Stevenson, Scotland. Article abridged

On September 5, 1917 proceeded to France from Southampton marching in to the Aust General Base Depot in Rouelles the next day and rejoined his Unit on September 9.

The following extract comes from the Sydney Sun journalist in his article recounted the details of Sapper Earl’s entombment:

Poverty Bay Herald – New Zealand – November 10, 1917 GREAT TUNNELLING EXPLOITS. DEADLY WARFARE UNDER-GROUND ANZACS BEAT THE GERMANS HEROIC STORIES FROM THE BATTLEFIELD By Mr Keith Murdoch, Sydney Sun Representative

Sapper Earl, of New South Wales, is the company's chief hero. A few days before the great explosions, the Germans "blew" a cunningly contrived mine. Nearly 800 yards of our galleries were destroyed. For some days it seemed as though all the work had gone for nought. Leads were broken, the system was thrown out of gear. How frantically the men worked on repairs during the next days. How joyful they were when all became ready again, close on the hour at which the buttons were to be pressed. MAN WHO WOULD NOT SAVE HIMSELF Earl was buried by the explosion. He was alone in an Australian gallery. He could have crawled forward and got himself dug out by the Hun, who were within 6 foot of him. That, of course, would have disclosed everything. Earl probably did not dream for a moment of taking this craven course. He crawled back into the best position for hearing and recording, and here he listened, listened, listened through forty long hours, with little hope of rescue, but with fine determination to have there before he died a full record of all that was happening. When they got to him forty hours after the earth had fallen, they found him still entering in his records the various sounds he was hearing, still testing the leads and working as usual. He died in hospital, poor fellow from spinal paralysis, owing to the shock and injuries he had received. But surely he has taken his place permanently amongst the deathless heroes of the A.I.F. Article Abridged

Blue Chevrons were issued to wear on his uniform for twelve months overseas service.

Sergeant proceeded on leave on February 18, 1918 and returned on March 5.

A promotion to the rank of Staff-Sergeant took place on September 26, 1918 in accordance with A.I.F. Order on new establishment.

Sergeant Stevenson is mentioned by Capt O.H. Woodward in his book My War Story of the Great War: By October 2nd [1918] the attack had advanced sufficiently well to allow moving the Section up to new Bivouac in the original Hindenburg Line at Bellicourt. Shortly after Zero on the morning of the 3 rd October, with Sergeant Stevenson and Sapper Mooney I inspected the forward roads from Grandicourt to Lornisset Farm, but beyond this it was impossible to proceed on account of machine gun fire sweeping the wood. We then inspected the Grandicourt-Estrees Road as far as Folemprise Farm, and from there the Estree-Beaurevior Road until we reached the line of supporting Infantry. When Peace was declared he was with his Unit and the Tunnelling Companies remained as part of the army of occupation assisting with rehabilitation of their area by clearing roads and bridges of delayed- action mines and booby traps left by the enemy. Leave was granted from November 24, 1918 and rejoined his Unit on December 21, 1918.

On February 12, 1919 the Company was ordered to Base to prepare to return for to England and marched out on February 24 crossing the English Channel and marching in to the No. 3 Group camp at Parkhouse the next day.

Marched out on March 20, 1919 to the Aust Artillery Reserve Brigade Convalescent camp at Heytesbury for demobilisation and a month later on April 20, 1919 embarked for home on the ship H.T. Boonah. During the voyage was hospitalised on May 18 in the ship’s hospital with an injury to his stomach and discharged to duty on May 23, 1919. The transport docked in Melbourne, Vic on June 8 and was transhipped to the ship Sardinia for the remainder of the voyage to Brisbane, Qld.

News of the returning soldiers was printed on the day of arrival in:

The Queenslander Saturday June 14, 1919 SOLDIERS RETURNING PERH.T. BOONAH 289 S-Sgt J.C. Stevenson, M.M. 1st Tunn Co., Brisbane. Article Abridged

Military Discharge was issued in Brisbane (1st M.D.) on July 29, 1919 as medically unfit.

In the Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918 by C.E.W. Bean, at pages 958-959 can be found - THE MINES AT HILL 60. Sergeant Stevenson is mentioned as a member of the rescue party:

In the deep Hill 60 gallery on May 9th the enemy was so near that work was stopped, and the branch gallery was loaded with 1,600 lb. of ammonal. The Germans had evidently completed their shaft and were driving a gallery past the end of the branch gallery. As, however, there was now only a month to go, and the camouflet might detonate the great mine, or at least cause the Germans to probe vigorously, it was decided that the safest course was to accept the risk involved in letting the enemy work on, and not to fire the camouflet unless he touched the actual timbers of its gallery. The Germans could now be heard putting in timber, working a truck, walking, and even talking. On May 25th in some other workings they fired a mine whose position was “dangerously correct,” directly above the Hill 60 gallery. It crushed in the junction of the galleries and entombed two listeners. One, Sapper Earl, in the Hill 60 gallery, coolly went on listening and heard a German walk down an enemy gallery apparently directly over the great mine. Both listeners were rescued, but their signals, or sounds of the rescue parties, were possibly heard, for the German work became more cautious.

Author Bean adds as Note 60: ‘It was at first believed that Earl had been buried, but, on the day after the explosion Sapper G. Goodwin (Guildford, N.S.W.)’ at work clearing the debris, heard his signals, cautiously given, thirty feet away. Earl had written to his mother, made his will, and continued to listen at the tamping. He could hear the signals of the other entombed listener, Sapper C. Simpson (Chatswood, N.S.W.), in Beta gallery, and after his own signals had been heard he gave no more, for fear of disclosing the position of the mine, but went to the end of his gallery and slept. The rescue party, under Sergeants H. Fraser (Forbes, N.S.W.) and J. C. Stevenson, reached him on the 27th, when he handed in his written report (which is now in the Australian War Memorial). He was suffering from the effects of asphyxia, and died three months later from the results. (Fraser, after gaining a commission in the 3rd Fld. Coy, Engrs, died of wounds on 31 May, 1918)’ Staff-Sergeant 289 John Cowan Stevenson, 1st Tunnelling Company was entitled to wear with his Military Medal, the British War Medal (9863) and the Victory Medal (9717) for service to his country.

In 1919 he was working as a miner at Ipswich, Qld with his residence at Walsh Street, Newtown and later that year worked as a carpenter at Meadow Lea, Cambooya, Qld. He married Annie Currie on June 23, 1921 and by 1925 was a motor car driver at Goodna, Qld.

The following article tells of an accidental fire while residing at Nundah: The Brisbane Courier Friday June 5, 1931 FIRE AT NUNDAH A five-roomed dwelling in Arthur-street, Nundah owned by Mrs Rosetta Gray and occupied by Mr J.C. Stevenson, was damaged by fire, which occurred at about 6 a.m. yesterday. The fire is said to have been caused when a lighted cigarette ignited petrol, which was being poured into a truck stationed under the house. The outbreak was attended by the Toombul Fire Brigade, under Chief-officer W. Ingram, and one room was completely destroyed before the flames were subdued. Other rooms suffered damage by water and smoke. It is understood that the building was insured with Triton Insurance Company Ltd for £450, but the contents were not covered by insurance.

He was a member of the Reunion Association that included the Tunnellers and their activities were recorded in:

The Courier-Mail Friday August 21, 1931 REUNION ASSOCIATION Following the first reunion of the A.I.F. Engineers, Signallers and Tunnellers, held on August 12, a well-attended general meeting of those present was held for the purpose of forming an association to be called the Engineers, Signallers and Tunnellers Reunion Association the objects being to arrange for social meetings and an annual reunion. The temporary committee, who the reunion, was congratulated and thanked for their initial effort which was a qualified success, and the following officers were elected: Patron, Col D.E. Evans, D.S.O. V.D., president, Major N. O’Brien, V.D., vice-presidents, Messrs Monty Bloom, W.C. Nicholls; hon. Secretary, Major Speckman M.C.; hon. Treasurer, Mr G.S. Beevers, hon. Auditor, Mr F.C. Marshall A.A.A.; padre, Rev. C.H. Massey; committee, Messrs J. Nicholson, W. Mathewson, J. M’Kay, J.C. Stevenson, O.G. Wills, M.R. Plint, H. Connor, K. Purchase, delegates to reunion association, Major O’Brien and Major Speckman.

The Courier-Mail Thursday September 14, 1933 ENGINEERS AND TUNNELLERS Ways and means of raising funds for erecting a memorial tablet on the Anzac War Memorial were discussed at the annual meeting of the Engineers, Tunnellers, Signals and Railway Units’ Association (A.I.F.) in Anzac House last evening. The election of office-bearers resulted as follows: Patron, Colonel D.E. Evans; President, Colonel J.M. Grant, vice- presidents, Mr G. Sands and Major N. O’Brien; secretary, Mr Monty Bloom; minute secretary, Mr J. Nicolson; treasurer, Mr G. Beevers; padre, Rev. N. Miller; trustees, Messrs J.C. Stevenson and J. Cope; auditor, Mr O. Tincknell; committee, Messrs J. M’Kay, O. Tincknell, J.C. Stevenson, M. Plint, W. Richards, E. Purchase, H. Mills, P. O’Callaghan, and E. Cope.

In 1936 their residence was listed as Station Street, Nundah working as a motor car driver and remained the same up to 1949.

A Statement of Service was issued from Base Records to the Repatriation Commission in Brisbane on June 18, 1940.

John Cowan Stevenson died on May 4, 1957 aged 68 years. Funeral arrangements appeared in:

The Courier-Mail on Wednesday May 8, 1957 FUNERAL NOTICES STEVENSON, John Cowan, Vaucluse Street, Wavell Heights, 1st A.I.F.—Relatives and Friends of Mrs A.C. Stevenson and Family are respectfully informed of the death of her beloved Husband, their Father, Father- in-law, and Grandfather. The Funeral is appointed to leave the Parlour, 400 Wickham Street, To-day (Wednesday), for Mt Thompson Crematorium, after service commencing 10.15 a.m. METROPOLITAN FUNERAL SERVICES His War Service Plaque can be located in the War Service Section of the Memorial Gardens of Mount Thompson Crematorium.