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Private Fred Stephens

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TitlePrivate Fred StephensAlternative NameFrederick on Birth recordSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionFrederick was born at Dunsandel on 3 August 1896, son of William and Caroline Stephens. Before enlisting he was a teamster for W. A. Mcmillan at Dunsandel. He had previous military experience having served with the North Canterbury and Westland Regiment. He was a member of the Forresters Lodge, Court Star of Dunsandel, the Young Men's Bible Class and the Dunsandel Football Club. He was 5ft 8in tall with a fair complexion, brown eyes and light brown hair.

Frederick enlisted on 13 November 1916 at Christchurch and was assigned to H Company, 23rd Reinforcements. He died aged only 20 at the hospital, Trentham Military Camp on 9 December at 9.45 pm of meningococcal septicemia after measles. He had been in camp only a month and his mother had gone to Wellington to be at his bedside. Frederick was returned to Dunsandel and was accorded a military and Lodge funeral at Killinchy Anglican Churchyard . Three volleys were fired over the grave by the Burnham Industrial School Cadets and the bugler played The Last Post.

A memorial service was also held at the Dunsandel Methodist church. Mr Sheat preached from the text "Greater love hath no mm, than this; that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). At the close of the service, the Dead March was played by Corporal A. J. Sheat (one of the dead soldier's comrades in the Territorials),First NameFredLast NameStephensFamilySingleSon of William and Caroline StephensDate of Birth3 August 1896Place of BirthDunsandelDate of Death9 December 1916Place of DeathTrentham Military CampCause of DeathDied of sicknessAge at Death20

Connections

CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OnePlaceDunsandel Last edited by: Sarah Davy

Killinchy

More InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph

Military Service

Memorial or CemeteryKillinchy Anglican ChurchyardOccupation before EnlistingTeamsterRegiment or ServiceCanterbury Infantry Regiment Enlistment Details13th November 1916Service Number40255Reinforcement23rd ReinforcementsCountryNew Zealand

Attribution

Researched ByL. M. Seaton

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Private Fred Stephens