An Australian Family Poignancy in WWI

Australia’s participation in World War I—and subsequent casualties—was unparalleled in its short history, and, it is fair to say, will never be repeated again. Briefly, out of just over 1,000,000 men who were eligible to enlist and fight overseas, 420,000 did just that. Of this number, over 62,000 were killed and a further 156,000 were wounded—56.7%. If that was translated into Australia’s population today—approximately twenty-five million—it would equate into over one million casualties. This was over a period of just over four years.

This publication traces the enlistment and subsequent deaths on the Western Front, France, of two Australian brothers—James and George Stevens—from a rural town in South-East Queensland, Australia. The book is rich in primary evidence, such as correspondence to their families. It also covers the main battles on the Western Front and includes the various memorials—national and international—dedicated to Australia’s losses. Students of Australia’s military history, as well as people who try to make some sense of these enormous losses, will find this book invaluable.