Stanley Herbert Steere (1897-1917)
Stanley, known as Stan, was born in Bunbury in May 1897 to Frederick Walter and Annie Steere (reference; reference; reference). His father was an architect and also served as a councillor and mayor of Bunbury (reference). Stan had four brothers and two sisters (reference). They were Frederick Alfred (1892-1967), Edith Emma (1894-1980), Sydney George (1901-1989), Walter Cecil Wells (1904-1980), Evelyn Keith (1907-1982) and Doris Annie Leslie (1913-1995).
As a child, Stan was educated at the Bunbury State School and learnt to play the pianoforte. In 1908 when Stan was 11, he took a practical examination held by the Trinity College of Music, London at Bunbury and passed the Preparatory category (reference; reference). His music teacher accredited with his success was Miss Bunting (reference).
In 1909 he continued his musical education at the Convent of Mercy in Bunbury under the nuns who helped him pass his preparatory musical practical (reference; reference; reference; reference). That year he also entered a Government State School competition in the homework for Standard IV category and won tickets to West's Pictures (reference). He also received a general prize from the Bunbury State School (reference).
In 1910 in the pianoforte elementary division, he passed his examination, continuing his musical education at the Convent of Mercy (reference; reference). He also received a score of 75, a pass, for his Trinity College of Music London, Musical Knowledge Exam held at the Convent of Mercy, Bunbury, in December 1910 (reference).
In 1911 when Stan was in Standard V, he received an attendance prize for regular and punctual attendance from the Bunbury State School (reference). In September, Stan attended the Children's fancy dress dance at the Lyric Theatre (reference). He attended wearing evening dress clothes (reference).
Stan gained some insight into military life when he was a cadet as a child. In 1911 as part of the cadets, he acted as a train-bearer at Annie Baldock and Lieutenant John Foxworthy's wedding in October 1911 (reference). Stan remained with the cadets until he reached the Senior Cadets level (reference).
Stan completed his education in Perth at Scotch College (reference). After completing his education, he worked as a farmer on the Steere family farm in Dudinin (reference; reference; reference).
After the Great War broke out, Stanley enlisted on 19 February 1916 and was assigned the rank of Private with the regimental number 4544 (reference). He was assigned to the 28th Battalion (reference). In his description at the time of enlistment, Stan was 18 years and 9 months old, 5 feet 9 inches, 120 pounds with a medium complexion, grey eyes, brown hair and his religion was Church of England (reference). He was also living on Austral Parade in Bunbury (reference). However, as Stan was under 21 years old, he had to get his parents consent to enlist (reference).
Stan received his initial training in Australia before he left to serve his country. He left Australian shores forever on the HMAT Shropshire in March 1916 from Fremantle bound for Egypt (reference). From Alexandria, Egypt, Stan boarded the H T Scotian on 10 May 1916 and arrived in Marseilles, France, on 18 May (reference).
After arriving in France, Stan joined the 28th Battalion in August 1916 and was wounded in action that month at Pozieres (reference; reference; reference; reference). After recovering, he rejoined the Battalion in September 1916 before being wounded again in Ypres on 12 October (reference; reference; reference; reference). Due to his injury, a severe gunshot wound in his buttock, he was sent to the Northampton War Hospital in England (reference; reference).
Stan rejoined the 28th Battalion at Havre for the third and final time on 18 October 1917 (reference). Ten days later, on 28 October 1917, he was killed in action at Broodseinde Ridge in Belgium at only 19 years of age (reference). According to Lieutenant Stanley Boundy, he was killed by a shell (reference).
Stanley's passing was announced to the Bunbury community in the South Western Times on 20 November 1917: "Mrs F. W. Steere, of White-road, Bunbury, on Monday night received one of those messages from the Defence Department that so many brave Australian mothers dread, and so many, alas have received. It was dealing with the death of her second son, Pte. Stanley Steere, killed somewhere in France at the early age of 19 ½ years. Pte. Stanley Steere was a Bunbury boy whom all residents remember. He finished his school days at Scotch College, and prior to answering the call of his country, he spent some little time on his father's and brother's farm near Wickepin. His father, an ex-Mayor and the holder of many important public and business positions in Bunbury, is now on active service, having proudly exchanged his civilian honors for the military distinction of bearing a single chevron on his sleeve. Much sympathy is felt for the bereaved family, including Miss Edith Steere, who is womanfully acting in her father's stead as secretary of the Bunbury Building Society (reference)."
Stanley Herbert Steere is at rest at the Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot 33, Row E, Grave 7, Passchendaele in Flanders, Belgium (reference; reference). His headstone says ‘He died that the world may be better.’ His sacrifice is honoured at the Australian War Memorial on the Roll of Honour on panel 114 (reference).
In October 1917, back in Bunbury and before Stan's death, he was nominated for the Bunbury Trench Comforts Soldier's Competition, where the public voted for the most 'popular' soldier (reference; reference). The competition was run by his sister, Edith (reference). On 23 October 1917, just days before Stan was killed, the paper announced that he had scored 350 points in the Bunbury Popular Soldier competition (reference; reference). He remained in the competition until Bunbury learnt of his death, so on 30 October, the community was still unaware of his passing, and he was up to 480 points (reference). Also, in late October, before his death, the Wellington Agricultural and Pastoral Society published an honour roll that included Stan's name (reference)."
Stan's father, Frederick, enlisted to fight alongside his son, not knowing that his son would be killed in action just days after his departure from Australian shores (reference). Frederick's send-off was recorded in the South Western Times (reference). The article explains why he chose to go to war and highlights the pressure men were put under by their community to take up arms and fight (reference):
"Recruiting Speeches St Private Steere's Send-Off
Inspector Brophy, speaking at the civic send-off to Pte. F. W. Steere said he would like to contrast the difference between Pte. Steere, who was sacrificing much to go to the front, and those remaining adamant to the call, with less responsibilities. He would like to speak to the single and fit. His (the speaker's) opinion was that any single fit men who were still adamant to the call was considering his miserable body before anything else that he should hold sacred. A man of that class had forfeited all right to the name of "man."
Private F. W. Steere said that prior to the Referendum, he had been appointed Military Registrar for the district, and in that capacity he knew there were still single and fit men over the age of 21 available. He thought the Government was making a mistake in reducing the age to 18 years. No one under 20 should be in camp or at the front. He knew there were still eligible young men in Bunbury, through being Registrar, and also by the Exemption Court. Some of these men said that if they went, their mothers would die. This was a lie. The women of Australia had proved this. He said to them: Look into the smiling eyes of your mothers and sisters as they are today, and then try and picture the look of horror, the violated bodies, and the bespattered bodies of the older men. Then, with that picture in your mind, remember this has been caused by you, Because you did not do your bit. This picture was established on the records of the war. Would the Huns have done any less in Australia? Did not professors from Germany come out for science research (!), this to cloak their real purpose to find out all that was to be known as far as Australia was concerned? However, the professors were interned now. Their enemies probably knew more than nine-tenths of the Australians what Australia was fitted for. Therefore, if it was not Australia's battle, it was no one else's. He would say to the eligible young men referred to — all knew them — "Don't get behind your mothers' apron strings, but come out and fight for your country, or do as Judas did — go and hang yourself!"
Cr. Buswell, in proposing "Our Boys in Khaki," said that Ptes. Steere and Donovan were going because the younger men and slackers would not take their place. His (Mr. Buswell's) only son had been fighting for eight months in France without a holiday, notwithstanding he took part in the landing at Gallipoli as well. That was the reason why, after Pte. Steere had sent one son, and Pte. Donovan four, their fathers also felt they were needed, too. Mr. Steere had mentioned certain eligibles who said they could not leave their mothers. This was a disgrace to the town when a family had several fit sons and none would go. They were sitting at home enjoying all the good things of life, whilst others were away fighting for them (reference)."
After Stan's passing and Frederick serving overseas, it was left to Annie, Stanley's mother, to deal with his affairs. Annie hired Kenneth M Eastman, a Barrister and Solicitor working from the Austral Chambers on Stephen Street, to act on her behalf and finalise Stan's affairs (reference).
As Stan was buried overseas, a photograph of his grave was sent to his family (reference).
After the war, Frederick returned to his remaining family and continued to work the farm at Dudinin, as well as live in their house located at First Avenue Mount Lawley (reference; reference; reference)
Stanley continues to be remembered by his relatives. In 2016 his family dedicated a plaque in the Honour Avenue at Kings Park, Perth (reference).