Jack Stevens

Sir Jack Edwin Stawell Stevens
Brigadier Jack Stevens in Sydney, October 1940
Born	7 September 1896 Daylesford, Victoria
Died	20 May 1969(1969-05-20) (aged 72) Sydney, New South Wales
Allegiance	Australia
Service/branch	Australian Army
Years of service	1915–1919 1921–1950
Rank	Major General
Service number	VX17
Commands held	6th Division (1943–45) 12th Division (1942–43) Northern Territory Force (1942–43) 4th Division (1942) 21st Brigade (1940–42) 57th/60th Battalion (1935–39)
Battles/wars	First World War Western Front Battle of Pozières Battle of Polygon Wood Second World War Syria-Lebanon campaign Battle of the Litani River Battle of Damour South West Pacific theatre Aitape–Wewak campaign
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order Meritorious Service Medal Mentioned in Despatches Efficiency Decoration

First World War

Second World War

Major General Sir Jack Edwin Stawell Stevens, KBE, CB, DSO, ED (7 September 1896 – 20 May 1969) was a senior officer in the Australian Army during the Second World War. He was best known as the commanding officer of the 6th Division from 1943 to 1945.

Born on 7 September 1896 at Daylesford, Victoria, Stevens was the youngest child of Herbert Clarence Stevens and Violet Ophelia, née Bury. He attended schooling at Daylesford. He began working at the age of 12 at a cigar factory, before joining the Postmaster-General's Department as a clerk in the electrical engineers' branch in 1915.

He enlisted on 2 July 1915 in the Australian Imperial Force in the Signal Corp and sailed for Egypt in November with the rank of corporal. He was promoted in March 1916 to sergeant and served with the 4th Divisional Signal Company. In June, he was sent to France and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for "devotion and keen sense of duty" during the battles of Pozières and the Ypres salient. He was transferred to the 5th Divisional Signal Company in February 1917 and was promoted to lieutenant in April. He saw action at Polygon Wood and was transferred to the Australian Corps Signal Company in March 1918. Upon arrival in Melbourne after the cessastion of hostilities he was discharged from the Australian Imperial Force on 28 October 1919.

Upon returning home he returned to work with the Postmaster-General's Department. He married Catherine McAllister Macdonald at the Presbyterian Church, South Melbourne on 26 April 1920. Rejoinining the Militia in 1921, he was promoted to captain in 1922 and commanded the 2nd Cavalry Divisional Signals and was promoted to major in 1924. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in command of the 4th Divisional Signals (1926–29), the 3rd Divisional Signals (1929–35) and the 57th/60th Battalion (1935–39).