FAMILY LIFE

Rueben Moysey Stewart was born at Bungawalbyn, Richmond River in 1896. He was one of fifteen children born to William John and Mary Jane Stewart (nee Bulley) Stewart. In 1906, as part of the Brays Creek Land Tenure in the Parish of Tyalgum, William, and his son Hersee (Hersey) settled on Lot 14PT, a selection of 221 acres which included part of the Old Casino Track. The remaining members of the family remained at Bungawalbyn, while William and Hersee set up camp and erected a permanent slab hut on the bank of Brays Creek. In time all the family was re-united. They then concentrated on developing and working their dairy farm at Tyalgum. Many of the Stewart family are buried in either Tyalgum Cemetery or Murwillumbah cemetery

ATTESTATION

Ten months after the outbreak of World War l Reuben enlisted in the army on 2nd  June 1915 in Brisbane. His brother, Donald Christopher, had enlisted the previous day. The two brother were recruited to the 9th Battalion, 8th Reinforcements and assigned the following regimental numbers: Rueben 2691 and Christopher 2681. (Two other brothers, William John Jr. and Hersey John were to enlist later in the war.)

Reuben was single farmer, eager to do his bit. His application showed his next of kin as his father, William, of Tyalgum

The Examining Medical Officer stated that Reuben “can see the required distance with either eye; his heart and lungs are healthy; he has the free use of his joints; and he declares he is not subject to fits of any description. I consider him fit for active service.”  On the second page of the Attestation Paper, he made the following oath in the presence of the Attesting Officer: “I, Reuben Moysey Stewart, swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force until the end of the War … SO HELP ME, GOD.” 

TRAINING AT RIFLE RANGE CAMP, ENOGGERA

As was the case with men from the Northern Rivers district in New South Wales, they trained at Rifle Range Camp, Enoggera near Brisbane. The Barracks Block was built as accommodation for men in two dormitories, each 36 feet by 22 feet (10.97 x 6.7 metres). Beds or bunks were not provided, instead each man slept on a palliasse with ground sheet on the floor. For many it was their first time away from home. Men from every walk of life, from clerks and teachers to factory and shop workers, were crammed together

Now training for the new recruits began. Firstly, the men received their vaccinations for smallpox, rabies & plague, then a recruit had to be inducted into military forms of discipline, command, and order. This was partially achieved through a program of basic training carried and, in a sense, was maintained for a long as a man was in the service. It involved marching and drilling with the rifle, cleaning and caring for personal equipment and being supervised and inspected in ways quite different to ordinary civilian life. For example, no boots should be allowed to get in a bad state of wear but must be sent to the bootmaker without delay for repair. Men who were found with hair long and unshaven had to have a haircut and shave

Secondly, after basic training there followed the far more serious exercise of turning a man into a fighting soldier at least partially prepared for the kind of warfare he was about to experience overseas. The topics and exercises in the syllabus of training were a world away from their former lives and included daily physical training, entrenching, wiring, firing rifle grenades, firing the Lewis light machine gun, dealing with gas attack, using hand grenades, using the bayonet, and the routines to be followed in the trenches.

This training was then put into practice during what were called ‘Field Days,’ when men would practice using the skills they had acquired in mock attacks both by day and by night. How well men had learnt to use their weapons, in cooperation with each other in training, would be tested in the harsh reality of the front line. Training would take several months

The recruits were issued with their uniform: a khaki woollen jacket, heavy cord breeches and the famous slouch hat – turned up on the left and featuring a plain khaki band, chinstrap and “rising sun” badge. A soldier’s equipment also included a dixie (mess tin), water bottle, mug, .303 Lee-Enfield rifle and bayonet.

His medical, which was done at the Frasers Hill, Enoggera training camp on 13^th August, showed he was 19 years 7 months old, 5ft 7 inches tall (1.7m), weighed 152 lbs (68kgs), with a dark complexion, brown eyes & brown hair.  His eyesight was good

He was Church of Christ and had a scar on his right leg & right knee.  He was enlisted as a private into the 9 Infantry Battalion - 1 to 9 Reinforcements with service No 2691

VOYAGE OVERSEAS

Reuben & Christopher, together with the other recruits embarked at Brisbane, Queensland aboard HMAT Kyarra on 16 August 1915. The Kyarra was part of the first convoy of Australian troops heading to the Middle East during WWI. Alongside their comrades, they marched aboard, their boots ringing on the gangway. As the ship’s lines were cast off and the quay began to slip away, the reality of war lay ahead, but for now, the sea breeze carried only the sound of voices and the excitement of men bound for adventure, duty, and the unknown.

The epic voyage across the ocean has been described as “the longest journey to war in the history of the world.” They thought it was the start of a new adventure- for many it was their first time so far away from home. However, after some time at sea the biggest problem turned out to be boredom. On the voyage, due to overcrowding, training was limited to mainly to lectures and a little physical training.

Sleeping & Living Arrangements

Recruits likely slept in a crowded troop deck below, where rows of hammocks or three-tier wooden bunks were crammed close together. Air below decks could be stuffy, especially in warmer climates, and seasickness was common during the first few days.

Daily Routine

Reveille early each morning, followed by physical exercises on the open decks (weather permitting). There were parades and inspections—officers ensured uniforms, rifles, and kit were clean and in order. Training was a little problematic—drill without much space, rifle maintenance, lectures on military discipline, signalling, and trench warfare theory. The ship’s decks were used for marching in tight circles or practising bayonet thrusts into stuffed sacks. Rifle shooting was impossible at sea, so soldiers learned to strip and clean their weapons until it was second nature.

Meals

Three hearty meals a day were served; breakfast usually consisted of porridge, stew, and tea. Lunch included soup, meat, vegetables, and pudding. Meat, bread with jam and tea was served for dinner. The meals were served in shifts from the ship’s galley. Queues were long, and eating on a rolling ship meant many tried to eat quickly before nausea set in.

Health & Sanitation

Shipboard hygiene was critical—every man was ordered to scrub his section daily to prevent disease. Saltwater baths were the norm, with freshwater rationed for drinking.

The Voyage Experience

Entertainment included church drill, concerts, singalongs, card games, and makeshift cricket matches on deck when the weather allowed. In an attempt to keep up morale, an area of the ship was roped off where regular boxing and wrestling tournaments were held. This became commonly known as the Stoush Stadium. No letters could be sent until they reached port, but men often wrote diaries or unsent letters to be posted later.

The troops engaged in lifebelt drill; a cookhouse on deck; soldiers on fatigues peeling potatoes 'spud bashing'; going to the dentist; barber, pay day; soldiers cleaning personal equipment; medical inspection

CROSSING THE EQUATOR CEREMONY

The crossing the Equator ceremony, ‘Neptune’s Journey,’ was played-out on each troopship.

SIGHTS AT SEA

On the way to Egypt the ship would pass through the Great Australian Bight, cross the Indian Ocean, and stop at Colombo (Ceylon now Sri Lanka) for coal and supplies.

SECURITY

By late 1914, German raiders were active, so lifeboat drills were frequent, and lookouts kept watch for suspicious ships.

APPROACHING EGYPT

After several weeks at sea, the men finally saw the dusty shoreline of Port Said or Alexandria. For most, it was their first sight of a foreign country, and the reality of leaving home truly sank in. The recruits would soon exchange the ship’s cramped decks for the sandy training grounds of Egypt, preparing for what lay ahead.

ARRIVAL IN EGYPT & MENA TRAINING CAMP

The Kyarra arrived at Alexandria, Egypt, on 2 October 1914. After arrival, troops were typically transported by smaller vessels or marched overland to nearby training areas or camps.

 He & Christopher were first stationed at the vast Mena Camp, set against the shadow of the ancient pyramids near Cairo. The desert sun beat down relentlessly as thousands of young Australian soldiers pitched their canvas tents in neat rows, a temporary city of canvas, dust, and constant activity.

Each day began before dawn, with the soldiers roused by bugle calls echoing across the camp. Reuben and his mates would lace up their boots and line up for physical training — long marches in the sandy heat, running drills, and calisthenics designed to toughen bodies for the hardships ahead. The scent of sweat mixed with the dry desert air as the men drilled relentlessly, their uniforms stiff with dust.

Under the stern eyes of their officers, they practiced close-order drill, learning to move as a unit — stepping in time, saluting sharply, and obeying commands without hesitation. Weapons training was a daily routine: polishing and maintaining their trusty SMLE rifles, learning to load and fire with speed and accuracy, and mastering the deadly bayonet thrusts that might mean the difference between life and death in the trenches.

The soldiers also learned to dig trenches and construct defensive positions, practicing the slow, exhausting work of sinking into the earth that would soon become their battlefield homes. Hand-to-hand combat classes taught Reuben how to fight up close and personal, while lessons in first aid prepared him to patch wounds under fire.

Meals were simple but vital — bully beef, hardtack biscuits, and sometimes fresh bread, washed down with strong tea. The dry desert dust settled on everything, clinging to clothes and skin, making the simple act of eating a gritty challenge. Nights brought little relief from the heat, as the camp lay quiet but alert beneath a canopy of stars.

FINAL PREPARTION MUDROS MID NOVEMBER 1915

By mid-November, Reuben was transported to the island of Lemnos, to the camp at Mudros Harbour — a staging ground for the upcoming assault on Gallipoli. Here, the tents were crowded, and the air heavy with the salt and heat of the Aegean Sea. Disease and discomfort were constant companions; sanitation was basic, and the men battled fatigue and homesickness.

At Mudros, the focus shifted to the final preparations. The men practiced amphibious landing drills, rehearsing how to move from boats onto hostile shores under fire. Coordination with naval and artillery units was drilled meticulously — signals, timings, and communications rehearsed over and over. Briefings gave Reuben a grim picture of the enemy defences and the rugged terrain awaiting them, sharpening his resolve but also deepening the weight of what lay ahead.

Despite the hardships, camaraderie flourished. Stories, songs, and letters home kept spirits alive, binding these young men together as they prepared to face the unknown.

TAKEN ON STRENGTH NOVEMBER 1915

They were both taken on strength at Lemnos, Greece on 18 November, 1915. Christopher was to join the 4th Division Artillery as a gunner. He survived the war and returned to Australia in May 1919.

November 1915 to March 1916 — Training and Recovery Period

After being taken on strength at Mudros on 18 November 1915, Reuben was part of the Australian forces preparing in the Eastern Mediterranean region following the withdrawal from Gallipoli earlier that year.

The 9th Battalion and other units were stationed mainly in Egypt and on the island of Lemnos (Mudros), focusing on rebuilding strength and training after the tough Gallipoli campaign.

Training involved reconditioning soldiers, especially those recovering from wounds and illness, with emphasis on physical fitness, weapons practice, and unit cohesion.

The men also underwent desert training to prepare for possible deployment to the Western Desert or Palestine campaigns, including adapting to harsh climate conditions.

The period was marked by ongoing concerns about health, with influenza and other diseases spreading in crowded camps.

HOSPITALISED INFLUENZA JANUARY 1916

On 8 January 1916, Reuben was admitted to No. 2 Australian General Hospital in Cairo with influenza, a common and serious illness among troops in these conditions.  Treatment involved rest, hydration, and nursing care to combat the respiratory infection.

The hospital was one of several established to care for the large number of Australian troops in Egypt.

CONVALESCENCE FEBRUARY 1916

On 11 February 1916, Reuben was discharged to the Helouan Convalescent Depot, where soldiers recuperated in a more relaxed setting with medical supervision, rest, and gradual physical rehabilitation.

REJOINED UNIT MARCH 1916

By 6 March 1916, he was declared fit and rejoined his unit, which was continuing its training and preparations as part of the reorganisation of the AIF in Egypt before eventual deployment to the Western Front in Europe.

DEPLOYMENT FROM EGYPT TO FRANCE

After their reorganisation and training in Egypt during early 1916, the 9th Battalion, along with the rest of the Australian Imperial Force’s 1st Division, prepared to move to the Western Front in France. This transition marked a major shift from desert and Mediterranean conditions to the harsh and gruelling warfare of trench combat in northern Europe.

The battalion embarked from Alexandria, Egypt, on 3 April 1916 aboard the troopship SS Saxonia. After a voyage through the Mediterranean, the unit arrived in Marseilles, France, around mid-April 1916. From Marseilles, the battalion travelled by rail to their sector on the Western Front in northern France, typically near the Somme region, where trench warfare was ongoing.

WESTERN FRONT & TRENCH WARFARE

The soldiers now found themselves fighting the Germans in trench warfare. On the Western Front in 1914–1918, both sides constructed elaborate trench, underground, and dugout systems opposing each other along a front, protected from assault by barbed wire. The area between opposing trench lines (known as "no man's land") was fully exposed to artillery fire from both sides. Attacks, even if successful, often sustained severe casualties. Trench warfare created a living environment for the men which was harsh, stagnant, and extremely dangerous. Not only were trenches constantly under threat of attack from shells or other weapons, but there were also many health risks that developed into large-scale problems for medical personnel. Apart from the inescapable cold during the winters in France & Belgium, trenches were often completely waterlogged and muddy, and crawling with lice and rats

The time soldiers spent in the trenches varied depending on factors like their army's rotation system and the intensity of the conflict in their sector. On average:

·      Front-line trenches: Soldiers typically remained here for about 4–6 days at a time. This was where the fighting was most intense and the conditions were the harshest.

·      Support and reserve trenches: After time on the front line, soldiers were rotated to these positions for around 6–12 days. These trenches were set further back and offered slightly better conditions.

·      Rest periods: Soldiers were then moved away from the trench system entirely for rest, training, and recovery, often lasting several weeks, depending on operational needs.

The rotation system helped prevent complete physical and mental exhaustion, but the constant dangers of trench life meant there was rarely any true respite.

TRAINING AND FRONT-LINE DUTIES IN FRANCE (APRIL–MAY 1916)

Once in France, the 9th Battalion’s initial weeks were spent acclimatising to the cold, muddy conditions and learning the realities of trench warfare on the Western Front.

The men undertook intensive training in trench construction, gas defence, and coordination with artillery and machine gun units.

They were rotated through support and front-line trenches for familiarisation and to relieve other units. This period was also one of logistical adjustment, with soldiers adapting to heavier kit, colder weather, and new tactics.

ILLNESS AND ADMISSION TO HOSPITAL

On 14 May 1916, Reuben was admitted to the 7th General Hospital at St Omer suffering from German measles (rubella), a contagious viral infection that spread quickly in close quarters and could cause significant complications. St Omer was a major base hospital behind the lines, offering extensive medical and surgical care to Commonwealth troops.

Treatment would have included isolation to prevent contagion, symptom management, and nursing care.

RETURN TO DUTY (7 JUNE 1916)

After recovering from German measles at the 7th General Hospital in St Omer, Reuben rejoined the 9th Battalion in northern France. The battalion was rotating between front-line trenches, support lines, and short rest periods behind the front. This was a dangerous time, even when not engaged in major battles — artillery bombardments, sniper fire, and night raids by both sides claimed lives almost daily

DETACHED TO 1ST ANZAC CORPS ESCORT (26 JUNE 1916)

On 26 June, Reuben was detached from the 9th Battalion for duty as an escort with 1st ANZAC Corps Headquarters. Escort duties typically involved acting as mounted or foot orderlies, guards, or guides for senior officers and important convoys. This could mean moving between HQ and front-line positions, delivering dispatches, and providing protection during travel. It was still hazardous work, as headquarters were often within range of enemy artillery.

During this time, preparations were underway for the Australian Corps’ first major engagement on the Western Front — the attack on Pozières in late July 1916, part of the Somme offensive. The 9th Battalion, as part of the 1st Division, was moving into the Pozières sector to relieve British units who had suffered heavy casualties in earlier attacks.

THE BATTLE OF POZIÈRES – 22 JULY 1916

In the early hours of 22 July 1916, the quiet of the night along the Somme front was shattered by the thunder of the Allied artillery. For days beforehand, British, and Australian guns had pounded the German positions around the small French village of Pozières, turning the earth into a smoking ruin and stripping away what little cover remained. The 9th Battalion, along with the rest of the 1st Australian Division, had been ordered to seize the village — a key strongpoint on the German defensive line.

At 12.30 a.m., the Australians went forward. The darkness was torn apart by muzzle flashes and the roar of shells overhead, the air thick with acrid smoke and the smell of cordite. Ahead lay a maze of shattered buildings, cellars turned into machine-gun nests, and trenches choked with debris. The German defenders, though battered by the bombardment, were far from broken; they met the attack with a storm of machine-gun fire and a deadly counter-barrage that fell across the ground the Australians had to cross.

For the men of the 9th Battalion, the advance was a brutal test of courage. They stumbled through shell-holes, clambered over splintered beams and torn sandbags, all while shrapnel and bullets cut through the air. Orders were shouted and lost in the din; runners carrying messages often never made it to their destination. If Reuben was still attached to 1st ANZAC Corps HQ as an escort, he would have been darting between positions under this relentless fire, guiding officers forward or carrying urgent dispatches to the front — work that was as exposed and dangerous as the assault itself.

By dawn, much of Pozières was in Australian hands, but the victory came at a terrible cost. Casualties were appalling — hundreds of men killed, wounded, or missing in just those first hours. The village, what little remained of it, was now a graveyard of splintered trees, collapsed walls, and the bodies of friend and foe alike. Shellfire from German guns, positioned on higher ground, began to fall again with renewed fury, and those who survived the initial assault now endured a continuous bombardment that would last for days.

KILLED IN ACTION 22^ND JULY 1916

In the chaos and carnage of that morning, Reuben was killed in action. Whether struck down during the advance, while carrying out escort duties under fire, or amidst the vicious counter-barrage, his death came in one of the most harrowing and costly actions ever faced by Australian troops on the Western Front. The Australians lost 23,000 men at Pozieres in just six weeks of fighting.

NO KNOWN GRAVE

The fighting at Pozières was so ferocious, and the German artillery bombardment so intense in the days following the assault, that many of those killed could not be recovered. Men were often buried where they fell, sometimes hastily during a brief lull in the shelling, with only a rough wooden cross or marker to identify the spot.

At Pozières, however, the constant shellfire obliterated trenches, collapsed dugouts, and churned the ground repeatedly. Any makeshift graves were destroyed, markers splintered, and bodies buried deep beneath the shifting earth. In many cases, remains were scattered or lost entirely.

MEMORILIASED

For Reuben, this meant that although his death was recorded by his comrades, the location of his body could not be preserved. Like so many others who fought and died in that shattered village, he was left without a known grave, his name instead carved into the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, standing as a lasting tribute to those whose resting places are unknown

FOR HIS SERVICE

Reuben was posthumously awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal. His name is commemorated on the Urunga Public School First World War Roll of Honor. His name is recorded on the Roll of Honour  in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial Number 57 among almost 62,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War.

His personal effects, consisting of testament, dictionary, note book, photo case, photos, letters & cards was sent to his father. A further package containing his disc, a writing pad & buttons was also forwarded. His memorial scroll was received on 22^nd September 1921, his Memorial plaque was received 31^st January 1922, and his Victory medal was received on 20 January 1923

If you have any additional information about this individual, we invite you to email us at rsl@msmc.org.au.