Robert Bruce Stephens (SN 1774), born in Ballarat, was a 28 year old farmer when he enlisted in Ballarat on February 7th 1916. After initial training in Ballarat, on April 4th he embarked aboard the Euripides and sailed to England. In September he crossed to the battlefields of France to serve with the 58th Infantry Battalion. On February 25th 1917 he was wounded in action, suffering a severe face wound, and was evacuated to hospital in England. The seriousness of the wound led to him being assessed as unfit for further active service and he was returned home on the Ayrshire. He was discharged ‘medically unfit’ on September 8th 1917.