Francis Angus Stephens (SN 2153) was born at Apsley near the South Australian border, but was a 24 year old labourer when he enlisted in Ballarat on June 9th 1915. On September 25th, attached to the 39th Infantry Battalion, he embarked aboard the Shropshire and sailed to England. His time in England was impacted by bronchial illness and trench feet but he eventually crossed to France in September 1917. In April 1918 influenza caused his evacuation to hospital in England and he remained in England until embarking aboard the Suevic for return to Australia. He reached Melbourne on January 5th 1919 and was discharged soon after ‘medically unfit, chronic bronchitis’.