STENZ, Andrew and Raymond

Andrew and his nephew, Raymond, were both born at Inverell. Although they enlisted on separate dates, they served together with the 46th Battalion, 7th Reinforcements. This unit sailed for from Australia for England on the SS Port Napier in November 1916.

Andrew, a forty three year old farmer from Delungra NSW, served in France. He was wounded in October 1917. Three months later he was detached from his unit for duty with the 184th Tunnelling Company. He remained with this unit until illness forced his transfer to England in April 1918. He was medically discharged and returned to Australia in June. The residents of Delungra gathered in November to make presentations and welcome home several men, one of whom was Andrew.

Raymond was a twenty one year old Wool and Skin Buyer at Barraba NSW when he enlisted. After arriving in England he was sent to France in June 1917. Four months later he was admitted to the 3rd Australian General Hospital with laryngitis, returning to his unti in February 1918. Just a few weeks later he was killed in action on 6 April at Bullecourt, France and buried at Millencourt Communal Cemetery Extension, France. His name is recorded on the Inverell Cenotaph.

Andrew's parents were German immigrants. There is a family story that during World War 1 his Mother, Eliza, was required to report weekly to the police, despite having a son and a grandson serving with the AIF and the fact that she had been resident in Australia for over fifty years.