Physical description

Captain Stewart Murray HANSEN, (Service no:1000) was born in Williamstown, Victoria on 7 February, 1892, the eldest of four children of Agnes Campbell (nee Stewart) and John George Leighton Hansen of 72 Pascoe Street, Williamstown. He attended Williamstown Primary School then Melbourne University High School and the Workingmen's College.

He enlisted in the AIF on the 1st October 1914, aged 22 years and 7 months. He began life in the army as a Private, was promoted to Sergeant on his voyage to the Middle East, was appointed a Second Lieutenant on 27 May, 1915, a Lieutenant on 20 January, 1916 and a Captain and Company Commander C. Company, 14th Battalion, 4th Brigade AIF, on 1 March, 1916.

He was amongst the troops of the 14th Battalion fighting at Gallipoli from the second day of landing on 26 April, 1915. In his letter home dated 13 June, 1915, he described watching the landing on 25 April and the “terrific naval bombardment”. At the start of June, 1916, Captain Hansen departed Alexandria along with the rest of the 14th Battalion and headed to join the fighting in France, arriving in Marseilles on 8 June, 1916.

Whilst serving in the 14th Battalion in France, he "Died of Wounds" received in action on the 7th February 1917, the day of his 25th birthday.

Sources: naa.gov.au
https://williamstownhistsoc.org.au/stewart-murray-hansen-wwi-patchwork-quilt