FatherJames Kennedy1
MotherMargaret Breen1
Pedigree

Birth, Death, Marriage

Catherine Louisa Kennedy was born in 1885 in Sale, Victoria.2 
She married Albert Edward Steer, son of Philip Steer and Euphemia Forrest, in 1912.3 
She died in 1962 in Elsternwick, Victoria.1 

Family 1

Albert Edward Steer b. 16 Aug 1890, d. 8 Aug 1918
Children

Family 2
Child
ChartsSteer, Edward, descendant chart

Story

Marriage and Family
Catherine Louisa Kennedy and Albert Edward Steer were married in 1912. They had three children.3,4
 
Husband Albert 'Killed In Action'
Louisa's husband, Albert, died during the First World War.
 
Albert Edward Steer enlisted in the Australian Military Forces in Melbourne on 22 May 1917, aged 26 years 9 months. His army number was 3665 and his unit was 8th reinforcements 3rd Pioneer Battalion.

He trained around Seymour for most of July 1917. From late July until early October he was being treated for an unspecified medical condition at Macleod in Melbourne. He then trained for most of October and November around Bendigo.

On 22 November he boarded the troop ship A71 Nestor, arriving in the Suez on 15 December 1917. Three weeks later, he travelled via Italy and France to England where he trained for about ten weeks.

In mid April 1918, he proceeded to France as part of NZI&GBD [GBD is General Base Depot]. On 11 May, he transferred to 60th Battalion and joined the fighting.

Albert Edward Steer was killed in action by shell on 8 August 1918, aged 29. He was buried at Card Copse cemetery, Marcelclave, France.5,6
Albert Edward Steer 1890-1918
Image: Commonwealth War Graves Commission
DEATH - On Active Service
STEER - Killed in action on 8th August, 1918, in France, Private AE (Bert) Steer, only son of Mr Philip Steer, of Lake Boga, and brother to Mrs D McDonald, Nyah; Mrs W Cook, Lake Boga, and Mrs H Lee, Lake Boga. Aged 29 years.
    Though absent from among us, Bert,
     You are always in our thoughts;
    And those you left behind you
     Most keenly feel your loss.7
 
"Half Mast."
Private Albert Edward Steer, of C Company 60th Battalion, has been reported killed in action, in France, after having been in the firing line for only three months. His widow and three fine little boys reside in New street, Dandenong. Private Steer was an only son, of magnificent physique, and 29 years of age. His father and mother are living at Lake Bolac [sic: Lake Boga], while Mrs Steer's parents are Mr and Mrs Kennedy, of King street, Dandenong. His last letter was full of hope for a safe return home.4
 
In 1926, Albert's remains were transferred to the newly established Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery.

Dear Madam,
    With further reference to the report of the regrettable loss of your husband, the late No. 3665 Private AE Steer, 60th Battalion, I am now in receipt of advice that during the course of exhumation work about ½ a mile North of Marcelcave the Imperial Wargraves Commission was successful in recovering the remains of this soldier which have since been interred with every measure of care and reverence in -
VILLERS BRETONNEUX MILITARY CEMETERY,
Plot 13, Row "B", Grave 4.
situated 1¼ miles South of Corbie, where a permanent headstone of uniform design will be erected and engraved with his full regimental description and date of death, together with any verse or epitath previously furnished in the form of a personal inscription.
    It is the practice of the Commission to notify relatives direct when the headstones are finally in position, and at a later date the opportunity will be afforded you of obtaining a printed copy of the Register containig full particulars of all British and Dominion burials in this Cemetery.
    Yours faithfully,
...
[Letter to Mrs C Steer, New St, Dandenong, 5 Nov 1926]5

 
Son Charles
Catherine had another child, son Charles, in 1923 after Albert had died. Sadly, Charles was also killed in action.8
 
Charles Steer enlisted in the Australian Army in Armadale, Melbourne on 1 January 1942, aged 18. His army number was VX140408 (V280682).

Charles was killed in action on 9 December 1943 when he was part of 37/52 Australian Infantry Battalion.8
 

Citations

  1. [S270] Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registry and index, Catherine Steer entry, death registration no. 23583, 1962.
  2. [S270] Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registry and index, Catherine Louisa Kennedy entry, birth registration no. 28546, 1885.
  3. [S270] Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registry and index, 'Albt Edwd Steer' and 'Cath Steer' entry, marriage registration no. 3443, 1912.
  4. [S390] 'Half mast', Dandenong Advertiser, newspaper, 5 September 1818, p. 2, viewed 7 September 2017, http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/88818842
  5. [S678] 'STEER Albert Edward', First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, control symbol 'STEER ALBERT EDWARD', service record, 22 May 1917.
  6. [S680] 'Albert Edward Steer', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, commemorative certificate, viewed 1 March 2022.
  7. [S39] 'Death on active service', Swan Hill Guardian and Lake Boga Advocate, 1892-1937, newspaper, A Knox Chapman, 5 September 1918, p. 2, viewed 17 June 2021, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/87265877
  8. [S500] 'Steer, Charles', DVA's Nominal Rolls, service summary, Second World War, 21 February 2022.
  9. [S146] Edwardian Index Victoria 1902-1913: Indexes to births deaths and marriages in Victoria, CD-ROM, Macbeth Genealogical Services, 1997, birth registration no. 28257.
  10. [S147] Great War Index Victoria 1914-1920: Indexes to births deaths and marriages in Victoria, CD-ROM, Macbeth Genealogical Services, 1997, birth registration no. 29914.
  11. [S147] Great War Index Victoria 1914-1920: Indexes to births deaths and marriages in Victoria, CD-ROM, Macbeth Genealogical Services, 1997, birth registration no. 10643.