FatherPhilip Steer b. 2 Jul 1855, d. 11 Aug 1937
MotherEuphemia Forrest b. 1859, d. 13 Mar 1914
Pedigree

Birth, Death, Marriage

Albert Edward Steer was born on 16 August 1890 in Yearinga, Victoria.1,2 
He married Catherine Louisa Kennedy, daughter of James Kennedy and Margaret Breen, in 1912.3 
He died on 8 August 1918 in France at age 27.4 

Family

Catherine Louisa Kennedy b. 1885, d. 1962
Children
ChartsSteer, Edward, descendant chart

Story

Albert Edward was born in Yearinga, Victoria on 16 August 1890. He was the fifth child of Euphemia and Philip. The birth was registered in Kaniva in September.1
 
Wagon Trip to Lake Boga
Whether to leave behind the tragic deaths of the two young children, or with the hope of better farming prospects elsewhere, Philip and Euphemia decided to move from near Lillimur to Lake Boga. They moved between August 1890 (when Bert was born) and April 1892 (when we have a newspaper report of Philip in Lake Boga).
Lost, Stolen or Strayed
£1 Reward - Lost from Lake Boga about the middle of April, 1 bay pony gelding, blotch brand near shoulder, black points, wild and hard to catch, about 14 hands high, shod, last seen at Mystic Park. The above reward will be paid to anyone delivering same to Mr P Steer, or J O'Donnell, Lake Boga.5

 
The three children were loaded into horse-drawn wagons; Alice would have been about eleven, Maggie about eight and Bert one.6
 
Family Life in Lake Boga
When the family first moved to Lake Boga, Philip built a four-roomed cottage on their ten acre property. This is where youngest child Beatrice ('Beat') was born. The cottage was to be the family home for the next 15 years, and so is where the children did most of their growing up. They all attended school in Lake Boga.

In her late teens, eldest child Alice left the family home in Lake Boga and headed towards Echuca.

Having farmed in South Australia, around Langhorne Creek and Wolseley, then Victoria near Lillimur, when they moved to Lake Boga, Philip initially farmed there on their ten acre property.7,8
'Grandfather harvesting wheat' (Philip Steer, possibly man standing left of wheat bags), Lake Boga
Image: Margaret Sellwood
Food consisted of whatever was available at the time, and was quite dependant on the weather and economic conditions. The Federation drought of 1902 and the Great Depression of the late 1920s and early 30s were particularly tough times. On a good day it might be lamb that was part of Philip's pay, or Murray cod caught in the nearby Little Murray river. At other times, they might catch a rabbit or two to eat. The water in the nearby lakes was of poor quality, usually too salty. This would cause fruit crops to fail in some years and was known to wipe out whole seasons of many different vegetables. In leaner times, they would have to live on potatoes and onions.

In the big drought of 1902 times were very hard, Grandfather [Philip] found work at a big Station called Murray Downs. Once a fortnight he would walk the 10-12 miles home carrying half a sheep on his back, this was part of his pay. Most of the time they lived on potatoes and onions. [Memories of Beatrice Lee]9,10

'Fishing at Murrabit' (Philip Steer, possibly right)
Image: Margaret Sellwood
Federal Coffee Palace
From about 1906, Euphemia and Philip ran a business, the Federal Coffee Palace, in Lake Boga. It was on the corner of Marraboor and Kerang Streets, and not far from the railway station. The family left the cottage, their home for about fifteen years, to live at the Coffee Palace.

The main business was meals and a boarding house. And at different times it included: a fruit and vegetable shop, soft drinks, ice cream, hairdresser, butcher, confectionery and tobacconist. There was also a cellar, stables, and when they sold, acetylene gas. When the family moved in, there were six bedrooms and when it was sold there were thirteen rooms. The sale advertisement states 'the wb portion of this building is entirely new'. The renovation may have occurred in mid-1907, when their ten acre property was mortgaged, possibly to finance the work.

Apart from the hairdressers, Philip, Euphemia, Maggie and Beat managed it all. Euphemia did the cooking, Maggie waited on tables and did the bedrooms, and Beat was in the shop. After Maggie married in 1907, Beat took over her role. With Lake Boga on the edge of the wheat belt it was very busy at harvest time, when farmers used to bring their wheat to the railway station. They came to the Coffee Palace for meals. There were also several permanent boarders.11,6,12
Euphemia Steer's Federal Coffee Palace, Lake Boga
Image: Margaret Sellwood
Unfortunately, in February 1909 they were forced to sell the business due to Euphemia's ill-health. They had also tired of the workload.

LAKE BOGA
TUESDAY, 16th FEBRUARY
Immediately before the Stock Sale
SALE of the
VALUABLE TOWNSHIP PROPERTY
Known as the
FEDERAL COFFEE PALACE
Also
FRUIT and CONFECTIONERY SHOP and
HAIRDRESSING SALOON
To Investors, Speculators and Others

ANDREW S MUIR and CO having been favored with instructions from Mr E Steer, will offer for sale by public auction, as above:-
    All that piece of land having a double frontage to Marraboor and Kerang streets, containing about half acre, on which is erected a commodious dwelling of brick and wb, containing 13 rooms, kitchen and bathroom detached. The wb portion of this building is entirely new, and includes a splendid fruit and confectionery shop. There is also a hairdressing saloon and tobaconist's shop. A new acetylene gas plant has been installed, and water is laid on to the premises. The other improvements include stables, sheds and chaff house. Being centrally situated in the business portion of this rising township, within three minutes of the railway station, this property offers an exceptional opportunity to investors, speculators and others to secure a splendid place. Mrs Steer has long carried on business, and these premises are well and very favorably known throughout the whole of the district, as well as to the commercial and other travellers, who make it their house of call. There is always a full complement of boarders, and to anyone in want of such a business the agents can with confidence recommend this house. It would let readily at a remunerative rental, and Mrs Steer is selling off solely on account of ill-health. Should the property be sold the furniture and stock may be had at valuation.
Terms at Sale
ANDREW S MUIR and CO, Kerang, Cohuna and Lake Boga

Euphemia ultimately sold the business but kept the property. It is odd that she offered the land for sale, as the title shows she didn't own it until August 1911.

Hendersons initially took up the lease for two years, and it was known as Henderson's Coffee Palace. Then from mid-1911, it was known as Lee's Coffee Palace, after being taken up by Mr and Mrs Lee, whose son William, later married Beatrice. Lees ran the coffee palace until at least mid-1914.

Mrs Lee retired from the business around 1915 after her husband died. Beatrice returned and with William ran the business for some time.11,13,14,15,16,17,6
 
While in Lake Boga, Bert got an apprenticeship with a local blacksmith and became a wheel-wright. He also worked at Koondrook for a while, then Shepparton before going to Cheltenham in Melbourne.6
 
Marriage and Family
Catherine Louisa Kennedy and Albert Edward Steer were married in 1912. They had three children.3,18
 
Military Service 
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.19,20
Albert Edward Steer 1890-1918
Image: Commonwealth War Graves Commission
"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.18
 
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.21
 
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]19

 

Citations

  1. [S378] Albert Edward Steer, birth registration no. 24344, 16 August 1890.
  2. [S270] Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registry and index, 'Albt Edwd' Steer entry, birth registration no. 24344, 1890.
  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. [S220] 'Dies on service', The Argus, 1848-1957, newspaper, Argus Office, 28 August 1818, p. 1, viewed 7 September 2017, http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1407032
  5. [S399] 'Lost, stolen or strayed', Kerang Times and Swan Hill Gazette, 1877-1889, newspaper, Harcourt & Co, 20 June 1893, p. 3, viewed 17 July 2022, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/222524867
  6. [S376] From the Memories of the Life of Beatrice Lee, unpublished, 1987.
  7. [S376] From the Memories of the Life of Beatrice Lee, unpublished, 1987, p. 1.
  8. [S361] Beatrice Maud Steer, birth registration no. 26902, 12 July 1893.
  9. [S376] From the Memories of the Life of Beatrice Lee, unpublished, 1987, p. 2.
  10. [S52] Doris 'Nene' Courtie, personal communication, 10 November 2001.
  11. [S539] 'Lake Boga: Sale of valuable township property', Bendigo Advertiser, 1853-2003, newspaper, RR Haverfield, 11 February 1909, p. 8, viewed 10 August 2014, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/89403608
  12. [S561] LANDATA, online property information, Certificate of title, vol. 2371, folio 088, Lake Boga, 1899-1920.
  13. [S561] LANDATA, online property information, Certificate of title, vol. 2387, folio 393, Lake Boga, 1891-1920.
  14. [S561] LANDATA, online property information, Certificate of title, vol. 3526, folio 173, Lake Boga, 1911-1920.
  15. [S543] 'Special: Mr JE Crapp, dental surgeon', Kerang New Times, 1901-1918, newspaper, George Adams, 6 August 1909, p. 2, viewed 21 June 2022, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/222447751
  16. [S543] 'Special: Dentist. Mr AR Wellman', Kerang New Times, 1901-1918, newspaper, George Adams, 4 July 1911, p. 2, viewed 21 June 2022, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/222462281
  17. [S39] 'General news items: Dentistry', Swan Hill Guardian and Lake Boga Advocate, 1892-1937, newspaper, A Knox Chapman, 21 May 1914, p. 2, viewed 21 June 2022, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/87215888
  18. [S390] 'Half mast', Dandenong Advertiser, newspaper, 5 September 1818, p. 2, viewed 7 September 2017, http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/88818842
  19. [S678] 'STEER Albert Edward', First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, control symbol 'STEER ALBERT EDWARD', service record, 22 May 1917.
  20. [S680] 'Albert Edward Steer', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, commemorative certificate, viewed 1 March 2022.
  21. [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
  22. [S146] Edwardian Index Victoria 1902-1913: Indexes to births deaths and marriages in Victoria, CD-ROM, Macbeth Genealogical Services, 1997, Phillip Leslie Steer entry, birth registration no. 28257, 1912.
  23. [S147] Great War Index Victoria 1914-1920: Indexes to births deaths and marriages in Victoria, CD-ROM, Macbeth Genealogical Services, 1997, 'Alan Edwd Steer' entry, birth registration no. 29914, 1914.
  24. [S147] Great War Index Victoria 1914-1920: Indexes to births deaths and marriages in Victoria, CD-ROM, Macbeth Genealogical Services, 1997, 'Albt Steer' entry, birth registration no. 10643, 1916.