The Steele Family's ANZAC sons...Lest We Forget
Box Hill Cemetery
Steele, Frederick Wilberforce (Fred) (1885–1914)
CAPTAIN FREDERICK WILBERFORCE ALEXANDER STEELE
Born in 1855, the eldest son of Philip John and Albertine Steele, of "Normanhurst", Denmark Street, Kew. Educated Melbourne Grammar School 1899-1901. Lieutenant in the Australian Field Artillery in 1905 before transferring to the British Army and serving at Jubbulpore in India. In August 1914, he went to France with the 4th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers. Served at Mons. A few weeks later he was wounded, but quickly rejoined the Battalion. He was killed while leading an attack at Neuve Chapelle on October 26, 1914. Mentioned in Despatches. He was the first MCC Member to lose his life in the War.
In honour of the three Steele brothers, the area at Melbourne Grammar known as the Wilderness was reconstructed and names the Steele Memorial Ground. There is also a commemorative plaque in St. Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne.
LIEUTENANT P. J. RUPERT STEELE
Killed at the Battle of the Somme.
Son of Mr. P. J. Steele, J.P., ' Normanhurst,' Denmark Street, Kew. Mr. P. J. Steele, J. P., who is an exemplary patriot, has contributed four sons to King and Country. Lieutenant P. J. Rupert Steele, whose portrait is here given, left Melbourne in November, 1915, with Colonel Grimwade's Field Artillery Brigade, and had been twelve months on active service when he was hit by shrapnel in sixteen places. He died at No. 2 Australian Hospital, Rouen, on 8th. January of this year. His brother, Corporal Cyril Steele, who left Melbourne, with the same battery, was with him at his death. The brothers were inseparable companions from their earliest youth, and it will be a great blow to Corporal Cyril Steele. Lieutenant Steele's eldest brother, Captain Fred Steele, of the Royal Fusiliers, London, whose portrait is given on page 2, was present at the Battle of Mons and subsequent battles, until 26th October, 1914, when he was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle. He was twice mentioned in despatches by Sir John French for distinguished service. His youngest brother, Norman Steele, is a lieutenant in the First Squadron Flying Corps, and has won his wings. All four brothers were educated at the Melbourne Church of England Grammar School.
Steele, Norman Leslie (1896–1917)
SECOND LIEUTENANT NORMAN LESLIE STEELE
The youngest son of Philip John and Albertine Steele, he was born in 1896. Educated at Melbourne Grammar School 1904-1915 — Captain of Rusden House, Prefect, XVIII, VIII, Rifle and Athletics teams. Captain of the XI when it made the world record score of 961 vs Geelong College. Left School at the end of Term I in 1915 and joined the Flying School at Point Cook. Commissioned in Egypt in the Australian Flying Corps in October 1916. Served with 2 and 1 Squadrons. He died in German hands after his Martinsyde aircraft was shot down and crashed behind Turkish lines in Hareira, Palestine, on April 20, 1917.
In honour of the three Steele brothers, the area at Melbourne Grammar known as the Wilderness was reconstructed and names the Steele Memorial Ground. There is also a commemorative plaque in St. Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne.
The Steele Family's ANZAC sons...Lest We Forget
Box Hill Cemetery
Steele, Frederick Wilberforce (Fred) (1885–1914)
CAPTAIN FREDERICK WILBERFORCE ALEXANDER STEELE
Born in 1855, the eldest son of Philip John and Albertine Steele, of "Normanhurst", Denmark Street, Kew. Educated Melbourne Grammar School 1899-1901. Lieutenant in the Australian Field Artillery in 1905 before transferring to the British Army and serving at Jubbulpore in India. In August 1914, he went to France with the 4th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers. Served at Mons. A few weeks later he was wounded, but quickly rejoined the Battalion. He was killed while leading an attack at Neuve Chapelle on October 26, 1914. Mentioned in Despatches. He was the first MCC Member to lose his life in the War.
In honour of the three Steele brothers, the area at Melbourne Grammar known as the Wilderness was reconstructed and names the Steele Memorial Ground. There is also a commemorative plaque in St. Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne.
LIEUTENANT P. J. RUPERT STEELE
Killed at the Battle of the Somme.
Son of Mr. P. J. Steele, J.P., ' Normanhurst,' Denmark Street, Kew. Mr. P. J. Steele, J. P., who is an exemplary patriot, has contributed four sons to King and Country. Lieutenant P. J. Rupert Steele, whose portrait is here given, left Melbourne in November, 1915, with Colonel Grimwade's Field Artillery Brigade, and had been twelve months on active service when he was hit by shrapnel in sixteen places. He died at No. 2 Australian Hospital, Rouen, on 8th. January of this year. His brother, Corporal Cyril Steele, who left Melbourne, with the same battery, was with him at his death. The brothers were inseparable companions from their earliest youth, and it will be a great blow to Corporal Cyril Steele. Lieutenant Steele's eldest brother, Captain Fred Steele, of the Royal Fusiliers, London, whose portrait is given on page 2, was present at the Battle of Mons and subsequent battles, until 26th October, 1914, when he was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle. He was twice mentioned in despatches by Sir John French for distinguished service. His youngest brother, Norman Steele, is a lieutenant in the First Squadron Flying Corps, and has won his wings. All four brothers were educated at the Melbourne Church of England Grammar School.
Steele, Norman Leslie (1896–1917)
SECOND LIEUTENANT NORMAN LESLIE STEELE
The youngest son of Philip John and Albertine Steele, he was born in 1896. Educated at Melbourne Grammar School 1904-1915 — Captain of Rusden House, Prefect, XVIII, VIII, Rifle and Athletics teams. Captain of the XI when it made the world record score of 961 vs Geelong College. Left School at the end of Term I in 1915 and joined the Flying School at Point Cook. Commissioned in Egypt in the Australian Flying Corps in October 1916. Served with 2 and 1 Squadrons. He died in German hands after his Martinsyde aircraft was shot down and crashed behind Turkish lines in Hareira, Palestine, on April 20, 1917.
In honour of the three Steele brothers, the area at Melbourne Grammar known as the Wilderness was reconstructed and names the Steele Memorial Ground. There is also a commemorative plaque in St. Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne.