Obituaries Australia

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.