Major General Sir Jack Edwin Stawell Stevens, (7 September 1896 – 20 May 1969) was a senior officer in the Australian Army during the Second World War. He was best known as the commanding officer of the 6th Division from 1943 to 1945. Early life Born on 7 September 1896 at Daylesford, Victoria, Stevens was the youngest child of Herbert Clarence Stevens and Violet Ophelia, née Bury. He attended schooling at Daylesford. He began working at the age of 12 at a cigar factory, before joining the Postmaster-General's Department as a clerk in the electrical engineers' branch in 1915. First World War Stevens enlisted on 2 July 1915 in the Australian Imperial Force in the Signal Corp and sailed for Egypt in November with the rank of corporal. He was promoted in March 1916 to sergeant and served with the 4th Divisional Signal Company. In June, he was sent to France and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for "devotion and keen sense of duty" during the battles of Pozières and the Ypres salient. He was transferred to the 5th Divisional Signal Company in February 1917 and was promoted to lieutenant in April. He saw action at Polygon Wood and was transferred to the Australian Corps Signal Company in March 1918. Upon arrival in Melbourne after the cessation of hostilities he was discharged from the Australian Imperial Force on 28 October 1919. Between the wars Upon returning home Stevens returned to work with the Postmaster-General's Department. He married Catherine McAllister Macdonald at the Presbyterian Church, South Melbourne on 26 April 1920. Rejoinining the Militia in 1921, he was promoted to captain in 1922 and commanded the 2nd Cavalry Divisional Signals and was promoted to major in 1924. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in command of the 4th Divisional Signals (1926–29), the 3rd Divisional Signals (1929–35) and the 57th/60th Battalion (1935–39). Second World War Following the outbreak of the Second World War, Stevens was seconded to the Second Australian Imperial Force on 13 October 1939 and placed in command of the 6th Divisional Signals. He was chosen in April 1940 as the commander of the 21st Brigade, and was promoted to colonel and temporary brigadier. Sailing with his brigade, he left for the Middle East in October. During the Syrian campaign against Vichy French forces in Syria and Lebanon he directed the battle of the Litani River on 12 June