Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Early Life

Stuart Douglas Ronald was born on the 29th of September 1884 at Thebarton, SA, the son of Edward James Ronald and Hannah Matilda Tuxford. Stuart’s father, E.J. Ronald was a well-known Adelaide solicitor.

Schooling

Stuart attended St Peter’s College, Adelaide from 1897 to 1903. In Form Remove A in December 1899, Stuart won the mathematics prize. He passed the Adelaide University March Preliminary Examinations in 1900, Junior Examinations in December 1901 and Senior Examinations in December 1903. Stuart also passed two further Senior Examinations in December 1904 and a further subject in the Special Senior Examinations in March 1905 under the tuition of Mr F.W. Wheatley.

Stuart represented St Peter’s College at the Inter-Collegiate football match against Prince Alfred College and Wesley College in 1903.

Adelaide University

Stuart was articled to his father E.J. Ronald and commenced his studies in the law at Adelaide University in 1905. He graduated LLB in 1910.

Stuart was on the committee that organised the University Ball in 1909 to 1912 and was one of the secretaries of the 1910 and 1911 committee.

While still at University, Stuart became a member of the committee of the Adelaide Circulating Library a position he held from at least 1910 to 1913.

University Sport

Cricket
Stuart played cricket for Stow Ramblers in the 1908/09 season and for the Adelaide University B Grade in 1910/11.

Rifle
Stuart was a member of the Adelaide University Rifle Club for a year.

Football
Stuart commenced playing football for the University in its first year as a formal club (1906) playing in the Adelaide and Suburban Football Association competition in 1906 and 1907. He played in the 1907 Intervarsity team and represented the University in a match against Geelong College in 1907.

Adelaide University did not have a team in regular competitions in 1908-10. Stuart returned to play for the University in its first year in the Amateur League in 1911.

Pre-War Career

In November 1910 Stuart was living at Kent Terrace, Norwood, SA when he gave notice that he intended applying for admission to the bar. He gained admission to the Bar on the 17th of December 1910 and by March 1911, Stuart was in practice at Eagle Chambers, Pirie Street, Adelaide.

In February 1913, Stuart commenced a partnership with Edward Clyde Padman under the style of Padman & Stuart Ronald, at Ellen Street, Port Pirie and at Gladstone and Crystal Brook. While at Port Pirie, Stuart was chairman of the local Football Association.

World War I

Stuart enlisted on the 4th of December 1915, SN 9901. He was 31 years old, 5’ 11½ “, 140 lbs with a medium complexion, hazel eyes and hair turning grey. He attended NCO School at the Mitcham camp and was an acting Sergeant when he embarked with the 10th Battalion, 22nd Reinforcements from Adelaide onboard the HMAT Afric A19 on the 7th of November 1917.

He disembarked at Plymouth, England on the 9th of January 1917 and reverted to Private with the 3rd Training Battalion.

Unfortunately, Stuart contracted bronchitis in mid-January 1917, and it was mid-February 1917, before he re-joined his unit. Stuart had various periods as an acting Corporal and acting Lance Corporal in April and May 1917. On the 29th of May 1917 he proceeded overseas to France.

On the 10th of August 1917 he was selected to attend No 4 Officers Cadet Battalion, Oxford, England. On the 30th of November 1917, he was appointed a 2nd Lieutenant with the General Infantry Rifles and was back in France by December.


On the 9th of January 1918, Stuart returned to England as he required an operation for haemorrhoids.

On the 12th of March 1918, Stuart embarked from England on either the Durham Castle or the Kenilworth Castle (both are on his service record) and disembarked at Capetown, South Africa. He departed Capetown on the 19th of April 1918 and returned to Australia onboard the Orantes which arrived at Melbourne on 10th of May 1918. Stuart returned to the 4th Military District (South Australia & Broken Hill) and on the 25th of May 1918 he was discharged as medically unfit and temporarily placed on the Reserve of Officers.

Post-War Career and Family Life

By the 21st of May 1918, Stuart had made a business trip to Port Pirie and from the 6th of June 1918 the partnership between Edward Clyde Padman (who had also served during WWI) and Stuart Douglas Ronald was dissolved.

Stuart resumed practice as a sole practitioner in March 1919 at Advertiser Buildings, Divett Street, Port Adelaide, however in October 1919, Stuart became a partner in a new legal firm with Mr P.E. Johnstone and Miss Mary Cecil Kitston. Miss Kitson was the first female admitted to the bar in South Australia and the new partnership was the first to have a female partner.

In 1920, Stuart Douglas Ronald, married Aileen Mueller Whitfield in Perth WA. The couple lived at Childers Street, North Adelaide. Their son, Ian Douglas Ronald was born on the 12th of April 1922 at Konetta, and their daughter, Joan Ronald was born on the 13th of December 1923 at Tarawere Private Hospital, Harrow Road, St Peters.

In March 1923, Stuart was appointed a new Stipendiary and Special Magistrate in country Local Courts, and Courts of Insolvency in place of Dr Hewitson, who had been transferred to the Industrial Court. He was based at Wallaroo for four years.

By October 1926 Stuart was receiving an annual salary £700 per annum. In January 1927, Stuart was transferred to the Adelaide Local Courts from Wallaroo. In March 1928, Stuart undertook duties on the Midland Licensing Court while Mr L.H. Haslam was on leave and in February 1930, he was appointed acting head of the Country Local Courts Department when Mr G.W. Halcombe was on leave.

In February 1932 ‘The Mail’ reported that Stuart was among the members of the Bench and bar who were keen on surfing. By 1939, Stuart and his family were living at 71 Northumberland St, Tusmore. In January 1941 Stuart returned to the role of SM to the country Local Court Department based at Wallaroo for six months, however, perhaps due to WWII, he remained in that role until November 1945 when he was appointed to the Adelaide Local Court Department.

Stuart became a Senior Stipendiary Magistrate and on the 15th of April 1949, Stuart was appointed Local Court Judge on the retirement of L.H. Haslam, a role he only held until the 29th of September 1949 when he turned 65.

After his brief period as Judge of the Local Court, Stuart returned to his role of Special Magistrate at the Adelaide Local Courts, a role he was still carrying out in March 1953 (aged 68).

In October 1950, Stuart opened the new Thebarton Community Hall, his father E.J. Ronald had been the first Mayor of Thebarton.

Death

Stuart Douglas Ronald passed away on the 1st of January 1960, aged 75 years, and was buried at Centennial Park Cemetery, Adelaide. Aileen’s ashes were interred at Centennial Park on the 8th of May 1969.

Family Legacy

Stuart’s son, Ian Douglas Ronald (1922 – 2005), followed in his father’s footsteps attending St Peter’s College. He enlisted in the AIF (SX15198) on the 21st of November 1941, aged 19 years and 7 months. He served in Northern Australia and Pt Moresby. He was in Papua New Guinea in mid-1943 as he sent a bird eating spider to his parents. He was discharged on 15 March 1946.

After the War, Ian attended the Dental School at Adelaide University. He became engaged to Margaret Impett, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C.H. Impett of Port Pirie in December 1949. Ian graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery in 1950.

Ian and Margaret married at St Peter’s College Chapel on the 14th of April 1951 and moved to Broken Hill. In 1952, Ian took over the dental practice of Mr C. E. Richardson, at 5 Medical Hall Chambers, Argent Street, Broken Hill.

Stuart’s daughter, Joan Ronald (1923 – 2003), attended Girton House School. She enlisted in the AIF (SF113390). On the 3rd of December 1949, Stuart and Aileen’s daughter, Joan, married Mr Henry Nelson Hayter, at St Matthew’s Church, Marryatville.

Author EE (Beth) Filmer

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project (in the period 2015-2019) please see the document attached.