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War Memorial
Australia

St Kilda Police Station

Appointed to the Victoria Police Force, Welshman, Wentworth Stephens, allocated registered number 6251, resigned, to enlist, on 10 July 1915, in the Australian Imperial Forces. Spending four months in the 46th Battalion Depot, on 28 January 1916, Private Wentworth Stephens was appointed Corporal upon transferring to 8th Australian Light Horse Regiment 15th Reinforcement.

Twenty-six years of age, 180 cm, Corporal Wentworth Stephens’ unit embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT A43 Barunga on 7 April 1916. His wife, Ellen, as well as their two years of age daughter Alice Ellen, remained resident at 38 Cromwell Street, Collingwood.

Arriving in Egypt, on 10 May 1916, Wentworth Stephens was admitted to hospital suffering from pleurisy. Nine days following he was transferred to Cairo Venereal Disease Hospital before being returned to duty on 1 July 1916 at Tel el Kiber. However, 5 days following Wentworth Stephens, suffering from debility, returned to hospital.

Eventually, on 17 July 1916, having been reverted to Trooper, on 11 May 1916, Wentworth Stephens, following 417 days service, 155 overseas, returned to Australia, classified ‘medically unfit – due to urine incontinence,’ receiving his discharge on 29 September 1916.

However, on 20 December 1916, 29 years of age, motor driver Private Wentworth Stephens was classified for service, as a ‘permanent guard, in Australia only for such period as his services may be required.’ However, UNSWAIF Project records Wentworth Stephens of 2nd Hospital Ship Staff as embarking from Sydney, New South Wales, on board No 2 Hospital Ship Kanowna on 25 September 1917. Further, the UNSWAIF Projects records Wentworth Stephens fate as ‘effective abroad [still overseas].

Following 209 days service, on 6 April 1918, at his own request, Private Wentworth Stephens 19748 was discharged from the AIF.

Thirty years of age, clerk, Wentworth Stephens, of 19 Market Street, St Kilda, on 27 May 1918, re-enlisted in the AIF. Appointed to Hospital Transport Corps, Private Wentworth Stephens, regimental number 19748, embarked, on 5 June 1918, from Sydney, New South Wales, on board No 2 Hospital Ship Kanowna. Arriving at Suez Canal on 17 July 1918, Wentworth Stephens remained until 16 September 1918.

Returning to Australia, Neyland, Wales born Private Wentworth Stephens, of the Hospital Transport Corps AIF, was discharged on 6 November 1918.

Re-joining the Victoria Police Force, Constable Wentworth Stephens, on Friday 9 May 1919, stationed at St Kilda, as two brothers, John Ernest Dowell and Frederick Dowell, aged 28 and 30 years respectively, described as carpenters and joiners, the former residing in High Street, St Kilda; the latter in Bayview Street, Prahran, became well and truly aware.

Patrolling Blanche Street, St. Kilda, towards High Street at about 11.40 p.m., Wentworth Stephens sighted the brothers, together with a Caulfield resident, 27 years of age John Stewart, standing at the corner of Market Street, John Dowell, on seeing the policeman, exclaimed, ‘Here comes the ……... Let us settle him.’
Running to a fence, the trio each tore off a picket approaching Wentworth Stephens in a menacing manner causing the constable to draw his revolver. One of the men, Frederick Dowell, struck him a violent blow, fortunately glancing off his police helmet prior to running off however Wentworth Stephens overtook them in Pakington Street.

Finding himself between the men, whose attitude was still threatening, Stephens warned them, saying: ‘Have some common sense, and be careful, as I have a revolver.’ He ordered the men to drop the pickets, saying he would fire if they again assaulted him. As the demeanour of the men continued threatening, he fired his revolver.

Running along up a right of way off Pakington Street, paying no heed of Stephen’s calling upon them to stop, consequently, at a distance of 50 yards he fired again, over the heads of the trio. John Dowell, calling to him in the right-of-way, ‘If you come here, you -, I will murder you.’

Virtually rendered helpless to accept the challenge, due to the jamming of his firearm, Wentworth Stephens obtained the assistance of Constable White in High Street. Returning to discover, in the right-of-way, John Stewart, suffering from a bullet wound to his back.

Accompanied by Constable Daniel Smith, the following morning, Wentworth Stephens arrested the Dowell brothers at a Prahran house, Frederick Dowell having also been shot in the back.

Imposing fines of 20/-, or seven days' imprisonment, for offensive behaviour; the Bench further fined Frederic Dowell £10, or three months' imprisonment, for resisting the police, as well as £10, or three months' imprisonment, for using threatening language. The terms of imprisonment to be cumulative in default of payment of the fines.

Being charged with charged on two counts with having assaulted Constables Stephens and Smith, Frederick Dowell claimed having been shot whilst in the act of running. Constable Stephens said that it would have been impossible for him to take aim, even if he wanted to do so, as it was pitch dark at the time; he only wanted to stop them.

Receiving, on each of the two charges, a sentence of three months' imprisonment - the maximum under the act - the sentences to be cumulative, Frederick Dowell [admitting several prior convictions] was ordered to pay 31/- costs. The chairman of the Bench remarked that it was regrettable the accused had been shot, but it was partly his own fault. Constable Stephens had done nothing that he should not have done in the execution of his duty.

Arising out of two conflicts with the police at St. Kilda, 26 years of age Caulfield carpenter, John Stewart, for having obstructed Constable Daniel H. Smith in the execution of his duty, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. On a charge of having assaulted Constable Wentworth Stephens, he was sentenced to a further term of three months' imprisonment, the sentences to be cumulative.

June 1919 witnessed a Victoria Police Association delegation visit to the Chief Secretary, Mr. Bowser, reporting the Constable Wentworth Stephens invitation –

‘Have a good look at me, Mr. Bowser see if you think I am worth more than 8/ a day. I am stationed at St. Kilda, paying 37/6 [₤3/7/6] a fortnight for rent from my two weeks' pay of £5.

To meet my debts, I have to borrow from friends, relying upon a friend to buy me a pair of boots. ‘I've been away twice to the war,’ he concluded, ‘is 8/- a day a fair wage after serving my country?’

Receiving, at the Russell Street barrack square on 20 August 1919, a Victoria Police Gold Medal for Bravery, Constable Wentworth Stephens 6251 was acknowledged for his pre-eminent valour and bravery in confronting armed offenders, John Ernest and Frederick Dowell, together with John Stewart in High Street, St Kilda on Friday 9 May 1919.

Serving 5 years with the Victoria Police Force, Constable Wentworth Stephens was one of 636 policemen discharged from the Victoria Police Force on 2 November 1923 for participating in the ‘Melbourne police strike’.

Working conditions within the Victoria Police Force resulted in the 1923 Police Strike, during which Constable Francis Bresnan VB 6068, together with Constable William Downes VB 5860, as well as fellow Victoria Police Valour awardees, Constable Frederick John McCasker VB 5712, Constable James Cornelius Cahill VB 5452, Constable George Beaumont Druce VB 5435, Constable William James Binks VB 5740, Senior Constable Edward Francis Cummins VB 5102, Constable James Francis Duran VB 5442, Constable George Mould Wade VB 5160, was discharged, for having ‘refused duty’. Whether he had or not is a much debated point. Perhaps Wentworth Stephens was a victim of circumstances, like so many others.

Admitted, on 8 November 1931, to Mont Park Mental Hospital, due to general paralysis of the insane [GPI], a severe neuropsychiatric disorder, at 40 years of age, Victoria Police Veteran Wentworth Stephens VB 6251 passed away at Mont Park eight years later, on 27 June 1935, of pyelonephritis [kidney infection].

Victoria Police Veteran Constable Wentworth Stephens VB 6251 rests in eternal peace in the Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Church of England area, Compartment F, Section5, Grave 14.


1935/905 Wentworth Stephens: Inquest
Given name: Wentworth; Family name: Stephens; Cause of death: Pyelonephritis; Location of hearing: Mont Park Asylum
Date of hearing: 16 Jul 1935
Part of record series: Inquest Deposition Files (24)
Most recent creating agency: State Coroner's Office
Record
VPRS 24/P0000, 1935/905
1935 to 1935
Open, available for physical inspection at North Melbourne or Online