Stephen Joseph ABALA

ABALA, Stephen Joseph

Service Number: DX895
Enlisted: 14 October 1942, Adelaide River, NT
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 67th Infantry Battalion (WW1)
Born: Darwin, Northern Territory, 22 March 1923
Home Town: Darwin, Darwin, Northern Territory
Schooling: Unknown
Occupation: Labourer & Footballer
Died: Injuries suffered during football match, Darwin, Northern Territory, 14 February 1956, aged 32 years
Cemetery: Darwin General Cemetery, N.T.
Roman Catholic Section - Grave no. 58
Memorials:
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Peacetime

14 Oct 1942: Enlisted Adelaide River, NT

World War 2 Service

14 Oct 1942: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, DX895
20 Feb 1947: Discharged Australian Army (Post WW2), 67th Infantry Battalion (WW1)

Occupation Force Japan - BCOF Service

Date unknown: Involvement

Help us honour Stephen Joseph Abala's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Elizabeth Allen

Stephen was born on 22nd March, 1923 in Darwin as

Stephen Joseph McGUINNESS

His parents were Bernard Stephen McGUINNESS and Bertha TURNER

His parents were married in 1922 & divorced in 1929 and in 1933 Bertha married Paul ABALA and Stephen changed his surname to ABALA

On 29th August, 1947 Stephen Joseph married Lorna Lydia COOPER in an aboriginal ceremony - they were both half caste aboriginal people

Stephen died of injuries obtained during a football match - he is buried in Darwin General Cemetery 0 Portion RC, Plot 58

He had enlisted with the CMF on 8th March, 1942 and was transferred to the 2nd AIF on 8th June, 1943.

Information from his file on National Archives - enlisted in Adelaide River 14th October, 1942

The following particulars are relative to the service by DX895

Private Stephen J ABALA date of enlistment 8th March, 1942

Date & reasons for discharge -20th Feb. 1947 - Demobolization

Service outside Australia - New Guinea , Moratai, Japan (16th March to  8th Feb. 1947)

Link to further information of interest

http://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/people/sport/display/80218-steve-abala (monumentaustralia.org.au)

HEADSTONE in Darwin General Cemetery.

http://austcemindex.com/inscr.php?code=guVNLPI3griImB31q13zIQ%3D%3D (austcemindex.com)

STORY OF INTEREST about Stephens grandfather who was Irish and married an aboriginal lady called Lucy - he was also called Stephen Joseph

http://www.kooriweb.org/foley/heroes/joemac.html (www.kooriweb.org)

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