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Published Biographies

Blood Sweat and Fears: Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australian who served in World War 1. Verco, Summers, Swain and Jelly 2014.

Wikipedia : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Steele

Additional Biography

Early Life

Donald MacDonald (Don) Steele was born on the 17th of August 1892, the youngest son of Robert Moore Steele and Theresa O’Leary. His siblings were Isabella Robertson (b 1877), Thomas (b 1878), Robert Moore (b & d 1880, living only a few hours), Robert Moore (b 1881), Wilfred (b 1883), David MacDonald (b 1886), Arnold Lancelot (b 1887, d 1916) and Kenneth Nugent (b 1889).

Don’s father was an Insurance Agent and the sole agent of the Liverpool and London and Globe Insurance Company in South Australia. The family lived at Jeffcott Street, North Adelaide.

Schooling

Don attended Prince Alfred College (PAC), Kent Town, Adelaide where he was a successful student and athlete.

He passed Primary Examinations in English History, Latin & Algebra in 1906, Junior Examinations in English Literature, Latin (credit), French, Algebra and Geometry in 1908, Senior Examinations in English Literature, Latin and French in both 1909 and 1910 and Higher Public Examinations in Biology in 1912. He also passed Higher Public Examinations in Inorganic Chemistry (December 1913) and Senior Public Examinations in Algebra (March 1914) under private tuition.

Don represented PAC at inter-collegiate athletics, tennis, football and cricket (1907-1912). He played cricket for PAC in the South Australian Cricket Association B Grade Competition. He captained the Inter-Collegiate Cricket (3 years), Tennis and Football teams. In the 1910 Inter-Collegiate sports, Don came second in the One Mile Flat race and in August 1911 he travelled to Victoria representing PAC at football.

Pre-War First-Class Cricket for South Australia

Don played his first game in the Sheffield Shield competition for South Australia against New South Wales in January 1912. He was still a student at PAC and playing for the school 1st XI in the SACA B Grade competition. He was originally selected as 12th man but was included in the team when two other players were unavailable. In the first innings Don, ‘with the confidence of a veteran, made 16 in 11 minutes by stylish batting”. He scored six runs in the second innings in a match which SA lost to NSW.

Due to his examination commitments, Don was unavailable for further State duties until December 1912. He was then selected to play NSW at Adelaide Oval and scored 113 not out in SA’s first innings total of 569, NSW was required to follow on and SA won the match by an innings. This was a remarkable effort for a player who had not yet played an A Grade District cricket match. He played two further State games that season before he was unavailable due to examinations. He then departed South Australia for six months overseas in late March 1913, in the company of fellow cricketer C.E. "Nip" Pellew.

Don played in three of South Australia’s four Sheffield Shield matches in the 1913/14 season. He was unavailable for selection for the match against Victoria played at Adelaide Oval. In the first two matches against NSW and Victoria, Don was joined by his brother Ken.

In June 1914, Don was being seriously considered for selection for the tour of South Africa but indicated that he could not travel due to his medical studies.

In the last “pre-war” season of Sheffield Shield (1914/15) Don played in all four matches. His best results were 100 runs against NSW in the second innings at Adelaide Oval and 85 runs against Victoria in Melbourne. He finished the season with a total of 268 runs from 8 innings with an average of 33.4.

Overseas Travel

On the 27th of March 1913, Don left Adelaide onboard the R.M.S. Moldavia in company with Mr Frank G. Tolley, Mr Tim Tolley, Mr Len Chamberlain and Mr. C.E. (Nip) Pellew. The group was away for almost six months and their travels included trips to Ireland, Norway, Paris, Belgium and Italy. While in England they attended many sporting events including several county cricket matches. They returned to Adelaide onboard the Morea on the 13th of September 1913.

University of Adelaide

In December 1913, Don passed a course in inorganic Chemistry (by private tuition) for the University of Adelaide Higher Public Examinations and 1914. He commenced studying, as a non-graduating student in Arts and Science Faculty to qualify for entry to medicine. After passing the prerequisite subjects, Don commenced studying Medicine in 1915. He was the third of the Steele brothers to undertake a degree in medicine, following in the footsteps of David MacDonald Steele (MB BS 1909) and Kenneth Nugent Steele (MB BS 1914).

Don graduated MB BS (first-class) in December 1919.

Pre-World War I - University Sport

Don and Ken’s older brother, David Steele played lacrosse for the University of Adelaide for more than 10 years, competing in many Inter-Varsity competitions and gaining a Blue for lacrosse in 1908. He was the Club Captain in 1910 and represented the State in Lacrosse. His other brother, Ken Steele, played cricket for University and football for North Adelaide and University.

Cricket
After finishing his schooling at PAC, Don played cricket for Adelaide University from late in the 1912/13 season and continued after WW1 until the end of the 1920/21 season. During World War I District Cricket matches had been suspended from 1916/17 until resumption in the 1918/1819 season.

On Saturday 1st of February 1913, Don played his first game for Adelaide University. He joined his elder brother Ken in the A Grade side and the pair batted together making a partnership of 42 runs. Although University lost the match to Port Adelaide, Don’s first innings with the club was described as including “hard hitting and well-timed strokes” and he top scored with 81 runs. While Don only had four innings with University in the 1912/13 season he accumulated 202 runs and had an average of 50.5.

Don and Ken both played A Grade cricket for Adelaide University in the 1913/14 season.

Tragically for the lads, their mother, Theresa passed away in January 1914.

Don played in nine innings in the 1913/14 season and scored 508 runs, with a top score of 163 and an average of 56.44 (fourth across all A Grade teams).

In January 1914, Don played for SA in a two-day game against Ballarat in Ballarat and later in the month he scored 73 runs in a first-class match for South Australia against New Zealand at Adelaide Oval.

In April 1914, Don was a member of the University team which played a combined Northern team (Yongala, Terowie, Burra, Booleroo Centre, Wilmington, Clare & Peterborough) at University Oval and later that month he travelled with the team to play a series of matches at Nuriootpa, Angaston and Gawler

For the 1914/15 season Don and A.G. “Johnny” Moyes were the Adelaide University Cricket Club’s delegates on the SACA Cricket Committee. Both Don and his brother, Ken Steele, were on the University Cricket Club’s committee. For the third season in a row, Don topped the University Batting Averages scoring 375 runs in 8 innings with a high score of 104 at an average of 53.4.

Don was awarded a Blue for Cricket in 1915 making him a Double Blue, having won a Blue for football in 1914.

Football

The North Adelaide Football Club was keen to recruit Don, who had been a brilliant footballer at PAC. They were keen to have his services for the 1913 league football season, but Don was not available when he decided to travel overseas. His older brother, Ken had played for North in 1909 and 1910.

In future seasons, Don chose to play for the Adelaide University Football Club in the Amateur League A Grade competition in the 1914 and 1915 seasons. He was frequently a multiple goal scorer and among the teams’ best players list.

Don was selected to play Intervarsity Football for Adelaide University in 1914 and was awarded a Blue for Football in 1914.

Don was a member of the Amateur League Permit Committee for the 1915 season.

Due to the War, Amateur League football was suspended from late in the 1915 season and Intervarsity Football was not played in the period 1915-1918. Don did not return to play football after the war.

Don and Ken’s nephew, Robert Thornborough Steele (son of Robert Moore Steele) qualified MB BS in 1942. He played football for the Adelaide University Football Club and at Inter-Varsity. He gained a Blue for Football in 1939. He was a Vice President of the Club for many years and President from 1954-1959. He became an Honorary Life Member of the Club in 1960.


World War I

Don was a 22-year-old medical student at the outbreak of World War I.

Three of Don’s brothers served overseas during WWI. Wilfred Steele was a Cattle Station manager who served in the Light Horse, Dr David MacDonald Steele served in the Australian Army Medical Corp and was awarded the Military Cross and Bar for conspicuous gallantry and Dr Kenneth Nugent Steele served in the Australian Army Medical Corp. All three survived the Great War, however sadly on the 17th of August 1916, their brother Arnold Lancelot Steele of Jamestown, SA passed away in only his 29th year.

On the 19th of June 1918, Don was 24 years and 10 months old and in his fourth year as a medical student. He was 5’ 5½” tall and weighed 125lbs. He had a medium complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He enlisted under M.O. No. 210 of 25.3.18, A.I.F. Standing Order 4a, an order which, due to the desperate need for Doctors, required near-qualified medical students to enlist.

Don was not called up for duty due to the cessation of hostilities and was discharged at the Mitcham Camp on the 18th of November 1918.

Post-War University Sport

Cricket

Donald MacDonald Steele led the University A Grade team when the official SACA District competition resumed in 1919/20. The team finish 4th in the 8 team competitions, however there were no final series played. Don scored 380 runs in 6 innings with 2 not out innings, for a season average of 95, with a highest score of 157.

In Don's final season with the Club, 1920/21, his team performed well and finished 2nd on the premiership table, however again no final series were played. He only had two innings for the side, scoring 68 and 57.

Don captained the Adelaide University team in two Inter-Varsity matches, defeating Melbourne University at Adelaide University Oval in February 1920 and in Melbourne in December 1920.

Post-War First-Class Cricket for South Australia

Sheffield Shield cricket recommenced in the 1919/20 season and Don played in 3 of the 4 games played by South Australia. His best results for the season were 73 runs against Victoria and 76 runs against NSW. In 6 innings he scored a total of 191 runs with an average of 31.83.

Don played all four Sheffield Shield games in the 1920/21 season and captained South Australia on three occasions. His best score for the season was 107 not out against Victoria in the second innings in Melbourne. In 7 innings he was not out on 2 occasions and scored a total of 280 runs at an average of 56.

At the end of the season, Don retired from cricket to join a medical practice in Port Lincoln. As an exceptionally fine right-hand batsman Don played in 19 first-class matches and in 35 innings, he scored 1,142 at a respectable average of 35.68 runs. His career included 3 centuries with a high score in his debut match of 113 not out, 7 half centuries and he also took 11 catches.

Selection for International Cricket

In January 1921 Don was selected to lead the Australia team in a match against New Zealand, however he could not accept the role as he was committed to take up a medical position. He was at the time also a strong candidate for selection on the 1921 Ashes Tour of England. His medical career was the priority.

Career & Family Life

Don graduated MB BS in December 1919. On Monday 15th of December 1919, he was appointed a resident medical officer at the Adelaide Hospital.

Sadly, for the Steele family, their father, Robert Moore Steele, passed away at his home at Jeffcott Street, North Adelaide on Monday 2nd February 1920, leaving a daughter (Mrs Isabella Morant) and six surviving sons.

Having completed his residency at the Adelaide Hospital by early 1921, Don undertook a three-week position as a locum at Pinnaroo in the South East of South Australia. While at Pinnaroo, Don played cricket for Pinnaroo in a match against Parilla.

Don then moved to practice at Port Lincoln on Eyre Peninsula, SA. On the 23rd of November 1921, he married Winnie Ringwood at Christ Church, North Adelaide.

Don and Winnie had three children, the first, a daughter, was tragically stillborn on the 13th of November 1923. Their only son, Ian Macdonald Steele was born on the 29th of May 1925 and their second daughter, Janet, was born on the 2nd of June 1926.

Don quickly became involved in the local Port Lincoln community. In 1926, an article in the ‘Sport’ newspaper stated “The doctor has done a lot to encourage local cricket, and his advent to Lincoln gave the game a fillip. Dr Steele is a generous-hearted gentleman, noted for his many kind actions on behalf of those more unfortunate than others, and does not look a day older than when he made big scores for his State.”

Don was a member of the Institute Committee for 15 years. He was Club Champion of the Port Lincoln Golf Links in 1927 and a Vice-President of the Bowls Club when it opened on the 7th of February 1928 and later became President of the Club. Don was Vice Captain of Golf Club in May 1930 when the new golf links opened. He was divisional surgeon for the local St John’s Ambulance Brigade.

In November 1935, Don was a driving force behind the organisation of the first combined dinner of the Prince Alfred and St Peter’s Old Collegians’ Association for the Port Lincoln district and the West Coast. He was chair at the dinner which was attended by just over 40 people.

After 16 years in practice at Port Lincoln, Don moved back to Adelaide. Dr and Mrs Steele were presented with a clock and a framed picture of Port Lincoln. At the opening of the new golf season Don was thanked for his long and loyal service.

On returning to Adelaide, Don and Winnie were initially living at Thorngate, but by May 1938, they had moved to Glenelg, residing at 6 Mosley Street, Glenelg near the home of his brother, Dr Ken Steele.

In September 1938, he joined the Executive Committee of the Glenelg District Cricket Club and in October 1938, his Lawn Bowls membership was transferred from Port Lincoln to Glenelg.

World War II

In 1941 Don was appointed an Honorary Captain in the AAMC. His WWII record has not yet been opened to the public, however as his name continued to appear in the SA newspapers throughout the years of WWII, frequently being thanked for the successful delivery of babies, it is apparent that Don’s WWII service would have been part-time, and it is probable that he served on medical boards for the recruitment of service personnel.

Don and Winnie’s son, Ian MacDonald Steele, studied medicine at the University of Adelaide from 1941 and gained his MB BS in 1948.

Post WWII

The Steele’s frequently took holidays in January and often returned to Port Lincoln for the fishing, staying at the Pier Hotel.

In July 1949, Dr. John L. Stokes joined Donald MacDonald Steele and Dr. D.C. Dawkins in the practice at 25 Jetty Road, Glenelg.

Dr Ian Steele married Miss Mary Burges, the daughter of Mrs. Howard Burgess of Glen Osmond and the late Mr. Burgess, at St Saviour’s Church, Glen Osmond on the 23rd of August 1950. The couple has a daughter, Penelope Anne, in August 1952 (B.Sc., (Hons.) Adel. 1953) and a son, Peter MacDonald in October 1952.

Don and Ian competed in the Father and Son competition at the Royal Adelaide Golf Club, winning the Wendt Trophy in October 1952, coming second in 1953 and third in 1954.

Death

Donald MacDonald Steele passed away on the 25th of July 1962, aged 69. He was cremated and his ashes were interred at Centennial Park Cemetery, Adelaide. Don was survived his wife, Winnie and their two children, Ian and Janet.

Winifred Annie Steel passed away on the 12th of June 1965 and her ashes are interred alongside Don’s at Centennial Park Cemetery, Adelaide.

Authors: EE (Beth) Filmer & Rob O'Shannassy

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 attachedor the Adelaide University site AdelaideConnect at https://connect.adelaide.edu.au/nodes/view/25810