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Australia

Walter (Wally) was born at Paracombe on the 3rd March 1914 the fifth of seven children and the second son, to Carl and Jeannie Frances May Stewien. His siblings were Dorothy Ivy Henny, Carl August, Elsie Ethyl Gladys, Eric Oswald, Gwendoline Frieda Jean and Linda Jean.
The family moved to Grunthal (German for ‘Green Valley’) a town in the Adelaide Hills first settled by Prussian settlers who had come to South Australia for safety and freedom of worship. Like several other towns with Germanic names, Grunthal was renamed Verdun (in honour of the WWI Battle of Verdun) as were other South Australian towns with Germanic names during WWI. Wally and his siblings attended the local Paracombe School where he gained his Qualifying Certificate in ’26. That same year the Education Department organised an essay competition with the topic being trees and birds with marks being awarded for accuracy and faithfulness of observation, as well as literary merit. Wally won a Certificates of merit for his submission.
Post school, Wally worked as an orchardist, but was a willing volunteer with local events including being a popular MC for many events including fundraising for the local church. He and brother Carl were also active in the local cricket club, with Wally being on the committee as well as being the secretary and treasurer and the club delegate. When Paracombe were runners up in ’34 and then won the Grand Final in ’35, Wally was the popular MC again. In winter, he was also the secretary and treasurer for the local football team.
Wally was less successful as a driver. With his brother Eric a pillion passenger, Wally received a fractured ankle and abrasions when his motorcycle collided with a car at the intersection of Pulteney street and Hindmarsh Square in May ’36. Eric was unhurt but Wally was taken by Constable Tanner to the Adelaide Hospital in a civil ambulance, where he was admitted, but was discharged after treatment. That same month, Wally was also fined 5/- with £1 costs for having an ‘Ineffective warning instrument’. By September the following year, Wally was again before the Court at Port Adelaide charged with having driven a motor lorry in a manner dangerous to the public at North-East road Teatree Gully, and at Junction road, near Yatala. A car driver following a bicycle road race was travelling at about 18 miles an hour when Wally’s motor lorry, travelling at about 25 miles an hour, passed him. It was claimed that the lorry cut in front of the car, forcing it off the road before then cutting off the leader of the racing cyclists, which Wally denied. The magistrate agreed that it was undesirable to allow cycle races on public roads, but that was not for him to decide. Wally was ultimately fined £4, with £4 costs.
When Wally’s youngest sister, Linda Jean married Alan Tough in April ‘37, Wally was chosen to be groomsman at their wedding. (Alan was later to enlist in May ‘42 to serve in the Navy as 25927.)
When Wally was 23 his 56-year-old mother, Jeannie died unexpectedly on the 3rd December ’38 in hospital. She was buried at the West Terrace cemetery in Adelaide. A thoughtful tribute to her featured in the Victor Harbour Times from those living in Port Elliot. ‘Much regret was felt in the town when the news of the unexpected death of Mrs. Carl Stewien was received. Although not a permanent resident, the deceased lady has taken part quite recently in local functions and was known to quite a number of local residents.’
With the outbreak of WWII 26-year-old Walter enlisted on the 5th July ’40, becoming SX7933 in the 2/48th Battalion. (Just prior to his 25th birthday, his younger brother Eric Oswald later enlisted in January ’42 and was allocated to the 10/48th Battalion as SX16158 where he rose to become a Corporal.)
Wally’s initial days were spent in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds, before he and other new enlistees headed to Woodside for their preliminary training. Following pre-embarkation leave, he and his fellow 2/48th Battalion, boarded the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 7th November 1940 and disembarked on the 17th December. On arrival Walter attended a five-day Bren Gun Course, after which he was soon promoted to A/Corporal January ’41 he contracted a case of mumps so was hospitalised for a fortnight. The 2/48th Battalion completing a few months training in Cyrenaica. In Dimra he contracted an infection in his left leg which resulted in him being evacuated for several weeks whilst undergoing treatment The next stop was to Tobruk at the start of April 1941 where the dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to these fresh new enlistees.
In February ’42, Wally attended a Junior Leaders’ Course where his leadership skills were noticed, as was his tactical knowledge with the summary that his ‘general conduct was excellent’.
Walter was wounded in action on the 22 July 42 at Tel el Eisa with a gunshot wound to his thigh, and two fingers on his right hand which required hospital treatment. At that stage of the war, orders had been received to capture West Point of Tel el Eisa in a dawn attack. In late June ‘42 with Rommel crossing into Egypt, the 2/48th were in an offensive to capture Trig 33, which was achieved on the 10th July. In doing so, over 400 Italian prisoners were taken. The 2/48th battalion then advanced south, capturing the Tel el Eisa station and repelling numerous counter attacks. However, they were eventually forced to withdraw, having suffered over 100 casualties. The 2/48th Battalion suffered 215 casualties between the 7th July and 23rd October. Of that number, 64 men were killed and six died of their wounds. 125 other men were wounded but survived.
In his book, ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’, John G. Glenn described the ferocious encounter;
‘When the troops were well forward of the start-line they came under terrific fire from shells and mortars from the front and left and suffered heavy casualties. With the slow deliberate movement of perfectly trained soldiers both companies continued the advance in perfect formation, over ground that trembled and erupted with vicious explosions. Through this, sometimes obscured by the smoke and dust, the men moved, and, as they advanced, the fire kept place with them, leaving behind the still shapes of fallen men among the camel bush and sand.’
Wally’s name was one of many reported in the ‘wounded in action’ lists in newspapers back home in August. Included with wally were several others from his battalion. They were SX7666 Pte. E. J. Chuck, Kalangadoo SX14872 Pte. James S. Darwent, Coonawarra. SX13569 Pte. Kenneth. J. Grindell. Mundalla. SX7996 L/Sgt. Colin R. Jacka , Adelaide. SX13300 Pte. Leon W. Jackson, Cowell. SX8019 Pte. Elliot Maloney, Birdwood. SX9555 Cpl Charles T. Matthews. Iron Knob. SX7312 Pte. Charles D. Rosenberg. Adelaide. SX7933 Cpl. Walter H. Stewien. Verdun. SX11860 Pte. Eric R. Teakle. Ungarra and SX13709 Pte. Laurence C. Walker, Beverley. Wally recovered but in November that year he again was injured with a gunshot wound to his elbow, causing him to be evacuated to hospital for treatment. Finally, Wally was able to leave the Middle East and head home for Australia, disembarking in Melbourne.
Once home, on the 5th March ’43 Wally proposed to Marion Dallas of Semaphore. The following week the Verdun locals had also organised a welcome home social for Sergeants Stewein and Dudley W. Anderson SX6030, Privates Len. Burgoyne SX1015, Henry Aubert SX8734, James Mc Mutrie SX7660 all from the 2/48th Battalion and other young men from different battalions. Several speeches were made before a two minutes' silence was observed in memory of fallen comrades. Some of the soldiers responded before ‘For They are Jolly Good Fellows’ was sung, preceding a generous supper. Then with limited time, Wally and Marion organised their wedding the following month on March 26 at the Pt. Adelaide Presbyterian Church.
Following this well-earned leave, Wally was then heading to Queensland to train for fighting in tropical conditions against a very different enemy in New Guinea. His path inevitably crossed with fellow 2/48th VC recipient, ‘Diver’ Derrick, while the battalion was training in Queensland. In the meticulously documented diaries, Mark Johnston’s book ‘Derrick VC in His Own Words’ describes how Walter was one of four who, on the 15th June ‘43 were “preparing for my move to 2/43rd to observe their amphibious training. Moved at 1830 hours Sgt Stewein, Lt Farquhar & Capt Isaksson. Remainder of Bn out on an 8 day exercise.”
Wally was promoted to Lieutenant in November ‘43 before heading to Milne Bay. By the end of that year he was appointed to commissioned rank, which followed him for his remaining service days. In October ’44, Wally had attended Signals School for Officers and NCO’s. His report shows he gained quite outstanding results, classified as ‘Distinguished’ with a score of 85% for his written and 80% for his practical exams. Also of note were the comments that he was an ‘excellent student’ with the added note that ‘As previous sig knowledge was very limited, this officer is to be congratulated on obtaining such excellent results.’ High praise indeed.
Lieutenant Wally received the exciting news of the arrival of his son, Walter John who arrived in February ’45. The start of a new life and different responsibilities. Walter eventually embarked for Tarakan before finally his war was over and he was able to return to Australia via Brisbane where he was finally discharged in September ’45. His time with the 2/48th was marked by his physical report of sinusitis, deafness in his right ear and gunshot wounds to his right hand 3rd and 4th fingers and left elbow as well as severe digestion problems, called dyspepsia. His younger brother, Eric was discharged a few months later in January ’46.
Marion and Wally welcomed their second child, a precious daughter Marilyn Agnes in April ’49. She lived for eight months but died early in December and was buried with her maternal grandparents. The following year, Marion and Wally were the unexpected focus of a story which appeared in the December ’50 issue of the News. ‘Twins' weight S. A. record? Together weighing 19 lb. ½ oz., twins - a boy and a girl-were born at Henley Private Hospital yesterday. This is believed to be a South Australian record. The children of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Stewien, of Naracoorte, the girl, who was born at 3 p.m., weighed 8 lb. 12 ½ oz., and the boy, born at 10 p.m., weighed 10 lb. 4 oz. The mother and children are doing well. "We are all thrilled at the hospital, and the twins are both beautiful babies," said Matron D. M. Schwab today. The girl will be named Rosslyn and the boy Peter. Mr. and Mrs. Stewien have another child, a boy aged six. As soon as Mr. Stewien heard of the double birth, he motored from Naracoorte last night. He saw his wife and the twins early this morning. Matron D. Carroll, of the Queen Victoria Maternity Hospital, said today she thought the weight of the twins was a record. Heaviest twins born at Queen Victoria Hospital, about two years ago, weighed 81 lb. each.
In later years, Wally and Marion moved to the Adelaide suburb of Myrtle Bank. Aged 79, Walter died on the 3rd December ’93 and was buried in Centennial Park in the Services Family section, marked by a shrub in Bed 4, Position 35. Marion lived into her late 80’s and died on the 23rd January, 2007.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion