Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Kevin was born in Adelaide on the 27th November 1916, to Olive Agnes and H.J. Stephens. His sisters included Alice, Rita, Lillian and Agnes. Kevin was close to his brother, William Edward, who was ten years older, but very protective of his younger brother. Following their father’s death, Kevin’s mother re-married, becoming Olive Coward.
Kevin, affectionately known as ‘Juddy’ and William ‘Nigger’ headed into the city in April ’39 but became involved in a fracas on the footpath near the Cumberland Arms Hotel which inevitably attracted a large audience. Police intervened, with the two facing the Adelaide Police Court where William pleaded guilty. The April ‘27 issue of the News reported that ‘William Stephens pleaded guilty under provocation. by trade was a Maltster Labourer, (who would select barley in preparation for brewing beer) He said that his young brother called out that "a couple of blokes were having a go at him” and he went over to lend a hand.’ Both brothers were each fined £1 with 4/4 costs on a disorderly conduct charge. It transpired that Kevin had been set on by two other young men from Thebarton. William stepped in to protect his younger brother, with a flurry of kicking, hitting and punching eventuating. Whilst the four combatants eventually ‘shook hands and agreed they had been a bit silly’, the incident went before the courts where the imposed fines were an added deterrent. Solicitously, William asked for two weeks to pay his and Kevin’s fines.
With the outbreak of WWII, 23-year-old Kevin, a labourer, enlisted to serve on the 5th July, 1940 and was allocated the number SX7952 in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. At that stage, being single, he gave his mother as his next of kin. His early days were spent in the Motor Pavilion of what is now the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds. The enlistees ‘beds’ were straw filled hessian on wooden pallets. In mid-September Kevin was caught being away from camp for four hours and was fined 10/-. Then, whilst on pre-embarkation leave, he again went AWOL for a full day and was then punished by being confined to barracks for three days as well as being fined.
He finally boarded the Stratheden for the Middle East, in November, arriving on the 17th December where his battalion marched to a Staging Camp. During those early days, besides regular army duties was the need to quickly adapt to the locals. Within months, Kevin was involved in intense conflicts where the reputation of the 2/48th Battalion for being the most highly decorated but decimated battalion was earned. ‘Juddy’ was to become one of the respected and famed Rats of Tobruk.
Kevin’s older brother William, by trade a Maltster Labourer, (who would select barley in preparation for brewing beer) had been with the Militia for seven years. Then, aged 35, he was called up to serve in the Military Forces on the 25th December ’41. He officially enlisted on the 17th March the following year as Private SN S51039. Also being single, he named his mother as his next of kin.
Once in the Middle East, Kevin ‘broke out of barracks’ towards the end of January ’42 and again was faced with a full day’s pay as a fine. Just months later, at the end of July, Kevin received a gunshot wound to his right leg, spending several months in hospital receiving treatment. Back home, the Advertiser recorded that ‘Mrs O.A. Coward of Phillip street, city has been notified that her youngest son, Pte Kevin Frederick Stephens has been wounded in action in Egypt. Pte Stephens enlisted in June 1940 and went overseas in November of the same year. He served for eight months in Tobruk last year.’
That year was to be a challenging one for the 2/48th. 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, including Kevin. In total, 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 July the battalion was attempting to capture West Point in a dawn attack. 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.’
Back home, the August edition of the Chronicle in ’42 carried the names of the killed and injured. Besides Kevin, those in his battalion included: Wounded In Action SX6828 Pte Harold R L Baker Adelaide. SX8878 Pte Gerald W Bellinger Millicent. SX9388 Pte Clarence G Brown. Port Wakefield, SX1075 L-Cpl. Eric Brown SX11079 Pte Harold D Brown, Trinity Gardens. SX537 Pte. P. A Carey, Broken Hill. NSW SX7497 L-Cpl Ronald Chinner, Angaston. SX7725 Pte. Cecil Clark, Langhorne's Creek. SX8132 Pte. Cyril H. Fleet, Menlngle. SX7417 Pte. Clarence L Gallagher, Murray Bridge. SX7330 Pte. Allen R Harris, Moonta. SX13570 Pte Charles Holman, Broken Hill. NSW. (Later KIA Oct ’42) SX12363 A-Cpl. Harry B. Irwln. Port Augusta. SX8017 L-Cpl. Charles. G. Manuel. Balaklava. SX8138 Pte Albert. V. McKenzie, Minlaton. SX11302 Pte. Walter Sharp, Magill. SX7952 Pte Kevin P Stephens. Adelaide. SX7294 Cpl. Henry P. Stopp. Keith. SX9034 A-Cpl. Noel A Tietzel. North Adelaide. SX8539 Pte Edward J Young Inf., Morgan.
It was not until November that Kevin was able to return via the Infantry Trig Battalion and thence to the 2/48th. By February the following year, his time in the Middle East was at an end and he headed home for Australia via Melbourne. For Kevin, his next move to training in Queensland was short-lived. His injured leg was still causing concern with the development of varicose veins meaning he was unfit to serve in the tropical conditions of New Guinea. Kevin spent some time in the Kapara Convalescent Home at Glenelg. However, with his injured leg still unhealed, Kevin took another day of unofficial leave, with the inevitable fine associated with this breach. By August that year, more surgery was required on his leg, with an attempted skin graft on the poorly healed scar tissue from the gunshot wound to his calf. The restrictions of the injury mean he was then transferred to the Fire-Fighting Squad at Camp headquarters.
Kevin’s older brother, William serving with the 25/33rd Garrison Battalion was transferred to the Loveday Internment Camp, located at Barmera in the Riverland of South Australia. He had several incidents of being AWOL, including at the end of October, ’43 with the result he was then confined to barracks for a week. The following month Kevin learned of William’s tragic death. Aged 37, William took his own life in a hut at Loveday on the 26th November ’43. The single rifle shot was heard throughout the camp. Despite every effort of the resident Medical Officer, William’s wound was fatal; and he died of his injuries an hour later. Letters prior to his death, to his mother and a close friend indicated William had been struggling. The News on Monday 29th November ’43 reported ‘Soldier Dies Of Injuries at Barmera Mrs. O. A. Coward, of Phillip street, Adelaide, has been notified that her son, Private W. E. Stephens, died of injuries at Barmera on Friday. Pte. Stephens, who was 37, was the eldest son of Mrs. Coward and the late Mr. H. J. Stephens.’
William was buried in the Upper Murray Garden of Memory, mourned by so many friends and family.
Many tributes were placed in the Advertiser section ‘Died on Active Service’. STEPHENS (S510391. W. E. (Nigger). —In loving memory of our dear friend, who died of injuries. Nov. 26. at Barmera. A great pal sadly missed.—Ever remembered by his friend Ethel. STEPHENS S51049. W. E. (Nigger) died or injuries on November 26 at Barmera, dearly beloved son of Mrs. Coward and the late H. J. Stephens.—inserted by mother and brothers STEPHENS (S51039). W. E. (Nigger), In Loving memory of our dear brother, died of injuries. November 26. at Barmera.—inserted by his sisters Alice and Rita, and brothers-in-law. Les. Bill. STEPHENS, W. E. (.Nigger).—Died of injuries. November 26 at Barmera.—inserted by his sister Agnes and brother in-law Jim, niece Phyllis and nephew Jim. STEPHENS. W. E. (Nigger).—Died of Injuries. November 26. at Barmera.—inserted by his sister Lil, brother-in-law Harry, nephew Lindsay. STEPHENS, W. E. S51039-—ln memory of our friend and pal Nigger, died of Injuries at Barmera, November 26. Gone, but not forgotten by his friends, Jim, Ona, Snowy, Rosa, Mick, and Mrs. Harrison. STEPHENS, S51039. —In loving memory of Nigger, died of injuries, Barmera, November 26. He died as he lived, a pal. —Inserted by Joss and the Hamilton family. STEPHENS (Nigger).—Died result of injuries, Barmera, Nov. 26, 1943. Up-right and honest in all his ways, a true pal to the end of his days.—Inserted by his sincere pal C. C. (Ditty) Munro, A.I.F (New Guinea). STEPHENS (Nigger).—ln loving memory of our dear friend, who died of injuries, Barmera. Dear friend of the late Mick Burns and Jack McNamara. —Ever remembered by Burns family, la Cannon street, city.
Several bouts of scabies affected Kevin over August ’44 but two months later he married Rosina May on the 2nd October. Their first child was born before Kevin was finally discharged on the 2nd October ‘45 and returned to live in Hurtle Square. A young daughter, Kevina was later born in January ’47.
Unfortunately, in the post war era, inspectors would visit private homes to ensure owners of wireless sets had paid for a current licence. Kevin hadn’t, which resulted in quite a hefty fine of £2, with 10/ costs. Several attempts were also made to post Kevin’s war medals to him. They finally arrived in 1954. He had earned the 1939/45 Star, Africa Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal.
Aged 85, Kevin died on the 5th July 2002 at Myrtlebank. He was buried in the Enfield Memorial Park in the General Section CG11. His 60-year-old daughter, Kevina died five years later in August 2007. She now rests alongside him. Rosina lived to be 80 and died in 1996.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.