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Howard (Mick) was the youngest son of Henry Charles and Mary Olive (nee Watson) Stening born in Kadina, on the 5th April 1904. Henry had been born on Kangaroo Island before his parents moved to Copper Hill, near Paskeville where they took up land when that country was first opened to settlement. As a young man, Henry then went to Warracknabeal in the Western district of Victoria to farm, meeting and marrying Mary whilst there. He finally moved to the Franklin Harbour district in the late 1800’s before purchasing a property at Mindrow Creek, near Cowell, a sheltered bay on the Eyre Peninsula of SA, known for its plentiful fishing and farming. This was where Howard grew up. Two of his older brothers, Roy and Jack both served in WWI. Howard also had sisters, Olive Eve and Linda.
Early years were not without their accidents for young Howard who, as a five-year-old fell from a wheat stack in their farm yard fracturing his arm. He attended the small Mindrow Creek School where, as a 13-year-old, Howard proved to be a sportsman at a combined picnic of the Yabmana, Mindrow Creek, and Elbow Hill Schools held near the Port Gibbon jetty. His team came a close second in the flag race. Howard also played football where he was a useful attacking player for Utera.
Post school, Howard became a professional fisherman and part of the Cowell branch of the South Australian Fishermen’s League which was active in pursuing standard licences and conditions including no netting in the harbor and for improvements to the old jetty thus benefiting both the fishermen and the public generally.
Howard’s sister, Martha married in April ’32 and he was part of the wedding party as best man. May Haskett was bridesmaid. Coincidentally these two became a couple as, just after his 29th birthday on the 11th November ‘33, Howard married Sarah Anastasia May (May) Haskett of Mindrow Creek at the Franklin Harbour Institute. This was followed by breakfast at the Commercial Hotel. Howard chose Jack Rehn as his groomsman. (Jack who later also enlisted in July, became SX9635 and a Lieutenant in the 2/9th Armoured Regiment. He survived the war but was killed in an horrific accident when hit by a car in September ’50.)
A year after their wedding, May and Howard’s little son Michael Dean was born but did not survive. They placed a tribute to him saying "God knew best." R.I.P. The young couple were later able to welcome other children, Terrence, Maureen and Carmel.
With the outbreak of war, a huge drive ensued in country regions to encourage the fit young men to enlist. 36-year-old Howard applied to the Central Recruiting Office in Cowell, passing his first medical in June. His official enlistment was at Wayville, now the Wayville Showgrounds on the 1st July, 1940, becoming SX7406. The new enlistees then headed to Woodside in the Adelaide Hills for further training. Granted pre-embarkation leave, Howard returned home to the largest and most successful socials arranged by the F.H. Cheer up Society, attended by 350 people all gathered to ‘wish the best ot luck to Privates Mick (Percy) Cleave SX6662, Frank Munday SX6672 Mick Stening and Jack Stening in the Franklin Harbour Institute. The guests were escorted through a guard of honour to the foot of the stage. Patriotic singing of the National Anthem and Song of Australia followed. The four young men were complimented on their splendid physical appearance and potential to fight when the time came. The four soldiers were then each presented with an inscribed wristlet watch. They responded, commenting on their delight at the night's entertainment. Dancing, singing and a country supper followed. (Mick Cleave later died of wounds on 29th October ’42 and Frank Mundy on 25th October ’42. Both were also members of the 2/48th Battalion.)


Howard and his battalion boarded the Stratheden as part of the newly formed 2/48th Battalion on the 7th November and arriving in the Middle East on the 17th December ’40. Almost immediately he suffered a gallbladder infection in April ’41
Mick wrote back home to May and the children ‘from somewhere in Egypt‘ stating that ‘Dad is alright and he hopes that you are both growing nice and big and that you both are good to little Carmel. I hope the mulberries and the grapes were nice this year and you did not fall out of the tree. The boys and girls over here are nearly all black and they have not got very nice clothes to wear. Those about as big as uncle John are out minding goats and sheep all day, some of them bring baskets of oranges and try to sell to the soldiers. There are lots of oranges on the trees in some places, bigger ones than Frans Stocker brings and you can buy 1 dozen for ld. There are lots of donkeys here. Terrence and I would like to send one home to you but it's too far. The camels are ugly and I can’t think you would like one and it might frighten Maureen and Carmel, I have not seen Uncle Ira or Charlie, but I wrote to Charlie and got a letter back from him in about 11 days and he was pleased to hear Jack and I are over this way. When grandpa Haskett comes in tell him dad said there are a lot of worse places to have a sheep farm than where he is. I hope the wireless is alright and that you still hear Dad and Dave. There are no nice lollie shops over here Maureen or ice blocks, so I don't think you would like it much. I thought Terrence would be pleased to get a letter so will send this ordinary and it will get there some day.”
At that stage the dust, flies, heat, and water restrictions plus constant shelling made conditions particularly challenging in Tobruk. All of Howard’s 2/48th served in the Middle East but in the fierce fighting that occurred in Palestine, Howard was initially reported as missing, date unknown, but probably on June 9th, 1941. An attempt was made to inform May of Casualty advice where Howard was reported missing as were Pte. Wilfred (Harry) H. E. Chesson, SX8207, Minnipa. (On June 20) and Pte. Gerald J. F. Leary, SX7515, Prospect all from the 2/48th Battalion. Fortunately, by the end of the month a report was made that Howard was back with his battalion. The Eyre Peninsula Tribune on the 14th June reported ‘Pleasant news was received on Wednesday that Pte Mick Stening had re-joined his unit in the near east. Earlier in the week word was received that he was reported missing and it was quite a relief to relatives and friends to learn of his safety.‘ The news for Harry Chesson was not so positive as by the 3rd September 1941, almost three months after his disappearance, Harry was officially confirmed as having been taken as a Prisoner of War by the German forces and interred in Stalag 18 in Austria.
A further letter was published from Howard in the Eyre Peninsula Tribune on the 5th June: “Pte "Mick" Stening writes to Mr Bob George, Cowell "Have been dropping you a line at different times as I guess you still see a few of the village lads, as your place is a kind of a centre. Hope trade is still going strong and your lot all O.K. Have seen a good bit of the Cowell boys in Charlie's lot the last few weeks, they seem to be seeing things through alright. Some were drawing maps of Aussie in the sand and sitting down drinking beer in their own fancy spots, a sort of desert madness, otherwise they are O.K. Have seen part of Libya, it's the same as Egypt. Had a few swims in the ocean, it was more salt than the drinking water. It has been blowing hard with heavy rain for three days, has only been a few showers today and is getting dusty again. Meet some of the pommies sometimes they are good chaps, a lot only boys, it's tough on them stuck out here, and their homes getting bombed, we are well off compared with them. Well Bob, everything is going well with Jack and I. Jack is trying to get Chas into this Battalion and it will be alright if he does. Remember us to the chaps. Well Bob, I am getting on alright, have written you several times, guess the mail has been getting through that way alright. Have come back through several hospitals and am in an Aussie convalescent at present, coming good again, but not too fit yet Have not seen or heard of John since 5th March, but hope to get back with them soon.
“It's nice and quiet back here. Had a day in Tel Aviv last week, Have seen most of the towns in the east and liked that the best. Was in an hotel in Cairo covering over four stories, how would you like that one. Thanks for the canteen orders Bob, can only use them in dry canteens, but it's the same thing, as I can get a bottle in the camp, the first Aussie beer since 1st March, the orders are good for smokes and stamps; had been on Gypo and English tobacco for two months, was glad to get some capstan again, and to think a chap used to curse some of our brands of tobacco out home. The booze in Egypt is rotten, Hitler's secret weapon, the boys call it.
“It's rotten being stuck here and I will be pleased to get with my unit again and should be on the way soon. Glad to hear you had a good day for the Red Cross; have had a lot of things through them, especially coming back through the hospitals. Have just been to the pictures, some very good shows here, I go every night, a double header to-day Sunday so had to do the afternoon show. The Mediterranean looks a barren sort of a sea, have struck the beach in lots of different places, hundreds of miles apart, it all seems rough except the few harbours, and never a bit of weed on the beach, only cockle shells, a few dead men at one place.
“Suppose you are digging in for a bit of cold weather over there now, stoke the old fire up in the parlour when it comes the first rough cold day and I'll imagine I am sitting by it. It was getting hot in Egypt, but is nice weather here, the flies are a bit friendly though, also a few little black beetles and they all get in my bed. Am close to the sea, often glance at it and think which ground a chap should make for. There are a few Arab fishing boats, all use nets about 40 feet deep but never saw them with any fish. Some nice shaped boats but no wells or engines. They pull them up on shore and camp under the sail, I don't know what they do with their fish, must eat them I think as you never see them selling any. No doubt this is the land of oranges, they are going to waste here in tons, they are not so nice as our oranges, a lot bigger, though.”
In September ’41 a letter was published in the Eyre Peninsula Tribune from Private Ron Jackson SX6963 in Howard’s 2/48th Battalion. (Ron was later killed in action on the 31st October ’42) He wrote: “I had a letter from Leon at the same time as yours arrived and he doesn't seem to think much of Woodside. I know it's pretty crook up there, but he will find that he has worse to put up with if he ever gets to this place. We are still in Africa in those glamorous parts of the east, where the golden sun sets on the horizon, showing up the beauties of the desert, and a cool breeze blows across the shifting sand as a handsome Arab sheik rides past on his beautiful white horse. That's the sort of stuff you read about in books; but when you come to see them with your own eyes they change somewhat. The country here is not fit to live in. The white horse is as skinny as a rake, and the Arabs are about the dirtiest people I've ever seen. We have just come out of the front lines for a spell so hope they dump us down by the beach for a while so that we can get a good wash and clean up. I have been transferred from the infantry (I was the machine gunner there), to the Trench Mortar platoon, so that my address is changed to H.Q. Company instead of D Company as you can see by the top of the letter. We have had quite a lot of comforts funds lately - beer, chocolates and cigarettes mostly— very welcome too, after so much bully beef. No, I haven't seen any of the Cowell lads here at all. Mick and Jack Stening were the only two that were in this battalion, and I haven’t seen them for some time, I have had a few close shaves lately. We had a fire in our weapon pit amongst about 80 bombs, and not one went off. Another time a bomb came out of the mortar and lobbed about three yards away. Lucky for us it didn't go off or I wouldn't be writing this (that's without what Jerries fire at us.)"
A delightful photo was published by the Mail in October ’41 of Howard, his brother John Henry George SX7310 in the 2/2, Charles George SX1412 in the 2/10th and Clifford Cluse SX7051
Howard’s health continued to be challenging in the desert conditions. He contracted dyspepsia in May ‘42 then hepatitis. When he finally left the Middle East, Howard then contracted a series of lung conditions including pleurisy, bronchitis and an upper respiratory tract infection, causing him to move between several Battalions including the 2/28th, 2/2nd and 2/1st. On his return home on leave, Jack and Howard were feted with a social organised by the Cheer Up Society. There the returned soldiers were ‘cheerioed’ on behalf of those present. Speakers mentioned how proud the people of the district were of the boys who played their part. Particular mention was made that the boys didn't want speakers to talk about the war, but the people did want the two to know they thanked God that the locals were able to be with "them and that the crowd present expressed the feelings of the people towards them.”
Whilst Howard had been overseas serving, May was active in the Franklin Harbour Red Cross Circle, being a key organiser of in the distribution and packing of parcels. Young daughter, Carmel was also involved in ’44 graciously presenting a guest speaker with a posy of red and white flowers
Howard again had brief leave with May and the children in May ’44 before heading off in June for training in Townsville in preparation for going to New Guinea and to face a totally different enemy and conditions. He was finally discharged in July ’44.
The following year Howard, in the company of others from Cowell, travelled to Adelaide to take part in the Anzac Day parade in memory of so many of his friends who had not returned. Soon after, Howard and May were to face the death of Henry Stening in August ’45. This was then followed by a huge ‘Welcome Home’ social held at the Cowell Institute in November with Howard being amongst those feted with a dance, items and supper.
Just prior to Christmas in ’47 May’s mother, Catherine Annie died in the Cowell Hospital. May and Howard had her funeral leaving from their home in South Terrace. May continued to serve her community, becoming one of the first committee members of the Cowell Women’s Hospital Auxiliary.
For his service, Howard earned the 1939/45 Star, African Star, Pacific Star, Defence and War Medals and the Australian Service Medal. Returning to Cowell as so many other returned soldiers, Howard attempted to ‘block out’ what he had seen and experienced, the friends he had lost or seen injured.
Aged 69, Howard died on the 22 of April, 1973. May organised for a plaque commemorating his war service to be placed as his headstone. His service is commemorated at The Cowell Cemetery Memorial 197126236.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.