Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Early Life

Walter Hunter Stevenson was born on the 6th of August 1885, the son of Walter Hunter Stevenson (Snr) and Harriet Elizabeth Brook. Walter’s father was a well-known Adelaide Jeweller and businessman who owned property on Barton Terrace, North Adelaide (which later became Ru Rua Hospital in August 1920). Walter (Junior) was known by the nickname “Inky”.

Schooling

Walter attended St Peter’s College, Adelaide from 1897 to 1904. He passed his Junior Examinations in 1902 and Senior Examinations in 1903 and 1904.

He was a fine sportsman and he represented St Peter’s at Inter-Collegiate Cricket from 1901-1904 and Inter-Collegiate Football in 1904 He also played football in the Combined Colleges match against Adelaide University in August 1904.

Walter was on the committee to run the St Peter’s College Sports in 1904 and won the 100 yards flat race in the 1904 Inter-Collegiate Sports.

Adelaide University

Walter passed Latin, French, Arithmetic and Algebra and Geometry in the Special Senior Examinations in March 1905 under the private tuition of Mr D.H. Hollidge. Walter studied medicine at Adelaide University in 1905 and 1906 but did not continue studying after 1906.

University Sport

Football
Walter represented Adelaide University in a match against Wesley College, Melbourne on Adelaide Oval in July 1905 and in the Inter-Varsity football match against Melbourne University in Melbourne in September 1905. He also represented University in a match against the Combined Colleges team in 1906.

Athletics
Walter came first in ‘Throwing the Cricket Ball’ at the Adelaide University Sports in 1906.

Tennis
Walter competed in the Adelaide University Tennis Club’s annual tournament in April 1906.

Sport - Other Teams

Cricket
Walter played cricket for North Adelaide in 1904-05, 1906/06 and 1906/07 seasons in the SACA competition. Adelaide University did not have a cricket team until the 1908/09 season.

Athletics
Walter competed in the 100 yards flat race for Old Scholars at the inter-Collegiate Sports in 1905.

Football
After leaving St Peter’s College, Walter played football for Glenferrie from 1905-1907. He also represented North Adelaide in two matches at the end of the 1906 season; the grand final versus Norwood (won by North) and the challenge grand final versus Port Adelaide (won by Port).

Pre-War Activities

In March 1908 Walter’s father purchased the Spring-bank Estate, Kooringa, a property consisting of 4,231 acres of freehold and 497 acres of leasehold land, situated four miles south-west of Burra, SA and Walter moved north to manage the property.

Walter became engaged to Miss Dora Helen Smith, the third daughter of Mr John Smith of Yackandandah, Anama (north of Clare, SA) in July 1908.

While residing at the property near Burra, Walter played cricket for the Ramblers and Kooringa. He also played football for the Ramblers and was captain of the Burra Football Association in a match against Petersburg (Peterborough) in August 1908 and against Riverton in August 1909.

Walter married Dora Helen Smith on the 17th of November 1909 at Dora’s parent’s home near Clare, SA. The couple’s first child (Helen Charlotte) was born at Spring-bank but tragically died five hours later, on the 11th of November 1910.

In March 1911 Walter’s horses and buggy were involved in an incident in Burra.

On the 1st of May 1912, Walter and Dora’s daughter Elizabeth May Stevenson was born. Later that year Walter exhibited sheep at the Burra Show.

Walter was captain of the Burra Football Association team which played the Norwood Union Club in September 1912.

Walter and Dora’s third daughter, Helen Isobel Stevenson was born on the 27th of July 1913. By 1913, Walter was a member of the Burra Rifle Club and he competed in rifle shooting matches.

In April 1914 a combined cricket team from the North played Adelaide University on University Oval.

Walter represented the Burra Association in a cricket match against Manoora in November 1914. In late December 1914 and early January 1915 Walter played in the Country Cricket Carnival in Adelaide. He played in several games for North Team, including a match against SACA 2nd XI. Walter was the best batsman for North and the best batsman in the Country v City match winning two bats.

On the 12th of February 1915, Walter and Dora’s only son, John Hunter Stevenson was born at Glenelg, SA. In April 1915 Walter captained the Burra Association in a cricket match against the Gawler Association. Walter quickly accumulated 78 runs before being caught by R.J.Rudall off the bowling of A.E. Butcher, he also took 3 for 60 helping Burra to a win in the match.

In addition to his continued involvement in the Rifle Club and the Burra Show, Walter was also assistant Clerk of Scales for the Burra Racing Club.

In April 1916, Walter’s father commenced the process of selling Spring-bank. The land was purchased by the South Australian government and was to be set aside for Returned Soldiers.

World War I

On the 6th of May 1915, Walter’s brother, Malcolm who had been farming with Walter at Spring-bank, joined the 3rd Light Horse Regiment. Malcolm was single and his father Walter Hunter Stevenson was listed as his next-of-kin. With the sale of Spring-bank, Walter joined up on the 28th of February 1917.

Walter was 31½ years old, 5’ 5 ½”, 155 lbs, with a dark complexion, blue eyes and dark hair. He was a private (SN 3527) in the 3rd Light Horse Regiment. Before Walter left Australia, Dora had the couple’s youngest daughter, Freda Patricia Stevenson, on the 27th of June 1917 at the Mount Lofty Rest Home, SA.

Walter entrained for Melbourne on the 29th of October 1917 and embarked on the HMAT A73 Commonwealth on the 2nd of November 1917. Walter disembarked at the Suez on the 10th of December 1917 and marched to Camp Moascar, a training area in north Egypt. On the 11th of February 1918, he marched out of camp and was taken on the strength of the 1st Light Horse on the 28th of February. While acting Corporal Walter, wrote home about his experiences near the Dead Sea. The letter was published in July 1918 (see document).

On the 5th of October 1918, Walter was in hospital with malaria. With the War over, Walter embarked on the 5th of March 1919, onboard the HMAT A15 Port Sydney from Kantara (north east Egypt) and he arrived in Adelaide on the 13th of April 1919. Walter was discharged on the 6th of April 1919.

Post War Career and Family Life

On returning from the war, Walter purchased Kongal Station, 18 miles west of Bordertown in the south east of South Australia. He rapidly integrated into the local community, joining the Bordertown Picnic Racing Club, the Mundalla Cricket Club and the Mundalla Football Club.

Walter won the Tatiara Association medal for the best batting average (56.9) in the 1921/22 cricket season. In the 1922/23 season he took 5 wickers for 12 runs and made 70 runs in a match against Wolseley.

Walter was active in the RSL and President of the Bordertown Old Collegiate Association. He also became patron of the Mundalla Gun Club in 1923. Walters preferred car at this stage of his life was the 11.4 Citroen (Feb 1923) and later the 1926 Model Citroen.

1925 was a tragic year for Walter. In late March 1925, Walter and Dora went on a motoring trip and while at Portland, Dora became ill. Dora passed away on the 16th of April 1925. She was buried at the Bordertown Cemetery. Then on the 4th of August 1925, Elizabeth May (Betty) Stevenson, died aged just 13 years.

Walter represented the Tatiara Association against the Naracorte Association in December 1925. In June 1926 Walter became a member of the Tatiara District Council, representing the Buckingham Ward.

Walter played in the Country Cricket week in February 1928 and again in February 1929 representing the ‘Stock Breeders’ team.

By 1928 Walter was playing golf at Bordertown. In August 1930, Walter listed “Kongal Station” for sale, however it appears that he did not sell the station as he was still living there in 1938.

Walter’s parents and sister had a lengthy holiday in Britain and the Continent and returned to Adelaide in later 1929. While he was in the UK, Walter’s father published he autobiography “Stepping Stones – a Jeweller’s Journeyings.” Sadly, for the family Walter Hunter Stevenson Senior died on the 6th of November 1930.

Walter (Snr.) was survived by his wife, two sons and five daughters and 13 grandchildren. He left an estate in South Australia sworn not to exceed £29,795, plus assets outside SA valued at £743. Walter’s mother passed away less than two years later, on the 5th of July 1932.

Walter was still playing cricket for Mundalla in 1933. His children were growing up and often holidayed with relations in Adelaide and Clare.

World War II

In September 1939, Walter’s only son, John Hunter Stevenson joined RAAF. In May 1940, Walter listed 6,309 acres of perpetual leasehold land for sale. He was ill later in 1940 and spent time in the Tatiara Hospital with pneumonia. At the time, he recalled the 1904 Intercollegiate cricket match against Prince Alfred College when he got the wicket of Charlie Dolling, for 311. Dolling went on to play for South Australia and captain the Adelaide University team.

In December 1941, Walter’s youngest daughter, Freda Patricia, married Norman Nightingale, the only son of Mrs. A.E. Nightingale, Edgecombe Street, Kew and the late Mr. Nightingale, at Littlejohn Memorial Chapel, Scotch College, Melbourne.

Walter enlisted as a Private on the 28th of April 1942 at Bordertown, SA (SN S75919). However, his WWII record is not yet open to the public. His daughter Helen was listed as his next-of-kin. Walter was discharged on the 27th of September 1945.

Walter's WWII Record is now available at
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=6336634
Walter was a member of the 9th Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps. Hius service was within Australia and he was discharged on the 27th September 1945 due to the disbandment of his Corps.

By November 1942, John Hunter Stevenson was a Sergeant in the RAAF and was listed as seriously ill in Ceylon, following an operation, however Walter received a cable from his son in December 1942 stating that he ‘was making rapid recovery from the operation’. Tragically on the 17th of January 1943, John Hunter Stevenson was killed in an airplane accident in India. The death was first listed as an accident, but it was later reported that he was killed in Air Operations.

Post WWII

In October 1945, Walter’s elder daughter became engaged to Leslie Edward Munro (Mick) Salter, second son of Mr. and Mrs. L.N. Salter of McLaren Vale. The couple married in June 1946.

Failing health saw Walter retire to Le Fevre Terrace in North Adelaide in 1948.

Death

Walter died on the 6th of June 1949 and is buried in the North Road Cemetery with his parents.

A biography for Walter Hunter ‘Inky’ Stevenson by the North Adelaide Football Club (see document)
Walter Hunter “Inky” Stevenson
Red, White and Khaki – North Adelaide footballers and the Great War

Author EE (Beth) Filmer

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 attached.