Shep's Place Family Tree

Citizen Military Forces - 27th. Battalion, ‎(South Australian Scottish Regiment)‎ - 3 Sep 1939 to 11 May 1940.
R.A.A.F. Reserve 12 Jun 1940 - 12 Oct 1940.
Served in the Royal Australian Air Force from 12 Oct 1940 to 16 Jan 1945. No. 7 Course Empire Air Training Scheme - rostered Pilot. Initial Training School, Somers, Victoria followed by No. 1 Elementary Training School, Para field, South Australia. Converted to No. 9 Course - Observer - training Cootamundra, Evans Head and Parkes, N.S.W.

Posted to the Middle East August 1941 then to O.T.U. in Kenya.
Joined 60 Squadron RAF in the Middle East in March and ferried replacement Blenheims out to Lahore ‎(now in Pakistan)‎ where the squadron was being reformed following the fall of Singapore. The squadron transferred to Asansol ‎(central India)‎ as the operational base.

‎[Colin]‎ crash landed on the return from a trip, at Asansol on May 12, 1942, and was at various hospitals and rehabilitation centres over the next seven months. Ironically, my pilot Len Beasley of the South African Airforce and the observer who took my place in the crew, were both killed on the first operation - a low level bombing attack on shipping at Akyab. After our crash our gunner, a South Australian named Jim Coppin, was taken P.O.W. by the Japanese when he survived the crash and spent the next 3 years as such.

On 7 Jan 1944 I was posted from 60 Squadron to the U.K. for general duties, and finally after rehab. treatment in Manchester, was sent to Dumfries ‎(Scotland)‎ as a navigational instructor with the R.A.F.

I received home posting in August 1944 which took me across the north Atlantic and across America before boarding a Canadian "Liberty" ship at San Francisco bound for Sydney to arrive there late in October, having missed our wedding anniversary which fell when we crossed the international date line on 1 Oct 1944. After further hospitalization at the Springbank Repatriation Hospital, Daw Park, S.A. I was finally discharged back to civvies on 16 Jan 1945, having completely circumnavigated the world with a few back-trackings thrown in for good measure.

End of quote and return to 1940 when Colin was 20 and announced his engagement. The newspaper clippings are from the collection of Violet Stevenson, wife of Keith, and taken mainly from the Adelaide "Advertiser".
The formal announcement:

March 30, 1940. Miss Doris N. Ey, younger daughter of Mrs. E. M. Ey of Leader Avenue, Monreith, and the late Mr. E.G. Ey to Mr. Colin Blaine Stevenson of Toorak.

The odd style - of the writer of the Social Notes - was no doubt considered both smart and snappy, to use the jargon of the period.

CELEBRATIONS ALL ROUND.
Square cut diamond from Colin Blaine Stevenson on Doris Ey's third left finger. Colin presents ring on parents' silver wedding anniversary which is also his mother's birthday ‎[Note: Error, his father's birthday, March 31st. was also his wedding anniversary. EMS]‎ Everyone looking forward to cocktail party which is being given by Doris' mother Mrs. E.M. Ey at lovely new home, Leader Avenue, Monreith on April 27. Date coincides with end of three months militia camp training, so Doris and Colin's soldier friends to be prominent among guests.
The above brought forth much sniffing from Mrs. Stuart Stevenson who suffered jealous pangs over any family member's activities being reported in the Social Notes when her own were not mentioned and in the hearing of EMS the next quote aroused further wrath:

ENGAGEMENT PARTY.
Delightful cocktail party given by Mrs.E.M.Ey in honor of her daughter Doris and Colin Stevenson who recently announced their engagement. Party also serves as housewarming. Guests wander from reception rooms to make tour of inspection of this charming new home Mrs.Ey has built at Leader Avenue, Monreith. Masses of crimson dahlias show off to perfection against cream walls and green velvet curtains of lounge and dining rooms. Between cocktails and chatter every one gathers round piano for patriotic songs and latest dance hits. Nlevenish and party adjourns to Tuxedo for dancing.

There were two newspaper accounts of the wedding.

WEDDING RUSH......
Mrs.E.M. Ey has hectic day putting through about sixty telephone calls to tell guests that daughter Doris' wedding with soldier Colin Stevenson has been put forward eleven days. Was planned for October 12. Doris is radiant bride as she steps from St.Paul's, Pulteney Street, her fairness set off by her magnolia satin gown. A farthing 350 years old, sewn inside frock, provides quaint "something old" touch. Lovely cornflower blue tulle frocks for matron-of-honor, Mrs. Jimmie Churches and bridesmaid Joy Thompson, Lieut. Seymour Toms and Doris' brother Lennie support Colin. Later celebrations at South Australian ‎(Hotel)‎ when Mrs. Ey receives guests.

Second description:

TALL FAIR BRIDE - MISS DORIS EY. Dated October 2, 1940.
At St. Paul's Church of England, Pulteney Street, the wedding was celebrated last night of Miss Doris Ey, younger daughter of Mrs. E.M. Ey of Monreith and of the late Mr. E.G. Ey and Mr. Colin Stevenson ‎(R.A.A.F. Reserve)‎ only son of Mr. and Mrs. B.R. Stevenson of Toorak. The Rev. Canon Bleby officiated.
The tall fair bride wore a bouffant gown of magnolia satin. Her veil of magnolia tulle was mounted with a topknot of orange blossom. Her sister Mrs. James Churches was matron-of-honor and Miss Joy Thompson was bridesmaid. The attendants wore period gowns of lace over viola blue taffeta and silver Juliet caps and carried shower bouquets of deep pink flowers. The best man was Lieut. Seymour Toms ‎(Second 27th. Battalion, A.I.F. and Mr.Len Ey (the bride's youngest brother)‎. The bride was given away by her brother Mr. Reg. Ey. A reception was held at the South Australian Hotel where about 50 guests were entertained. The bride's mother wore a French model gown of pervenche blue crepe and a small floral toque. She pinned orchids on her marmot fur cape. The bridegroom's mother also chose orchids to wear with her hip length fur cape worn over a dinner gown."

There was a photograph of the signing of the church register with this article.
Next came photographs of Colin and Doris in uniform ‎(Blodwin Thomas portraits)‎ taken from a glossy magazine. The caption:- "Sergeant Observer Colin Blaine Stevenson ‎(above)‎ who is on active service abroad with the R.A.A.F. and his wife ‎(below)‎ who is now a member of the A.W.A.S. Mrs. Stevenson was formerly Miss Doris Ey of Toorak Gardens. Sgt. Obs. Stevenson is the son of Mr. and Mrs.Blaine Stevenson of Swaine Avenue, Toorak Gardens." This extract is undated.

There is a newspaper account dated August 25, 1941 of a car crash at the junction of Tapleys Hill and Grange Roads in which one man was killed but "Colin Stevenson R.A.A.F. Port Pirie and his wife" escaped serious injury. The last of the cuttings besides birth notices of the three sons is of a letter written to the Editor concerning a proposed soldiers' memorial hall for Kensington to be erected by public subscription with his address given as 164 Esplanade, Largs Bay, the date being September 1, 1945. By this time, with war service behind him, Colin was again with Elder Smith, Adelaide.

He purchased a large old house in the Croydon Welland area with the intention of altering and modernising it, but before this project could get under way Colin was sent to the country, to Balaklava. Broken Hill came next ‎(1954)‎ followed by Auburn, S.A. 1955-56. Effie, Blaine and Stuart had stayed with them at Broken Hill in the July of 1955 according to the EMS diary of that year.

Next came a further period at Elders, Adelaide and they lived at Bennett Street, Brighton and the boys attended nearby Dover Gardens Primary School and the elder two, the Brighton High School. Colin, still with Elders, was at Sydney by 1961 until yet another move in April 1966, to Perth, Western Australia when he was appointed manager to that branch. He purchased at 276 The Boulevade, City Beach which is still his residence. He retired from Elder Smiths in July 1983 and he and Billie have become keen members of the bowling club nearby.

Colin died 7 March 1989 of cancer.