John Stevens (1892 – 1967), known as Jack to all, was the eldest son of George and Eliza Stevens of Dyers Crossing. Bombardier Stevens enlisted at the age of 22 years 11 months (Service No. 3416) on 25 July 1915.1 During Jack’s four years of service, all on the Western Front, he saw some terrible events.Thankfully, he was never injured.2 Jack was given a Returned Soldier’s plot of land (Plot 150) at Tipperary Brush on the Wallamba River, 14 Aug 1919.3
From the age of 11, John was sporty and very involved in the community including local shows, Council, continual fundraising for the local Church and acting as MC at various events.4 During one local show in 1932, Jack showed the then Governor General some superb timbers of cedar, hickory and rosewood that had been procured at Tipperary.5
Jack had dairy cows, Jerseys and Illawarras, who produced so much cream that in February 1932, Jack broke a record by producing 2269 lbs of butter. By the end of November 1932, he had beaten that record too, after learning from the butter factory that his cream had been sufficient to make 2687 lbs, that is 1.2 tons of butter!6
Jack was well known and favorably thought of throughout the Wallamba and Manning districts.7 In 1944, aged 52 years old, Jack and Ray Howe drew in a Boxing Championship match in Taree.8
Jack married Constance Standish 11 May 1933 and twins were born in 1934.9 John is buried in Krambach Cemetery.
Author: Joan Holmes (nee Stevens)
More Stevens’ stories:
Eliza Stevens: https://midcoaststories.com/2018/10/eliza-stevens-nee-hickey/
George Stevens: https://midcoaststories.com/2018/10/george-stevens-of-killarney-dyers-crossing/
James Hickey Stevens: https://midcoaststories.com/2018/09/james-hickey-stevens/
Stevens Brothers’ Letters Home WW1: https://midcoaststories.com/2019/02/stevens-brothers-letters-home-ww1/
Eliza and George Stevens’ daughters: https://midcoaststories.com/2019/01/the-stevens-daughters/
Eliza and George Stevens’ Sons: https://midcoaststories.com/2019/01/the-stevens-sons/
References:
1 NAA: B2455; STEVENS J D.
2 Freeman’s Journal, 19 Sep 1918, 22.
3 Sun, 14 August 1919, 7.
4 Manning River Times and Advocate for the Northern Coast Districts of NSW, 24 September 1913, 2; Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Observer, 13 March 1923, 2; Manning River Times and Advocate for the Northern Coast Districts of NSW, 23 August 1913, 3.
5 Manning River Times and Advocate for the Northern Coast Districts of NSW, 13 Apr 1932, 5.
6 Manning River Times and Advocate for the Northern Coast Districts of NSW, 24 December 1932, 2.
7 Manning River Times and Advocate for the Northern Coast Districts of NSW, 10 December 1932, 5.
8 Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Observer, 24 March 1944, 4.
9 NSW BDM, Marriage Index No. 7478/1933; Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Observer, 6 March 1934, 2.
