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Colin Charles STEWART


Rank Reg/Ser No DOB Enlisted Discharge/Death Board
Private 21 Nov 1899 23 Oct 1918 1918 3

Private Colin Charles Stewart (1899 – 1983)

Booklet

Family background and early life

Colin Charles Stewart was born in Waverley, Sydney on 21 November 1899, the only son of Charles Stewart (1869-1939) and Beatrice Ann nee Jones.

His father Charles had a notable career with the English, Scottish and Australian Bank Ltd and then the Union Trustee Company.  Beatrice was a daughter of one of the pioneers of sugar-growing in the Bundaberg district, Richard Jones.

Colin attended Brisbane Grammar School 1914-June 1917 and excelled at sport - he was a member of the rugby First XV 1915-1917, champion athlete 1916, and received colours for football and athletics in 1916.  In 1917 Colin was also a member of the School committee (comprising seven students) and a Sergeant in the School cadets, but he left the School in the middle of the year to commence a career with the Commonwealth Bank.

Enlistment and discharge

On 23 October 1918 Colin enlisted in the 1st AIF, but was discharged upon the signing of the Armistice, and returned to the Commonwealth Bank.  He also continued athletic pursuits and in 1919 was the Queensland 440 yards hurdles champion.

Marriage

With the Rev. Norman Millar officiating, Colin married Brisbane-born Jessie (‘Alex’) Alexandrine Donaldson in Saint Andrew’s (then Presbyterian, now Uniting) Church on 9 October 1929.  Alex was the second daughter of Albert Alexander Donaldson, an accountant and Jessie Webster nee Crombie.

Colin and Alex had one child - Judith Anne – and lived in the suburbs of Clayfield and St Lucia.

Career

Colin continued with the Commonwealth Bank and was Chief Clerk in 1942 when, as part of the mobilisation processes, it was noted that he was in a reserved occupation.  However, he did serve in the part-time Volunteer Defence Corps (the 2nd Battalion and an anti-aircraft battery).

On 16 May 1983 Colin died, aged 83, and his remains were cremated at Mt Thompson with Presbyterian rites.


Select bibliography
• Australian electoral rolls.
• Brisbane Grammar School – Golden Book, Annals 1969-1922, School magazines.
• National Archives of Australia – World War 2 file.
• Queensland marriage and death registers.
The Courier Mail (Brisbane) 28 March 1939 p3
Daily Standard (Brisbane) 21 March 1919 p6.
Queensland Figaro 19 Oct 1929 p8.

Written by Ian Carnell, Buderim, November 2016 ©

 

 

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