NLA : Ask a Librarian Service
Following on from a previous blog about Captain Charles Moore Stevenson, V.D., of Kiama who died in 1909, I have the following information provided by the dedicated staff of the National Library of Australia (NLA). I contacted the Ask a Librarian Service last week for information from Robert Dalton’s book. The response took only a few days and included other relevant information and details of two newspaper articles which are being made available soon. ‘The Librarian’ continues our story:
I have checked The Volunteer Officer’s Decoration, the Volunteer Long Service Medal, the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officer’s Decoration, the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal to Australia, 1894-1938 / researched and compiled by Robert Dalton. The reference to Capt. C. M. Stevenson in this book cites C.G (Commonwealth Gazette) No. 20 29th Apr 1905, p. 366. It simply says “NSW Capt. Charles Moore Stevenson. 2nd. AIR.”
I have also checked the Commonwealth Gazette for you, using the citation above. Capt. Stevenson is mentioned under the heading “Award of Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers Decoration Under Part XI of the Military Regulations” and says:
“2nd Australian Infantry Regiment
Captain Charles Moore Stevenson”
There is also a listing for the 4th Australian Infantry Regiment – Captain Archibald Langwill who also received this decoration.
I’m not sure if you have seen on Trove that an obituary of Capt. C. M. Stevenson is due to be be scanned and made available soon. Once this is online it may provided you with some good information. You can view the results of my Trove search here, which includes the obituary among the results. Alternatively, if you are able to visit the State Library of NSW then you may be able to view the obituary which appears in The Kiama independent, and Shoalhaven advertiser, Wednesday 17 February 1909 p 2. You can see their catalogue record for this item here.
As a general rule post-Federation military records are held by National Archives Australia (NAA). You may also want to check if you can find any records held by NAA. You can contact them using these details.
There’s also a mention of Stevenson in the book Death in print : deaths, obituaries & inquests as reported in the Kiama examiner & Kiama independent : 1859-1919 / researched by Kiama Municipal Council Family History Centre. This appears in Part II, p. 93-94 and partially quotes two articles that appeared in the Kiama Independent, including an article from Saturday 13th Feb 1909 and Wednesday 17th Feb 1909. This book is also available at the State Library of NSW according to Trove. You can view the Trove catalogue record here.
I hope this information is of assistance. Good luck with your research.
What a marvellous result! Hopefully, this helps us all to learn more about the Volunteer Officer’s Decoration, Military Service prior to the World Wars, the Stevenson family and the community of Kiama. Let me know if this helps you. I have requested notifications for the newspapers so we’ll see what happens next, perhaps there may even be a photo!
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