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Auction: 23002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 68

The campaign pair awarded to Major-General J. D. Stevenson, Australian Army, an important figure in the history of the Royal Australian Artillery, one time Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty The Queen and Captain of Melbourne R.F.C.'s 1954 premiership-winning team

Vietnam 1964-73 (3477 J. D. Stevenson); South Vietnam Campaign Medal (3477 J. D. Stevenson), good very fine (2)

[A.O.] London Gazette 26 January 1980, the original citation states:

'For service to the Royal Australian Navy particularly as General Officer Commanding Logistics Command.'

[C.B.E.] London Gazette 1 May 1970.

John Dennis Stevenson (AKA 'Punchy') was born on 13 August 1925 and educated at Geelong C.E.G.S. followed by the Royal Military College at Duntroon, he graduated in 1946 having earned his nickname for his habit of softening up the opposition in the rugby scrum. Commissioned Lieutenant in the Australian Staff Corps from 11 December 1946 he was posted to 'A' Field Battery, Royal Australian Artillery Regiment on 1 July 1947, part of the occupying forces in Japan. Transferring to the 1st Field Regiment on 25 May 1949 he was advanced Captain on 11 December 1950. Stevenson attested to A.A.S. UK for artillery training between 31 July 1950-23 January 1952. This included a number of locating courses at Larkhill followed by an attachment to the British 7th Armoured Divisional Locating Battery in Germany. Joining the Headquarters, 1st Commonwealth Division for service in the Korean War (Korea Medal and U.N. Medal) on 9 December 1952 he served until being appointed Adjutant of the 10th Field Regiment on 12 February 1953. While here 'Punchy' found time to join the Melbourne Rugby club and captain them to their Premiership 1954 win.

Posted as Instructor to the Royal Military College, Duntroon from 17 August 1955 one cadet described his priorities to be 'our instructor in Rugby and our coach in Artillery'. Moving on to attend the Australian Staff College from 27 January 1958 Stevenson was appointed Brigade Major here and posted to Headquarters Northern Command on 3 December 1958. Appointed Second in Command of the newly raised 4th Field Regiment on 4 May 1960 he attended a course for promotion at the Jungle Training Centre, Canungra from 9 December 1960. Here he performed so well he was asked to become a member of the staff.

Appointed General Staff Officer Grade I with the Directorate of Military Training, Army Headquarters, Canberra, as Lieutenant-Colonel on 15 June 1962. Returning to active command he was Commanding Officer of the 4th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery from 9 June 1964-66. The training and administrative improvements he provided this unit was to see many of them in good stead in the coming Vietnam War.

Appointed Assistant Military Secretary at Army Headquarters, Canberra in early 1966, holding the role until 1968. Stevenson was posted as Commander of the 1st Australian Logistic Support Group in Vietnam between 1968-69, during which time he was also promoted Colonel. Returning from the war he was given the role of Deputy Director of Military Planning Australian H.Q. from January 1970.

Given commanded of the 6th Task Force and South Queensland Area in Brisbane between 1971-73 he was advanced Brigadier while in this role. In this rank he joined Tasmanian Command as the Commander in 1973 before being appointed as Commander of 6 Field Force Group between 1973-76. During this time he was also Honorary A.D.C. to H.M. The Queen from 1975-76. Promoted Major General in early 1976 Stevenson become the inaugural General Officer Commanding Logistic Command in Melbourne. However despite only being 57 he had completed 40 years of service and thus reached the statutory retirement age on 13 August 1982.

An energetic man, Stevenson clearly did not intend to take a leisurely retirement and undertook a raft of further appointments. He became chairman of the Industrial Mobilisation Course (later its National President) and wrote for Dennis Warner and others on defence matters. Always an active member of Legacy he later became National Chairman of the Order of Australia Association and President of the Royal United Services Institute of Australia. Naturally his passion for Rugby remained undimmed and 'Punchy' was a Patron of the Melbourne Rugby Union Football Club, and an enthusiastic participant in activities at the Naval and Military and Athenaeum Clubs. Honorary Colonel of the Melbourne University Regiment (1982-88) he followed this up as Colonel Commandant RAA Victoria (1988-92) and finally Representative Colonel Commandant RAA (1989-92). Stevenson died on 30 July 2008.

Further entitled to the War Medal 1939-45 and the National Medal with two clasps (1979).

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Estimate
£1,000 to £1,400

Starting price
£1000