Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Arthur’s parents, Hurtle Kintore Peters and Beatrice Anne (Trixie) Wilson married in July 1915 at the Gwalia Methodist Church in Lenora, a mining town in the goldfield region of Western Australia. Hurtle was from Aldgate but met Trixie, a local young woman when he was working in Lenora.
The following year, Arthur was born at Lenora on the 3rd October 1916. He was one of four children, his siblings being Maude, Roy, and Joyce. With the number if itinerant workers in the town, it was not unusual for some thievery to be encountered. The young Peters’ family in 1917 had a number of items of furniture stolen from a locked boarding house they owned, including a wash stand and table. The case went to court and the thief was fined and the articles eventually were returned.
This event or Hurtle’s interest to return to South Australia, meant that the family moved to the Adelaide Hills to live firstly at Macclesfield, with Roy being born at Stirling in October 1919. Both Arthur and Roy joined the Militia, with Arthur (number 89854) being a regular attendee at camps from November ’39 until he enlisted following the outbreak of WWII. He had worked as a labourer until May ’40, then as a 23-year-old Arthur enlisted in Adelaide to become SX3149 and was allocated initially to the 2/27th Battalion. Younger brother, Roy enlisted soon afterwards in July and also served with the 2/27th Infantry battalion as SX7993.
Arthur’s early army days were spent in the Pavilion at Wayville, now the Adelaide Showgrounds, before his training continued at Woodside in the Adelaide Hills. An unfortunate bout of tonsilitis in July resulted in him eventually having an operation to have his tonsils removed. This was then followed by pre-embarkation leave with his family. On returning to his battalion, he was promoted to Corporal while travelling overseas, heading for the Middle East.
By July ’41 news had drifted back to South Australia that their second son, Private Roy Peters SX7993 who was also with the 2/27th Battalion, was wounded in the hip on the 25th June ’40. The family were relieved that he had survived. Soon after, Hurtle and Beatrice moved to Langhorne’s Creek to live.
Conditions in the Middle East were challenging for the troops. Besides the heat, dust and constant attacks, conditions were not conducive to good health and hygiene. Arthur contracted an inflammation that caused him to cough up blood and contract bronchitis, causing him the be hospitalised in February ’42. He then spent time with the 9th Infantry Special Group before being re-allocated to the 2/48th Battalion at the end of June ’42.
Three weeks after his 26th birthday, Arthur was killed in action at El Alamein on the 26th October ’42 in a massive assault to ambitiously take the strategic position of Trig 29. It was just 15 months after he had enlisted. In his book, ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’, John Glenn describes that time: ‘the 2/48th had stirred up a real hornets’ nest.’ On that night alone 9 of the Battalion were killed and 20 wounded in action. Of these 16 were from South Australia and the remainder from Western Australia. The conditions where arrangements were made for ‘mines, wire ammunition, food, water, overhead cover, sandbags, tools, anti-tank guns, and all the rest, and holding the present position while preparing to launch another attack. And while all this was being done, the battalion was subjected to murderous fire from artillery and mortars. It says much for the battle-drill of the battalion and supporting arms that everything worked out smoothly, going off without a hitch.
‘The suddenness of this attack when it came, and the devastation caused by the artillery fire, created tremendous confusion in the enemy lines, leaving them no option but to make every effort to locate our exact position and try to seal off the penetration. Patrols of both sides were active; a number of clashes occurred in No Man’s Land.’
The full extent of the losses was reported back home in the Chronicle later that month. The list of those killed In Action included SX8468 Pte. Patrick H. Hoare. 2/48th North Broken Hill (NSW); SX13570 Pte. Charles Holman, 2/48th Broken Hill; SX7771 Pte. Henry O. Lohmann, 2/48th, Murray Bridge; SX6848 Cpt. Alfred F. Meyer. 2/48th Renmark: SX3149 Col. Arthur H. Peters. 2/48th Macclesfield; . SX11768 Pte. John R. Smith, 2/48th Wardang Island; SX13535 Pte. Allan L. Thessinger, 2/48th, Jamestown. Died Of Wounds. — SX8164 Fte. Sydney R. Borowski, 2/43rd Burra; SX11376 Pte. James H. Bowes, 2/43rd Renmark; SX13162 Pte. Thomas B. Cosgrave, 2/48th Macclesfield: SX7917 Pte. Leslie A. King, Adelaide and L/Cpl Ernest W.S. Moore SX11130, Norwood, 2/48th. Frank McCullough (SX12977) from Broken Hill was wounded at the same time. He served with the 2/43rd.
Beatrice, his mother applied for the Mother’s and Widow’s Badge the following month, to be worn with pride and as a tribute to her loved son.

He was buried in the El Alamein British Military Cemetery but was reinterred in the El Alamein War Cemetery, Grave 16 Row G Plot 5. Resting with him are 35-year-old Alfred J. Clarke SX4129 from Kadina, 27-year-old Private Maxwell C. Boase SX7832 from Millicent, and 25-year-old Private Eric V. Lipson SX6913 from Alberton all from the 2/48th Battalion. Also, others from the 2/13th and 2/24th rest with these men. Arthur’s parents chose the inscription ‘In Silence We Will Remember Him’ for his headstone.
Arthur’s brother Roy after serving in the Middle East where he sustained his initial gunshot wound. He then served in New Guinea where, several times, he contracted Malaria in the tropical conditions as well as scrub typhus, resulting in him being hospitalised on a number of occasions. He was eventually discharged on the 24th November, ’44.
His parents eventually retired to Victor Harbor where his mother, Beatrice died aged 55 in October ’52 and his father in January ’75. Both are buried in the local Victor cemetery. Arthur’s family continued to remember and mourn him on the anniversary of his death.
Advertiser November 1942, PETERS. —KiIIed in action, Oct. 26, Egypt, Arthur, aged 26, dearly loved eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. H. K. Peters, Langhorne’s Creek, loved brother of Roy (A.I.F.), Joyce, Maude and Ray (A.M.F.) In silence we will remember him. PETERS. —A tribute of honor and remembrance to Cpl. Arthur Peters, killed in action in Egypt, October 26. We will remember them. —lnserted by Macclesfield sub-branch R.S.S. and A.I.L.A.
Advertiser Tuesday 26 October 1943, PETERS, Cpl. A. H.—A tribute to the memory of Arthur who was killed abroad, Oct. 26; 1942. Memory is a golden chain that links again those yesterdays. —Loved and remembered always by his mother and father. PETERS. Cpl. A. H.—ln loving memory of our dear brother. Arthur Resting where no shadows fall, in perfect peace he awaits us all. —Fondly remembered by Joyce and Roy. PETERS, Cpl. A. H.—ln loving memory of our dear brother, Arthur. Oh for the touch of a vanished hand, the sound of a voice that was true. —Loved, remembered always by Maude and Roy. PETERS. —In loving memory of our dear cousin. Arthur, killed in action. October 26, 1942. To be with us in the same old way would be our greatest wish today. —inserted by Dave. Madge. Bob and Rosalie. -PETERS. —A tribute of love to the memory of Arthur, killed Oct. 26, 1942, at El Alamein. —Ever remembered by Mr and Mrs Ray Stevens, family, Aldgate.
Advertiser Thursday 26 October 1944, PETERS. —In loving memory of Arthur, killed in action, Oct. 26, 1942. Time goes by, but memories stay, as near and dear as yesterday. —Lovingly remembered, mother and father. PETERS. —In loving memory of our dear brother Arthur. A leaf in our book of memory is gently turned today. — Loved and remembered always, Joyce, Maud, Roy and Ray. PETERS. —A token of remembrance to Cpl. Arthur Peters, killed in action at El Alamein, on Oct. 26, 1942. Called to a higher service. —Always remembered by Mr. and Mrs. Ray Stevens and family, Aldgate. PETERS. —A tribute of honor to Cpl. A H. Peters, who made the supreme sacrifice at El Alamein, on October 26, 1942. A tender chord of memory is softly touched today. —Always remembered by Bob, Rosalie, Dave and Madge.
Advertiser Friday 26 October 1945, PETERS In loving memory of Arthur, killed in action. October 26. 1942. Resting where no shadows fall. Always remembered by mother, father, Roy, Ray, Joyce and Maude. PETERS. —In- loving memory of Arthur, killed in action at El Alamein. October 26, 1942. —Will always be remembered by Bob, Rosalie, Dave and Madge. PETERS. —In loving memory of Arthur, killed In action. October 26, 1942. —You are ever remembered, Arthur, by Mr. and Mrs Ray Stevens, family. Aldgate.
Advertiser Saturday 26 October 1946, PETERS. —ln fond memory of Arthur, who paid the supreme sacrifice at El Alamein. October 26. 1942.—Always remembered by Bob, Rosalie, Dave and Madge.
Advertiser Saturday 25 October 1947, PETERS. A. Cpl.—ln memory of Arthur, killed in action, El Alamein October 26. 1942. We will remember. — Mother, father, and family PETERS. —A tribute to the memory of Arthur, who made the supreme sacrifice at El Alamein. October 22. 1942 Always remembered by Bob Rosalie, Dave and Maude. PETERS. —A tribute to the memory of Arthur. killed El Alamein. October 26. 1942.—Always remembered by Mr and Mrs Ray Stevens and family.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.