Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Noel was born to John and Margaret Dorothy Wall in Adelaide on the 5th January 1905. John farmed at Kyancutta on the Eyre Peninsula, known for its wheat farming. Noel also had a stepbrother, Victor.
When Noel was 23 his 60-year-old father, John had been working on Thistle Island, a relatively unspoilt land mass in the Spencer Gulf. Ironically the island was named after John Thistle whose cutter overturned as he returned from the South Australian coast back to Matthew Flinders’ ship. The bodies of Thistle and his crew of seven were never found, so the island was named in his honour, with other islands in the area named after the other lost sailors.
In April 1928 John Wall was a passenger on a ketch, Ariel. He initially planned to leave Port Lincoln by the Minnipa for Port Adelaide. Instead, he accepted an offer to travel both ways on the ketch, Ariel at the invitation of the Captain. For the return trip, John and his luggage were taken to the ketch by his friend’s son. The Register reported that ‘The last news of John was contained in a letter written on board the ketch and posted upon arrival of the vessel at Port Adelaide. Before he left Port Adelaide Mr. John Wall promised to send a telegram to friends with whom he stayed while in Adelaide, announcing his arrival at his destination. As no word had been received, his friends became anxious. That (according to Mr. Noel Wall) was the first indication that all was not well with the ketch.’ As events unfolded it was discovered that Noel and his stepbrother, Vic were unaware of the change in plans. As more information became available those on board were identified as Captain Tapley, seaman Duncan McPherson and a boy, John Maloney.
It took almost a full year before the Full Court granted ‘a presumption of death in connection with Capt. Tapley, formerly, of Port Lincoln and John Wall, Kyancutta, formerly costing clerk, believed to have disappeared on the ketch Ariel in March 1928.’
Noel married Doris Matilda with the couple being blessed with two children, Brian and Margaret. However, with the outbreak of WWII, 35-year-old Noel enlisted to serve on the 4th July 1940 becoming SX7783 in the 2/48th Battalion. The West Coast Recorder proudly announced that ‘R.S.L. Voluntary Defence Corps Formed. Kyancutta's war effort is now taking very definite shape. The following have volunteered for the Second A.I.F.:—Messrs. E. S May, Noel Wall (Kyancutta)’.
Noel’s first days were spent in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds before the battalion headed to Woodside in the Adelaide Hills for preliminary training. Following pre-embarkation leave, Eric and his fellow members of the 2/48th Battalion then embarked on the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 7th November 1940, arriving on the 19th December 1940 where the Battalion completed a few months training in Cyrenaica. During those early days in the Middle East, the battalion settled into camps, but besides regular army duties was the need to quickly adapt to the locals. The new soldiers were soon involved in intense conflicts where the reputation of the 2/48th Battalion for being the most highly decorated but decimated battalion was earned.
On April 16th ’41, in the vicious fighting for Hill 209 a decision was made to evacuate. John Glenn in Tobruk to Tarakan described how ‘At the height of this engagement all communications between battalion headquarters and B Company ceased, the signal wire having been cut in a number of places by shell fire.’ Volunteers were called from the signallers to repair the damage. ‘Noel Wall of the carrier platoon then drove them forward in a carrier for a part of the way, after which they were forced to crawl out and lay new wire with heavy shell fire and mortar fire exploding about them.’
37-year-old Noel died of ‘misadventure’ on the 28th May
IN 1942 Noel’s battalion was based at the Tourbul Camp, described as treeless, where hot winds swept across the bare ground.’ During exercises near the camp John Glenn described how ‘here we had an unfortunate series of fatal accidents that robbed the battalion of some fine men who had given such stirring service through Tobruk.’ In one of these incidents ‘ during exercises near the camp on the 28th May one of the carriers hit a sharp dip so roughly that Corporal Noel Wall was killed, the driver being injured. The following day two more men were killed when two unit trucks collided. ‘the members of the battalion killed in this series of accidents were buried with full military honours in the historic Victoria Memorial Cemetery at El Mina, where lie buried soldiers of HMS. Victoria, who were drowned when their ship collided with HMS Camperdown in 1895.’
The West Coast Recorder of June ’42 carried the news ‘Advice has been received that L/Cpl. N. D. Wall, of Kyancutta, has died of injuries sustained while serving with the A.I.F. abroad.’ The Advertiser briefly mentioned ‘Died Of Injuries L/Cpl N. D. Wall, SX7783, Inf., Kyancutta. IN AUSTRALIA Placed On Seriously Ill List Sgt. H. F. McFarlane, S25671, Inf., Renmark. Norm Grocke, Arthur Grocke, Eric Chapman, Cedric Payne, Cyril Cummings Henry Hier (Waddikee Rock), J. Noyce (Warramboo), and Mr. "Cody' Duggin (Pygery).
Noel now rests in Plot 1 Row B Grave 8. The inscription on his headstone reads ‘Greater love hath no man.’ Alongside are others from his 2/48th battalion, 28-year-old Private Ross M. Steele SX7776, 36 year old Private Thomas J. Skehill VX38662, 40 year old Private Joseph T. Farrell SX11088 and others from the 2/3rd, 2/12th 9th Australian Signals Division and Royal Engineers who were killed at a similar time.
His wife, children and brother Vic continued to remember Noel in the ensuing years.
Advertiser Friday 28 May 1943, WALL. —A token of love to the memory of Noel, beloved husband and dad of Doris Brian and Margaret, who was killed In Tripoli on May 28. 1942. Father, In Thy gracious keeping, leave we now our loved one sleeping. WALL.—A token of love to the memory of Noel beloved only brother of Vic. who was killed in Tripoli May 28. 1942. Not Just today, but every day we remember.
Advertiser Saturday 27 May 1944, WALL. —In loving memory of Cpl. N. D. Wall. 2/48th Batt., killed on May 28, 1942. Your name is hallowed in the land you love. —Inserted by Doris, Brian, and Margaret. WALL.—In loving memory of my brother Cpl. N. D. Wall. 2/48th Batt., killed May 28, 1942. In God's own time we will meet again.—Inserted by Vic.
Advertiser Monday 28 May 1945, WALL. Cpl. Noel Durham.—Cherished memories of our beloved husband and dad, killed in Syria May 28 1942. A thought for today, a memory for ever, his absence a silent sorrow.—Always remembered by Doris Brian, Margaret. WALL.—Cherished memories of my only brother Noel, who was killed in Syria, May 28 1942. God holds the key of all unknown. Sadly missed by Vic
Advertiser Tuesday 28 May 1946, - WALL.—In loving memory of my only brother Noel, who was killed in Syria, May 28. 1942. At the going down of the sun and in the morning I remember him. Vic. WALL.—ln loving memory of Noel, our beloved husband and dad, who died In Syria. May 28. 1942. Your absence always a silent sorrow.—Doris, Brian and Margaret.
Doris died on the 13th August ’65 and is buried in the West Terrace Cemetery.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion