Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Tobe was born at Chinminna on 9 Dec 1891 to Abram Carr and Alice Carr (nee Wishart) of Warratta. He was one of 9 children, 6 boys and 3 girls. His father was a farmer; firstly at Chinminna, then at Stone Hut and finally at Warratta Vale.
Tobe started his schooling at Stokes when his father logged a track through the scrub so that he, Minnie and Stan could be taught their letters by a Miss Provis. He later attended the Yarranyacka School at the age of 6 and when the Waratta Vale School opened in 1905 he attended that school; he then went to private schooling, his teacher being a Miss France. He completed his final year at school in 1907.
Like most boys of that time Tobe left school and went to work on the family farm: this farm, at Warratta (Oakdale), is still owned by 5th generation descendants of the family to-day. He remained working on the farm with his father until his enlistment in Mar 1916.
On induction into the Army he was posted as a trooper (private) to the 9th Light Horse Regiment. After only a few weeks training he embarked on the “Malwa” on 23 Jul 1916 bound for the Middle East.
The 9th Light Horse Regiment was part of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade which was famous for the attack on Beersheba. The attack on Beersheba involved a 55 mile (88 km) approach march of the Brigade, less 8th Light Horse, over a 12 hour period; the Commanding Officer (CO) noted that; “horses and men were traveling well, although the dusty conditions along the line of march were becoming very stifling”. On arrival at Asluj there was a 2 hour delay to allow watering of the horses, but because the Turks had blown the wells, only the draught animals could be watered.
During the attack the 9th moved forward across open ground under intense shelling, but with few casualties. The CO stated that; “the move was carried out with the Regiment in column of squadron. The determination with which the movement was executed undoubtedly had a morale effect on the enemy”. The 9th were then ordered to Tel El Saba, but during this move were bombed by 2 enemy aircraft and suffered heavy casualties – both men and horses. Beersheba was captured at 1900 hrs (7 p.m.) on 31 Oct 1917 with 13 killed in action and 32 wounded, but 2000 prisoners of war were taken and 14 guns captured.
After the war Tobe returned to Australia on 1 Sep 1919 aboard the “Delta”. He took his discharge on the same day and made his way back to Tumby Bay. He commenced work carting Talc from the Lipson mines to Tumby Bay by horse and wagon; he also share farmed a paddock from Mortlock’s, the one with the “W” dam in it. He continued in this form of employ until end of 1921.
Even though he was working 2 jobs and preparing to acquire a farm of his own he still had time to successfully court Ruby Bratten. They were married in the Lipson Methodist Church on 22 Feb 1922. They had 3 children, all boys.
Tobe and his brother Clem then took up the “Salt Creek” farm and worked it for several years. This farm was part of a soldier settlement program; it had been “handed back” on two occasions when the previous owners had been forced to leave. Tobe then purchased his own farm west of Warratta (Cowantie). The family moved to a house at Yarrandale, near Lipson, which had been previously occupied by his parents
All of his life Tobe was involved with horses. He competed at many of the local shows, especially in “section fours” (4 horses and riders jumping in unison). He also competed in the local hunts.
On retirement Tobe moved into Tumby Bay from the farm at Warratta. He died on 25 Aug 75 at his home in Tumby.
He is buried in the Tumby Bay Cemetery at rest beside his wife