Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

A Community Minded Man

Lansley Edison Taplin (Lance)

Initially an auctioneer with Elder Smith and Company, Lansley Edison Taplin (Lance) had been a member of the A Squadron, 3rd Light Horse Regiment for three years when he enlisted for WWI, aged 21 years, serving in Egypt, France and England. While serving, he married Evelyn Beatrice Dorrington in London on the 18th September, 1916.

Despite contracting a severe case of malaria and later, being wounded in action in November of 1917 he remained on duty.  He rapidly rose through the ranks with his papers recording that he was ‘brought to the notice of Sec. of State for War valuable Services rendered in connection with the War’ to become Captain, serving in London at Administration Headquarters. It was there that he learned of the arrival of his first child, a son, James Lance who was born on the 18th June, 1918 at Sister Whitford's Private Hospital at Hamley Bridge. A second son, Colin Charles was also born in January 1920 at the same hospital. Both sons were to follow in their father’s footsteps to serve tAustralia in WWII, Lance Jnr in the AIF and Colin in the RAAF.

Post War, Lance was a popular nominee for the Bishop Norton Memorial Hall Bazaar fundraiser at Peterborough. The Times and Northern Advertiser in 1923 presented each of the three candidates, describing Lance as ‘representing the Stock and Pastoral interests, is the popular Manager for Bagot, Shakes & Lewis, Ltd., at Peterborough, and is also engaged in pastoral pursuits on his own account. He has proved himself a very live wire, and his supporters are very confident of success.’ Locals entered enthusiastically with over 30,000 votes recorded.  

His work with the North-Eastern Pastoral country required Lance to travelled extensively, including the Far North, 90 miles beyond Copley. Travel was not without some misadventure, including a painfully twisted ankle as Lance alight from his car at Orroroo resulting but stoically continuing his travels but inevitably requiring him to resort to crutches as he continued travelling to various country locations. Lance eventually joined Goldsborough Mort and Company Ltd, where he rose to be Manager.

He was heavily involved in the community as an energetic and popular President of the Peterborough Racing Club, member of the track committee, and also held the position of Judge in these events. The local paper recorded that his ‘decisions were prompt and gave entire satisfaction.’  In 1923 on behalf of Bagot, Shakes and Lewis, Ltd., at Peterborough, Lance promised "a silver cup for next year's meeting”. That cup was a very fine one, suitably engraved, and was presented by Lance the following year. The traditional bracelet also presented, was a heavy, plain gold band set with a large diamond and given by the club. Rich rewards for the winners! The 1925 Summer Meeting was set to be a record, thwarted by thunderstorms which prevented cars from going into the course. However, train crowds were far in excess of previous years. He also was a practical man of action, including an issue which arose in 1928 when The Club's loose boxes were the subject of much discussion, as property did not earn the rates and taxes imposed. With the decision that the property be disposed of, Lance, the Secretary and President, took the matter in hard. Finally, in 1926 Lance, after two years' strenuous and advantageous work for the club, decided to retire from the office of President and was appointed as a patron.

On a wider local scale, a meeting was held in 1926 to extend the wide gauge railway line to Peterborough, described as ‘a growing place, and the capital of the north as regards railway matters. The passenger traffic was seriously interfered with and goods were damaged as a result by the break of gauge. Peterborough was the biggest stock centre outside Adelaide.’ Lance spoke of ‘the loss to stockowners. They were at the mercy of the railways, as they could not send their stock by motor or aero-plane. He had not brought any figures, but they often sold up to 5.000 at a market. From a recent sale, 35 vans out of 50 were transhipped at Terowie. At their last year's off-shears market 25,000 sheep changed hands, and several mobs were sent to Terowie by road to save transhipping. The Abattoirs and south stock traffic would benefit considerably by the extension. Every Tuesday, sheep were trucked to the Abattoirs and several lots missed trains and arrived late and, more often than not, were not able to be put in the first sale, which was a big disadvantage to growers.’ His comments were readily supported by graziers who outlined the delay of six or seven hours in transhipping, which was very detrimental to stock, especially fat lambs.

Lance was also chairman of the Dawson School where his boys attended, arranging a popular dance, queen and euchre competition in his attractively decorated woolshed. This raised funds to provide accessories for the school, including swings, see-saws and bars, for the children’s playground. In later years he was also involved in a concert, dance and supper in aid of the woodwork class at the Dawson School. The evening also included a popular event, An Ugly Man's Competition, which also helped swell the funds.

Golfing also was a passion of Lance. By 1931 he again won the B Grade Championship, plus the double at the North-Eastern meeting, so was permanently elevated to A Grade. A 1933 competition presented hail, rain and sodden ground making conditions extremely difficult, but Lance conquered these to win. This included two, 42’s on the 6000-yard course. It was Goldsborough Mort's day out, with compatriot, Gordon Smith in second place. Despite weather conditions and lack of rain on the course, Lance was able to adjust his game, winning such events as the Stableford Bogey in 1936 where he scored points on every hole.  Other competitions against mid northern towns were also enjoyed, including Burra. There were also fun events, including a Diggers’ Day at Crystal Brook, where golf took more of a back seat. ‘Abdul’ and his donkey delivered the "issue" that cheers and also inebriates, there were bombs, machine guns and dug outs occurring on the course during competition. Lance was decorated for "highly meritorious action in knocking an 'opossum' from a huge gum tree with a No. 7" iron, and coming second overall in the competition. 

Typical of country families, both sons Lance and Colin learned to use a rifle. Close friend, Bryan Holmes was also a regular visitor to the farm where Lance (Snr) provided the opportunity and guidance, especially with rabbit shooting for both meat and the sale of their skins. This included roundly reprimanding the boys for shooting and spoiling the meat and skins of the rabbits by using heart shots. Subsequent eye shots resulted in increased skin money to purchase more ammunition. Unknown then, it would also be a skill the two older boys would rely on when war broke out.

When Bryan Holmes left school aged 15 and a half, Lance (Snr) organised a job with his then Stock and Station agency, Goldsborough Mort and Company in 1932. Lance (Snr) wrote to the Adelaide Office of Goldsborough for them to get Bryan’s licence (there were no formal driver testing requirements in those years). This was posted to Bryan after his birthday so he could then legally drive the company car or his powerful Indian Scout motor bike. Lance (Jnr) also began working for Goldsborough at a similar time, eventually being posted to Balaklava.

While Lance (Snr) had a bout of illness in May of 1940, he was able to return to work at the Balaklava office of Goldsborough, Mort & Co. Ltd after convalescing for two and a half months.  He was delighted to see his oldest son, Lance marry Joan Wreford from Balaklava in 1942. While son  Lance was home on leave in May of 1943 he stayed with his parents at Peterborough. By the end of that year, Lance (Snr) decided to retire as manager of Goldsborough Mort in November, purchasing the well-known sheep stud property, ‘Roachdale’ near Terowie. Lance’s involvement in golf and Evelyn’s executive membership of the Red Cross were some of the activities they had been heavily involved with at Peterborough.

Within 18 months of moving, and in a shock to the family, Lance (Snr) died suddenly at a private hospital on the 3rd May of 1945 following an operation. He was just 51 years of age. Both sons, Lance (Second A.l.F.), and Colin (R.A.A.F.), were serving overseas at the time. His remains were privately and peacefully laid to rest in the Centennial Park Cemetery.

Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133 2/48th Battalion.