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Early Life

Clarence Everard Pellew was born in Port Pirie, South Australia on the 21st September 1893 to Joseph Henry and Laura Mary Pellew (nee Lee).

This was Joseph's second marriage following the death of his first wife Margaret who was also Laura's older sister. Clarence or Clarrie, as he was known, was the oldest child and he would have four other younger brothers; Randall Colenso Matthew (b 1895 - died in infancy), Leslie Raymond (b 1896 - Killed in Action WW1 1916), Elliott Lindley (b 1898 - d 1973) and Lancelot Vivian (b 1899 - d 1970). The family's business interests required the family to move several times; residing at times in Port Pirie, Kensington, Norwood, Port Elliott and then at the turn of the century saw a move to Kalgoorlie WA.

Family Origins
The family's South Australian story began when Thomas Pellew (1815 - 1884), Clarries's grandfather, a Cornwall miner, immigrated to South Australia from England in the late 1840's and first settled in Truro and then later moved to Magill where his son Joseph Henry Pellew was born in 1854. Joseph and his older brother William were both drapers and ran businesses in Hindley Street Adelaide, Port Pirie and Broken Hill. William as a 27-year-old had been convicted in 1879 of embezzlement and imprisoned for 12 months.

Later the two brothers expanded the business to the Western Australian gold fields (Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie) during their earliest days and then went on to establish another draper shop in Fremantle. William's wife Sarah died in Coolgardie in May 1900. Sadly, more tragedy was to follow when Clarrie's father Joseph died in November 1904 in Kalgoorlie. After business debts of nearly eighty thousand pounds were settled, probate was granted in 1905 and it left Laura and her four surviving boys with over twenty-four thousand pounds: a tidy sum in those days and worth more than three million dollars in today's value. Joseph's brother and partner William was left to take over the business operations.

In March 1905 Mrs Laura Pellew and her four boys moved back to Adelaide, purchased and took up residence at a property she named "Minyara" at 150 Hill Street North Adelaide. In 1908 she decided to sell the Pellew family property at Port Elliott (also named "Minyara"). Minyara is an Aboriginal word meaning cool. However, the residence did not sell, and it remained in the family. She and her boys were still spending summer holidays there for many more years.

St Peter's College

Clarence commenced schooling at St Peter's College (SPSC) while the younger boys were educated initially at Queen's School on Barton Terrace, North Adelaide. Later they followed their older brother to SPSC.

At SPSC Clarrie was academically sound and outstanding at sport. In 1907 he passed three subjects in the University of Adelaide Junior Public Examinations.

Through his school years he excelled in athletics, swimming, gymnastics, football and cricket. He played 1st X1 Cricket from 1909 to 1912 and 1st XVIII Football in 1911 and 1912. In his final year he was captain of both the cricket and football teams. He also won the College Cup in athletics and was presented with the John Creswell Memorial Scholarship by the SPSC Old Scholars Association.

After leaving SPSC, Pellew was a loyal "old boy" and competed in athletics carnivals and played in old scholar's football and cricket matches in future years against the old rivals Prince Alfred College (PAC). In the 1915 Intercollegiate Athletics Carnival he broke the old scholar's record for the 440 yards event.

District Cricket

[University 1912-13/1919-20, North Adelaide 1920-21/1927-28, Prospect 1928/29, Colts 1929-30/1938-39]

Clarence Everard Pellew had a long and distinguish senior SACA District cricket career extending from 1912/13 until 1938/39, however if you include playing with St Peter's College against men in the SACA B Grade competition he really began as a sixteen-year-old in 1909. His A Grade Career started with University and ended as captain/coach of Senior Colts in 1939 at the age of forty-six. He also played with North Adelaide and was the captain when they moved to Prospect Oval and became known as the Prospect District Cricket Club in 1928.

Adelaide University

In 1913 he enrolled at Adelaide University and started the first year of an Applied Science course. On his school reputation, the Cricket Club would have been naturally keen to have him join straight from college having just lost several experienced players who could only play the first half of the season. His first game for the students was in early February and after four innings he had made 144 runs at an average of 36 with a top score of 85. During the Easter holidays he joined the University team on a cricket tour playing matches in the Barossa and Gawler. He then missed the last game of the season and was reported to be leaving for England in the company of his new University team mate, Donald Steele who was a former Prince Alfred College student. Steele, an outstanding cricketer at PAC was already a regular in the South Australian State team. Pellew's studies must have been put on hold after one term at University!

In the United Kingdom Clarrie and Don Steele were reported as witnessing a lot of County Cricket matches and it is likely they may have even kept their eye by playing some matches with village clubs. Along with touring the continent and the UK, Clarrie may have possibly spent time in Cornwall where the Pellew family had strong historic links.

With Pellew and Steele returning from England in mid September in time for the commencement of the 1913/14 season the University team was confident of showing improvement. They would have the new talented college lads available for the whole season along with the already established A grade players including Ken Steele, Donald's older brother.

Ultimately the season did not live up to expectations with University winning just 4 matches and drawing one from the eleven games, but just finishing just outside the final four. Pellew had scored a modest 333 runs from 10 innings at an average or 33.3. He also took 6 wickets at an average of 29.6. Expectations for higher honours on the cricket field for the twenty-year-old would not have been high at that stage.
Having been overseas for nearly half the 1913 academic year and missing lectures, Nip did well to gain passes in three subjects, Inorganic Chemistry, Physics and Fitting and Turning (Engineering). The following academic year (1914) he was enrolled in the engineering faculty but only passed one subject (Railway Engineering). He remained enrolled as an engineering student until the time of his enlistment in mid-1915; however, there is no evidence of him passing any examinations that year.

His much older cousins were already fine cricketers, both having represented South Australia (Arthur Howard Pellew 1900/01 and John Harold "Nip" Pellew 1903/4 - 1908/9). They were the sons of Joseph's other older brother John and his wife Amelia (nee Greer). It was from John Harold that Clarrie probably inherited the nickname of "Nip" or rather the newspaper reporters of the day continued that tradition after Nip the elder's retirement. Prior to that he was often referred to as just "Clarrie". Some later newspaper reports commented that he may have even already inherited the nickname at St Peter's College, probably a reference to his sprinting ability and speed on the football field.

State Cricket

"Nip" Pellew's rise to 1st Class cricket may have been a little unexpected by some as he had only a reasonable start to the 1913/14 season for University with two fifties and two thirties. However, the promising twenty-year-old was selected for South Australia in his first Sheffield Shield match in December 1913 against NSW in Sydney starting on 19th December. He made 57 and 23 in that match but only 17 and 1 against Victoria the following week.

Then in return match in Adelaide against NSW in January he only scored 9 and 1, however a 94 in a drawn match against the touring New Zealanders saw him retained for the final match of the season against Victoria in Adelaide where he scored 1 and 47.

The 1914/15 Sheffield Shield season began under the shadows of trouble in Europe; however, the cricket season would go ahead and a full season of SACA Grade cricket and the Sheffield Shield contests would be completed. Many District cricketers had already enlisted by late 1914 and were in Camp but had not yet embarked for the fields of conflict. Although South Australia performed poorly in interstate contests, young Nip's performances were a shining light. In his first full season of first class matches he headed the four-match aggregate with a modest 287 runs at 35.8. His bright batting, athleticism and brilliance in the field were also being noted.

For the Adelaide University team in the SACA competition he scored 402 runs at an average of 36.54 headed only by two of his State team mates Don Steele and Johnny Moyes. The University line up was predicted at the start of the season to be a finals contender with five players already with interstate experience on their list. However, inconsistent performances and unavailability of their State players through the season and University vacation must have impacted.

Johnny Moyes along with former University team-mate, wicket keeper Gordon Campbell, had been picked in the 1914 Australian touring side to South Africa, however the tour was abandoned. The War would have dashed the State and International aspirations of other emerging players. Nip was going to be one of the ones who would survive the terrors of the War and six years on still have an opportunity to press for Australian selection.

With the advent of War and the realisation that it was not ending quickly as hoped, the 1915/16 Cricket suspended all official competitions. The Adelaide University and Adelaide Cricket Clubs were the most highly represented in terms of the number of players who enlisted and were unavailable. The SACA did however continue an unofficial district competition with s 12 matches program. At the season's end there was no premier team and player's statistics were not officially recognised or recorded. Although Nip had enlisted in June 1915, he was in Camp undergoing training for the whole cricket season. He was able to get Leave to play in most of the matches and had some outstanding performances including 5/39 with the ball against Sturt and 190 not out with the bat against East Torrens.

The unofficial competition even though its quality was severely curtailed was still played, but under the shadow of "the white feather". Some criticism was directed at the SACA and towards some of those who had not enlisted however, many of those who played that season had already enlisted and like Nip was in Camp or would serve later.

Before the start of the 1915/16 season, the SACA's Roll of Honor published in the 1914/1915 season's Annual Report, demonstrated how well the District Clubs had supported the early War effort. University the youngest of the District Clubs (along with Glenelg) had nineteen of their players currently serving or in camp. By the end of the War the Adelaide University Cricket Club would have had one hundred and thirteen current or past players enlist which was quite remarkable considering the AUCC was only formed in 1907 and played for the first time in the 1908/09 season. Sadly, thirteen of these University men paid the ultimate sacrifice.

After the 1915/16 season the SACA competition was abandoned apart from some "patriotic matches" until the post-War resumption in the 1919/20 season.
The 1915/16 Sheffield Shield competition was abandoned with New South Wales and Victoria the first States to voice their views on whether interstate matches should continue in any form. South Australia followed; however, Victoria was still keen to have a charitable patriotic match featuring interstate players to raise funds for overseas aid. Unable to secure any players from the other States, the Victorian Cricket Association scheduled a game starting on Boxing Day between the Victorian XI and the "Next Fifteen Best".

Adelaide University Football

As an outstanding schoolboy footballer, it was natural that Nip would don the Black's jumper along-side many of his former Saint Peter's College team-mates. As it would happen he chose to miss the 1913 football season in favour of a trip to England with Don Steele. Returning to the game in 1914 Pellew established himself as one of the outstanding players in the amateur league competition. In August 1914 in the Intervarsity match against Melbourne held in Adelaide he was named as "best on ground".

There must have been some doubt about the viability of the Amateur League Competition continuing for the 1915 season yet only one team in the competition indicated they could not field a side. At the Annual General Meeting of the Amateur Football League, held only a few weeks before the Gallipoli Landing, it was resolved that the competition would go ahead with eight teams. The seasons schedule would not include games on weekends which clashed with "drill days".

Nip was able to play the whole season even though he was in army camp during the last half of it. He was chosen to be Captain for 1915. University probably had more issues with availability of players than the other clubs with the team line up often not known until the last minute. Despite this at the end of the minor round they had only lost three of sixteen games, however they were defeated by Semaphore Centrals in the semi-final. Nip was rarely out of the best players and was the winner of the A 1 Naylor Medallist for the best and fairest in the league. He was described by a newspaper correspondent as "having not a peer in the amateur league". It is without doubt that if not for the War he would have soon been playing league football for the North Adelaide Football Club for whom he was bound residentially and keenly sought.

Adelaide University Athletics

Nip who was an outstanding schoolboy athlete at St Peter's College was a member of the 1914 Intervarsity Athletics Team.

Nip also participated in the Annual University Athletics Carnival in June 1914 and was winner of the Championship Cup for performances across select events. He was the winner of the "blue ribbon" 100 Yard Sprint Title in a time of 11 seconds.

Adelaide University Blues Awards

Nip Pellew had the distinction of being a "Triple Blue" an honour for the highest recognition for sporting achievement by students at the University of Adelaide. He was awarded a Full Blue in football and athletics in 1914 and for cricket in 1915. There are only a small number of University students who have received Full Blues in three sports from the approximately 2,500 Full Blues awarded since the awards inception in 1908.

World War 1

Clarence Everard "Nip" Pellew presented himself for enlistment at the Keswick Barracks on Monday 21st June 1915. On the previous Saturday he had been named best on ground in the Amateur League football match against Semaphore Centrals at University Oval. Who can imagine the topics of conversation that evening after the game?

Nip underwent his medical check performed by Major Corbin and Captain Johnson of the Australian Army Medical Corps. His record shows him to be 22 years 9 months of age, 5ft 8½ in height, 151 lbs, fair complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. He was passed fit for service and took the Oath of Allegiance on the 23rd June 1915. He had presented himself at the Mitcham Camp where he was assigned to the "K Group Base Depot" to undergo basic training.

Nip had served three years in the school cadets at St Peter's College prior to his enlistment and reached the rank of Sergeant. After less than a month in Camp he was transferred to the 16th Infantry Battalion 13th Reinforcements to undergo NCO (Non-Commissioned Officer) training. Following this intensive course on the 1st October 1915 he was sent to Officer Training School for a further month. After completing his officer training, he received his commission (gazetted on 16th December 1915). He was then assigned to the 27th Infantry Battalion 11th Reinforcements with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.

It is worth noting a discrepancy appears on his service records concerning his place of birth. It may have been that Nip was not actually aware that he had actually been born in Port Pirie (recorded in family genealogy and Registry records). He had stated that he was born at Salop Street, Kensington Park, SA. The confusion may have arisen because his family moved there from Port Pirie shortly after the birth of their second child, Randall who died in infancy. His earliest memories as a child would have been at Salop Street.

It is not clear from his service records what transpired during the Christmas and New Year period and the early months of 1916; however, we know that he was given Leave from camp to play cricket for Adelaide University for the last half of the 1915/16 season. At season's end, on March 25th, 1916 Nip embarked on board the HMAT Shropshire from the Port of Adelaide bound for the more hostile fields of Europe.

Nip's younger brother Elliott also enlisted in October 1918 but was not required to serve overseas because of the end to hostilities.

Overseas Service History

On 22nd July 1916, four months after departing Port Adelaide for Europe, Nip was deployed to Etaples, France. His service record indicated that on the way he spent some time in Egypt. It was not unusual for the troop transport ships to stop at camp locations on the Suez Canal for further training and Nip may have spent up to two months there. He possibly would have had some Leave to visit Cairo or other places. It is unclear exactly when he arrived in England, but he was at the Rollestone Camp training camp located on the Salisbury Plains, England prior to heading to France.

On the 8th August, Nip after spending two weeks at the 2nd Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples rejoined the 27th Battalion Unit and was soon to be seeing action on the Western Front in the Somme.

After the retreat from Gallipoli at the end of 1915, the men of 27th Battalion had been deployed to the front lines in France since April 7th, 1916. Nip's service records rarely provide any specific details of his involvement in actions in France and Belgium; however, we can provide a chronology from available information that puts him in certain locations during campaigns and engagements with the enemy. We can only imagine the exact roles he played; however, the following chronology is a summary of the 27th Battalions actions during this time and it provides some insight.

8th August 1916 - Nip's Cousin George Francis "Frank" Davies who played also played cricket with him for Adelaide University was killed in action at Poziers. Also, in the 27th Battalion, he had enlisted earlier and was in Gallipoli for three months before being deployed to France. His death came on the same day Nip had rejoined his Battalion.

12 August 1916 - The 27th Battalion had been largely held back in reserve and not been involved in heavy action until early August around this time the 27th Battalion reinforcements were called up to support efforts to reclaim territory around the city of Bapaume in the Somme. Their main involvement was in resisting a counter attack by the Germans. Although successful it was at a heavy loss of lives.

12 August 1916 - The 27th Battalion had been largely held back in reserve and not been involved in heavy action until early August around this time the 27th Battalion reinforcements were called up to support efforts to reclaim territory around the city of Bapaume in the Somme. Their main involvement was in resisting a counter attack by the Germans. Although successful it was at a heavy loss of lives.

21st October 1916 - Promoted from 2nd Lieutenant to Lieutenant. Promotions were common as officers fell or were wounded. Since mid September the 27th Battalion had been moved from France to quieter areas in Belgium and were only involved in minor raids. Nip celebrated his 23rd Birthday on 21st September. The 27th Battalion were transferred back to the Somme on 27th October 1916.

9th November 1916 - Nip's younger brother, Leslie Raymond Pellew (born 9th the February 1896 and enlisted 18th March 1915) a member of the original 27th Battalion forces, he was killed in action on the Western Front near Gueudecourt.

11th January 1917 - Nip was admitted to hospital with Influenza. The winter had taken its toll and the 27th Battalion had in appalling conditions mounted two unsuccessful actions against German positions east of Flers.

19th January 1917 - Nip had recovered sufficiently to rejoin the 27th Battalion in France but was detached to 7th Brigade Headquarters probably to recuperate further.

12 February 1917 - Rejoined the 27th Battalion. The 27th Battalion participated in an attack on Lagnicourt (10km NE of Bapaume) on 26th March. The Battalion was not involved in any further major actions until September 1917.

11th March 1917 - Nip's Cousin John Newton Davies (brother of Frank) with the 14th Field Artillery Brigade is killed in action near Bapaume, France.

17th April 1917 - Leave to England.

1st May 1917 - Rejoined 27th Battalion.

21st July 1917 - Leave in Paris.

28th July 1917 - Rejoined 27th Battalion. The day before Nip's twenty fourth birthday, the 27th Battalion by now advancing past the town of Ypres, took part in the successful Battle of Menin Road commencing on 20th September 1917. Two weeks later 4th October 1917 engagement in the Battle of Broodseinde. The day before on 3rd October 1917, Nip had received a commendation from Lieutenant General Sir William Birdwood Commander of the 1st Anzac Corps. This citation was later Mentioned in Despatches.

27th October - 5th November 1917 - The Mystery of Celtic Wood - Nip was in command of C Company 27th Battalion which was sent out on Patrol to Celtic Wood. This was following an earlier action which had resulted in the apparent disappearance of 71 men of the 10th Battalion of the 1st Australian Division during a diversionary attack on German positions in Celtic Wood. This was near Passchendaele in West Flanders, during the Battle of Poelcappelle (9 October 1917). On that day, Lt. Frank Scott (aged 22) of 10 Battalion had led 84 men on a raid into enemy lines near Broodseinde. The main party was seen to enter Celtic Wood and were never seen again.

Nip's C Company patrol found one of the bodies and a pay book belonging to L/Cpl Lanchester one of the 71 men from the 10th Battalion who had originally disappeared seemingly without a trace. Extensive investigations since that time have failed to fully account for the fate of all of Lt. Scott's party.

L/Cpl Lanchester was also from Adelaide and was last seen by one of the 14 survivors heading back to a dressing station after receiving a shoulder wound. He never made it back and was presumed killed after being caught in heavy shelling. Investigations after the War accounted for all but 37 soldiers who were presumed killed with no visible remains because of the extremely heavy shelling. This is perhaps the greatest mystery for the AIF in WW 1.

16th January 1918 - Leave to Paris. As the colder months and winter loomed at the Western Front, the successful Battle of Broodseinde proved to be the 27th Battalion's last major offensive for 1917. Having remained in Belgium until mid-January, Nip had earned some Leave and would have been looking forward to spending two weeks in Paris.

1st February 1918 - After returning from Leave, Nip was detached from his Battalion for duty with the 6th Training Battalion at Fovant in Wiltshire, England.

21st February 1918 - Nip attended a two-week Lewis Gun Training Course held at the nearby Australian School of Musketry, Tidworth. Nip passed "1st Class & Distinguished".

28th April 1918 - He was seconded to the 5th Training Battalion and appointed to be a Company Officer (Permanent Cadre) after a reorganisation of the Unit. He was to remain seconded there until September 1918.

10th September 1918 - Secondment with 5th Training Battalion ended and proceeded overseas to France via Southampton to rejoin the 27th Battalion for regular duty and he celebrated his 25th Birthday on 21st September.

30th September 1918 - Promoted to rank of Captain. The 27th Battalion's final engagement for the War, alongside other allied forces were the Battle of Beaurevoir on 3rd October 1918. On 5th October the vastly depleted and weary Australian Forces were withdrawn from the Front.

2nd November 1918 - Ten Days Leave in Nice and then rejoined Unit.

17th January 1919 - Three Weeks Leave in England rejoining the 27th Battalion on 9th February.

24th February 1919 - The 27th Battalion at Le Havre Rest Camp preparing for soldiers' repatriation to Australia.

8th April 1919 - Nip reported to AIF Headquarters in London and then received an attachment to the AIF Sports Control Board.

AIF Cricket Team

With the end of hostilities, the first post-War cricket season was approaching in England. Prior to their repatriation home, Field Marshall Sir William Birdwood arranged for the recruitment of Australian Servicemen to form a representative team. From April 1919, Nip was a member of this AIF Cricket Team which was initially under the leadership of pre-War Test player Charlie Kelleway. Although Kelleway departed after only six matches, the bulk of the team remained intact under the captaincy of Herbie Collins for nearly nine months. From May 1919, they played thirty-three matches in the UK, ten in South Africa on the trip home and then another three in Australia before disbanding in February 1920. Of the 46 matches, thirty nine were first-class matches and the team suffered only four defeats; all of these in England. The players continued to receive their army pay, however all the substantial profits from gate money went to an AIF Sports Control Board.

Return to Australia

Following the completion of the AIF Cricket Team's thirty three matches in Great Britain the team embarked from the Port of Devonport on 23rd September 1919 (two days after Nip's 26th Birthday) onboard the H.M.T. Ascanius along with some of the remaining servicemen who were at last bound for home. The cricket team would disembark at Cape Town, South Africa on 13th October 1919.

After two months and six tour matches against South African teams, Nip was finally heading for Australia on the H.T. "AENEAS" embarking on 13th December 1919. On arriving home on 6th January, the team then played three matches against New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. Finally, after more than four and a half years of service, his appointment as an Officer in the AIF was formally terminated on the 29th February 1920.

Post World War 1 - Life Resumes and Sport

During 1919 most Australian servicemen had been repatriated home and the SACA District Cricket competition resumed for the 1919/20 Season. After completing his commitments with the AIF Services Team Nip was straight back with University for the last few matches of the season. His youngest brother Lance, now doing Law at Adelaide University, was also a member of the team. Although Nip did not enrol to continue his engineering studies, he was eligible to complete the season with University which had been his club prior to enlisting.

That season Intervarsity cricket also resumed against Melbourne University and commenced on Wednesday 18th February 1920.

Among the spectators at the Intervarsity contest was Nip's fiancée Miss Inez Adams.

The February 1920 Intervarsity contest was comfortably won by Adelaide and although Nip only scored 37, it was some good preparation for Nip's return to Sheffield Shield cricket in the match against Victoria commencing the following Saturday at Adelaide Oval. His youngest brother Lance, who had been in good form in district matches and in the match against Melbourne University, was also included in the South Australian side. In the final and his only Interstate match for the 1919/20 season, Nip scored a magnificent 271 runs in an innings described by Clem Hill as "the best innings I have seen on Adelaide Oval since Victor Trumper's big score in the test-match against South Africa. Pellew hit the ball so hard and I have never seen better footwork than he showed". Despite Nip's innings South Australia lost to Victoria but it enhanced the possibility of his future Test match selection.

There was no resting up for Nip. In April 1920, he picked up where he left off in 1915 and participated in the annual Intercollegiate Athletics Carnival representing St Peter's College in the old collegian's events. Having broken the State record for the 440 yards event prior to the War there was great interest to see if Nip had lost his speed after five years service. He won comfortably. His younger brother, Lance also had shown great athletic ability and was a State Champion sprinter and was recommended by the South Australian Athletics Council for the 1920 Australian Olympic Squad. Unfortunately, Lance did not make the final team of thirteen athletes.

In the football season of 1920, Nip played in the initial "Anzac Day" football match on Adelaide Oval when returned soldiers of the 27th Battalion team clashed with those of the 10th Battalion.

In 1920 Nip chose not to continue his studies at Adelaide University and he and his brother Elliott both enrolled at Roseworthy Agricultural College.

The North Adelaide Football Club who had originally been trying to recruit the star schoolboy footballer in 1913 was thwarted when he decided to travel overseas. North Adelaide Officials would have also been disappointed , when in 1914 and 1915 seasons he had chosen to play football for Adelaide University, however they would not give up.

At the start of the 1920 football season the North Adelaide Football Club had been confident that Nip would be lining up with them. They were frustrated again when both Pellew brothers chose to play with the Roseworthy College football team. North Adelaide continued to be hopeful Nip would still join them during the season and on a few occasions’ newspaper reports suggested he might be selected and come down from Roseworthy to play. Ultimately he did play one match for North Adelaide on 10th July 1920 against Sturt, a side that would pit him up against the Sturt captain, 1920 Magarey Medallist and fellow South Australian cricketer, Victor York Richardson.

Why Nip did not play more than a single game for North Adelaide in 1920 is unclear. There are some suggestions that the rules of the Gawler Football Association were so strict , that having been registered with Roseworthy College, he could only play for another non-affiliated side on weekends the Roseworthy College team were not playing. The other indication was that it was his loyalty to the College team, in which his brother also played, to help support their quest to play in the finals. It was perhaps ironic therefore that Roseworthy were defeated in their grand-final against South Gawler on the same weekend that North Adelaide defeated Norwood easily to win the 1920 Premiership.

It would happen that in the 1921 football season cricket commitments ended hope of North Adelaide securing his services again.

Nip was no longer qualified to play with University and was residentially bound to play for the North Adelaide Cricket Club in the SACA District competition for the season commencing in October 1920.

The 1920/21 season in was an exceptional one for Nip. For North Adelaide in District cricket, although limited to eight innings because commitments at the higher levels, he still managed to compile three centuries and lead the aggregate for North Adelaide with 576 runs at an average of 72.

That season England was embarking on their first international tour to Australia since the War, and there was speculation that Nip would be selected in the Australian Test team. His 271 runs in the last Sheffield Shield of the previous season enhanced his prospects and the reputation he had for athleticism in the field made it almost a certainty. After solid batting performances for South Australia in the early interstate matches against Victoria, New South Wales and the tour match against the visiting Englishmen, he was selected in the team for the First Test match to be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground in December.

The newcomer to international cricket did not let the selectors down and after three Tests he had scored 307 runs at an average 61.4. At the end of the Five Test series, Nip who played in four, had an average of 53.16.

Nip's performances for Australia and South Australia secured him a place in the team selected for the return tour of England in the winter of 1921. He was the only South Australian in the touring party, however many suggested that one of the State's finest all-rounders, Arthur Richardson should have been selected as well. In February, Nip's youngest brother Lance, was chosen along with Victor Richardson to tour New Zealand with an Australian Second X1 team.
Test Cricket

Prior to leaving for England Nip was given several farewells including a social evening at Roseworthy College and one by his 27th Battalion comrades.

Nip had to delay his departure because after finishing his training at Roseworthy Agricultural College, he had purchased a farming property at Saddleworth (in the mid-North of the State) in partnership with his brother Elliott and "had to settle affairs of his agricultural holding". The delay did however, permit him to play for North Adelaide in the remaining District games including the premiership match. Unfortunately, the northerners lost to the perennial premiers, East Torrens who had won the trophy on seven of the last nine occasions. Nip was to catch up with the rest of the Australians in Perth.

Fellow Australian Test leg-spinner and humorist Arthur Mailey penned a team "War Song" which included a verse for each man on the tour.

Nip's performances during the arduous five-month tour of England and Scotland from 22nd April to 10th September were only modest, however he held his place in the Test team over the five Test Series. With only one fifty to his name it would be no doubt his value in the field in saving many runs that gained him favour with the tour selectors.

Nip did score two first class centuries in the tour matches, including 146 runs against Cambridge University and 100 runs against Nottinghamshire. In the latter match with Macartney they put on 291 runs in 105 minutes. The tour in England ended for Nip in pain. In the final match, against a local team from the Lakes District, he suffered a fractured wrist. In all official matches Nip had still amassed 924 runs in 39 innings at an average of 25.66.

On the return home from England, as was the case two years earlier with the AIF Team, the Australians would stop off in South Africa for a three Test Series against the Springboks and three against sides from Transvaal, Natal and Western Province. Nip was still recovering from his wrist injury and unable to play in the first four matches. He returned in late November scoring 20 runs against Western Province and then played in the third and final Test Match in early December but managed only 6 runs. The Australians arrived back in Adelaide on 23rd December 1921 aboard the "Ascanius" (the same ship the AIF team had travelled on at the end of WW1). After a reception for the team, Nip bid his farewells to the others who then departed on the Melbourne Express for home in the Eastern States. Players were paid £400 for the England tour, £66 for South Africa and a bonus of £300 (the total amount would be equivalent to approximately $60,000 in 2018).

After Test Cricket - Other Priorities

Nip did not play with South Australia for the remainder of the season and it was Nip's intention to devote his time to his property in the mid-north and other matters close to heart. He did however play the final game of the year for North Adelaide in District cricket. Nip would not play another Test Match and appearances for South Australia were limited after that.

Nip also had another priority in the early part of 1922 and that was Miss Inez Adams of Medindie (b 1895), his fiancée. She was the daughter of Robert John Samuel Adams (1871 - 1949) and Jane Susan Lander (1862 - 1948). Her maternal great grandfather was James Dawson one of the founding fathers of Strathalbyn. He had known her for several years prior to his embarkation and their engagement had been announced publically only after he was already in France in 1916. She had been a singing student of Mrs Quesnel at the Elder Conservatorium (Adelaide University) and had often been seen at University Oval at sporting events that Nip was involved in. During the War years she was a regular guest of Mrs Laura Pellew at her Port Elliott residence.

Nip and Inez married on the 15th February 1922 at St Andrew's Church, Walkerville.

It was soon apparent that Nip had demands other than cricket for the next few years. His Saddleworth farm and family became more important. It did not mean he had lost his love of the game, however his appearances for North Adelaide in district cricket and for the State would largely be governed by his agricultural interests and seasonal demands of the land.

At Saddleworth Nip and Inez became heavily involved in community affairs. In July 1922 Nip became an elected member of the local council, also played tennis in the townships team and was elected the new President of the club in August that same year. He also played and was on the committee of the Saddleworth Football Club. They were premiers for 1922. Nip, an outstanding centre-man would play football with them until 1925 and in his final year captained the team to the Gawler and Districts Association premiership. His brother Elliott who was a partner in their "Hope Hill" farm also played in the Saddleworth side. Elliott had played with Nip at Roseworthy in 1920 and joined Saddleworth in 1921 and would play on until at least 1929. He was also a committee member at the Club for many years.

Nip made himself unavailable for the first half of the 1922/23 cricket season, however it was expected that he would make himself available for North Adelaide in the New Year. He made his return to District Cricket in early February after completion of farm duties, but although a little scratchy was included in the Sheffield Shield team to play Victoria in the last contest of the season which was also a benefit match for George Giffen. Nip also lined up for the match against the MCC touring team in March showing some form in making 26 and 69 runs.

Although Nip played little cricket in the 1922/23 season his mode of transport when he did travel from Saddleworth to Adelaide was quite interesting. While in Adelaide during March Nip was a member of the Saddleworth tennis team competing in city versus country tennis carnival.

On 31st May 1923, Inez and Nip's first child, Robert Everard Pellew was born. Nip also took over the captaincy of the Saddleworth football team in 1923.

The 1923/24 Cricket season was much the same with Nip unable to get away from the farm to play with North Adelaide or the State. His brother Lance, also a State cricketer, had recently graduated in Law and had now joined a firm in Clare. Nip and Elliott's partnership in the farm was listed in the 1924 Sands Directory.

In March 1924 Nip was playing and scoring centuries for the Mid-North team in the Country Cricket Carnival but had not played any games for North Adelaide during the season. Although there was some hope of him returning to cricket in 1924/25 it did not eventuate. In March 1925 Inez and Nip's saw the arrival of a girl when their second child June was born.

Although not playing in the City, Nip was pictured attending the Adelaide Test match alongside some former greats of the game.

1925 was Nip's last season with the Saddleworth Football Club and it was a successful year with the team taking out the premiership of the Mid-North Association. Nip now 31 was regularly in their best players throughout the season.

Nip made his long-awaited return to District Cricket with North Adelaide in the 1925/26 season and would play along-side his brother Lance who was now back working in Adelaide. Lance had wanted to play for Kensington but was still residentially bound to the North Adelaide club. Nip had a reasonable season playing 10 innings and ending the season with an average of 54. He also represented South Australian in one game against Western Australia.

Coinciding with his return to cricket in October 1925, Nip's views on fielding were published in a newspaper article. His prowess in this part of the game were still remembered and his views were obviously respected.

Nip's participation in the 1926/27 Cricket season suffered again because of heavy commitments on the Saddleworth farm and it proved difficult for him to get in any training. Even so, he played nine innings, but for a paltry total of only 146 runs (average 18).

His responsibilities at home would have been added to with the birth of a girl in early December 1926; their third child who was named Valerie.

Perhaps Nip's great love for cricket emerged again early in 1927 and by February 1927 he had sold his share of the "Hope Hill" property at Saddleworth. This decision would free him up and open opportunities for his future lifelong involvement in cricket. In late 1926 Nip's mother had also sold her Hill Street, North Adelaide home and moved to Statenborough Street Erindale.

Coming of a disappointing season, Nip was keen to make amends in 1927/28 and took on the captaincy of North Adelaide again. After selling up at Saddleworth, he purchased a smaller property at Noarlunga and perhaps would have a little more time for cricket. In Nip's first game for the season, against Kensington, he would be pitted against his brother Lance who had now moved to the eastern suburbs team.

In early December a local cricket journalist may have spurred Nip on, noting in his article that he "was but a shadow of his former self". Although there was an element of truth in that, Nip soon made that journalist eat his words when by mid-February he had rattled off three centuries and had an average of 105.5 runs. In addition, he was also North Adelaide leading bowler.

Determined to keep himself fit, Nip at 35 years of age in the winter of 1928 again took to the football field, playing for Aldinga having recently purchased another property in that area. Nip had always been an advocate of getting fit for cricket by playing a sport in the off-season. During the season Nip showed he had not lost his pace and football prowess and was frequently in the best players.

After his stellar season in 1927/28 which had included the three centuries in a row, Nip was in the picture again for State selection, of course pending availability. After his move to Aldinga in 1927, the following year he had taken up a position as the District Council Town Clerk of Willunga and moved his residence there.

In the 1928/29 season, even though it was a 29-mile trip to Adelaide from Willunga, Nip again accepted the role to captain his district team. The North Adelaide Cricket Club also had now moved to Prospect Oval. Under conditions imposed by the local Council for use of the oval, they would have to change their name to the Prospect District Cricket Club. Despite the commitment to captain Prospect, Nip made himself available for South Australia again. In the first three District matches for Prospect and a best score of 39, Nip was still selected in the State team to play for South Australia against the touring Englishmen in late October 1928.

Still held in high regard by the SACA, Nip had also been appointed as one of the State selectors and it was decided he would captain the inexperienced State team in matches when Victor Richardson was unavailable because of his Australian team commitments. After the international tour match and a further three Sheffield Shield matches, Nip accepted that his form was insufficient for him to hold his place and keep out a younger player. He then relinquished his role as a selector and by doing so essentially dropped himself from the team for a return match against the English team in January. Nip, even though he had scored 254 runs at average of 31, had called time on his first-class cricket career. He had seen that the future for South Australian cricket was with its younger players and Nip was by no means lost to South Australian cricket.

Nip for many years after his retirement from the first-class arena would go on to captain SACA X1s selected to blood young players in trial matches against various teams including combined country teams. Despite his demise from State cricket he finished off the club cricket season in great form and at season's end topped the SACA District Cricket averages with 109.66.

Era as State Coach and with the Colts

At the end of the 1928/29 cricket season the SACA advertised for a State Coach. Nip applied and was successful from among the twenty eight applicants.

It was not long before Nip was out amongst the schools, colleges and organising squads of promising young players for specialised coaching. Now at 36 years of age he would not have had any idea that he would still be in this role forty years later.

His new position as State Coach would mean he would no longer be able to play and captain the Prospect District Cricket Club and after only a year in the role as Town Clerk of Willunga District Council he would have to resign that position also.

Over the next ten years Nip would continue to play District Cricket with the SACA Colts team, a side selected from the best young players from the District Clubs. He would usually bat down the list and when needed could still show the lads by example.

During his time as State coach Nip wrote numerous articles on the art and skills of cricket covering all facets of the game. He also was frequently on the radio with special comments during Test series and first class matches.

It was a reasonably common practice for District Clubs to have Easter trips to country areas and play matches against local associations. In April of 1930 a planned trip to Port Pirie by an Adelaide cricket team, the first for fifteen years was to be led by Nip. Unfortunately, this had to be cancelled at the last moment and this attracted a strong outburst of displeasure from the local association.
In addition to the enthusiasm that he had taken into his new role, Nip was also innovative and in the winter months of 1930 organised indoor cricket nets under lights in the cafeteria area of the John Creswell Stand. Young promising players of near first-class standard were to be selected from the various clubs for specialised coaching by the State Coach .

Nip was reappointed as State Coach in 1930 and for the following ten seasons. Only the Second World War and some personal tragedies would interrupt his involvement with the SACA. He also continued playing A Grade cricket with the Colts team.

The 1930s were the years of the Great Depression yet the South Australian Cricket Association's support of cricket at all levels continued unabated and thus played an important role in elevating the mood of the community. Bradman and others inspired at State and International levels and Nip did as much as he could with the local cricketing youth. Cricket was keenly supported at both a playing and spectator level and Nip had a steady job which he greatly appreciated and worked harder than ever at developing his role as State Coach. As well as his regular coaching duties, he gave many talks to schools, colleges and community groups.

In March of 1931 Nip participated in a rather unique cricket match involving a full eleven members of the Pellew family. They were all descendents from same family group from an area of Cornwall who had emigrated to Australia the previous century. They played a team from the Adelaide Hills district of Ashton. Even though their team contained four former State players and several who had played senior District Cricket, the Ashton side were victorious. George Hele a Test umpire officiated.

The previous winter Nip had played football for his home town of Willunga and was still playing well; however, he retired in the 1931 football season and took up umpiring Amateur League football matches to keep his fitness up.

In his annual report to the SACA in 1932 he reported on his previous season’s activities regarding the practice sessions he ran. In addition, he was still publishing numerous coaching articles and giving lectures on cricket. His talks were given to cricket clubs, student groups and returned servicemen's associations. He was a popular man and there were frequent invitations and often this involved visits to country areas.

In 1933 he captained a Colt's team that participated in the annual Country Cricket Carnival held in the New Year. Of course, one of his ongoing roles as State Coach was the identification of young talent from the country as well as city areas.

In 1935 Nip was again writing a weekly series of hints for young cricketers in the News. A late season tip was for them to be taking up winter sports to assist preparation for the next season.

In the winter of 1936 Nip was selected to be a member of the League Football Tribunal which would hear all umpires reports of players who had committed offences on the field during the previous weekend matches.
At the start of 1936 cricket season as captain coach of the Colt's team, Nip was scoring runs freely and by late November he had had scored 199 runs and brought up his 5,000 runs in SACA District Cricket.

For many years Nip had been involved in the staging of annual AIF cricket matches against Victoria. In July 1937 it was proposed that a triangular series be played in Adelaide involving both Victoria and Western Australia.

In the 1937/38 cricket season Nip was still captain of the Colts team which had already developed many fine players who would have long careers in District Cricket and at higher levels. One facet of the game he particularly emphasised was running between wickets. His speed over his career had meant he was able to steal many quick singles and now at 44 years of age he still could.

A popular game that had developed during the Depression Years was electric light cricket with a competition played mainly between Return Services Clubs. In 1938 Nip was keen to see it extended to involve the sons of servicemen including his own son Robert (Bob). Nip proved he still had an exceptionally good eye and in 1939 playing for Burnside RSL made a score of 498. The competition later changed the rules and batsmen had to retire at 100. At this stage Nip and his family were now living at Rothbury Avenue, Tusmore having moved from Willunga several years earlier.

During the winter months of the 1930's the SACA ran Winter Coaching Schools with Nip and Clarrie Grimmett as coaches.

In November 1939, 16-year-old Bob Pellew made 96 playing for the Burnside Sons of Soldiers team and showing that his cricket skills were developing well.

Nip was also a Vice President of the RSL and visited country areas on their behalf for various events including the opening ceremonies of newly erected RSL halls and socials held therein.

On 3rd July 1939 Nip was involved in a vehicle accident returning home from an RSL Club. Eric Millhouse an eminent returned serviceman, close friend and lawyer acted in his defence.

World War II

Following the invasion of Poland on 1st September 1939 Australia again was thrust into overseas conflict. Nip having served in WW1 and still in remarkable condition, had no hesitation and on 9th September enlisted at the Keswick Barracks. He was not yet required to serve overseas and with the rank of Captain and was given a posting as Officer in Charge (OC) of the Gladstone Internment Camp. Clarrie Grimmett took over captaincy of the Colts cricket team.

It would have been a happy time for Nip when Inez and the three children were able to make the trip to Gladstone to spend time with him for Christmas in 1940.

Sadly, early in the New Year the Pellew family was grieving when Nip's mother Laura died in February 1940.

Nip was then given a posting closer to home as Officer in Charge of Training (Wayville). It was important that life was not totally involved with military activity and Nip was present at the AIF Ball in aid of the Cheer Up Society. Officers and their wives were in attendance; however, Mrs Pellew was not listed as having attended. Inez's absence could well have been because of illness.

Unfortunately, only three months after the loss of his mother an even greater loss was to follow when on 26th May 1940, Nip's wife Inez died suddenly. She was laid to rest at the North Road, Church of England Cemetery.

Nip's time for grieving and the need for him to be around his children who had lost their mother may have saved him from having to serve overseas. From 1942 until 1943 he remained in Adelaide and was based at the Springbank Military Camp. During this time Nip was very active with the RSL, supporting the efforts for those still serving overseas and the many wounded who had been repatriated home. In the War years Nip's two daughters June and Valarie were cared for by Inez's parents who resided at 13 Park Terrace, Gilberton.

News of the War had of course dominated the newspapers of the day, however sometimes there were some cricketing articles reminiscing of earlier days. The despair of the time could be distracted for a moment by light hearted articles from cricket journalists. In some, Nip's legendary status as a fieldsman was mentioned, particularly by authors and journalist who were alive at the time of his prowess and witnessed his sprints around the boundary and freakish catches. Unfortunately, his legend status has been forgotten for many years and more modern-day players have taken the mantle in commentary, however it does live on in the cricket archives.

No doubt after a difficult time for the family, it must have been encouraging for Nip to see his son Bob play his first senior game for the Kensington Cricket Club. Also at the club was Vic Grimmett son of Clarrie.

Nip was only required to serve until November 1943 when he was discharged. His son Bob and brother Elliott had also enlisted in WW II.

Bob Pellew was only 19 years of age joined the Royal Australian Air Force at the time of enlisting he was a shipping clerk with M.G. Anderson & Co. The RAAF had entered a team in the unofficial Adelaide Turn Cricket Association competition and Bob was a member of the team before heading overseas on active duty in March of 1943.

Flight Officer Robert Everard Pellew (courtesy of Elizabeth Pike)

In April 1944 Bob was granted a Commission and next month was attached to Royal Air Force 115 Squadron (Lancaster Bombers) which were regularly flying raids over France and Germany. Tragically on 19th July 1944, Flying Officer Bob Pellew was reported missing in action presumed deceased. He had flown 19 missions over Europe but during Operation Aulnoye his Lancaster was shot down over Laplaigne Belgium. During the operation 24 Lancasters were lost during raids. His memorial is located at St Roch Communal Cemetery, Valenciennes, Nord Pas de Calais, France.

Post World War II

During the War years the SACA had suspended the official District competition from 1940/41 until it recommenced in 1945/46. The State Coaching position had become redundant during the War and Nip had little involvement with cricket during those War years. In the latter stages when there were some matches involving AIF teams, Nip was involved in radio commentary for some of the games. Now in his fifties, Nip came out of playing "retirement" in 1945 and played and captained some matches with the Commercial Travellers Association team.

More tragedy followed the Pellew family in 1946 when Nip's cousin John Harold Pellew (the original 'Nip" Pellew) apparently took his own life by walking onto the train line in front of the Melbourne Express. Much older than Nip, he had been a great influence and inspiration to him. John's wife Myra was the sister of famed speech therapist to King George V1, Lionel Logue.

South Australian AIF Cricket Team

In 1946 the annual AIF Interstate cricket contest was revived. Nip had captained the South Australian returned servicemen's cricket team since it was established in 1933. He had played in the matches every year until the War interrupted the keenly fought competition with Victoria and the occasionally against Western Australia. Nip's team regularly included several exceptionally fine cricketers with first class experience including Jack Murray who had played with Nip in the Australian AIF Services Team in 1919. The inclusion of other District players and good country cricketers had seen the South Australian team undefeated.

The resumption of the interstate clashes in December 1946 saw many of the players now getting on in years and it was then decided in future to only hold reunions dinners for the former South Australian team members. However, there were still enough fit men to raise a team for charity matches on a few occasions and Legacy was a beneficiary of some of the fund-raising in 1949 when a match was played on Jack Murray's oval on his Woodside property.

The Riverland where some of the players resided was the venue in 1950.

Further into the 1950's the South Australian AIF cricket team still held reunions each year, but with many of the men now into their sixties the games had ceased. Nip however, nearing his 60th birthday, was still playing the occasional match involving teams from Adelaide's industry, political and trades circles.

There were extra reasons for celebrations at the reunion of South Australian AIF cricketers in 1952 when Nip was presented with a wedding gift for his approaching marriage to his second wife, Dorothy Reid.

Nip's marriage to Dorothy Torr Reid (1906 - 1991), daughter of William and Bernice Reid (nee Torr) of Toorak Gardens took place the following month on 30th April 1952. Dorothy had also served during the War (from 1942 - 1945) and reached the rank of Sergeant.

Post WWII

When cricket resumed in full swing in the 1945/46 season, Nip was appointed coach of his original district team, the Adelaide University Cricket Club.

Nip had been State Coach before the War, however, in 1946/47 the role was taken on by Arthur Richardson and he held that role until 1949/50 when Victor Richardson took over for the 1949/50 season. After one season with University, Nip then became Prospect District Cricket Club's Coach from 1946/47 until 1948/49 with former State opening batsman Reg Craig as captain.

The Colts team had been abandoned at the start of the War and was reformed as Senior Colts for the 1951/52 Season (a Junior Colts team was also formed). At that time, Reg Craig was appointed as State Coach and captain of the Senior Colts team.

In 1949/50 Cricket Season Nip was appointed coach of St Peter's Old Collegians' Cricket Club in the Adelaide Turf Cricket Association. It is unclear for how many season Nip held this position.

It appears that from the early 1950s until 1958/59 Nip had very little involvement with the SACA or District Cricket Clubs, however he was not forgotten and his cricketing background and athletic prowess where the subject of a 1951 newspaper article.

During his time away from employment with the SACA, Nip was employed by Chrysler Australia as a transport officer, but his presence at events or opinion on cricket was still often sought by the local sporting media relating to matters of interest.

(Note the information on the origins of the nickname are incorrectly reported)

In 1954, cricket reporter Ray Barber sought out Nip's comments on the continued ban on wives travelling with their partners during Test Series. Speaking possibly from his own experience, he supported the continual ban. However, an article published years earlier had disclosed that Nip and fellow team member Jack Gregory had "entertained at dinner" two ladies during the 1921 Melbourne Test Match against England. The two were Nip's fiancée, Inez and her cousin Dorothy Tilbrook, the writer of the article, who "let the cat out of the bag". It apparently did not affect their performance at all because both players scored centuries!

Between the 1949/50 and 1957/58 seasons, Reg Craig had held the dual role of State Coach and Senior Colts captain, but in 1958/59 Nip Pellew, now 65 years of age, was then appointed State Coach after a twenty-year absence . To complete the merry-go-round, Reg Craig then returned to coach Prospect for the next eighteen seasons guiding the Club to seven premierships during a remarkable period of success.

Nip continued his involvement with the RSL and his AIF friends during the 1960s. Although there is a lack of information on his golfing skills and if he had played regularly, in May 1969 he is reported to have played in a digger's golf day at Victor Harbor.

Although Nip took a great interest in what was happening at the senior District and State Cricket levels, his primary role as State Coach during the 1960's was with South Australian city and country schools and SACA junior development squads. At the State level, practice sessions were largely run by captains (Les Favell and later Ian Chappell) supported by past and present South Australian players like opening batsman John Causby, retired fast bowler Geoff Noblett and all rounder Neil Dansie who all offered oversight and provided some instruction at practice sessions. Also, State players of the day trained far more with their own district clubs than at the Adelaide Oval nets. The State Selectors including Sir Donald Bradman and Phil Ridings would often cast their eyes over the State Squad practice sessions.

Most of the Colts players who payed under Nip Pellew's captaincy in his earlier years as State Coach would have learned a great deal from him and many went on to play Sheffield Shield or Test cricket or at least be very decent Club players. In his later years, perhaps his effectiveness as coach may have diminished a little or perhaps the younger generation were not as effective listeners or were prepared to ask questions. Now well into his seventies he demonstrated the correct technique and whispered instructions that were not always easy to hear. In another biography that describes Nip Pellew as a coach in the 1960's; it states that:

"Nip attended net sessions at various high schools and from a position near the bowler’s wicket would gesticulate and give advice to the batsman. He was a delightful gentleman."
Some of the younger players who he inspired or influenced would still be living today and few would have known anything about his life apart from once playing Test cricket for Australia and maybe that he was an exceptionally fine fieldsman.

Death

In his later years Nip and Dorothy lived on the corner of Cashell Street and Daws Road, St Marys before moving into an ECH unit in Burlington Street, Walkerville. For many years he would be seen driving his favourite little Morris Mini.

Nip died at the Repatriation Hospital Daw Park after undergoing an elective surgical procedure in May 1981. He was 87 years of age. Nip was survived by his second wife Dorothy and daughters June and Valerie. There were eight grandchildren and a further seventeen great grandchildren born to the families of June and Valerie.

Nip now resides in RSL Wall 110 at Centennial Park Cemetery, Pasedena. Dorothy died in March 1991 and was also interred at Centennial Park Cemetery.

Profile added with the permission of the author Rob O'Shannassy.

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project (in the period 2015-2019) please see the document attached.

"Now at much the same age as Nip was then, I see this elderly man who coached me at Adelaide Boys' High School and at the SACA indoor nets under the old John Creswell Stand at Adelaide Oval in a totally different light. I doubt any of the young players he coached had the faintest idea about his tragic but wonderful life experiences. We might have listened to him more intently, respected and embraced his advice better, had we known even a little of his courageous life story.

Also, you think what an entirely different story may have been written about "Nip" Pellew had the two World Wars not have impacted so heavily on his family life and sporting career. What if?"

Rob O'Shannassy
1st November 2018

When the First World War ended in November 1918, thousands of Australian servicemen were in Europe as members of the First Australian Imperial Force (AIF) and many remained until the spring of 1919. In England, a new first-class cricket season was planned, the first since 1914, and an idea that came to fruition was the formation of an Australian touring side made up of servicemen. Agreement was reached with the Australian Corps HQ in London, commanded by Field Marshal William Birdwood, 1st Baron Birdwood, and the Australian Imperial Force Touring XI was formed, initially under the captaincy of pre-war Test player Charlie Kelleway. Kelleway departed after only six matches following a dispute about the fixtures list. A players' meeting elected future Test player Herbie Collins as team captain for the remainder of the tour, despite the fact that Collins' military rank was lance corporal and there were seven officers in the party. The bulk of the team remained intact for nearly nine months from May 1919, playing 33 matches in Great Britain, ten in South Africa on their way home and then another three in Australia itself before disbanding in February 1920. Of the 46 matches, 39 are adjudged first-class and the team had only four defeats, all of these in England. The players lived on their army pay and all profits from gate money went to an AIF Sports Control Board.

The team toured Great Britain May to September 1919, playing 28 first-class matches with twelve wins, four defeats and twelve draws. Five minor matches were also played, three of these in Scotland, the Australians winning two and drawing three. The AIF team toured South Africa October to December on their way home and were undefeated in ten matches, eight of which were first-class. Two unofficial "Tests" were played at the Old Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg, Australia winning both comfortably. Jack Gregory relished the conditions in South Africa while the local newspapers acclaimed Collins as the finest player in the team. On arrival home January 1920 in Australia, the team played three first-class matches, defeating both the reigning Sheffield Shield champions New South Wales and their main challengers Victoria. A likely victory against Queensland was frustrated by torrential rain. The results in Australia demonstrated the strength of the AIF team and within a few months of the team's dissolution, five players would make their Test débuts: batsmen Collins, Johnny Taylor and Nip Pellew; wicketkeeper Bert Oldfield and fast bowling all-rounder Gregory.

For more information see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Imperial_Force_Touring_XI