Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Refer to WWI Record details for the life of Alfred James Pennifold SN 3549

Alfred James Pennifold was born on 14th of June 1887 at Olary (a railway town), South Australia about 395 km north east of Adelaide. Alfred was the third child of William Henry and Annie Gertrude Pennifold (nee Braden).

Alfred travelled the northern part of the state with his family and lived in towns like Cockburn, Brinkworth and Kadina. Alfred’s mother died in 1904 at Kadina when he was 17 years old. She was buried in the Kadina cemetery with her two other sons Albert and Roy.

On 31st of January 1908 Alfred, followed in his father’s footsteps and entered the SA Railways in the Western District (around Kadina and Wallaroo). Alfred was a carpenter with the railways earning 9 shillings (90 cents) a day.

On 5th of August 1908 Alfred married Ivy Maude Amelia Southwood in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Kadina. This day would be a double celebration as it was also Ivy’s 19th birthday. Ivy was born on 5th of August 1889 at Kadina. Ivy was the 5th and youngest child of William and Amelia (nee Wright) Southwood. Alfred would be the fourth Pennifold to marry the four Southwood sisters. Alfred’s father and his two brothers Harry and Thomas had earlier married the three other daughters of William and Amelia Southwood.

Alfred and Ivy had four children and their birth details are:

Dorothy Jean, born 10 Nov 1909, Kadina South Australia
Alfred Roy, born 11 Dec 1911, Balaklava South Australia
William Maxwell, born 14 Aug 1913, Wallaroo South Australia
Raymond Southwood, born, 14 Jun 1926, Rose Park, Adelaide South Australia

The first three children were known by their second names, that is Jean, Roy and Max. Max and Raymond share the 14th day of the month for their birthdays, the popular date for the Pennifolds. Note, Raymond’s second name, Southwood is after Ivy’s maiden name. Roy was born at Balaklava because Ivy was visiting her parents at that time. Ivy’s father was stationed at Balaklava as an office clerk in the SA Railways after being the Station Master at Kadina.

Alfred bought a house (built in 1890) on 10th of June 1909 at 30 Gurner Street Kadina for him and his expectant wife to live in. Alfred and Ivy lived there until 4th of April 1912, when they sold the property and moved to Wallaroo due to Alfred’s work in the railways. They lived in Hamilton Street Wallaroo in 1912 and moved to Elizabeth Street in 1913. This is why their son Max was born at Wallaroo.

On 27th of April 1916 Alfred enlisted into the Australian Infantry Forces (AIF) Service Number 3549 as a private at Kadina during World War 1. Alfred was at the Mitcham Camp as part of his army training; there he met a Clifford Francis McDonald (Service Number 6294) from Port Broughton and unbeknown to them, nearly 63 years later their grandchildren Kym Pennifold and Kathy McDonald would marry. On 10th of February 1917 Alfred embarked on the Seang Bee from Adelaide for overseas active service.

Alfred was assigned to the 5th Pioneer Battalion under Lt. Col. H.G. Carter and saw action in France at Bullecourt, Aveluy, Mt Kemmel, St Quentin, Arqueves and Corbie, and in Belgium at Ypres, Somme, Hindenburgh and Bellicourt.

While Alfred was away at war, Ivy sold all his carpentry tools. Either she needed the money or she thought he was not coming home from the war. Ivy and the three children left Wallaroo by about February 1918 and stayed with her two sisters Mabel and Amy and their families at Beachport in the south east of South Australia for about 10 months. Ivy and the children then moved to Adelaide and lived with Ivy’s mum and dad at 8 Second Street Knightbridge (now known as 16 Phillip Avenue Leabrook).

Alfred was discharged from the armed forces on 5th of April 1919 as medically unfit after being hospitalised with knee problems. Alfred received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his services.

Alfred, Ivy and the three children continued to live with her parents after Alfred returned from war services. Alfred, now that he no longer had his carpentry tools, studied accountancy and became employed as a civil servant with the Commonwealth Government.

On 13th of June 1923 Alfred bought a property at 7 Park Road Kensington (behind Kensington Oval) for him and his family to live in. Alfred had completed his accounting studies and was now an auditor with the Commonwealth. Alfred and Ivy lived at 7 Park Road for several years and during that time their fourth child Raymond was born on 14 June 1926.

Alfred joined the Scouts and was promoted to District Scoutmaster in District A. Metropolitan Area in May 1924 after relinquishing his position as Scoutmaster of the First Norwood Troop. In March 1936, Alfred was on the committee that formed an Old Scouts' Association with the aim to foster the general advances of the scouts movement, to obtain a roll of old scouts, and to give assistance to the scout movements, functions where possible.

On 14th of February 1928, Ivy’s father William Southwood died and his house at 8 Second Street Knightbridge was purchased by Ivy. After the death of Ivy’s mum on 19th of August 1932, Alfred and Ivy moved into the house in Second Street. Their daughter Jean had recently married Colin Tillet on 11 June 1932, so Jean and her husband moved into 7 Park Road. Their two other sons had left home, Roy had married Florence Banner earlier that year on 9th of January 1932 and was living at Bordertown and Max was in Broken Hill with the Commonwealth Bank.

In those days the tram would come along Second Street past Alfred and Ivy’s home. Ivy would call Raymond to get out of bed for school as the tram passed their house in the morning before it terminated at the end of the street. Raymond would quickly get ready for school and down his breakfast just in time to catch the tram on its way back passed their house. Across the road from Alfred and Ivy, lived Ivy’s sister Amy and her family at 3 Second Street (now 9 Phillip Avenue) after leaving Beachport in about 1926.

Alfred took his accounting profession seriously and with pride. He was the South Australian first State President of the Association of Accountants in Australia from 1933 to 1936.

On 11th of March 1942, Alfred volunteered for services during World War 2 as captain. He enlisted on 16th of July 1942 at Wayville as Captain No. S41389. He was an army auditor with the Army Audit Corps and was paid a daily rate of 23 shillings and 6 pence. Alfred was attached to the 25th Garrison Battalion on 27th of July 1942.

The strain must have been too much for Ivy with Alfred again in the army and on 31st of August 1942, Ivy took her own life. Raymond was still living at home at time. He was only 16 years old. Ivy was buried in the Centennial Park cemetery, Adelaide. Alfred could no longer live at 16 Phillip Avenue Leabrook after the death of Ivy so he sold this property in November 1942 and also sold the property at 7 Park Road Kensington in April 1943.

Ivy’s death severely affected Alfred and he was eventually discharged from military duties on 17th of May 1943. He was placed on the servicemen’s Retired List in his substantive rank of Lieutenant. Following Alfred’s discharge, he resumed duty as auditor in the Commonwealth Audit Office.

While in the Commonwealth Audit Office, Alfred met Isla Adele Byrne who was a great support to Alfred. Alfred and Isla married on 10th November 1944. Due to their marriage (back then) Isla could no longer work in the Commonwealth Audit Office, so she managed to get a job with the South Australian Audit Office. She remained there for many years until her retirement.

Between 1945 and 1960’s Alfred and Isla lived at several places in Adelaide, namely 199 Prospect Road (which was Isla’s father house), 14 Wilkinson Avenue Somerton Park and 16 Olive Court at Glenelg.

Isla played the role of a substitute Grandmother to Alfred’s grand children and became a much-loved member of the family. The house at Wilkinson Avenue was a large house and at some stage part of the house was converted into a flat. The house was close to the beach so most visits to Grandpa’s included a walk to and along the beach. Alfred always liked to smoke a pipe. The woody aroma of his tobacco filled the house.

While at Wilkinson Avenue, Alfred and Isla would have the family Christmas get together at their place. Alfred’s grandkids called Isla, Auntie Isla. She was a warm and kind lady. All Alfred’s children and their families would be there to enjoy the festivities and the opening of presents from Alfred (Grandpa) and Isla around the Christmas tree at night. It was a great time for all Alfred’s large family to be together and for the cousins to catch up with one another. There was always a game of backyard cricket before the evening meal and the opening of presents. After the opening of presents, there was usually a sing-a-long around the piano.

When this annual event got too much for Alfred and Isla, Alfred’s daughter Jean had it at her place 9 Godfrey Terrace Leabrook. Alfred would still provide a large tub of ice cream for sweets for the grandkids to enjoy. So the tradition continued for a number of years until the cousins had their own families, Alfred passing away and the family grew.

Alfred enjoyed his football, he followed Sturt in the SANFL competition. In later years, Max and Raymond would take their father to an occasional match at Unley Oval.

Alfred died on 10 February 1966 aged 78 years, 4 days before decimal currency was introduced in Australia (that is on 14 February 1966 pounds and shillings were changed over to dollars and cents). Alfred was buried in Centennial Park cemetery in the same burial plot as his first wife, Ivy.

In the Advertiser the following Death Notice were published about Alfred James Pennifold.

“PENNIFOLD. – On 10th February (suddenly) Alfred James of 16 Oliver court, Glenelg, devoted and much loved husband of Isla, loving father of Jean (Mrs. A.C. Tillet), Max and Raymond, also Roy (deceased).
PENNIFOLD.- On 10th February, Alfred James dearly loved father and father-in-law of Jean and Colin, loved grandfather of Peter, Rodney (decd.), Pam, Lurline and Elaine.
PENNIFOLD. – On 10th February, Alfred James, dearly loved father of Max wife Betty and grandfather of Gary, Lynette, Paul, Mark and Kym. In God’s care.
PENNIFOLD. – On 10th February (suddenly), Alfred James beloved father of Roy (dec.), father-in-law of Florence, loved grandpa of Judith and Geoffrey.
PENNIFOLD. – On 10th February, Alfred James, dearly loved father and father-in-law of Raymond and Barbara, and beloved grandpa of Trevor, Cheryl and Craig. Loved by all.” (This quote has been corrected for spelling mistakes from the original.)

After Alfred’s death, Isla bought a unit next to her sister at 474 Fullarton Road Myrtle Bank, Adelaide. Isla continued to be part of the Pennifold family events of birthdays and Christmas. She loved to do tapestry works that adorned her home. Whilst at Olive Court, she taught Alfred to tapestry to while away the hours while she was at work

Later, Isla went on to marry again, to a Max Jacka. This was also Max’s second marriage, his first wife having died. Max was a farmer and he had a property at Burra.

The Pennifold clan were invited to Max’s property at Burru to meet him and to give the family approval. They both kept Isla’s Fullarton road unit as their “town” residence. Max after being married to Isla for a few years passed away and is buried with his first wife.

Isla died on 17th March 1990 aged 75 years from leukaemia. She was unable to be buried with either of her husbands, so she was cremated. Her ashes are placed in the Acacia Court Cluster tree garden in the Centennial Park cemetery. She is never forgotten by Alfred’s descendants.