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Australia

Don was the youngest of three children, born on the 24th February 1918 in Kapunda, in the Barosa Valley, known for its rich copper mining heritage. His parents were Percy George and Clarice who had lived in the close-knit town for over 30 years. Percy was involved with the S.A. Farmers’ Union and had duties of post and telegraph master in the Kapunda Post Office as well as being active in the local community through the Bowling, Racing and Coursing Clubs. Clarice was also an active member of the local Croquet Club.
Don had two older siblings, Molly and Roland, with Roland, the adventurer, being fortunate to escape reasonably unhurt from a 60-foot-deep mining shaft which appeared to be just a heap of dirt when he jumped on it. The children initially attended the local Kapunda school, where in Don’s first year ’23 he was awarded second prize in the academic awards at the end of the year. In typical Australian style, he was nicknamed ‘Mick’ for no logical reason.
With his father retiring from work in ’26, the family moved to Millswood, in Adelaide with Don then attending Adelaide High School. He had just turned thirteen when his father died in April 1931 in Adelaide. Percy’s body returned to Kapunda for his burial (as was Clarice’s in April ’55.) The family soon moved to the seaside town of Glenelg.
Post School, Don was employed as a clerk by Messrs. Colton, Palmer and Preston and joined the Citizen’s Military Forces. With the outbreak of the war, 26-year-old Roland enlisted as SX7296 on the 1st July ’40 with 22-year-old Don enlisting three months later on October 1st, having been in the Militia as SN48001. Both were allocated to the 2/48th Battalion, Don as SX10329 rising to become Captain and eventually career soldier.
Bothe brothers travelled on the Stratheden to the Middle East, where they were to earn the unofficial, but prestigious title of being Rats of Tobruk. The term was designed to be derogatory and destroy morale of the men who were dug in underground in the sand, surrounded by flies and rats. It had the opposite effect.
In March ’41, Don then Lieutenant Bryant, 12 Platoon Commander, escorted the first batch of approximately a thousand Italian prisoners by road. With him were several other ranks, with a ratio of one sentry for fifty prisoners for the route through Mersa Matruh to Alexandria. The soldiers then returned by the same route to their battalion.
On the night of the 8th May, Don was on patrol with Wally Prior at Forbes Mound, finding discarded equipment and arms, which they started to stack. Unfortunately, they were spotted and came under enemy fire forcing them to retreat and regretfully having to destroy ‘everything of use or value, regretfully including a case of beer’, according the John Glenn in Tobruk to Tarakan.
In Tel El Eisa on the 9th July ‘42 a decision was made to attack and capture Points 26 and 23, plus the Tel el Eisa Station. C Company under Captain Bryant’s command was to open the attack towards Point 26, then move past and consolidate their position, which they did, in perfect battle formation and under minimal opposition. A massive barrage of artillery fire supported the attack, but enemy fire was aimed point blank at Bryant’s Company, who were given immediate orders to silence the guns. In a massive charge, with fixed bayonets, the gun crew was captured. In all 106 prisoners were taken. Meantime, Bryant’s Company was completely cut off and under siege, with tanks deliberately moving over the slit trenches under which the men tried to shelter. It was here that the legend of Captain Bryant’s coolness was born. Constantly communicating with headquarters, Don reported “She’s Sweet”. This became a phrase that was quickly adopted by the battalion. For his role in the attack, Don was later awarded the Military Cross, as was Captain Williams.
The fight forTel el Eisa continued. Just days later on the 12th July, Don’s men, in shallow weapon pits were sitting targets for enemy air attacks, despite collecting any possible materials, including railway sleepers for covering.
Don’s initiative and leadership was again evident in El Alamein at the end of October ’42 in one of the fiercest battles that left just 41 troops from the 2/48th in the field. With A Company’s Commander badly wounded and many casualties, Don amalgamated the two battalions, with just forty-five men. A determined charge, with fixed bayonets resulted in the group taking the post. However, the battalion suffered huge losses, including Don who was badly wounded the following day. A fitting tribute to the men of the 2/48th acknowledged “They fought themselves and their enemy to a standstill until flesh and blood could stand no more, then they went on fighting.” An extraordinary group of men.
Don’s brother, Roland rose to the rank of Corporal. Aged 28 he was killed on the 25th October ’42 in Egypt in the carnage caused by the chance hit by an enemy shell on a truck loaded with mines.
‘An ear shattering explosion dwarfed the sound of the guns into insignificance. Seven other trucks, all ladened with mines, had been set off. The whole area became a ghastly raging inferno. As trucks burned and exploded a great wall of fire shot into the sky. The gun flashes seemed dimmed; night was turned into day. The concussion was terrific. Parts of their wireless set were never found; the batteries were picked up two hundred yards away. Two thousand mines went up in this explosion; all the war equipment of both B and D Companies was destroyed. Of the ten men who were in the vehicles, not one was saved. They were: Corporal R. Bryant, W.D. Cockshell, W.C. Quinn, J.J. Buckley, H.S. Searle, W.A. Craig, C. Fraser, C.H. Schulz, C.E. Dolling and F. Parkyn.’
Roland’s death was reported back home in the Advertiser on the 20th November: ‘Mrs. C. Bryant, Farrell Street, Glenelg, has been notified that her eldest son, Cpl Roland Bryant, was killed in action in Egypt on October 25. He served In Tobruk Syria and Palestine. Before enlisting he was employed by Rofe & Co. Mrs. Bryant has also been advised that her youngest son, Cpt. Don Bryant, has been wounded in action in Egypt.’
Don was wounded in the relentless fighting in a massive assault to ambitiously take the strategic position of Trig 29. In his book ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’ John Glenn describes that time “which was to be the most bitter and bloody fighting of the war. When next the sun drove away those shadows from the desert, death would have reaped a rich harvest of gallant men. And of the 2/48th Battalion only forty-one weary troops would remain in the field So many of Don’s fellow 2/48th Battalion were also wounded and many more killed in action. Those wounded with him were listed in November ’42 and included SX10306 Cpt. Robert S. Shillaker, 2/48th Hackney; SX10329 Cpt. Don Bryant, 2/48th Seacliff; SX10333 Lt. Robert E. Alexander, 2/48th ., Norwood; SX12498 Lt. Kenneth F. Allen. 2/48th Hayhurst; SX5533 Pte. Hilary M. Lamont. 2/48th Parkside; SX7108 Pte. Clarence W. Baldwin, 2/48th Pinnaroo; SX7289 Pte. Ernest H. Chapman, 2/48th Koongawa; SX7497 L-Cpl. Ron Chinner, 2/48th Angaston; SX11118 Pte. L. A. Feehan 2/48th Warooka; SX6900 Pte. John E. Huxtable. 2/48th Broken Hill; SX3871 Pte. Harold. E. Luscombe, 2/48th Port Pirie: SX8238 Pte. John C. C. Marshall, 2/48th Wunkar; SX8446 Pte. Ronald R. Matthews,2/48th., Broken Hill; SX11122 Pte. Laurence McEvoy, 2/48th Broken Hill; SX12980 Pte. Edward H. Merritt. 2/48th Adelaide; SX14337 Pte. Colin W. Morgan, 2/48th ., Broken Hill; SX9283 Pte. Peter. s. D. Robertson. 2/48th Karoonda and SX10510 Pte. Leonard B. Spicer. 2/48th Lameroo.
Despite his own injury, Don placed a tribute to his brother in December ’42. BRYANT. —KiIIed In Egypt Oct. 25. Cpl. Roland Bryant, eldest beloved son of Mrs. and the late P. G. Bryant, Glenelg and loving brother of Mollie and Don (A.I.F.)
Back home, the News, Advertiser and Kapunda Herald were quick to share their pride and congratulations to Don, with the release of the specific details which earned him the Military Cross.
“On July 10 Cpt. Bryant's: battalion carried out an attack just before dawn on the Tel el Isa; ridge. His company was responsible for taking the objective. Point 26. and after consolidation, was able to swing south 2,800 yards to the line of the railway as part of an anti-tank screen to defend the high ground captured. Cpt. Bryant, in leading his company with great skill and gallantry. attained his objectives promptly, securing many Italian and German prisoners, as well as much enemy equipment in guns, weapons and medium machineguns. The company then took up an unprepared defended locality, and hastily dug In. During the afternoon the enemy made several tank counter-attacks on this and another company locality at the Tel El Isa railway station. On three occasions the enemy tanks overran the platoon posts, but Cpt. Bryant; stuck to his ground, inspiring his men by bis own example and cool leadership. Throughout the whole of the enemy action. Cpt. Bryant was in constant touch with battalion headquarters, giving accurate descriptions of tank posts and movements, thus enabling artillery fire to be accurately brought down. His coolness under fire and determination that his company, would hold the ground gained was an inspiration to all ranks, and was a clear lesson that tanks could be fought and held by Infantry, even without prepared positions. Only slit trenches were available. Undoubtedly Cpt. Bryant's will to win prevented the enemy from penetrating beyond the railway line, and so enabled the remainder of the battalion to dig-in and consolidate the high ground taken 2800 yards in the rear of his company locality.”
The Kapunda Herald added that ‘The Mayor said it was pleasing to know that an old Kapunda boy, Captain Don Bryant, had been awarded the Military Cross for distinguished service.’
Don was later wounded in the North African campaign but recovered to see service in the Pacific. With peace declared, Don continued to serve in the Army as 48001. He held a variety of positions, including Camp Commandant at the Woomera Range and Senior Instructor at the School of Infantry. An added prestigious award was made in 1960 when he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire. This career Army man, eventually retired in 1969 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, being discharged on the 23rd February 1970.
Just five years later, aged 57, Don died on the 19th March ’75 and was buried at Centennial Park Cemetery in Acacia Ct, Rose Bed 3 Position 15. On her death in May 2003 Phyllis was buried in the adjoining plot, 16. Their three daughters, Rosemary, Meredith and Julie added a poignant inscription ‘Forever in Our Hearts’.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.