Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Allan was born in Mount Gambier to Frederick William and Mary Margaret Pegler on the 5th February 1908. He was one of six children with siblings George Cameron, William John, Frederick Lindsay, Grace (Mollie) Mary and Florence Margaret Jane. Frederick, born in Gloucestershire, England, came out to Australia as a two-year-old. His family came to Mount Gambier where Mr Pegler Snr gained employment as a road contractor. Young Frederick was educated at Compton School, before then becoming a potato grower at Moorak. Then, when Glencoe was sub-divided in the late 1800’s, he was one of the Pioneer settlers. Frederick generously served his community as a councillor in the Gambier West and Tantanoola District Councils, was appointed a justice of the peace in 1904, and was an active member of the A. and H. Society Committee, with chief interest being in the horse sections as he was a renowned breeder of a consistent prize-winning horse called "Scotty".
Allan and his siblings first attended Christ Church School then Mount Gambier High School. At the former, the Pegler children were mentioned for various aspects of their early school-work in 1919, Mollie for the quality of her sewing, John for his creditable academic performance in eighth grade and Allan similarly in fourth grade. Post school, Frederick leased his Glencoe property to his sons, who continued to grow potatoes, oats and barley as well as farming sheep. Frederick purchased the old Moorak homestead, with about thirty acres of land. That property was later sold to St Paul’s Catholic Church which founded the Marist Brothers College in the late 1920’s.
As was customary in country areas, families were willing volunteers to raise money for their community. In ’29, Mount Gambier held a Ball at the Caledonian Hall to help purchase a modern ambulance. Over 200 people attended from Tantanoola, Millicent, Narracoorte, and Melbourne supporting the locals. The decorations included the walls being covered by fresh greenery of pine branches and gum tips which Allan provided from his local Moorak area. It was a huge social and financial success.
Aged 72, Allan’s father, Frederick died in February ’33, the day after Allan’s 25th birthday. Less than three years later Allan’s mother, 68-year-old Mary died in September ’36. By the following year a land transfer of section 2294 was made from William D. Mitchell to George Cameron, Frederick Lindsay and Allan Burnard Pegler.
Following a huge recruiting drive in the South-East, Allan enlisted on the 3rd July 1940, with 47 others from his area. His good friend, Ben Hunt enlisted with him. The local paper listed their diverse occupations which included solicitors, scoutmasters, bankers and sportsmen. Allan was given the number SX7727 and Ben the following number SX7728 with both allocated to the 2/48th Battalion. (Allan’s older brother William also enlisted when aged 41, in April ’42 as S75834. He served for two years before being discharged in April ’44 as a Lance Corporal.)
Allan spent his initial days in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds, before he and other new enlistees headed to Woodside for preliminary training. By October, Allan returned home briefly to a farewell at St. Andrew’s Church where he, Leading Aircraftsman Colin Arthur 407110, and Private Hedley Buchanan SX7066, also of the 2/48th Battalion, were given a formal send-off in church. (Of the three, Colin did not survive the war, being killed in a flying accident in February ’41 when his training aircraft crashed into Georgian Bay, Canada. His body was never recovered.)
A sherry party was also organised by the sisters of Corporal Henry Kennedy SX7784, also of the 2/48th Battalion. The venue was in the lounge of Jens' Hotel where a toast was proposed to Henry, and Privates Bob Harris and Ben Hunt (SX7728) at the local Jens’ Hotel where a toast was proposed to the men. Allan’s sisters, Molly and Jean followed with another sherry party the following afternoon with the Hunts, Harrises and Kennedys also being in attendance. Further farewells followed with the Mount Gambier Club organising a similar party for the newly promoted Corporal Henry Kennedy and his friends. The Kennedys, Peglers, and Hunts were three of the best-known families in the district, with the evening beginning with a toast to ‘The King’ followed by the singing of the National Anthem. The trio were wished a happy time in the Army and a safe return, before a presentation of a writing wallet was made to each of them. Speakers “expressed confidence in the boys succeeding in doing any job with which they were confronted, and would add lustre to the traditions of the A.I.F.” Each of the young men responded with Henry commenting “upon the cordial relations which existed among the club members” adding that he “had already noted that a similar atmosphere prevailed among the men of the A.I.F. The military authorities, he said, aimed at grouping men who knew one another and were friends in the same unit. This practice had been adopted in many military forces, it being universally recognised that it made for contentment and efficiency.”
The people of Glencoe West also organised a social for Allan at the end of October. As he entered the Hall he was greeted with the singing of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" followed by the National Anthem. Dancing, a short musical programme and a humorous sketch followed before speeches were made. Pte. Pegler's action in volunteering for service was praised, and reference made to the strong bond of sympathy which linked members from the First War with the new conflict. The Community held Allan in High respect and he was wished all the best in his military career. The Farewelling Committee presented Allan with a wallet before other speeches and presentations were made. Allan, the guest of honour, expressed his appreciation and the gifts, adding that he was only doing his duty in joining up. At the end of the month, the young men then boarded a train to return to Adelaide and their new battalions. Allan and his fellow 2/48th Battalion, headed overseas for the Middle East. Allan was to become one of the highly respected Rats of Tobruk.
By January ’41 Allan was in camp at Dimra, serving in the A Company but quickly moved to Gaza Ridge in Palestine where he shared a tent with the then Private ‘Diver’ Derrick SX7964, John C. Marshal SX8238 Alfred S. De Caux SX7467 and Robert Tipper SX7278 all from the same 2/48th battalion and seven others from the 2/7th, 2/16th, 2/14th and 2/23rd who Derrick in his diary described as “my ward cobbers and a slashing team they are.” At the time, Derrick was experiencing the effects of contracting mumps.
News continued to drift back to those at home, with letters published in the local paper. Henry Kennedy was a prolific writer with a letter written in Palestine on Christmas Eve ’40 carrying much news, including reference to his fellow soldiers. He wrote -“WITH THE LOCAL BOYS The climate is pleasant the food good, and the work reasonably hard but I have little time to myself, and so cannot get much opportunity to write. There are still many I should write to. Phil Doe called to see me today. Les Barry and Tiger Lyons came to church with me this morning; all are well, including Ben Hunt and Alan Pegler. Hedley Buchanan is in our company now.”
Despite being injured, Henry continued to write home with his letter again published in the January ‘42 edition of the Border Watch. He had been at a training battalion, waiting to return to the 2/48th when he met up with many of his old friends from Mt Gambier. They included Angus ‘Angry’ Underwood SX6789, Hedley Buchanan SX7066, Alan Pegler and Gerald, all from the 2/48th Battalion. “I had a great couple of days meeting them all again."
Finally back home from the Middle East, Allan was one of the guests at the Victory of El Alamein celebrations. The Border Watch joyously reported in March ’43, Allan’s return home with a large group of his fellow soldiers. The newspaper was unsure how word had got out but excitedly reported ‘Men who comprised one of Australia's most famous divisions have arrived home from the Middle East and spent well-earned leave in visiting relatives and friends throughout the length and breadth of the land. Among them were many South Australians who were "Rats of Tobruk," and many took part in the initial break through at El Alamein which started Rommel on his long retreat across North Africa. There had been no official notification that the evening train from Adelaide one Saturday would carry many local boys who had just returned from the Middle East, but news had spread like wildfire during the day and the railway station was crowded as never before. The Railway authorities showed much consideration for wives, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, and sweethearts who were awaiting the return of their loved ones, and amid cheers the train arrived right on time, and a crowd of a thousand people were on their toes as it steamed in. The Mayor (Mr. W. E. Pyne) and the President of the R.S. A. (Mr. W. R. Hunt) were among the crowd, although there was not an official word of welcome, which would probably have been out of place when all those who were to be considered most had but one thought, and that was to be together again. The Citizens' Band and Pipe Band were in attendance. The men looked fit and happy to be home again. Some had been away for as long as two years, others only months.’
A huge gathering in the Civic Hall followed where about 90 men who had seen service overseas in the present war. and most of whom were fresh from their triumphs in the Western Desert where they met and repulsed Rommel's army at El Alamein. Silence was observed for their fallen comrades and the Ode of remembrance recited. So many of the men also made remarks appreciative of the magnificent work done by the F.F.C.F., the Salvation Army, the Red Cross, and the nursing sisters. Driver Allan’s role as a Tobruk Rat was also publicly acknowledged.
Allan was soon heading to Queensland to train for a very different conflict against a totally different enemy in New Guinea. Another local, Captain Owen Barry wrote home explaining the conditions. “The country, 'especially the mountain scenery, is truly magnificent, but with a cruel beauty. To merely exist in some parts is a great effort, but to wage war in it appears to be impossible. There is no doubt our forces have done an amazing job. Particularly gratifying, too, is to note the equipment, etc., of our Allies. When met on equal terms with equipment the Jap. turned out to be a rabbit and not a tiger and a very lousy and dirty rabbit. I have seen the remains of some of their camps which prove that their form of civilisation was a veneer.” He continued “"Army rations no doubt are an improvement on your last war issues, but tinned food even when made to look attractive is still tinned food. I have threatened my wife, with dire results if I ever find a tin-opener in the house. As I have heard you mention at times the services of the Salvation Army in the last "show,", I can endorse your remarks. From personal experience the old Salvos in their quiet way have provided more amenities than the much-publicised other shows.” He added "Have also contacted Jack Ascione, Allan Pegler, Ron Cameron, one of the Driscolls, Ben Johnston, and others, including Peter Nash, at one time P.C, at Gambier.”
Allan was finally discharged in March ’45. In October he and four other servicemen, Don Dow SX24730, Ray Easton SX18384, Allan Agnew 417324, and Glen Whitehead SX31885 were tendered a welcome home in the Public Hall, Glencoe. Again, the singing of "For they are Jolly Good Fellows," and the National Anthem rang out before formal welcomes were made. The men all responded to the welcome, and especially thanked the Red Cross and Comforts Funds for the splendid work they had done.
Six years later Allan and Carlyn Mary of North Adelaide, daughter of Mrs. Stirling Taylor and the late Mr. H. Stirling Taylor announced their engagement. With peace after the years of war, many people from around the world sought a new life in Australia. Mary was the organising secretary of the Good Neighbor Council, which helped these ‘New Australians’ settle into their different country. In March the following year Allan’s siblings, William, Margaret, Mollie and Jane plus Allan’s childhood friend Henry Kennedy who served with Allan in the 2/48th were in Adelaide to help celebrate the wedding in Christ Church, North Adelaide. Ben Hunt, who also survived the war having enlisted with Allan, fittingly acted as best man. The newlyweds returned to live at Glencoe where their son, Kim was later born.
Aged 68, Allan died in Mount Gambier on the 20th December 1976 and is buried in Karinya Gardens Cemetery Mt Gambier Cyprus section, Allotment Z Row 27 – 1
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion