Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John Richard Mules 1922-2012

(my Dad)

1941:-1945: soldier, 27th battalion

Background

Army service as conscripted soldier: 1941-1946, World War 11.

   "In October, 1941, I, like most 19 year old men, was called up to train in the Australian Military Force. I was enrolled in the 27th South Australian Scottish Regiment (why a Scottish Regiment, I will never know ,but they had a great uniform with a beret) and went to camp at Warradale, a southern suburb of Adelaide, where we were vaccinated against smallpox and given injections for other epidemic diseases." Brown, P, 2025 p.113

During this time he was engaged, married, had a son who he did not meet for 9 months, and served overseas in Darwin and New Guinea.

As the youngest of Mum and Dad's four children, and given Dad's experience in the Australian Military Forces  in Darwin, I can honestly say that,

 "I was lucky to be born".

Mum and Dad's resting place is Telowie Gorge, Southern Flinders Ranges, South Australia

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Here I begin Dad's life story, briefly referencing our Cornish descendants who immigrated from Cornwall, the United Kingdom, to Port Adelaide and then to a  family market garden property at Brownhill Creek, Mitcham, Adelaide, in 1882.

The beginnings

The start of the Mules Family journey  from Cornwall, England to Adelaide, South Australia.

John Thomas (1862-1895) at age 19 and older brother Thomas Henry Mules  (1860-1929)  were born in North Cornwall and worked as agriculural labourers/farm servants. In 1882 , as economic conditions in Cornwall were in decline, (copper mines depleted and farming produce could not be sold), John and older brother Thomas Henry, emigrated from Cornwall, England to Port Adelaide on the sailing vessel, the Clyde. Brown, P. 2025 pp.49-52.

John went to work for his Aunt Joanna's husband, Joseph Grigg, in a market garden in the right (south) gully of Brownhill Creek (Mitcham).

Thomas Henry , also initially worked on the Grigg's market garden property , Brownhill Creek, but later found work in the stone quarries, Magill. He moved back to Brownhill Creek with wife Annie Masters (1861-1909) with 5 of their 8 children in 1897 and purchased a large stone house and in A History of Mitcham by W.A. Norman, the house is listed as the oldest house in Mitcham.Thomas also worked in the Mitcham quarries as a teamster, driving a five-horse team to cart stone to Mitcham Railway Station. Thomas Henry's fourth son, John Thomas (1893-1958), had children who lived in the Loxton and Barmera Riverland area as fruitgrowers, one being his 5th son, Richard James Mules (b. 1934). He married Joy Nitschke (b. 1935).

This is the 2nd line of Mules that I uncovered in research, courtesy of contact with Joy Nitschke.

Cornwall to South Australia

Now we briefly detour to the Cornwall-South Australia connection.

The Cornish people are my and Dad's descendants..their ancestors being  the Celts. Cornwall is the southernmost county of the UK, or the 'foot' of the UK.

The Cornish are recognised as a national minority. They had their own language which disappeared in the18th century. Their accent is peculiar to Cornwall. The mining in Cornwall, called 'streaming' goes back to at least a 1000BC, when mediterranean traders came to trade for the metal. Copper and china clay were mined. From 1850-1890, mining times were difficult and a large part of the Cornish population emigrated to all parts of the world, including the South Australian copper mines at Burra, mid north S.A. and Kapunda and Moonta, the copper Coast on York Peninsula.

Agricultural labourers followed as they found it difficult to live in Cornwall with fewer people to feed and the mechnisation of work. Brown, P. 2025 pp.14-16

Burra settlement opened in 1851 but the mine in 1848. There were a set of townships called 'the Burra'. 85% of copper in South Australia and 55% of the world's copper was produced at Burra over 15 years.  Together with  the Kapunda mine, Burra was regarded as saving the South Australian economy! The mine was closed in 1877 but there had been serious house issues, people living in dugouts and disease outbreak. Brown.P 2025 pp24-33

Moonta: 1861-1923

165kms north/north west of Adelaide and together with Kadina and Wallaroo the area became known as the 'Copper Coast'. The SA Government advertised for miners from Cornwall and by 1917, the population exploded. The mine ceased operation in 1923. Moonta has several heritage buildings ,thanks to the mine'a success: the Methodist Church, Town Hall and Railway Station. These are all close to beautiful Moonta Bay with its jetty and pristine sea view.

Wallaroo: The copper mine was discovered in 1860 and operated at peak 1870-1875. In 1889-1890 the Wallaroo and Moonta Mines were managed by the one mining company and it was the largest industrial operation in South Australia in 1906. Regrettably in 1900 there was a typhoid outbreak. Conditions for housing were not hygenic. The mine closed in 1923.

Today the Copper Coast is a significant tourist region with holiday houses and the historic buildings and Cornish history at Moonta. A Cornish Festival (Kernowek Cornish language) is held every two years to pay tribute to the Cornish emigrants who contributed culturally and economically at considerable human sacrifice , to the South Australian economy.

Moonta, Kadina and Wallaroo were known as 'Little Cornwall'. You can still  buy the iconic Cornish  Pasty there, with its crusty handle for miners to carry into the mine.

Cornish was the only language spoken in Cornwall but by 1550 more Cornish people began to speak English when the prayer book was written in English instead of Latin. The Cornish people got angry and there was a rebellion. By 1800, only a few people could speak Cornish so Cornish as a language became endangered.

Since then, the  Bible has been translated to Cornish and  there has been a Cornish language revival.

The Cornish regard themselves as distinct, individualistic;

"Cornwall, the tail of England, aloof and rather splendidly detached".

"All for one and one for all".

Grandpa

Frederick Mules 1893-1962 was born at Brownhill Creek , the 4th child of John Thomas Mules (my great Grandpa).

Grandpa Fred was ony 2 when his Father died. He was required to leave school at 12 to work on the market garden for his Mother Annie Orchard/Mules. Fred had a fiery temper and was nicknamed 'Jobber' around Mitcham. In other words., he got into fights. Fred and wife (Grandma) Edith Alvera Blytheman, (1892-1972) had 6 children. My Dad, John Richard Mules, was their third child and only son.

In brief, Fred enlisted in the Australian Military, A.I.F. Australian Infantry Force in 1917 (WW1). He needed his wife's permission to enlist and Grandma denied permission! What a feminist!. However, they did eventually sell up their house at Mitcham and Grandma and children moved to her Parents' house in Price Avenue Mitcham. Fred went on to serve in the lighthorse Regiment in Egypt and Palestine. He had success in boxing competitions in the military but unfortunately, he contracted malaria and was discharged from the army in 1919 (3 years of service). This recurring health issue put the family in economic ruin on his return from the war. My Dad described their life as 'Struggle Street', moving from house to house in the hills and also in the Richmond area as at nearby Netley where  Mules family members had a successful market garden and occasionally provided Fred with work.

Fred had even obtained a soldier settlement lease at Brownhill Creek but the Repatriation Dept cancelled the lease when Fred failed to appear for a hospital appointment for his malaria.

There were other family incidents or misfortune; a cart accident when Fred was taking Grandma and Aunty Winnie (their 4th child) to Adelaide for treatment of her polio. Grandma was pulled under the cart and was badly injured. Durinng her recovery, their eldest daughter, Myrtle had to leave school to run the household and look after her siblings.

Yet they seemed to want for nothing. At each house, they had a cow, fowls, grew vegetables and were self sustaining. Dad did odd jobs when Grandpa took a lease on a cherry orchard at Montacute. It would have been tough, but in true Cornish style, they battled on and stayed together as a family.

Grandma and Grandpa's grave is at West Mitcham Cemetery, Adelaide, South Australia

John Richard Mules (Dad) and his family

Fortunately Dad wrote a personal memoir of his own life, (2000) having completed the Mules History (1989).

Birth and Childhood

   "I was born 30 April 1922 at the home of our aunt Elsie Blytheman ( Nee Mules) on Rowalen St, Torrens Park. Annie Marie Mules (nee Orchard) was midwife. I was the 3rd child and only son of Fred and Vera- a 10 pound baby. Dr K Gault, Mum's Doctor, was not present at the birth.

First home

Brownhill Creek. The house was large, had a permanent spring, orange trees and a large walnut tree (1954 earthquake killed the tree).

In 1925, my Dad's (Fred) malaria flaired up so we moved to Crafers. (Adelaide Hills). We had electricity and running water, although water was plentiful from  the spring. Hurricane lamps provided light after dark. My Fsher grew most vegetables: parsnips,sweet turnips, cabbage, cauliflowers and took the vegetables to the East End marketeach week, sometimes twice a week.

I was very young, probably three, when I started to go with him to the market. I was enthralled by the hustle and bustle at the market and the characters who were part of the scene. Counting the day's takings was a chore I enjoyed. For pocket money, I picked mint and watercress that grew along the creek and sold them at market for sixpence a dozen bunch.

School

I attended Crafers Primary School, a three teacher school. Cooking and  for some reason, sewing were the main subjects. My two elder sisters attended with me and we walked three and a half miles uphill to school. (It's a very hilly area). By this stage I had a couple of goats and a cart, and was allowed to harness them and ride the cat to school. I remeber the trip was very rough.

One day, I was in my billycart when for some reason, the goat ran down the hill into a quarry. I managed to jump clear before the goat and cart went plunging into the quarry. Many tears were shed over the loss of my best billygoat.

My sister Myrtle (eldest sister, grade 7), taught class when teachers were absent. She had taught me to read even before I started school. Now our house had pet possums that would eat out of our hands and allow us to pat them. We had 2 cows and along with sister Pearl (2nd eldest) , it was my job to milk them twice a day,including  before school.

Sunday School: Sundays at the Baptist Church in the gully, two miles from home.

Tragedy/Accident

  Our home was a happy place until tragedy struck. My younger sister Winnie was stricken with infantile paralysis (polio)and Mum had to take her for treatment each week. On one ill-fated trip, while going down a steep metal road, the cart they were travelling on tipped over. While Dad and Winnie managed to jump clear, Mum was dragged under the overturned cart until Dad was able to stop the horses. This, combined with Dad's frequent bouts of malaria and the start of the Great Depression ,1920's, brought the family to financial ruin.

Eviction

The Repatriation Department evicted us from our home and Dad's means to earn a living. We were forced to move to the city. My parents rented a house in Argyle Avenue, Richmond, a suburb in south-west Adelaide." (not far from Mum n Dad and our family home at 9 Daly Street, Kurralta Park.)

  For the first time we had running water and electricity. which was quite special for us kids."

(Dad and the family took this in their stride and true to their Cornish descendants, they remained resolute, resilient, resourceful and together!)

The family made many moves after this but were able to acquire work from Dad's uncle Robert Mules who had a succesful market garden at Netley.

The family were on rations, 1930's dole, when families were given vouchers for bread, milk, meat and other groceries. Early in 1931, Grandpa moved the family to Montacute, in the hills, east of Adelaide to take up a shared lease of a cherry orchard. Of course the kids were again uprooted to attend a one teacher school but Dad recalls, "the teacher took a dislike to our family and it was not a productive learning period for me. The one exception was that the school had a small library and I read as much as I could as a third grader. The teacher was particularly hard on my younger sister, Winnie, who had polio. Several times I remember with my even younger sister, May, stopping the teacher from hitting Winnie."

An unwelcome hobby

   "At that time my hobby was collecting Birds' eggs. The teacher thought that corporal punishment was the solution to' mending my destructive ways'. I was lectured in conservation and told to find a less destructive hobby!

We kids enjoyed moving back to the hills, but it was short lived as my father decided that the cherry farm at Montacute was not a success.The depressed economy meant that he could not make enough money to support the family. The cherry orchard produced good crops but, with troubled times, prices were low and buyers didn't want some types.

In 1932 we moved back to the city, and rented a house in Argyle Avenue, Richmond, not far from a previous home. (also not far from my family home, 9 Daly St, Kurralta Park).

We went yo Cowandilla Primary School where I spent my primary school years from grades 4-7.  I was s successful scholar and was always in the top three with writing being my worst subject. (Here we get a glimpse of Dad's educational success which was passed on to me and my 3 siblings).I was always a 'nervy' person' and had shaking hands at an early age. I went to Richmond Baptist Church for Sunday School and I enjoyed the picnics, and the anniversary where I sang in the choir. They must have been short of people as I had no ear for music. " (Dad would often break into song as an adult, as did Mum, no self deprecating there!)

The family had several further moves in the Richmond/ Netley area. They also lived at a house before the sandhills and lakes where Brownhill Creek finshed its journey from the hills. The sandhills were later to become the Adelaide Airport.

While the family was still on rations, they could supplement it with rabbits,mushrooms, in season vegetables and had a cow, ducks and fowls. Truly self sufficient!

   "In grade 7, I was chosen to sing in the 'Thousand Voice Choir,' a yearly event in the 1930's.

My sports were football (Australian Rules) and cricket.

By Grade 7, I was working in the market garden and at plant nurseries for sixpence an hour. (This is significant as myself and older brother Bruce 'inherited' Dad and Mum's love of plants!) I saved to buy a pushbike..just over 2 pounds.

   My most memorable achievement in primary school was being awarded a medal for topping the school (score 640 out of 700) in the Qualifying Certificate.. a state -wide compulsory exam."

Secondary School

   "Thebarton Technical High School was my chosen school.

Most boys at that time left school at 14, but I was keen to improve my knowledge to become an accountant.or at least a clerk. I agreed with my parents that they would keep me at school, but I was to pay school costs, including books. At Technical High School, there were no academic subjects so we worked in wodwork, sheet metal and drawing.  My marks in the first year earned me a season pass to the South Australian Exhibition at Wayville in 1936. As it was within walking distance, I went often over 3 months that it was open. (now the Showgrounds where the 'Show' is held annually).

   In my first year of high school I won a prize for Maths. I skipped 2nd year and went to Intermediate class with a small student group and gained my Intermediate Certificate.

Prefect

While at high school  I was appointed as a prefect and represented the school in football and soccer.

First Job and Night School in Accountancy

In 1939, I started night school, studying bookkeeping and began my first full time job as a junior clerk in a two person office at NJ Denyer, tank makers and sheet metal workers, whose office was in the  basement at 22 Grenfell Street Adelaide with a factory at Mile End. During this period I started to study accountancy, through a correspondence course at Blennerhassetts Accountancy College. The fees were paid as you studied.

They operatd Australia-wide and held exams twice a year, which were recoginsed by the professional association."

Second Job, House move and meeting love of Dad's life, Lily Elizabeth Hewish, my Mum.

   "My second job was at Charles Howsons, refrigeration importers and service providers. During this time, my family moved from Richmond to 15 Albert Street, Mitcham, an old slate stone house, large enough to accommodate our family of eight.

Accident

   "In July, 1940, I was on leave. While cutting down a gumtree at my Aunty Winnie Tilley's house at Brownhill Creek, it fell on my foot, damaging my right big toe. My Cousin Claude Tilley, a motorbike enthusiast, was taking me home on his bike with me seated sideways on the petrol tank in front of him. We neede to stop to open a gate and when I got back on the bike, I accidently turned on the throttle, causing the bike to take off and sending both of us down a steep hill. (There are many malfunction stories of Dad with cars, his mobility scooter,etc). A thick patch of gumtrees stopped our fall. Claude managed to get the bike back on the road and we continued to my home.The next day, after an xray, my foot was put in plaster. I had broken my big toe.

   On Sunday, while I was recuperating in the sun, my younger sister brought two new friends home. One of those friends, Lily Hewish,  (b. 1924) would later become my girlfriend and wife. While the others went for a walk, Lily stayed behind and chatted with me." ( Dad was reserved but handsome. Mum could talk your head off).

So began a courtship of my Mum n Dad, just 16 and 18..but ended up a match made in heaven!"

Mum

Mum's early childhood was less difficult to Dad's. The family of 5 children lived at Sefton Prk, north of Adelaide. Mum completed high school at Nailsorth Technical High School and left at 15 to work at G&R Wills in the city as a dressmaker and finsher. She was expected to clothe herself while her parents offered board and lodging.

Both Mum and Dad were keen on ballroom dancing, (Liberal Club, North Terrace, Adelaide City and the Embassy Ballroom), country walks, visits to the beach, movies and visiting friends.

   "We were a loving couple who had fallen in love at an early age- Lily was 16 and I was 18. I travelled from Mitcham to Sefton Park, a two tram ride to see each Lily. She  had evening dresses in various colours and styles and was my perfect dance partner. She was a stunning redhead, with naturally curly hair." Brown, P 2025, p.112

Dad works at Pope Products

   "In early 1941, imported refrigerators ceased and I was retrenched from Howsons. I took a job as a junior clerk at Pope Products, Beverley. They were manufacturers of garden sprinklers, hose fittings,, sundry hardware and munitions."

This is signifcant as Dad stayed with this company for life! It was subject to a takeover later by Simpsons, and became Simpsons Pope, a well renowned whitegooods company. Dad eventually became the top boy as Chief Accountant!

Mum was retrenched from G & R Wills as was considered too old. She acquired work as a waitress at the Co-Op Department Store, Angus Street, Adelaide.

   "In 1941 we purchased a block of land at 9 Daly Street, Kurralta Park (originally called Grassmere)for 150 pounds,, that's $300 on time payment. Also that year I bought a 'glory box' for Lily." (glory boxes were often purchased by women of the time to acquire linen and essentials for setting up a home). It was a cupboard with 3 drawers at the top and doors opening to shelves and drawers at the bottom."

Army takeover, engagement, marriage

Crunch time

Brown, P, 2025, pp113-116.

   "In October 1941, I, like most 19 year old men, was called up to train in the Australian Military Force. I was enrolled in the 27 th South Australian Scottish Regiment (why I will never know, but they had a great uniform with the beret) and went to camp at Warradale, a southern suburb of Adelaide., where we were vaccinated against smallpox and given injections for other epidemic diseases. Lily and I would go dancing or to the movies when I had weekend leave. I was in E Company, the Vickers Machine Gun section. In November, I broke my little toe and was placed on light duties. On the 8th December, 1941, the day after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour, we were told we were to leave to defend our country."

Off to war

   "We were given an hour's notice to say our farewells. I went to the city to Lily's place of employment and our teraful goodbyes were said on the stairs. We were to be parted for 19 months.

The batallion travelled by train to Terowie on broad guage and then changed to the narrow guage train, the Ghan, which took us to Alice Springs. 48 hours later, we stopped at the Finke River to replenish the train engine with water. My sister Mrtyle was living there with her husband Tom who was a ganger on the railway and I was able to contact them to let my family know where I was headed.

From Alice Springs we were loaded onto open trucks for the journey to Larimah, south of Katherine in the Northern Territory. We then boarded 'cattle trucks' on the narrow guage railway for the last leg of the trip to Darwin.Along the way, we stopped at Barrow Creek, Tennant Creek, Elliott and Daly Waters, staying overnight in tents. When the train had to go up a steep slope, we were all unloaded to help the engine get over the hill. While the motor trucks were uncomfortable, the cattle trucks on the train were even worse.

Darwin

We arrived at the Military Camp in Winnellie, just south of Darwin, a week after leaving Warradale. We were housed in Nissan Huts, E Company with their Vickers Machine Guns, was sent to defence positions at Kingscliffe. Ammunition was in short supply, as the Eighth Division, who had been Darwin's defence force, needed most of the supplies when they moved out to Timor and Singapore. Because of my broken toe, I was sent back to Winnellie and reallocated to C Company in which I served for 13 months. Our company was sent to Koolpinyah, an old abbatoir, south east of Darwin, but due to the wet season were unable to get supplies. We survived on baked beans and rice, along with what we caught in the Adelaide River or exchanged with the local Abriginal tribe."

Japanese bomb  Darwin

    "We returned to Darwin in early February, 1942. I was in a work party at Vesty's Meatworkson the 19th February 1942, when the Japanese bombed Darwin. At first, we thought our planes, or possibly American planes, had arrived, but this notion was quickly dispelled. We took refuge under railway trucks. Fortunately Vestey's was not a target in the first raid, but I was scared stiff, a feeling that I would experience many times in 1942 and early 1943."

(Dad's life and that of his military mates was clearly on the line).

Press report re bombing of Darwin

 " The general view in the press was that reporting the reality of Darwin would create fear and panic among Australians. The Australian Army was defenceless against the Japanese bombardment and there is still controversy over the extent of the damage and the loss of life in Darwin.

There was a stampede of the civilian population and some service personnel moving south. The published casualty list of 19 killed was a joke, as the ships in the harbour were bombed, resulting in significant personnel losses. The next day our company was tasked with cleaning the beach near the wharf.

After the raid, we were moved from Winnellie to a defence position around Darwin airport where we dug slit trenches for protection. Many times, when the Japanese bombed the airport, I took refuge in the trenches. Fortunately, the battalion didn't suffer casualties as the bombs were often dropped wider or longer than the runway.

We were continually on alert, expecting an invasion at any moment,and nobody was more grateful than me that it didn't eventuate. The Japs usually came in the morning, but one afternoon, a friend and I were walking in Darwin town. As we strolled down Smith Street, the air raid siren went off and we gook refuge in a gutter, which was deep enough to carry rain from tropical storms. An anti-personnel bomb landed nearby, spraying the area with shrapnel.

When the Americans arrived with their Kitty Hawk fighters and a new airstrip was completed 50 miles south of Darwin, our battalion was moved to this new airstrip, located alongside the main North-South Highway. Here, we were less vunerable to air raids and we set up a more permanent camp."

Funny story

   "One night, I was on guard duty when I saw a gleaming streak coming towards me, and I fired a shot from my rifle, waking the whole company. The streak turned out to be a large python (snake) which I hadn't identified. I was put on report and had to appear before the Company Commander, who reprimanded me and removed my beer and cigarette rations for a month. This didn't bother me as I neither smoked nor drank beer at the time."

  Brown.P.2025 pp. 117-120

Dad's misdemeanour

   "While we were stationed at the airstrip, our platoon was chosen to test survival rations-dehydrated meat and vegetables, along with sweets-over two weeks, marching about 20 miles a day, carrying full gear. Upon returning to camp, I refused to carry the platoon's WW1 Lewis Machine Gun, tossing it to our officer as I was exhausted. Of course, the officer charged me with a misdemeanour, and I was assigned extra duties cleaning up the camp area. (There is some dispute as to the actual punishment with an alternative view that Dad was demoted from Seargeant but I cannot verify this).

During this time, we had time off to play sports or engage in other activities within the battalion area. Football was played between the companies, and we occasionally played baseball with the Americans. I played football and we won the competition, as we had four players who had played senior football in Adelaide. Our band, consisting of drums and bagpipes, played after church parades on Sundays and on other days after reveille-it was the first sound we heard each day.

   With the arrival of a squadron of English Spitfires, mostly piloted by Australians, and a completion of an airstrip at Batchelor, our battalion moved to this area on defence duties with anti-aircraft responsibilities. We thought we would be safe from air raids, but it didn't take long for the Japanese to discover the presence of the Fighter Squadron. We endured several raids, but with radar now detecting their approach, the Spitfire Fighters were ready, and only a few Japanese planes managed to get through to bomb the planes' airstrip- for which we were very thankful. Our platoon position at one end of the strup was vulnerable if the Japanese overshot or were short of their target.

   The battalion was asked to join the AIF, and we were required to have a medical. I had been on the sick list with nerve and muscle control issues, and I failed the medical, with the doctor saying, "I was unfit for military service". I was transferred to the transit depot at Adelaide River, but the battalion sent me to the hospital, where I spent two days in the psychiatric ward until they realised I was meant to go to the transit depot." (Dad was actually treated with electro magnetic therapy to his brain. In the 1940's, that was not a precise science nor medical intervention. Shades of 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'.)

Army Life gets a little easier

  " I thought from there I would be going home, but instead I was transferred to the Australian Army Canteen Service  at their Northern Territory Headquarters at Adelaide River, where I worked as a clerk. The situation was much less traumatic, with me working six days a week, office hours, from 8am-4pm. However, we had extra duties guarding the store's area about every third day. On one occasion, I wasn't woken by the outgoing guard and was put on a charge for failing to carry out my assigned job, which resulted in losing a week's pay. " (This would have really hurt Dad as he was so careful about money).

Promotion

   "Life was less stressful, and we had entertainment, including picnic race meetings and concert performances that often involved participation by our group. I made it into the chorus a couple of times. After about two months, I was transferred to the Internal Audit Section, where I was given two stripes and promoted to Corporal.

   Leave was allowed on Sundays, and I went to visit my old mates in the 27th Batallion, who were back at the airstrip, 53 miles from Darwin. They were packing up and getting ready to leave the Territory, and I was envious of their transfer. I had to serve another four months before I returned tp Adelaide. In the audit section, I travelled from Darwin in thr north to Alice Springs in the south."

Engagement

   "In June 1943, after 19 months in the Territory, I was told that I was to be transferred to the South Australian Division of Army Canteeen Services. I made my way south by train to Larrimah, then by Army bus to Alice Springs, and finally on the Ghan train to Adelaide. It took about a week before I reached Adelaide. I was fortunate enough to see a concert by the well known singer Mario Lanza at both Larrimah and Alice Springs. The concerts were mainly for the American Servicemen. I arrived back in Adelaide in early July 1943."

Brown, P. 2025 pp.119-122

Home at last!  Engaged!

   "I had a joyful reunion with Lily, my Mum, Dad and my sisters. Lily was ecstatic for me to be serving in South Australia, and we were engaged on 17 July, 1943, three years after our first outing. My job took me to many parts of the state, including Mt Gambier (south-east) , Terowie, Cook, Loveday Internment Camp and Morgan (Riverland), but I was in Adelaide for three weeks each month. Two months after my return, I was promoted to Sergeant, which made travelling easier, and I could eat in the Sergeant's Mess.

   Lily and I spent every hour together. I was living at home (Mitcham) and each night would catch two trams to Lily's place, where I would take the tram to Enfield, then catch the last tram to Mitcham. Several times, I fell asleep on the Enfield tram and ended up at Colonel Light Gardens, resulting in a long walk home. The conductors got to know me and would wake me up either in town or at the Mitcham terminus. Weekends were spent at Lily's place where her parents were happy for me to stay overnight, allowing us time to spend together."

Our Marriage

   "After a discussion with Lily's parents, we decided to get married and live with them until we could find suitable housing. They allowed us to use Lily's old bedrooom, which we furnished with a new bedrom suite. On 7 Ocotober, 1944, we were married by Reverend Hambly at Pirie Methodist Church. Lily's mother organised the catering for a reception at the local Enfield Hall on Main North Road.

Mum n Dad cut the wedding cake

   "We spent our wedding night at the Grosvenor Hotel in Adelaide ( it was and is a prestigious venue) and after a long wait, boarded a train to Pt Elliot-a four hour trip from Adelaide (now a one and half hour trip by car). We rented a guest house called the 'Tooruli', and apart from some early trouble with bed bugs, we set about enjoying each other's company and the joys of happy marriage.

Port Elliot was a favourite destination for Lily, who had been there on holidays with her parents. I happily joined her in watching the waves hit the rocks and send sprays into the air. (Port Elliot and neighbouring Victor Harbor/Granite Island, connected by a causeway) have always been popular holiday spots for South Australians due to their natural picturesque beauty. (We visited many times as kids by car: pies, pasties and kitchener buns on the Vixctor Harbor eslanade, a walk on Granite Island to find penguin nests.. just a joy for us nature lovers.)

   Upon our return to Enfield, we began our married life with little anxiety about whether we would be compatible living with Lily's parents. They made us very welcome, and for the most part, it was a comfortable arrangement, with only occasional disagreements." (Mum and her Mum both had fiery temperaments. It was their way or the highway. But in one houesehold there can only be obe highway and I'm sure that Nsna ruled the roost!).

   New Guinea: New Baby Annoucement

Brown. P 2025 pp123-127

New Guinea, New Baby

   "In Febraury 1945, Lily was proud to announce that she was pregnant. As I was still stationed in South Australia, we thought life was good, but our joy turned sour when I received orders to be transferred to New Guinea. Lily was extremely upset and lost a lot of sleep before my departure. I left for New Guinea in June, 1945, travelling by train to Brisbane, Queensland. In those days, it was the Overland to Melbourne, the Spirit of Progess to Sydney, and the Northerner to Brisbane- a long three-day journey. After a couple of weeks, during which I was sent to Townsville and back, I was included in the troops boarding the Kanimbla for the journey to Port Moresby. From there, I caught a plane for the flight over the mountains to the Army Canteen Headquartrs in Lae, on the northern end of New Guinea.

   The journey by ship was very interesesting as we passed several whales, almost as long as the ship, and groups of dolphins. The meals on board were excellent, with three courses and a choice of main dish. Fortunately, the weather was calm, and the sea remained smooth throughout. The flight to Lae, however, was my first time on a plane, and unlike the sea journey, it was quite rough- I was relieved to land.

   My duties involved auditing the canteen services at various centres around the islands, and we flew in a DC-3 aircraft, known as 'biscuit bombers' because of their task of supplying outposts with food and ammunition.On one trip, returning from Rabaul, the plane suddenly lost altitude and I slammed against the roof of the cabin, feeling violently nauseous. Seating on the planes consisted of canvas slings along one side of the aircraft, with a holding belt attached to a rail above the seat.

  I was sent to Aitape to audit and close the canteed and then move the stores to Weewak, which had become Army Headquarters in New Guinea. It was situated on the northwest shore of New Guinea. As the landing barge was unloading the stores, the Navy was shelling  the Japanese forces up the hills above us."

Trevor arrives: now a Dad in New Guinea to see his first born 9 months later!

   "Lily gave birth to our son, Trevor John, on 3 November, 1945 at McBride's Hospital Medindie. She had a very difficult birth, with a long labour. To make things more difficult, the Tramway Employees were on strike, which made it hard for her mother to visit, as she had a long walk to reach Lily. They sent me a telegram, but it took a week to reach me.

(Regretably the copy of the telegram was poor quality and unpublishable).

My brother-in-law, Keith Johns, who was in a nearby camp, helped me celebrate the joyous event. We were housed in tents on the edge of the beach, which made it easy to go for a swim at any time, as the weather was hot and humid. Usually, we got out of bed and went straight in for a swim instead of showering, as fresh water was scarce-even hough it rained almost daily.

End of War

   "I was still in New Guinea when the Japenese surrendered. I saw them coming down from the hills in single file, and as they approached the main camp, they were searched, and all weapons were confiscated, including the officers' swords. The surrender ceremony of the Japanese was held at Wewak, and I was in the audience.

   On the way back to Lae, I travelled by American barge to Madang, where I saw my brother-in-law to be, Vic Foyle, (Aunty Pearl's husband), who had a jungle juice liquor still. He and his mates kept filling up my mug, but just as quickly, I was emptying it on the ground behind me. I flew from Madang to Lae to complete the journey. We were housed in huts among coconut palms, which were comfortable. Tropical electrical storms were common and during one, a fireball entered the Sergeant's Mess, demolishing the building. It was a frightening experience."

HOME

   "When peace was declared, we were given a point score based on the lentgth of service and marital status. My points were high, but because of the nature of my job, I wasn't allowed to go home until January 1946. I flew to Port Moresby and was then flown to Australia as a passenger on a Flying Boat, which landed in Rose Bay, Sydney. From there, T took the train to Adelaide. While the train arrived early in the morning, it tok all day to go through the discharge process, and it was late afternoon when I arrived home at Enfield.

   Lily greeted me with, "About time you got home', as she had expected me earlier after I sent a telegram from Sydney. She was overjoyed to see me, and I her. It had been a long seven months. She introduced me to our son, Trevor John, and I was a very proud father!"

( For the most part, it would seem that Dad enjoyed New Guinea, promotion, responsible job, travel and respect from army personnel.  While other servicemen would have duly celebrated the Japanese surrender, as did Dad, he would have understood the gravity and significance of this moment in Australian History. Of course, the highlight of this entry is Dad's return to Adelaide, to Mum and his son.)

Back in Civvies (1946) Home, Building a house, arrival of Bruce and Twins, Work

  "After a two week break in which I got to know my son, I returned to my pre-war employer, Pope Products, at their Beverley plant as a clerk in the pay office on a salary of five pounds, five shillings a week" ($10.50) (Of course, Dad recalled his exact salary).

Dad was a lifetime employee of Popes, then, after a takeover, with Simpson Pope, a well known whitegoods company. He endured various bad business decisions by the company to take over other businesses but he kept them economically safe and rose to the pentultimate rank of Chief Accountant!

Back to home life...

  "We were unable to find alternate accommodation, so we continued living with Lily's parents, who were generous, asking only minimal board. There were many times when life was difficult with a young baby whose cries worried Lily's mother, so we spoiled him by rocking him to sleep at night and going to him when he cried.

Later, when he could walk, Lily left him home while she went to the butcher. She received a surprise when he came into the shop, finding his way there on his own on his tricycle. Another time, he followed me to the tram, and Lily's aunt found him on Main North Road in his dressing gown-he was going to work with Daddy!"

  Building our home

  "In late 1947, we received permission from Material Control to proceed with our house. War Service Homes financed the build, foundations laid in early 1948. After a long 18 months, the house was completed in July 1949.

Then followed the task of furnishing, floor coverings and eventually whitegoods like a washing machine and refrigerator.. all possible as Dad's work salary increased.  Bulk milk and unwrapped bread were delivered daily and the iceman would replenish the ice hest pre refrigerator. The grocer picked up the order weekly and the green grocer delivered separately." Those were the days of the fifties with suppliers to your door!

Finally in 1950, I completed my accountancy studies and received my Diploma from the Federal Institute of Accountants, which later became the Institute of Practising Accountants. Meanwhile I was moved back to Beverley in the accounts office as Senior Clerk, responsible for general accounts and physical work.

  When we moved to 9 Daly Street, the block was undeveloped with 3 large tree stumps. With the help of neighbours and their machinery, we removed them, using the wood in our lounge logfire during the colder months.

Bruce joins us

   "Shortly after we moved, Lily became pregnant with our second son, Bruce Rodney, born on 28 June, 1950.

After the drama of getting to the hospital by taxi during a severe thunderstorm, I can happily report that Bruce was a happy baby, except at mealtimes, when he made sure we knew that he was hungry.

During 1950, we prepared the ground of the house block to plant lawns...quite a task as the block was covered in nutweed!

With two chidren we decided we needed  to fence the block and this was achieved with help from neighbours. All our children spent their primary school days at Plympton Primary, one of the oldest schools in the state. They had a fundraising event called Fun and Fireworks, held in November each year. The children loved it with usual stalls and entertainment.

 As my job role improved to Works Accountant, a more senior role, we bulit an extenion to the house, 'the sleepout'."

   The Twins are Here

      Brown P, 2025 pp138-146

     "We decided it was time to have a daughter, and in December, 1953, Lily became pregnant with twins- Neil Alan and Pamela Fay, born 31 August 1954. " (Of course, in those days, Mum and Dad did not know they were having twins and their family of children doubled in size!)

 Despite almost starving us to death with the wrong measurement of formula, we survived to live happy and healthy lives. In fact all of us kids achieved well educationally with completion of tertiary degrees and post graduate studies. We were all gainfully employed:

Trevor, an Economics Professor, Bruce, a Senior Biology Teacher, Neil a career diplomat and an Australian Ambassador in his latter career and me a secondary school teacher and later a tutor and lecturer at university in Sociology and Psychology while also working as a university counsellor.

Dad, as a result of his battle in childhood to receive education, was determined that we would experience otherwise and achieve well. He was a hard task master but clearly we did not disappoint him.

  Life goes on.....cars, holidays ,golf, more holidays

     "In April 1954, we bought our first car. I bought one form Pope's as they were trading down cars and we had an Austin A40. (Later Dad became a 'Holden fan' from an FJ to manyother models, some sponsored by his work.) In 1956 we purchaed our first Holden car, as we had a bigger family.

The same year I was asked to go to Western Ausralia for work as Pope Products had bought Teske Engineers, Perth, Western Australia, (WA) as Popes had decided to manufacture refrigerators.In June 1956, I was asked to go to WA to check their costings and control systems. I did so with Lily but as she would not fly , we did the long haul by train, while the family, her and my Mother cared for the children. In 1959 Dad was offered a hefty promotion to WA operations for Popes but Mum refused to leave South Australia, her Mother, and argued her case that Neil and I were about to start school." (Mum did not like change and certainly would never have contemplated moving away from her family. Dad, well, I think he was bitterly disappointed and never viewed it as a lifetime position but Mum 'ruled the roost'.) Consequently, Dad's career advancement was rather halted for quite some time.)

The kids' interests

  Dad describes Bruce as the ' Naturalist' as from an early age he collected lizards, tortoises and frogs and had a pet galah. Dad built the cages to house them. Later Bruce develeoped an interest in orchids and Dad built a glasshouse and shade house for him.

Mum and Dad had a typical 1950's garden on the quarter acre block..a back lawn, a lemon tree, several stone fruit trees, a chook run and Dad's veggie patch and Mum's little garden of winter bulbs.

In the 70's, Mum transformed the driveway side into a native garden, with hakeas, grevilleas, banksias and bird attracting flowers.

 Trevor's pursuits were music and surfing. Dad refused to buy Trevor a guitar when he was about 16, as Dad thought it would interfere with his studies.

Neil and I were always referred to as 'the twins'. We were chalk and cheese and only shared a womb. Neil excelled at school. I did ok but was always in his shadow until high school. Guess I had an identity crisis! I was sporty..netball, softball , tabletennis and just loved being outdoors. Dad took me to all my netball games up to age 17. Neil had more sedentary interests: coin and stamp collecting and a strong interest in African animals. He was able to see them 'live' on various holidays and overseas work postings.

Dad and Mum had their own interests, Dad's was golf from 1959 and Mum did china painting and tapestry after the 'empty nest' from  1975.

One childhood anecdote re Bruce, 'the Naturalist' was a family favourite shared every Christmas.

   "Bruce was a happy child who preferred playing with things he made rather than toys we bought. Around age four, he set fire to our side paling fence while playing with matches. A passer by saw the flames and knocked on the door to inform Lily, who was busy with the twins. The stranger put out the fire and Bruce, who went to the comfort of his bed at the ime, was suitably chastised!" Brown, P 2025 pp.142-3

Holidays

As kids we visited Port Victoria on Yorke Peninsula SA over several Xmases.

Later, as Dad's financial position improved, we visited Barmera, Sydney, Melbourne, Victorian Snowfields, Kangaroo Island, Port Lincoln and the Flinders Ranges.. Mum n Dad's favourite place.

Post retirement 1989, Mum and Dad visited Turkey and Zimbabwe, Overseas postings of Neil, Indonesia, and a world tour of Europe

During their latter years, their 80's, 2000's onwards, they both had ailing health.

They did have a good and happy life and as kids, we could not have wanted a  better family life...trips to the hills to forage for mushrooms, wildflowers in spring and visits to Victor Harbor and Pt Elliot beachside.

As adults, we all lived interstate, us kids, apart from Bruce ,who lived in Pt Pirie and became Mum n Dad's distant but main carer. I married and had 2  children after moving to Queensland in 1981 for my husband's teaching job. Mum and Dad dearly loved their two grandchildren, Travis and Courtney. We had Gold Coast holidays together over several years until the kids reached their teens. Our son, Travis enlisted in the army in 2002 and served for 15 years in stores with deployments to New Guinea and East Timor.

Both our children are married with children of their own. Travis relocated to Adelaide in 2010 and spent much time with Mum and Dad. Just prior to Dad's passing in 2012, Travis inherited all Dad's army memorabilia as none of my three brothers wanted it.

That's the 'last leg', admittedly done in abbreviated form, but all significant events, life circumstances of John (Jack) Richard Mules, my Dad, are related with pride, admiration and as a recipient of Dad's values : hardworking, honesty, generosity and a strong sense of family.

They were the 'Best Cherries'

Reference:

Brown. P. 2025 Annotation of:

Mules, J.R. 1989 The Mules Family History: Devon-Cornwal-Australia

Mules, J.R. Personal Memoir 1922-2001

Brown. P .2025: Mules Family update 2001-2024.

published by Clarke and Mckay 2025