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War Memorial
Australia

Frederick Priester

Frederick was born in Renmark on the 24th May 1900 (but when enlisting shaved 4 years from this date). While still young, he began his family with his wife, Katherine and together they had five children, Donald, Cynthia, Coral, Bette and Mona (twins).

Based at Lindsay Creek, Fred was a tough, hardworking man of the River, earning his living as a professional fisherman.  Also, living on the Murray, it was not unexpected that Fred would be involved in rowing. As a 22-year-old, he was a strong fit young man, competing as a rower for the Berri Club with training extending from No. 4 Pump back to the Berri Rowing Club’s shed. He also enjoyed a game of billiards, successfully representing Berri against Loxton, with a leading score of 290. Similarly, when the new Renmark Billiard Salon opened in September 1922, watched by over 100 spectators, Fred represented Berri in the Millards, 750 up but lost when he reached 623. The following year he reversed this with success representing Berri against Waikerie.

At the hugely popular Taldra Athletics Meeting of 1924, Fred also proved to be a capable athlete in hurdling and the 135-yard Sheffield handicap. He also was a useful footballer for Taldra a Premiership team in the 1920’s and was a good all-rounder playing for the Buffs Cricket team.

Strongly built, Fred was a competent semi-professional fighter. In February 1922, he was involved in a preliminary, curtain raiser round at Barmera. The ‘Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record’ described the encounter: “Fred Priester and Tully fought a preliminary scheduled for ten rounds Tully, having had only short notice entered the ring out of condition, and under these circumstances did well to go seven rounds. The first round opened quietly, both men sparring for an opening. In the second Priester sailed in and completely overwhelmed his opponent. Tully went down for two seconds in the third, but rallied again in the fourth. The fifth round saw Tully at his best, but it proved to be only a temporary advantage, as Priester had him down again for four in the sixth. The seventh round opened with very solid exchanges, and Tully was again subjected to some very heavy punishment. At the end of the round, he requested his second to sky the towel, thus giving the verdict to Priester. Taking into consideration Tully's unfit ring condition, he fought gamely and did well to see out seven such hard-fought rounds. Throughout the contest the spectators were kept enthusiastic and both boxers received a great deal of applause with both men well, they should provide a great tussle, and it is the desire of Monday's spectators that they see them matched again at an early date.”

Two years later at the Arcadia Stadium in another preliminary fight prior to the Renmark welterweight championship in April of 1924, Fred was matched against Bill Westley. The ‘Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record’ recorded the progress of the fight: “Priester led off with a heavy swing with right but missed. Westley punched him with a quick right and left to face, but Priester covered well. The second round found them clinching. Priester again missed with right swing. Westley's foot work was superior. He swung to the body with his right and scored at infighting. As the gong went Priester connected with a heavy right swing to body. In the third round Westley scored to body and Priester missed badly. Westley scored at infighting and Priester got home a heavy right swing to body. Priester was inclined to hang on. In the fourth round both hung on. Westley scored with a left lead. Priester won. His tactics were marked by much aggressive fighting.”

Fred was not averse to taking his skills out of the ring. In 1935 he was fined 10/ and costs for fighting in Lum's billiard saloon. He also had an altercation with a fellow fisherman, Robert Holcroft that ended in court. The case centred around outstanding money owed to Fred for fish. Without supportive witness statements or having lodged a formal complaint against Holcroft, Fred was found guilty and fined ‘£2, with 7/6 court fees; council fees £2/2/0, and two witness fees at 7/6’ according to the May 1940 edition of the ‘Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record’. This incident preceded Fred’s decision to enlist but was not necessarily the reason.

Fred did well enough from fishing and his other pursuits that he was able to purchase a new Chevrolet lorry in 1925 to help cart his catch from Rufus to Renmark. Unfortunately, on one of his first trips, his rear tyre blew out, overturning the truck and throwing Fred and his two companions into a muddy pool. According to the local paper, ‘Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record’, all three received a severe shaking but no one was seriously injured, with the local agent temporarily fixing the vehicle so the journey could be completed. The incident did not deter him from listing his occupation as a motor mechanic when he enlisted, though.

With the outbreak of WWII Fred’s only son, Don was one of the first young locals to enlist on July 5th 1940. soon after his 20th birthday to become SX8039 with the 2/48th Battalion which was posted to Egypt. Fred also was determined to do his duty and initially was with the 4th Garrison Battalion as S684, then transferred to the 18 Garrison Battalion, before being discharged and enlisting in the A.I.F. as SX938 where he ‘adjusted’ his age by 4 years and become 35 years old. He was however soon discharged as medically unfit. Fred was certainly patriotic as he again enlisted to become SX8141 and be discharged before finally joining 4Motor Transport as SX11733 where he served as a driver in supply and transport. In his definitive book, ‘We Left Our Trucks at Changi’s Gate’ Anthony Wege explains that “the Army recruiters took a decidedly casual approach to ages.” The book traces the fate of the 2/4th RMTC “which had trucks as its weapon of war, got on with its business in the background supporting those who needed their people, supplies and equipment moved about in Singapore and Malaya in 1941 and into 1942. In February 1942 most of these soldiers became prisoners of war.” This was to be Fred’s fate

Both father and son were able to have time home on leave in October along with other Renmark enlistees. This was to be the last time they would see each other. Donald was quickly sent to Egypt with the 2/48th Battalion and Fred to Malaya.

Almost two years later, in 1942, Katherine received the news she had been dreading – Don had been wounded in action in Egypt on July 11th. To compound the effect of that distressing news, she also received official notification that her husband, Frederick was missing in Malaya. She had last heard from him in February, five months before the upsetting news. Prior to being transferred to Malaya, Frederick had also been serving in both Libya and Syria. It was to be an anxious wait for Katherine.

With Fred listed as missing in Singapore on February 19, 1942, Katherine finally received word that he was a Prisoner of War in Borneo in April of 1943 along with others who were also in the same supply and transport section. Her only comfort was that Don was home from the Middle East after two and a half years' service with the 9th Division. Her hopes for Fred’s safety were raised with the arrival of a card in September of ’44 from Frank stating that he was well. Six months later this flicker of hope was dashed as she was formally advised that Frank, who had been a prisoner of war in Japanese hands' for over three years, died of illness on March 22, 1945. The ‘Murray Pioneer’ recounted that Frank had been “in Malaya for 10 months, prior to being taken prisoner. A son also served in the Army, but he has now been discharged and is living in Adelaide.”

Anthony Wege in his detailed research of the 2/4th Reserve Motor Transport Company 2/AIF explains in detail the conditions pre- and-post the surrender that caused so many to become Prisoners of War. The card writing, which began in the middle of 1943 had to be in Capital letters as cursive could not be read or vetted by the Japanese; the message had to be brief and could not be critical of the captors. All of which gave such minimal information or comfort to families back in Australia.

By 1944 Frank’s daughter, Betsy, then aged 18 was one of three young women who enlisted as a WAAFS. It was her contribution to the war effort, knowing her father was a prisoner of war in Borneo and Don, her only brother had been in the A.I.F. for four years until his discharge. Two of Fred’s other daughters were by that stage civilian nurses.

Anthony Wege’s investigation summarises a little of the treatment metered out to the POWs. Fred’s background as a strongly built fighter, rower, footballer and man who stood up for himself would probably have marked him out. In light of his incarceration as a POW, Fred was listed for one of his fights as weighing 10 stone 21 pounds (73 Kg), a healthy weight of a fit man. The privations of life as a POW would have decimated someone of his build and character. He died as a POW in Ranau in Borneo of beriberi on 22 March 1945, aged 44 years. A cruel and totally preventable disease.

Fred was buried in the Labuan Memorial Cemetery, Borneo and his name is commemorated on panel 24.

Katherine and the family were devastated at the news, but were strongly supported by their community, placing a public thank you in the ‘Murray Pioneer’ in November ’45 ‘MRS. F. PRIESTER and FAMILY wish to thank all kind friends for cards and messages of sympathy in their sad bereavement. The family and the 4th Reserve M.T 8th Division, SA Section continued to remember Frank:

Murray Pioneer Thursday 21 March 1946, PRIESTER. —In loving memory of Frederick Priester, who died a prisoner of war in. Borneo on March 22nd, 1945.Inserted by his wife and family.

Advertiser Thursday 15 August 1946, and Friday 15 August 1947 4TH RESERVE M.T., 8TH DIV., S. AUS. SECTION. In memory of our Mates who died as P.O.W.'s. Sgts C. L. Caldicott. G. C. Redman. Cpls. R. Coker. C. A. Barkla, H. R. Davis. L Cpls C. R. Fuss. R. P. Hunt, Dvrs. S W Bonnett. E. J. Bourke. J. H. Beattie. R j. Coombe. M W. Cooling D. L. Crocker. P. Dempsey. A. H. Dyer, G. T. Gaul, P. P. M. Gillen, C. A. Griffin. R. K. R. Harrison. R. J. Jancke. J Lester. F. C Lebow, L. E. K. Pettman. F. Priester. H. A. Sandercock, C. R. Speake, E. E Sutton. C. M Smith, R. Thompson, R. E. Toomba, W. C. Willsdon, R. H. Wilson and Cpl A. McDonald, Base P.O. They shall grow not old, as we who are left grow old, Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun And in the morning We will remember them.

Murray Pioneer (Renmark, SA: 1942 - 1950), Thursday 20 March 1947, page 14 PRIESXER—In memory of F, Priester, who died of Illness while ii prisoner of war in Borneo, on March 22. 1945.—Inserted by his wife and family.

Advertiser (Adelaide, SA: 1931 - 1954), Saturday 22 March 1947, page 20 PRIESTER. — In memory of F. Priester, who died of illness while a prisoner of war in Borneo, on March 22, 1945. — Inserted by his wife and family. 

Post war, Katherine moved to live at Royal Park. She received Fred’s medals, the 1939/45 Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal, A.S.M. Medal in February of 1953. She was able to welcome her first grandchild, Mona and Laurie Flint’s son, Anthony Frederick. A fitting tribute by Mona to both her father and brother. Unexpectedly, Katherine died on the 30th March, 1954 and was buried at Centennial Park. Just two months later, Mona’s second child, a daughter Francine Evelyn Flint arrived.  

Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133 2/48th Battalion.