Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Norman Leslie and Ronald Bruce were twin sons born in the mid-north town of Burra on the 6th March ’22 to Irene Maud and Stephen John Fitzgerald. They had an older brother, Stephen Edward John and a younger brother, Clyde. Unfortunately, when young Clyde was just three years old, he was kicked by a horse, contracted spinal tuberculosis and was in hospital until about 15 years old. Inevitably, it was challenging for him to adjust to ‘normal life’. In later years, Norman and his wife both supported Clyde.
The twins were just five years old when their 37-year-old father who worked for the South Australian Railways, died in December ’27. He was buried with his own mother in the Catholic section of the West Terrace Cemetery. Ron’s mother Irene later married again, becoming Mrs L.M. Lines. The boys attended the local Burra School where Norman and Ron vied to be the more academic twin, being mentioned several times in the local newspaper for their achievements. Norman and three of his friends were all dressed as shearers for a fund-raising event, which also included a school fund raiser Pet Show, held in the girls’ section of the school yard. (It was not uncommon to have separated areas for boys and girls in those times.) Norman also did well at the Burra Show, receiving a prize for his freehand mapping and crayon drawing in ’34.
In later years, Norman’s family moved to the city, but he maintained friendship with many of his Burra group. As an 18-year-old, Norm was riding his motorcycle with Ken Moore from Burra riding pillion. Unfortunately, the two were hit by a motor car at the intersection of William street and Osmond terrace, Norwood, with both then being treated for concussion and abrasions before being taken to hospital by a civil ambulance.
Post school, Norm worked as a Steward and later as a Barman in the Southern Cross Hotel. Both he and Ron served with the Militia, Norm as S39429 and Ron as S21429 both signing up on the 15th February ‘41. With the outbreak of WWII, older brother, Stephen had enlisted as SX6964 in ’40. He was allocated to the newly formed 2/48th Battalion which both twins were later to also join. Steve was exceptionally fortunate to survive a massive blast when a chance shell hit a truck loaded with mines during the battle for El Alamein in Egypt in October ‘42.
Norm became SX29355 and by March ’42 was promoted to Lance Corporal. Ron was allocated the number SX28904. His and Ronald’s Army service closely paralleled each other.
Norman faced a Court Martial on the 22nd May ’43 for disobeying, threatening, impeding and striking an officer. Despite escaping two of the charges, he was still sentenced to 150 days of detention and forfeited a huge 189 days of pay. It was an expensive exercise. Coincidentally, Sergeant Norman’s curiosity about the largest bomb was answered in a newspaper called Guinea Gold that month, revealing that 80001b. bombs, commonly known as 4-ton bombs, were the largest to date. July added to his lack of pay with instances of being AWOL.
Soon after, he moved from the Territory to Puckapunyal. In January ’44, however, his frustration with a superior officer erupted again with 28 days of pay lost and similarly his freedom. March and May that year saw instances of him being AWOL with the inevitable loss of pay and being confined to barracks.
Serving in New South Wales in ’44 was marked by tonsillitis and diphtheria and several incidents of time spent in the Waratah infectious disease hospital. The highlight was his marriage to Laurel Joyce on the 23rd November ’44, before officially joining the 2/48th Battalion at the end of the year as they prepared for service in the tropical conditions of New Guinea. By April ’45 he left Townsville, arriving in Morotai and thence to Tarakan. A promotion to Lance Corporal followed as the war drew to a successful conclusion. Steve was discharged on the 26th February ’46, Norman on the 29th March and Ron on the 17th April the same year. Norm acted as his older brother, Steve’s groomsman at his marriage to Gwendoline Montgomery, ex WAAAF in January ’46.
Post war, Norm was employed as a commercial traveller. The issue of medals caused angst as the Army strictly adhered to set dates, clearly making a distinction between five and six months of service to acknowledge earning a Defence Medal. It was frustrating that, having served together with his twin, Ron, both should not receive the same medals.
Norm had also become the unofficial carer of his young brother Clyde who was employed as a riveter but seemed to attract the wrong attention.
Soon after Laurel and Norm welcomed their second child, daughter Geraldine Dawn in January ’51, 25-year-old Clyde was fined £40 with 10/ costs after being caught illegally betting. In trying to protect Clyde, who was being questioned by the police, Norm protectively stepped in. Unfortunately, this earned Norm a fine also, of £10 with 10/ costs. The following year Clyde was again facing the force of the law when he attempted to forge two cheques for £12 each, and two of uttering them. He was released under a £50 three-year bond, with two £50 sureties, with conditions to reside with his wife and child, to place himself under his wife’s Betty Ann, and Norman’s direction, plus accept the employment opportunities they gained for him. Unfortunately, within two years Clyde broke the bond, forging and uttering two cheques of £12 each and failing to live with his wife and child and to be under Norm’s direction.
Aged 64, Norman died on the 3rd December ’86 and is interred in the Enfield Memorial Park Cemetery in the RW Robinson Garden of Remembrance RLE 81. He is also remembered in the S.A. Garden of Remembrance at Centennial Park Cemetery. Laurel Joyce now rests with him following her death on the 29th July 2006. They are mourned by their children, Robert, Geraldine, Barry and Warren.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.