Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Bob was born at Norwood (SA) on 9 Jul 14. He was the eldest son of Robert Coad and Dora Coad (nee Prior). Bob’s schooling was transitory, taking place wherever Robert Coad senior was working at the time. The family moved to Tumby Bay during the Depression.

It was a short time after this that Bob met and married Annie “Lorraine” Bawden in the mid 1930’s and settled in the Tumby Bay area. He worked on a number of farms in the area for several years. During this time they had 4 girls; Dot Briese,
June Fiegert (deceased), Heather Degner and Colleen Qualmann.

Bob was almost 29 years of age when he enlisted in the Army at Wayville (SA). He then undertook recruit training at Warradale before joining the 2/10 Battalion and embarking for New Guinea. He served as a stretcher bearer with this Battalion for two years (approximately). He was then transferred to 2/7 Australian Transport Platoon, Army Service Corps (ASC) in Borneo; he remained with this unit until his discharge at the end of the war

On return to Tumby Bay his family of 4 expanded to one of 9, with the birth of 3 more girls (Vi Coad, Helen Butler and Karol Holliday) and 2 boys (John and Bill). In the ensuing years Bob continued to work on local farms as well as unloading the weekly supply ship, building the town’s water supply tank and “lumping” on the wheat stacks, until in 1949 he was allotted a Soldier Settlement Farm, “Yalluna”. He remained on the farm for 32 years, until his death in 1971. His son Bill and Grandson Dennis still work this farm.

The RSL was Bob’s greatest interest outside of the family. He was also an active member of the Tumby Bay and Hutchison Fire Brigade. In later life both he and Lorraine enjoyed lawn bowls at Tumby.
Bob is buried in the cemetery at Tumby Bay.
Lorraine now resides in the Cleve Nursing Home and is grandma to 30, Great Grandma to 46 and Great Great Grandma to 3 of the extended Coad family, with most still residing in the local Tumby Bay community