Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Cecil Francis (Ginger) and his twin Allan Richard (Lefty) were born on the 6th May 1912 at Curramulka, a farming area on the Yorke Peninsula. Their father, Richard Francis Poole was mayor of Port Lincoln for over a decade. The boys had one older brother, Leslie and a younger, William Albert Charles (Bill) plus five sisters including Clissie, Bub, Dawn, Ida Irene and Joyce.
The twins grew up in the Port Lincoln district, on their parents’ property called ‘Dawnville’ at Kirton Point, attending the local school. Post school Cecil became a joiner. Whilst his eyesight prevented him from being an active sportsman, Cecil particularly enjoyed dancing.
In May ’33 the family celebrated the 21st birthdays of Allan and Cecil at their home which was patriotically decorated with yellow chrysanthemums and green and gold streamers. Games, dancing and competitions were conducted. Their father presented the boys with two miniature old keys as well as two inscribed larger keys. One of the attendees was local girl, Amy May Cantlon who was also a good dancer and invariably a willing helper at events with Cecil’s sister, Ida Poole, including helping coordinate a New Year’s Day picnic.
The following year Cecil and Amy became engaged in January. They made a fine dancing couple, attending fortnightly dances including those for the St John’s Ambulance Brigade and other local events. Two years later, In March ’36 Cecil and Amy married at the Port Lincoln Methodist Church with their reception being held at the Poole family home. In July ’38 Cecil and Amy welcomed their own set of twins, Robert Francis and Marlene Joy born at the Port Lincoln Hospital. They later welcomed two more daughters, Jillian, and Sandra.
It was not until April ’42 that the West Coast Recorder was able to report the entire Poole family managed to meet up in Adelaide, the first time since the war began. Soon after, aged 30, Cecil was finally accepted into the armed forces as SX8948 in November ’42 after his seventh attempt to enlist, working with the 34 Trig Battalion, then training in an Intelligence course and joining the Infantry Special Group.
The local paper reported that ‘While in Adelaide last week, Mr. and Mrs. R. F. Poole had the opportunity of a reunion with practically the whole of their family for the first time since early in the war. Trains arriving almost simultaneously at the Adelaide Railway Station brought members of the family from the North and the Eastern States, enabling them to all see each other for 10 minutes. In addition to Mr. and Mrs. Poole, were A.C.I. Les. Poole, Lieut. Bill Poole, Sgt. Allan Poole, Mr. Cec. Poole (who works in munitions) and four of Mr. and Mrs. Poole's five daughters. Soon after the sons scattered again. Captain Bill to Darwin, Sergeant Allan in Adelaide and A.C.I. Les in Melborne with the RAAF Groundstaff). Cecil was working in munitions but by ’43 he was heading for Port Moresby in New Guinea, where he reverted to Private (having been a L/Corporal) and joining the famed 2/48th Battalion and graded as a Group II carpenter. As did so many of those serving in the area, Cecil unfortunately contracted Malaria. With the war coming to a successful finish, he was finally discharged in in May ’45.
Aged 82, Cecil died on the 15 Aug ’94. He is now remembered in the Happy Valley Cemetery at Port Lincoln.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.