Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John was born in Denial Bay on the 12th December, 1920 to Felix Corr and Alice Ellen Mannix, a very strong Catholic family with Felix being one of the early pioneers of Fowlers Bay. He was one of eight children with five brothers, Peter, Harry, Leonard, Leo, and Felix. and two sisters, Irene and Dora. They grew up on the family farm, called Woola Farm, in Fowlers Bay on the Nullarbor Plain, an area initially known for whaling and fishing as well as farming. The priests from nearby areas including Port Lincoln and Streak Bay would not infrequently stay with the family and conduct Mass.
The children attended Coorabie School but were also involved in writing to ‘Aunt Jane’ a columnist in the West Coast Sentinel who encouraged children to write in and share their experiences. This John did with his letter published in August ‘29. “Dear Aunt Jane—Will you please accept me as a new nephew? I am eight years old. I go to Coorabie school, and our teacher's name is Mr. Pengelly, and I like him very much. I went to a football match at Coorabie yesterday. I am enclosing some contributions. Well, Aunt Jane. I will close now. with lots of love from MANNIX TOMNEY. Coorabie.—I am very pleased, Mannix, to have you for a new nephew, and I hope that you will write often. Do you like football matches? I suppose that you like to kick a football about the school yard. Give my love to your Aunt Sheila, please.”
Soon after his 10th birthday, John’s 65-year-old mother Alice, who had been unwell for some time, experienced a seizure resulting in her hospitalisation at the Penong Hospital. All six sons acted as her pall bearers. She was highly regarded with the Chronicle reporting that ‘Her life as a Christian was exemplary. Her family was her first consideration, while her neighbours received every other.’ His 72-year-old father, Felix died on the 1st August, 36, just prior to John’s 16th birthday.
John enjoyed sports, including tennis, despite the hot weather conditions, with one match being played in temperatures of 110 deg. in the shade according to the West Coast Sentinel of November ‘29
Aged 22 John enlisted in January 1942 at Wayville before being allocated the number SX15909 in the 2/48th Battalion. By the end of the following year, he was serving in New Guinea. There, in a massive, frontal fight for Coconut Ridge, John’s Company faced machine gun fire on the ground and snipers hidden in the trees. His fellow soldiers threw grenades as they ran forward, encountering covered enemy bunkers. It was under these conditions that, Privates Irvine Oglivie SX7643, Maurice Beecken SX8848, Hurtle Zacher SX13461 and Major Reginald Batten all from the 2/48th were killed in action on the 17th November ’43, or died of their injuries. 20 others were wounded. From the 2/48th, these were Privates Henry Bear, Linus Corcoran, Corporal William Snider, Colin Tonkin and John. This wounding in action was reported in the December ‘43 issue of the News.
The tropical conditions experienced in New Guinea meant that John contracted malaria, which he continued to experience while home on leave in March ’44. He and fellow 2/48th soldier, Sergeant Charles Matthews SX9555 also from Iron Knob were welcomed home with a social in their honour. Unfortunately, John had a further attack of malaria and was unable to attend. Fortunately, by January the following year he and Private Anthony Tobin SX22546 were both able to attend a subsequent social held at the Memorial Hall. The Whyalla News reported that ‘The entertainment was marred by power failure and rain. The 30 people present danced in the light of candles until the power came on at 11.30.’
John was finally discharged on the 21st January ’47, returning home to a much appreciated welcome by the Fowlers Bay community. He was able to have the next four years with his older brother, Peter, a farmer before his death in March ’51. Aged 47, John died in 1968. A plaque in memory of his service with the 2/48th Battalion is placed in the Iron Knob Cemetery.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion