Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Allan’s parents, Gladys Winifred Capper and Laurence John Theisinger married in Victor Harbor on January 3rd 1912 at the home of Laurence’s stepfather, Robert Sweetman. Allan was born on the 2nd July 1912 and three other children, Thelma Jean, Jack Raymond and Lillian May followed. (Of interest is that the family surname was spelt Theisinger on his father’s headstone and in local reports but all Allan’s AIF papers and headstone read ‘Thessinger’).
At the ’23 Port Elliot Country Show in a delightfully quaint children’s section, Allan won first prize for the ‘best cleaned pair of boots’ with the judge adding that ‘the fancy work and sewing specimens were of high order, the writing was weak, the drawing good’. His younger brother, Jack was an accomplished racing cyclist who won the ’36 15-mile race conducted by the Great Southern Amateur Cycling Club over a course along the Goolwa Road. Because of his speed, for the following 10-mile event he was allocated a 30 second handicap. While Jack and Jean seemed to be the athletes of the family, Allan did well in the boy’s school jumping event held on Labour Day in ’25 and the 100 yard and Sheffield Handicap run held at Jamestown in ’36 and again at Burra in ‘38.
Allan moved to live in the mid-north town of Jamestown, on the ‘right side’ of Goyder’s line so was a productive farming and timber growing area. There he was involved in the running of the family Jamestown dairy and milk supply business and met a young woman, Phyllis Taylor. However, WWII erupted and both Allan and his brother Jack both heeded the call for young men to enlist. 24-year-old Jack, a bread carter, had already enlisted on the 3rd July 1940, serving as SX9744 with the 2/3 M.G. Battalion. He rose to the rank of Corporal and served in the Middle East, as later did Allan. The following year, on his 29th birthday Allan also enlisted at Wayville on the 2nd July 1941, being allocated the number SX13535 in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. He was immediately shipped over to the Middle East to conditions far from the greenness and tranquillity of home. Dust, constant bombardment, heat and tinned bully beef were daily constants.
Any news about locals was shared amongst those back home. The Areas Express of July ’42 reported that ‘Pte. W. P. Fletcher, who has been reported as wounded in action, writing from overseas to Jamestown friends, on June 8, states that he had met Bob Fotheringham, Allan Thessinger and Allan Simpson, well known Jamestown men. Bill sent regards to local friends.’
At that stage his parents were living in West Whyalla, with their married daughter Lillian Gibbons. Laurence worked shift work as a slingman but in an horrific accident, Allan’s 48-year-old father, was killed in a road incident on the 16th April ’42 when the bicycle he was riding home was hit by a taxi on the previous evening. An inquest was held and Lillian’s husband, Clarence explained that “It was not his practice to take a light on his bicycle when he was working day shift. When he worked late, he would walk home with his bicycle in the darkness. On those occasions when he worked night shift, he had an acetylene light. Deceased enjoyed good health arid his eyesight and hearing were good. He did not wear glasses.” He had knocked off work at 6:33 pm and was heavily struck on his right side by a fast-moving taxi, causing a fatal cerebral haemorrhage probably from being thrown to the ground. The eventual finding was that ‘the driver of the car was negligent in as much as he was travelling much too fast and at a speed which was not safe in the circumstances at that hour of the night and in darkened streets. It is also my opinion that the driver of the car was not keeping as near as practicable to the left side of the road. The evidence shows that the deceased did not have a light on his bicycle and this, to some extent may have been a contributory cause of the accident.’ Little comfort to his grieving family both in Whyalla and for the two brothers serving overseas. Laurence was buried in the Whyalla cemetery and his headstone erected later, also carried a tribute to Allan.
Having faced her husband’s horrific injury, then death and official inquest, Gladys still thought to thank the many people who had supported her by inserting a thank you in the May edition of the Whyalla News: ‘Mrs. Theisinger and family desire to thank all kind friends and neighbours for expressions of sympathy and many acts of kindness, especially Matron Jacobs and hospital staff, also Drs. Fox and Wallace, in the recent sad loss of our beloved husband and father.’
Tragically, just six months after losing her husband, Gladys was informed of 30-year-old Allan’s death on the battlefield in Egypt on the 25th October 1942, in a massive assault to ambitiously take the strategic position of Trig 29. It was just 15 months after he had enlisted. In his book, ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’, John Glenn describes that time: ‘the 2/48th had stirred up a real hornets’ nest’ On that night alone 9 of the Battalion were killed and 20 wounded in action. Of these 16 were from South Australia and the remainder from Western Australia. the conditions where arrangements were made for ‘mines, wire ammunition, food, water, overhead cover, sandbags, tools, anti-tank guns, and all the rest, and holding the present position while preparing to launch another attack. And while all this was being done, the battalion was subjected to murderous fire from artillery and mortars. It says much for the battle-drill of the battalion and supporting arms that everything worked out smoothly, going off without a hitch.
‘The suddenness of this attack when it came, and the devastation caused by the artillery fire, created tremendous confusion in the enemy lines, leaving them no option but to make every effort to locate our exact position and try to seal off the penetration. Patrols of both sides were active; a number of clashes occurred in No Man’s Land. In the early hours of the morning a strong enemy patrol, led by a German officer, approached the left flank of D Company; there they came under the fire of Pat Hoare’s Bren gun. The officer soon fell, whereupon the patrol withdrew, carrying their wounded.’
As the conditions were so uncertain, it was difficult for the remaining soldiers to head out to gather in their wounded and those who were killed, hence a definite date of Allan and several other soldiers’ deaths were unable to be given.
The full extent of the losses was reported back home in the Chronicle later that month. The list of those killed In Action included SX8468 Pte. Patrick H. Hoare. 2/48th North Broken Hill (NSW); SX13570 Pte. Charles Holman, 2/48th Broken Hill; SX7771 Pte. Henry O. Lohmann, 2/48th, Murray Bridge; SX6848 Cpt. Alfred F. Meyer. 2/48th Renmark: SX3149 Col. Arthur H. Peters. 2/48th Macclesfield; . SX11768 Pte. John R. Smith, 2/48th Wardang Island; SX13535 Pte. Allan L. Thessinger, 2/48th, Jamestown. Died Of Wounds. — SX8164 Fte. Sydney R. Borowski, 2/43rd Burra; SX11376 Pte. James H. Bowes, 2/43rd Renmark; SX13162 Pte. Thomas B. Cosgrave, 2/48th Macclesfield: SX7917 Pte. Leslie A. King, Adelaide and L/Cpl Ernest W.S. Moore SX11130, Norwood, 2/48th. Frank McCullough (SX12977) from Broken Hill was wounded at the same time. He served with the 2/43rd.
His brother Jack was subsequently given compassionate leave to return to South Australia. Back home in both Whyalla and Jamestown papers carried the heart-breaking news. The Whyalla News in November reported ‘THEISINGER. —'On October 25, on the battlefield in Egypt, Allan Lawrence, dearly beloved elder son of Winifred and late Laurence Theisinger, of Field Street, Whyalla. Beloved brother of Jean, Jack (returned), and May. Inserted by his broken-hearted mother.’ The Laura Standard and Crystal Brook Courier announced that ‘Information was received at Jamestown on Wednesday that Pte. A. L. Thessinger, formerly of Jamestown, and later of Whyalla, had been killed in action in Egypt. A few months ago this young soldier's father was killed at Whyalla. The family were well known at Jamestown where they carried on a dairy and milk supply business.’ At the meeting of the Jamestown Corporation, the Mayor ‘said that since they had last met, the very sad news that two of our young men, Gunner Clarrie Gentle and Pte. Allen Thessinger, had been killed whilst on active service, in the Middle East. The sympathy of the Councillors was extended to the families.’ Young Phyllis Taylor also placed a thank you message in the Areas' Express of December ‘42 ‘MISS PHYLLIS TALBOT of Jamestown wishes to sincerely Thank all kind friends for cards or letters of sympathy in the loss of her boyfriend, killed while on active service.’
With the Cheer Up Club entertaining soldiers home on leave in December ’42, the Areas Express reported that ‘The audience stood in silence as a token of regret and respect for the late Gunner C. Gentle and Pte. A. Thessinger, who were recently killed in action. In his opening remarks the President said that they felt proud of our young men, who were making such sacrifices, their three guests were locally born, and everyone knew they would pull their weight.’
Allan was initially buried in the El Alamein British Military Cemetery in April ’43 with Corporal Henry Lohmann SX7771, Private Ernest W. S. Moore SX11130 and Private Patrick Hoare SX8468 all from the 2/48th who were killed on the same day as him. He and others were then finally transferred to the El Alamein War Cemetery where they were reburied on the 16th April ‘43 with Allan now resting in Plot XXII. Row C. Grave 20. He is buried with 34-year-old Corporal George E. Adcock, WX10394 from Claremont in Western Australia of the 2/48th and others from the 2/23rd and 2/24th. His widowed mother chose the inscription on his headstone to read ‘Always living in the heart of your affectionate mother’.
Gladys did remarry and lived to be 87 years old. Her headstone carried a tribute to her firstborn son, Allan. She also was buried in the Whyalla cemetery in January 1980.
Jack had married Thelma Hansen in January ’38 before he enlisted. Having been discharged post war, he and Thelma named their second child and first-born son in May ’45, Allan Charles. A lasting tribute to Jack’s older brother.
Allan’s family continued to remember and mourn him on the anniversary of his death. Also grieving his loss was Phyllis Taylor of Jamestown who had planned to have a lifetime with Allan once the war was over.
Chronicle Thursday 19 November 1942, THEISINGER. —In loving memory of Allan, killed in action in Egypt on Oct. 25. —Inserted by his fiancée, Phyllis Talbot. THEISINGER. —On Oct. 25, in Egypt, Allan Laurence, dearly beloved elder son of Winifred and late Laurence Theisinger, Field St., Whyalla, brother of Jean, Jack (returned), and May. —Inserted by his broken-hearted mother.
Whyalla News Friday 29 October 1943, THEISINGER. —In loving memory of our dear son and brother, Allan, who lost his life at El Alamein on October 25, 1942. Too dearly loved to ever be forgotten Ever remembered by his loving Mother and family.
Advertiser Wednesday 25 October 1944, THEISINGER. —In loving memory of Allan, killed at El Alamein on October 25. 1942.—Always remembered by his friend Phyllis. THEISINGER. —In loving memory of our dear brother, killed October 35. 1942. We will always remember. —Ever remembered by Jack and Thelma.
Advertiser Thursday 25 October 1945, THEISINGER. —In fondest memory of my beloved son Allan, who fell at El Alamein October 25. 1942. I shall remember while the light lasts yet. And in the darkness, I shall not forget —Inserted by his loving mother. Whyalla. THEISINGER. —In loving memory of our dear brother Allan, who made the supreme sacrifice at EI Alamein on October 25. 1942. Deep in our hearts a memory is kept of a brother we will never forget. Sadly missed by May and Clarry, Whyalla. THEISINGER. —In loving memory of Allan, killed at El Alamein October 25. 1942. Years go by. but memories linger on. —inserted by his friend Phyllis.
Advertiser Friday 25 October 1946, THEISINGER. —In loving memory of our dear brother Allan, who made the supreme sacrifice on October 25. 1942. Time moves on but memories cling. Ever remembered by May, Clarry and Helen. THEISINGER. —In loving memory of Allan, killed in action October 25 1942. El Alamein. —Always remembered by his friend Phyllis Talbot THEISINGER. —In loving memory of my brother Allan, killed El Alamein October 25. 1942. Not Just today, always. — Inserted by Jean and Wilf.
Advertiser Saturday 25 October 1947, THEISINGER. —In loving memory of our dear son and brother Allan, who made the supreme sacrifice at El Alamein on October 25. 1542. We loved you dearly; in loving you. we shall always remember. —Inserted by his loving mother, sisters and brother. THEISINGER. —In loving memory of Allan, killed at El Alamein October 25, 1942 —Always remembered by Phyllis.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.