Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Henry was a younger brother to William and was born in Kyneton in Victoria on the 14th March 1918, one of nine children including Adelaide, Caroline, (Dolly) Gladys, Marjorie, William, Jock, Alexander and Ada. The children were born over a period of fourteen years to Adelaide Victoria and Bernhard (Bert) Henry Wall.
The family moved to Peebinga to farm, a railway town established to extend the Murray Mallee region for cropping and grazing. With the official opening of the town a school was soon operating in 1922 with the building made of Mt Gambier stone. Bill’s father, Bernhard (Bert), considered as one of the first settlers, rapidly became one of the early leaders in the community becoming President of the Peebinga Sports Club, the Local Hall Committee, Football Club and, when the school officially opened in May ‘27, held the role of Chairman and in later years, treasurer. He also served on the local Council and later became a member of the Brown’s Well Repatriation Committee. Bill’s mother, Adelaide was also active in the Peebinga Tennis Club, especially with supper-based events, including New Year’s Eve and Fancy-Dress Balls.
At the official opening of the Peebinga school, the local M.P. Mr McMillan, advised students that “the new school would provide them with the foundation of a good education. If they fully availed themselves of the opportunity to learn there is no limit to the successes to which they might aspire. They could, by perseverance, fit themselves to occupy any public position in the State, or their education would be a great help to those who later on embarked upon a business career. In declaring the school open Mr McMillan hoped the scholars would prove a credit to their district and that full advantage would be taken of the educational facilities now afforded.” These were to be prophetic words considering the exceptional service given by the local young boys during WWII. At that time, however greater concern was that the school yard was unfenced and therefore ‘there is no protection from wandering stock and it is impossible to make a school garden until the ground had been cleared and grubbed.’
As part of the official opening, current students, Henry Wall L. Wall, and R. Wall were presented with gifts acknowledging their regular attendance during the whole year. As an eleven-year-old, Henry proved to be a capable runner, winning his age-group race at the annual school picnic shared with the Berook School at Butcher’s Soak in November, a picturesque spot famed as an idyllic picnic ground.
Typical of so many of the local families, generosity was shown by the Walls towards the matron of the Pinnaroo Memorial Hospital for gifts to enable the continued running of the facility. The Walls contributed with farm donations including two pigs and another year three dozen eggs.
Henry played cricket for Peebinga where he was a useful batter. Post-school, he worked on the family farm until the outbreak of WWII. 23-year-old Henry and his older brother, William both enlisted, initially at Pinnaroo on the 16th May then officially in Adelaide on the 29th May ’41 becoming SX13029 and SX13031 respectively. Their enlistment numbers suggest they may have been aware of enlistees being alternately allocated to the 2/43rd and the newly formed 2/48th Battalions and ‘organised’ to be posted together. Bill and Henry were both granted special and pre-embarkation leave over July and August ’41 where he and Bill returned home to a farewell social held in the local Peebinga Hall to ‘honour these two popular sons of a local pioneer’. The Pinnaroo and Border Times reported that dancing and community singing was followed by supper and speeches. Henry was presented with a wallet and because his brother Bill was recovering in hospital, their father accepted Bill’s wallet. Local family and parents then presented Henry with a watch and similarly, one for his brother. Private Henry then responded with his thanks to the community for their support.
Henry then embarked for the Middle East on the 17th September, arriving on the 20th October and moving to Dimra where he was detached for Special Duty with the 26th Australia Infantry Battalion. Unfortunately, the desert conditions, heat and dust contributed to Henry contracting an upper respiratory tract infection in June ’42 resulting in him spending time in a rest camp. A month later, he contracted malaria and was again hospitalised before being able to re-join the 2/48th in September ’42. He was soon wounded in action on 31st October in the offensive to take Trig 29 and was evacuated to be treated by field ambulance where he was also treated for exhaustion. John Glenn in Tobruk to Tarakan described the conditions. “At zero hour, 1 a.m. 31st October, the artillery opened up with a receding barrage – one that creeps back on itself. The attack was towards the guns themselves, the enemy being between the safety margin of about six hundred yards, a fact that, added to the earlier delay over the start-line, caused much of the value of the barrage to be lost. Added to this, the troops came under heavy shell fire as they were forming up and suffered casualties before they commenced their attack. The men grew tense under the strain of waiting, and a sigh of relief greeted the order to move off. As soon as the main road was reached the two leading companies came under murderous fire, and from then until they reached their objective, 2,250 yards from the start line, the whole advance was fought in fierce hand-to-hand fighting.“
The news of Henry’s and then Bill’s wounding was shared at home with the local paper reporting that ‘Peebinga people were sorry to learn of the wounding in action of the Wall Brothers, which was reported recently. Both boys have served overseas for many months. News of their complete recovery will be welcomed by residents.’
The Chronicle in December ’42 also listed those wounded in action at a similar time to Henry. In his list were SX1719 Sgt. Donald A. L. Harlem, 2/10th Adelaide; SX12880 Pte. Albert J. Matthews, 2/48th Seaton Park; SX13029 Pte. H B. Wall. 2/48th Peebinga. (Albert Matthews later died in New Guinea, aged 39 on the 6th November ’43). News of Bill’s wounding appeared the following week.
By early November Henry was again able to re-join the 2/48th It was unfortunate that he ended the year with an offence for ‘conduct to the prejudice of good order’ and received a monetary fine. It was, however, timely for Henry and so many others in his battalion that he was able to leave the Middle East behind in February the following year, arriving in Melbourne at the end of the month.
Henry and Bill returned home in March ’43 with others from his battalion who had enlisted at a similar time. They included Clarrie Baldwin SX7108, Beau Jones SX6856, Clarrie Jones, SX15145, Cpl Clem Billing SX6829, Humphrey Darke SX6937 and Richard Darke SX1866. It was a joyous time with representatives of the Cheer Society, Returned Soldiers’ League and Pinnaroo Girls’ Club honoured these soldiers and others home on leave with a hugely supported dance in the Pinnaroo Institute. Over 300 people attended with dancing continuing into the early hours of the next morning. The Pinnaroo and Border Times reported that ‘The number of men in uniform created a record for a dance or celebration in Pinnaoo. When the soldiers were seated on the stage, they numbered over twenty. Each soldier received a gift from the Girls’ Club. For They Are Jolly Good Fellows was heartily rendered and four rousing cheers given. L/Sgt. Norm. Badman responded on behalf of all soldiers. He thanked the speakers and all present for their good wishes and said how grateful the boys were for the fine spirit of cooperation and fellowship shown to their parents whilst they were occupied in Military duties.’
Training in Cairns followed to prepare the battalion for a totally different war in the tropical conditions of New Guinea and against a very different enemy. Prior to departure, the two brothers Beau Jones and Harry Lohmann all from the 2/48th battalion were able to attend the Easter Sports Meeting of the Pinnaroo Sports Committee where again they were hailed and warmly welcomed. Henry then headed to Milne Bay but by June ’44 was able to return to Australia via Brisbane. Unfortunately, soon after he was hospitalised with malaria before being able to return to his battalion in August.
Back home, Henry’s father had been injured in a freak accident when a Mr Kimpton was chased and tossed by a bull. Resultantly, he collided with Bert Wall who was standing nearby, causing Bert to sustain a fractured collarbone. He and Adelaide eventually returned to Kyneton in Victoria after Henry was finally discharged on the 9 Oct ’44, a year before William. The sons’ 65-year-old mother died in November ’50 and Bert in May ’56 aged 78. They had moved back to Victoria where they initially married, and were both buried in the Kyneton Cemetery, Victoria.
It took over 12 years before Henry’s medals were forwarded to him. They included the 1939/45 Star, the African Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal. Post war, Henry became an active member of the Paruna RSL ’45 and also returned to being useful cricketer for Peebinga.
Aged 63 Henry died just prior to Christmas in 1981. He was buried in the Pinnaroo Cemetery where a plaque commemorates his service.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133 2/48th Battalion.