Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Forrest (Harold) was born in Robe on the 1st July 1917 to Eric James and Alice Mable Gertrude (May) Banks. His siblings included Winnifred Gertrude, Eva, Erica, Doreen, Peter and Donald.
Harold’s maternal grandfather was a Scotsman, Peter McIntyre who had come to Australia aged 6 and was a colonist for over 80 years. He acquired Lake Hawdon at Robe where May and Eric also lived with their own growing family and this was where Harold spent his childhood years.
Harold’s father, Eric was particularly active in local activities including being Chairman of the District Council, President of the Robe Football Club, President of the Easter Picnic Races Involved with the Agricultural and Horticultural Show, a member of the Oddfellows, Chairing a Committee to raise funds for a doctor’s house at Robe, was a leader with planting experimental crops and also was appointed to form a branch of the Defence League in Robe.
A conscientious scholar at the local Robe school, Harold was awarded a prize for attending every day in ‘29. The following year to raise funds for the school, a children’s fancy dress frolic was held with over 60 children attending in costume. Harrold dressed as a pirate, Erica a harem lady and Doreen a powder puff. In ’31 when a focus was undertaken to highlight the products made in South Australia, prizes were offered for the student with the most extensive list, with some able to name over 1,000 products. Harold excelled, winning an award for his Robe School. He also inherited his family’s social conscience, being elected as junior leader of the Red Cross in ‘32, with the aim of assisting the needy and learning first aid.
The family regularly entertained at home with tennis, billiards and dancing. Winifred, Peter and Harold invited about thirty young people to shed the shadow of "hard times," In February ’31, concluding with supper and dancing until the early hours.
Two of Harold’s older siblings married in close succession. Winnifred married Noel Hiern in the St Peter’s church at Robe in March ’35. One of her three bridesmaids was sister Erica, while Noel chose Peter and Donald Banks as his two groomsmen. The three younger children, Harold, Eva and Doreen were guests. Peter’s wedding was next, announcing his engagement that year and marrying Nita England in December ‘37. Rita chose Erica Banks as one of her bridesmaids while Peter chose Don and Harold to be his best man and groomsman respectively.
In 1936 Harold was elected as Secretary to the inaugural Robe branch of the Agricultural Bureau. He Peter, Donald and their father were part of the group of Foundation members. With war looming, early in July ‘40, a social was arranged by the local Patriotic Council with games and competitions. At that time a war savings group had also been formed with children encouraged to subscribe to war saving certificates. Already 17 local young men had enlisted, including two Ryan brothers, two Westland brother plus Peter and Harold. Older brother, Herbert Peter (Peter) was first to enlist on the 6th July ’40 and being allocated to the newly formed 2/48th Battalion as SX8147. Harold enlisted a fortnight later, just after his 23rd birthday, on the 25th July 1940, becoming SX9637 and was also in the 2/48th Battalion, with Peter.
They were soon on their way to Tobruk and the fierce fighting in the desert where they would earn the highly respected title of being Rats of Tobruk. Both brothers were wounded just days apart. By August ’42 the Naracoorte Herald reported the unwanted news. ‘Mrs. P. Banks has been notified that her husband, Cpl. Peter Banks, has been wounded in action. Cpl. Banks is the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Banks, of Lake Hawdon. He resided at Lake Hawdon with his wife up to the time of his enlistment. Mr. E. J. Banks has been notified that his son, Pte. H. F. Banks, has also been wounded in action. From enquiries made through the Red Cross, it has been ascertained that both received bullet wounds and are expected to recover.’ The Advertiser carried a similar report. ‘Mrs H. P. Banks has been informed that her husband Cpl Peter Banks was wounded in action in July. Cpl. Banks is the eldest son of Mr and Mrs E J. Banks of Lake Hawdon station Robe who have also been advised that their youngest son Pte. H F (Lal) Banks was wounded in action about a week later.’
Back home on leave in ’43 Harold was one of the driving forces behind encouraging people to take up either War Loans or War Savings Certificates. The elected group decided to adopt the Soldier Honor Group scheme for a War Savings. Later, Harold undertook training in Queensland before his battalion was sent to face a very different enemy in the tropical conditions of New Guinea. He rose to the rank of Lance Sergeant.
On the 7th June, ’45 Harold’s father was involved in an unpleasant accident. ‘Mr. Eric J./Banks (chairman, of the District Council of Robe), met with, a nasty accident when driving a gig on the Lake Hawdon property, last Thursday. The wheel struck a yacca and the gig overturned, throwing Mr Banks heavily to the ground. He managed to walk home, and was taken by his son, Don, to the Narracoorte Hospital. ' Dr. H. K. Pavy made an x-ray examination of his arm and shoulder, and ordered him to the Memorial Hospital, Adelaide, for treatment.’
Unbeknown to the family, just days later and aged 27, Harold was killed in action at Tarakan, Borneo on the 11th June ’45. His brother, Peter was discharged the following day. By the 15th June the Narracoorte Herald reported that ‘Mr. E. J. Banks, of Robe, has received word that his son, Harold ("Lal"), has been killed in action with the A.I.F. In this, issue appears a paragraph stating that his father, Mr. E, J. Banks (chairman of the District Council of Robe) had sustained a nasty accident to his arm and shoulder, and is an inmate of the Memorial Hospital, Adelaide. The sympathy of the residents of Robe and district goes out to Mr. and Mrs. Banks and family in their hour of trouble.'
The Advertiser also reported Harold’s death and those of two others from his battalion. SX9637 L-Sgt. Forrest H. Banks. 2/48th from Robe was killed in action and both SX21753 Lt. Colin D. Simper. 2/48th from Blackwood and SX19309 Pte. M. Thomas, 2/48th Curramulka died of their wounds.
John Glenn in Tobruk to Tarakan describes the fighting that occurred at the time where an all-out attack was made on Fuku-Kaki with the 2/48th pushing against the Japanese defences. The battalion came against stiff opposition at Wally and Linda, frequently making contact with the Japanese and their distinctive manner of combat. Glenn reported that ‘During the first fortnight of June our patrols had killed fifty of the enemy and had moved on to Wally and Linda, and were heading northwards to Faith and Dutch.’ It was during this fierce fighting that Harold was wounded, dying of these on the 11th June ’45, little more than two years after he enlisted.
Harold’s family publicly thanked their community in the local paper. ‘Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Banks and family of Lake Hawdon Station Robe, wish to thank all friends and relatives for kind expressions of sympathy in the loss of their Son and brother.’
Harrold now rests in the Labuan War Cemetery, Malaysia in Plot 29, Row A, Grave 1. His parents chose the inscription ‘Loved son of May and Eric James Banks of Robe, South Aust.’ for his headstone. 21-year-old Melross Thomas, SX19309 from Curramulka rests near him, a proud member of the 2/48th Battalion. Others from the 2/4th, 2/23rd 2/24th and three soldiers ‘Known only to God’ rest nearby.
Tragedy continued to visit the Banks family with the death of their second oldest son, 33-year-old Donald Roland in a drafting accident at the Station in February ’48. The Advertiser reported that he ‘was fatally injured while drafting horses with his brother Peter Banks on their former property at Lake Hawdon on Monday. In an attempt to escape from the yard, a horse dislodged a fencing rail, which struck Banks in the head, throwing him about 15 yards. Suffering from a fractured jaw and arm and concussion, he was unconscious when admitted to hospital, where he died last night. Banks, who was the son of Mr. E. J. Banks, a former chairman of the Robe District Council, has left a widow and 18-month-old son.’
Harold’s mother May who died in November ’61, father Eric who died in December ’68 and Donald now rest together in the Robe Cemetery in a family plot spanning three generations.
Written and researched by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.