Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Alfred was born in Sydney on the 3rd April 1910 to Percival Mervan and Florence Gertrude Lear. (Alf’s father also appeared to be known as Percy Hercules Melbourne Lear.)
Alf was a popular young man in the small White Cliffs area north-east of Broken Hill, an area known for its opals. There he quickly gained a reputation for his rodeo riding of steers and his success at gymkhanas with his skilful horse riding. In March ’34 Alf won the Buckjump Championship (big saddle) at the White Cliffs and District Gymkhana. He was also highly respected as a horse breaker. In those early days, Alf let his skills ‘do the talking’ hence in typical Aussie tradition, his nick-name quickly became ‘Rowdy’ because (logically) he was so quiet. Alf also played in the local cricket team against Wilcannia in ’35, proving to be a capable bowler and opening batsman.
Alf worked on several stations, including Yancannia, to the north-west of White Cliffs, owned by Sidney Kidman. It was effectively a self-sufficient community, having its own cook, blacksmith and horse breaker. However, this sheep producing area was affected by drought, dingoes and foxes. For fifteen years Alf worked at Yalcowinna Station, 30 miles north of Broken Hill. At the time it was run by Keith Broughan’s family as a large wool production run. In 1931 a search for gold on the property, which previously had also been a copper mining area, was begun.
Alf married Joyce Patience Morphett of Broken Hill, daughter of Arthur and Martha Morphett. (Arthur was one of the originals at Milparinka, where his own mother was the first white woman in the area.) Joyce came from a close-knit family of four sisters, Jessie, Jean, Janet and June and a brother Arthur James. Joyce and Alf had a young son, also called Alfred (Alfie).
With the outbreak of WWII many of the workers from the Broken Hill area enlisted. Travelling down by train to Adelade with Alf was the local solicitor Hamilton Roland Dacre Budd, the first of his profession to do so. (He became 416307 in the RAAF but aged 28, died in a flying battle over the Atlantic Ocean on the 1st August ’43.) The other young man was Ronald Jenkins who joined the Navy as PA3823.
30-year-old Alf and three others arrived at Wayville in South Australia to enlist on the 23rd July 1940. He was allocated the number SX9529 in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. From the dry heat of Broken Hill, the cold winter of an Adelaide July contributed to him developing pharyngitis.
He was soon on the Stratheden on the 7th November, arriving in the Middle East on the 17th December. His quiet authority resulted in him quickly being promoted to Lance Corporal a year later. He was amongst the group of men who were to earn the proudly borne title of being a Rat of Tobruk. Initially this was a term designed to demoralise the allied troops, who at the time were living in hand-hewn underground dugouts. The Germans derisively called this living like rats, but it was immediately seized on as a term of pride.
Aged 32 Alf was killed in action on the 10th July ’42. That month, his battalion faced the full force of a Rommel led attack at Tel El Eisa. In a night counter-attack on enemy tanks, John Glenn in Tobruk to Tarakan described how “The shadowy forms of the men moved closer and closer to the dark shapes of the tanks that stood silhouetted against the lighter sky. The order had been to creep onto the tanks until somebody was forced to open fire. When the troops were almost on the tanks a startled German let go with a burst from his Spandau. Then A Company, yelling like a mob of mad dervishes, charged the tanks, firing everything they had. The charge from the silence of the night to the hideous yelling of the men charging in from all sides was too much for the tank crews. They pulled out as quickly as they could, grinding away in the darkness.’ Alf, was one of the men who were killed in this action.
Mark Johnston, in his meticulously researched ‘Derrick VC in His Own Words’ reproduced ‘Diver Derrick’s’ diary for the 11th July 1942. “First information concerning the remainder of the Coy, our 9 PL had run into a spot of bother in the attack, Sgt Jack Golding and L/Cpl Lear were killed, three others were taken out wounded, Duck Caldow being the only one of them that received any injury.”
Back home, the August edition of the Chronicle carried a list of those in the 2/48th battalion Killed In Action. They were SX127 Lt. Frank B. Thredgold, Torrensville; SX9529, L-Cpl. Alfred F. Lear, Broken Hill, NSW; and SX5269 L-Cpl. Maurice R. Roche, Griffiths, NSW.
The Barrier Miner contained a tribute to Alf late in July ’42. ‘A reputation as one of the best steer riders and horse breakers in the White Cliffs district had been gained by Lance-Corporal Alfred F. Lear who was killed in action in Syria. He took several prizes and medals at gymkhanas for steer riding and horse events. He was 15 years at Yancannia Station and left Glen Lyon Station two years ago to join up. He was in the first battle of Tobruk when the Aussies captured the town,, and was later sent to Syria. He leaves a. widow, formerly Miss Joyce Morphett, and a son.’_
The following month the paper carried additional detail. “Lance Corporal Alfred ("Rowdy") F. Lear, who was killed in action, in Syria, had a reputation for being one of the best steer riders and horse breakers in White Cliffs district. He took a, number of prizes and medals at gymkhanas for steer riding and horse events. After 15 years at Yalcowinna Station, he went to Glen Lyon but left there two years ago to join up.’

Initially Alf was buried in Tel El Eisa but was eventually laid to rest in the El Alamein Cemetery in Plot 16, Row A Grave 3. Nearby are others from his 2/48th Battalion, killed on the same day. These include 29-year-old SX7331 Sergeant Jack Golding, 27-year-old SX7272 Private John Spavin (M.M.) and 38-year-old SX9301 Private Alfred W Tait. Alf’s family chose the inscription “He Loved His Country’s Good Far Greater Than His Own Life’ for his headstone.
In an interview conducted with Alf’s father-in-law, Arthur Morphett in June ‘44 about the history of the gold rush at Milparinka, Arthur still spoke with sadness but respect for Alf. “A daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Morphett married a Mr. Alfred ('Rowdy') Lear, who worked last on Glenlyon Station. He enlisted and became a corporal in the AIF. He saw long service in the Middle East and fell in the big offensive at El Alamein. He was a Bren Gunner. The fate of the late Corporal Lear, one of the best horsemen and' steer riders in the Far West, came as a severe family blow.’
Alf continues to be remembered at the Wilcannia War Memorial. Joyce later re-married, becoming Mrs Conlon and lived in Queensland. For Joyce, the loss of Alf was an added blow as her younger brother, 21 year old Arthur James Kersey, a station worker at Tibooburra and Burke, had died in the Broken Hill Hospital the previous year to Alf, on the 13th April ’41. He also left a young son. Joyce and her Morphett family continued to remember both young men, Arthur and Alf each year and continued after Arthur Snr’s death on October ’47. Tributes included Alf’s young son, Alfie, thus keeping the memory of his Dad alive. Te tributes for the young men
Barrier Miner Thursday 30 July 1942, DEATHS KILLED IN ACTION LEAR. —L.Cpl. Alfred (Rowdy) Lear, killed in action in Syria, July 10, 1942, beloved husband of Joyce, loving father of Alfie, loved son-in-law of A. and M. Morphett.
Barrier Miner Saturday 10 July 1943, LEAR. —In loving memory of our darling daddy, Lance-Corporal Alfred Frederick ("Rowdy") Lear, killed in action El Alamein, Egypt, 10/7/42. "At the going down of the sun And in the morning— We remember him." Inserted by Joyce and Alfred Lear, Bourke, N.S.W.
Barrier Miner Monday 10 July 1944, LEAR.—In loving memory of L/Cpl. A. F. ("Rowdy") Lear, killed in action El Alamein, July 10, 1942. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We shall remember him. Inserted by his loving wife (Joyce) and son (Alfred); Bourke, N.S.W._
Barrier Miner Tuesday 10 July 1945, LEAR.—In loving memory of L/Cpl. A. F. (Rowdy), Killed in Action, 10/7/43, at El Alamein (Middle Lest We Forget. East) Inserted by Joyce and Alfred Lear (Bourke).
Barrier Miner Wednesday 10 July 1946, LEAR.—In memory of our son-in-law, L./Cpl. A. F. (Rowdy), killed in action, 10/7/43, at El Alamein (Middle East). Lest We Forget. Inserted by A. and M. Morphett and his little son Alfred.
Barrier Miner Thursday 10 July 1947, LEAR—In memory of our son-in-law, L./Cpl. A. F. (Rowdy), killed in action 10/7/43 at El Alamein (Middle East). Lest We Forget. Inserted by A. and M. Morphett, and his little son (Alfred Lear).
Western Grazier Friday 16 July 1948, LEAR — In memory of my son-in-law L Cpl. A. F. Lear, "Rowdy" killed in action at El Alamein, July 9, 1942. Lest We Forget. —Inserted by M. Morphett and his little son Alfred.
Western Grazier Friday 15 July 1949, LEAR — In memory of mv Son-ln-law. L. Cpt. A. F. ’Rowdy’ killed in action July 10. 1943. at El Alamein (Middle East). Lest We Forget. Inserted by M. Morphett and his little son Alfred.
Barrier Miner Monday 10 July 1950, LEAR.-In memory of my son-in-law, L/Cpl. A. F. (‘Rowdy’), killed in action 10/7/43, at El Alamein (Middle East). Lest we forget. Remembered by M. Morphett, son (Alfred Lear).
Barrier Miner Monday 9 July 1951, LEAR. —In memory of my son-in-law, L/Cpl., A. F. ("Rowdy"), killed in action 10/7/43, at El Alamein (Middle East). Lest we forget. Remembered always by M. Morphett and son (Alfred).
Barrier Miner Saturday 10 July 1954, LEAR. —In loving memory of my son-in-law, L/Cpl. A. F. (Rowdy) Lear, killed in action El Alamein, Middle East, July 10, 1942. "Lest we forget." Remembered by M. Morphett, his son Alfred.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.