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Eric, born at Pinnaroo on the 21st May 1920, was the second of four sons born to Ernest and Emily Clara Westphalen. He had an older brother David and younger, Leonard Ross. Eric was just 7 when his two-year-old sister Lois Mary died in the Pinnaroo Hospital in December ’27 following a severe pneumonia attack. Seven years later 14-year-old Eric grieved the death of his new-born brother, Keith William who died at the Children's Hospital, aged three weeks on the 13th April ’35. Both young children were buried in the Pinnaroo Cemetery.
Eric’s father, Ernest Westphalen had gone to Pinnaroo in 1916 and been employed with the local blacksmith. He later opened a similar blacksmithing and wheelwright business of his own, eventually retiring to the city at the commencement of WWII in 1940. He was active and most successful in coursing and rifle shooting and was also part of the Pinnaroo Town Band.
For Eric as a young child, there were two major fixtures at Pinnaroo – the Agricultural Show and Hospital Day. The latter included traditional stalls, a picture show and dance and athletic competitions which drew contestants from across the Mallee region. The sports included cycling events, running and handicap events and children’s competitions. All three brothers performed well in their age group sprints over 50, 75 and 100 yards with Eric and David adding the flag race to their haul of successes. Eric also won prizes at the Agricultural Show, including one year for his Sheet writing and in another for accruing the most number of points in the boys’ section.
The brothers attended Pinnaroo Higher Primary School where Eric was regularly listed in the high achievers, published each week, in ’32 being named as one of ‘the favoured few who were awarded gold stars’. That same year his name appeared in the local paper for sustaining ‘a severe cut on the head. We trust that he will soon recover and be enabled to enjoy that game once more. The playground seems to be scarcely large enough for all the boys to play football.’ In the following month an intriguing report concluded ‘As summer is now approaching, and the footballs have burst, the boys are now playing hand cricket, there being no cricket bat available for use.’ It was a measure of the ingenuity and active lives of the 12-year-old students. Eric continued to be either in the weekly Gold Star or Excellent list, culminating in his Grade VII Qualifying Examination success with 604 marks.
Arbor Day was a full day of celebration with tree planting, sporting events and musical items. Eric proved to have a strong voice, earning him a place in the five member Boys’ Choir in ‘32. (Coincidentally another 14-year-old singer was Humphrey Darke who also enlisted at a similar time to Eric and in the same 2/48th battalion as SX6937.) The item was a four-part song which gained huge praise with the boys reported as sustaining ‘their parts excellently, the altos blending well with the other voices, and the whole of the rendition was such that the gathering were speaking of it for several days after.’ Two years later, with a prestigious visit by the Minister of Education, Eric was part of a quintette in ‘an exceptional item and was of outstanding merit. The boys rendered their respective parts in an excellent manner and thoroughly deserved the loud applause which greeted their efforts. ‘
Just a few days later Eric and his father were involved in raising the alarm when a neighbouring house caught alight. On his way home, Ernest had smelt what appeared to be burning rag, but searching his own home found nothing of concern. Eric, however, went to the window and saw the smouldering house opposite. Ernest rushed across, opening the front door but was driven back by smoke so immediately raised the alarm ‘to the Quick Service Garage where the fire brigade equipment is housed. The house had been burning fiercely inside for, some time and all the efforts to save it were of no avail for the fire had too great a hold. The brigade did what they could, but it was hopeless, in fact, from the time the alarm. was first given, until the house was demolished only approximately half an hour expired. Attention was turned to Mr. Westphalen’s house to prevent the fire from spreading. Fortunately, it was a calm night and no damage was done to his property except that two panes of glass were broken through the heat’ reported the Pinnaroo and Border Times. The item continued ‘The origin of the fire is unknown, but it is surmised that coals fell out of the grate and ignited the articles in the room. Nothing was saved at all, unfortunately. A very large crowd quickly assembled at the scene of conflagration, but the fire had too great a hold to hope to save anything.’
With the outbreak of war and just after his 20th birthday, Eric enlisted to serve on the 20th July 1940, becoming SX9359 in the 2/48th Battalion. A fortnight earlier several other locals, including Clem Billing SX6829, Humphrey Darke SX6937 and Clarrie Baldwin SX7108 had also enlisted and fortuitously were in the same battalion. (Eric’s younger brother 18-year-old Len enlisted the following year in October ’41 serving in the R.A.A.F. as an assistant mechanic, S48450.)
The first days for the Pinnaroo enlistees were spent in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds before the battalion headed to Woodside in the Adelaide Hills for preliminary training. Back home on pre-embarkation leave, five soldiers, all from the 2/48th Battalion, Privates C. Billing, C. Baldwin, N. Badman, E. Westphalen and J. Marshall were tendered a social evening by the Parilla Well Patriotic Circle. Speeches were made and parcels from the Pinnaroo Cheer Society were presented to each soldier. On the previous Sunday, at their evening service the members of the Pinnaroo Evangelical Lutheran Church, together with members of their Young People’s Society to which Eric belonged, organised an informal gathering and presentation for Private E. Westphalen. He responded with thanks before the proceeding closed with the hymn, “God Be With You.”
A further Patriotic Concert was also held in the Pinnaroo Institute with parcels presented to Privates Norm Badman SX7093 and Eric from the Pinnaroo Cheer Society and the C.W.A. who expressed their pride in the young men for answering the call ‘and that it was the intention of the Cheer Society to keep in touch with local soldiers when overseas.’ Both young men responded to their good wishes.
All too soon, Eric and his fellow members of the 2/48th Battalion then embarked on the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 7th November 1940, arriving on the 19th December 1940 where the Battalion completed a few months training in Cyrenaica. During those early days in the Middle East, the battalion settled into camps, but besides regular army duties was the need to quickly adapt to the locals. The new soldiers were soon involved in intense conflicts where the reputation of the 2/48th Battalion for being the most highly decorated but decimated battalion was earned.
Back home, the local Pinnaroo and Border Times encouraged letters to be published from those serving abroad. These gave a very personal picture of conditions the young men were experiencing. By July ’41 several letters had been shared. Ted Casson wrote of being in Crete and being invited to one family’s place nearly every night, despite the challenge of different languages. He explained “We were sorry when the time came for us to leave, but as it has turned out, we only left in time, as Jerry has now landed a few troops there. In my opinion he will not do any good, and it is pretty well hopeless for all the troops that land there. I met a few of the boys from Pinnaroo a fair while ago including Eric Westphalen, Norm Badman, Gordon Young, Clem Billing and the Marshall Brothers.”
The following month in October ‘41 a further letter was published from Clem Billing. “We were camping in an old Italian hospital or convalescent home, and it was quite a good place and not knocked about much! The tile floor was a bit hard to sleep on but we are used to that now. It was great to sleep with a roof over my head after six months. Ron Ide (SX8344) was there one night. Eric Westphalen (SX9359) has been in here, playing cards with Beau (Jones SX6856) and myself all day.’
A letter from Eric was published in July ’42, giving a very personal account of attitudes, his work and daily life. ‘I am at present somewhere in Syria but would like to see Australia again. Some of the boys have had letters from people in Aussie saying they are cowards and too frightened to come home. I’d like to meet some of the writers! I have left my original Battalion and have joined a Hygiene Section. I am doing Malaria control work and find it very interesting. I am at present in charge of a gang of wogs. I tell them what to do and see that it is done correctly., A week ago I sprained my ankle and was laid up for three days, but you can’t keep a good man down. Whilst I was hobbling around on a walking stick some of the boys reckoned I looked like grandpa. It is just breaking summer here and the days are really warm. It is not a clear heat. At the end of each day I have a swim in the Mediterranean and believe me, it’s alright. It is very hard to secure Australian beer here and the local beverage tastes like dishwater. I am now a watercart merchant. Things are very dear here. Items you would pay sixpence, or ninepence for home cost 3/-. A one course meal costs 3/6.; I hope the next time you see me it is in reality, not just a photo.’
Eric was able to return home on leave in March ’43 when he and Thora Coralie Hayes announced their engagement. The two had grown up together with Thora attending Angaston School where she was elected as a school leader. Eric was also warmly welcomed by his local Lutheran congregation with a gathering at their pastor’s home. Just months later, the Pinnaroo community were celebrating the news that Eric had been promoted to Corporal. However, three months on, less welcome news was received and published in the local newspaper. ‘It has been announced officially that two Pinnaroo members of the AIF have been wounded in action. The wounded men are L/Sgt. Norm. Badman and Acting Cpl Eric Westphalen, both serving in an island station. L/Sgt. Badman was wounded in the right arm, between the elbow and wrist and is now receiving treatment at an Australian Military hospital. This is the second time Norm has been wounded, the first occasion being; whilst he was serving in the Middle East. Acting Cpl. Eric Westphalen received four wounds near the right armpit. He expects to spend a month in hospital. The early recovery of both soldiers will be the wish of all residents.’
The two had been fighting in New Guinea in a move to take Coconut Ridge. The advance had to be a platoon wide because of the narrowness of the ridge and thickness of the bamboo, resulting in slow progress. There was intense fighting, with a crippled forward tank blocking the narrow razor back track. Three men were killed and approximately 20 wounded, including Norm Badman.
Back home on leave, the following year a welcome announcement was made in the Chronicle. ‘The marriage of Thora, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Hayes, Goodwood, to Eric (A.I.F., ret., M.E., N.G.), second son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Westphalen. Prospect, at St. Colombus' Hawthorn, at 6 p.m., Wednesday, May 24.’ The newlyweds were delighted when seventy people attended the Pinnaroo Institute to honour Cpl and Mrs. Eric Westphalen who were visiting the district. Dancing was the order of the evening followed by a presentation, congratulations and best wishes being extended to the guests for a happy married life.
Just a year later, Eric’s 57-year-old father died in May ’45. Sergeant Eric was discharged in October that year with his service being recognised on the Pinnaroo Honor Roll. Thora and Eric welcomed sons, Hugh Eric, born in October ’47 and John Adrian who was born in July ’50.
Aged 71, Eric died on the 29th September 2011 in Adelaide. Thora pre-deceased him and died aged 86 on the 2nd July 2005 at Christies Beach. She was buried at the Enfield Memorial Park.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.