RIEBE, Alan Irvington
| Service Number: | SX9241 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 July 1940, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/48th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Bouder City, Western Australia, 7 May 1905 |
| Home Town: | Waikerie, Loxton Waikerie, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Immanuel College, North Adelaide |
| Occupation: | Orchardist |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Tobruk, Libya, 18 April 1941, aged 35 years |
| Cemetery: |
Tobruk War Cemetery, Tobruk, Libya Coll. grave 3. K. 1-13. |
| Memorials: | Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Waikerie War Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 20 Jul 1940: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, SX9241, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Jul 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, SX9241, 2nd/48th Infantry Battalion | |
| 21 Jul 1940: | Involvement Private, SX9241 | |
| 18 Apr 1941: | Involvement Private, SX9241, 2nd/48th Infantry Battalion, Siege of Tobruk |
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Alan Irvington RIEBE was born in Boulder City, Western Australia, on 7th May 1905 to Gustav Hermann Riebe and Charlotte Antonie Riebe, of Waikerie.
Alan attended Immanuel College in North Adelaide. He was a single man, employed by his father as an Orchardist; they had been in the Waikerie area for 17 years. Alan was described as a popular man in the district and valued member of the Waikerie District Brass Band, regularly competing in competitions with the band.
Alan enlisted with the 2nd Australian Infantry Force and commenced training on 20th July, 1940. From the 16th to the 24th of October, 1940, Alan had pre- embarkation leave and came home to his parents in Waikerie.
On 7th November 1940, Private RIEBE embarked aboard “HMAT Strath Eden” for the Middle East with the 2/48th Battalion. Arriving on 30-1-1941, Alan, working as a stretcher bearer, soon saw active service.
Allan was therefore one of the famous “Rats of Tobruk”. Unfortunately on the 18th April, 1941, Alan was in need of stretcher bearers himself but did not survive his injuries. He was “Killed in action - In the field” at Tobruk, only a few weeks short of his 36th birthday.
Alan was remembered as the first casualty of the Second World War from Waikerie. A service held in his honour was very well attended and the Waikerie District Band played a heartfelt concert in his memory.
Alan is interred in the Tobruk War Cemetery and is commemorated on the Australian War Memorial on the Roll of Honour.
Alan is also commemorated with a tree and plaque in the WAIKERIE War Memorial Gardens.
Biography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Gustav Hermann Riebe and Charlotte Antonie Riebe, of Waikerie, South Australia.
HIS MEMORY HALLOWED IN THE LAND HE LOVED
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