Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John, inevitably known as Jack, was born on the 29th April 1920 at Orroroo in the mid-north of South Australia to Martin Patrick and Mary Jane Redden. For early settlers, the town was recognised as being on Goyder’s line, indicating that it would generally be a productive agricultural area. Jack’s siblings included Kathleen Patricia, Ronald James and younger brother, William Patrick. Ronald
Being a strongly Catholic family, Jack attended the St Joseph’s Convent School at Terowie where he and his siblings were often mentioned as being participants in the school’s concerts. To also support the Catholic families in the area, the Bishop announced that a Summer School would be held for the "outback" boys and girls of the diocese, anticipating that there would be 30 attending in February ‘31. However, the number of applicants increased substantially resulting in the Peterborough St. Anacletus Hall being converted into a large thirty-three bed dormitory. A further thirty were provided at St. Joseph's College. The Catechism was taught as were hymns including Latin hymns for the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The Reddens were part of the large group of attendees.
Jack’s father, Martin was also involved with sport, including being on the Terowie Football Club Committee which also supported a running track and regular competitions. His sons were also known for their sporting skills. Jack was a talented baseball player, being mentioned following a Semi-final match against Collegians in July ’40. The Times and Northern Advertiser reported that ‘Terowie batters came into their own and with grim determination pasted the Collegian pitcher into the wide-open spaces.’ Joe Redden was a reliable catcher as well as featuring with Jack as safe batters. Jack was also praised for his reliable fielding efforts.
Jack worked as a farm labourer in Pekina. However, with the outbreak of the war, aged 20, he enlisted on the 17th July ’40, with his early days spent in sheds at Wayville, now the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds. Further training at Woodside in the Adelaide Hills followed. Unfortunately, with so many local young men enlisting, the 1940 baseball season was severely curtailed, although Jack managed to play in the Premiership match against Railways, where again, he proved to be a safe hitter. Despite the efforts of the Redden clan (Jack 3 home runs, Joe four runs and Matthew two) Railways won the Final, 14 to 10 in a tense and exciting last game before Army training began.
Pre-embarkation leave enabled Jack to return home to farewell his family before he headed overseas to the Middle East. Disembarking on the 23rd March ’41, he was initially allocated to the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. Whilst intensive training at the Amiriya Staging Camp was undertaken, Jack was briefly with the 2/24th battalion before then rejoining the 2/48th. Unfortunately, the desert conditions contributed to infections, with Jack spending a week in hospital before again re-joining his 2/48th early in December ’41.
Jack was fortunate in surviving the conflict and fierce fighting in the Middle East, finally heading home via Melbourne. In the meantime, his younger brother, 19-year-old William Patrick also enlisted in February ’42, becoming SX17557. William undertook training in Townsville, Queensland, until being posted to New Guinea, arriving in Port Moresby in July ’43 and serving with the 2/25th Battalion. He was unfortunate to contract malaria infections on numerous occasions.
Jack also trained in Queensland in preparation to face the tropical conditions of New Guinea where he was to face an extremely different enemy in totally different conditions. Jack’s 2/48th Battalion left Cairns arriving in Milne Bay on the 6th August ’43.
Just over three months later, Jack was wounded in action on the 17th November ’43, receiving a gunshot wound to his left ear, shoulder and right scapula. This was at a time when the enemy was particularly active with shelling and also their sniper activity. It was possible they knew there was an increase of jeep traffic taking supplies to the Australians’ forward troops in the final assault on Sattelberg.
Mark Johnston’s recently published, meticulously documented diaries in ‘Derrick VC In His Own Words’ document the day. Derrick’s diary entry on the 17th November ’43 written in the White Trunk Tree area on the Sattelberg Road recorded how B and C Company had moved out at dawn, supported by one troop of tanks. Having advanced 100 yards, they were fired on by MGs, which were “soon put out of action.” Facing heavy opposition, “the forward tank having a track smashed by a mortar, blocking the narrow razor back track” B Company was pushed in. Derrick recorded that “A glorious display and attack dislodged enemy from a well dug in posn. Lt Norton, Pte Ogilvy, & Pte Dixon were killed and approx. 20 wounded including Lt Robbins, Sgts Badman & Lampre, Cpls Bub Smith, Geoff Radbone, Linds Hardy, Squeak Harriss & Jack Redden.”
In all, that day the 2/48th inflicted 80 casualties and captured eight enemy machine guns while sustaining six deaths and 26 wounded. Jack and others wounded at a similar time were evacuated to the field ambulance and thence to hospital.
Back home, the December ’43 issue of the Chronicle carried the names of those killed or wounded at a similar time. From Jack’s battalion, these included Died Of Wounds. — SX10347 Pte. Sydney C. Goodyear, Adelaide. Dangerously Wounded. — SX15714 Pte. Edward Pearson, Blinman; SX13279 Pte. John F. Bushell, Dunleath Gardens. Wounded In Action.— SX7O47 Lt. Maxwell Robinson, Glenelg, SX9103 Pte. John M. Redden, Pekina; SX7257 Cpl. Stanley J. B. Smith, Torrensville; SX9359 A/Cpl. Eric G. Westphalan, Med.. Pinnaroo.
Jack returned to Australia via Townsville early in February ’44. Unfortunately, by May it was discovered that Jack’s shoulder had not healed, and he still had a fracture to his clavicle, as well as still having malaria. Inevitably, he was transferred to lighter duties in the Kit Store, as well as being allocated seasonal leave to return to the farming duties.
The extensive nature of the wounds inflicted on Jack, plus the on-going effects of malaria, meant that he was eventually medically downgraded and finally discharged on the 8th July ’45. The following year his brother William was also discharged in May.
Back home at last, Jack married Mary (Molly) Reichstein from Appila, with a full report of the wedding appearing in the February ’48 edition of Southern Cross.
‘Redden—Reichstein THE wedding of Mary, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Reichstein, of Appila, to John Martin Redden, son of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Redden, of Glenelg, late of Pekina, was celebrated with Nuptial Mass in the Church of St. Philip and James, Appila, on February 5. Rev. F. J. O'Farrell officiated. The church was filled to capacity with relatives and friends.’ Jack chose his two brothers, William and Ron as his attendants. The young couple then resided in Pekina. The two were later to welcome three children, Margaret, Pauline and Michael.
May ’49 saw Jack then act as best man for his brother, William who married Sylvia Griffin in a double wedding with Sylvia’s sister, Moira to Francos Clarke, at Appila. Sadly, their infant son died on the 30th June ’55. Seven years later, 40-year-old William also died and is now buried with his baby son.
Inevitably, country football was made up of local identities, regardless of age. Jack captained the local Pekina team in ’49 in the Belalie Football Competition. With his brother, William also playing and providing a strong marking game at full-forward, the team was considered to be the strongest selected group as a result of many players returning to the district, post war. Jack also proved to be a successful bowler in the Ex Servicemen’s cricket team, taking 6/33 in a Match against Terowie that same year.
Jack lived to be 69 and died on the 25th November, 1989. Molly lived to be 88 and died on the 2nd August 2016. Both are now buried in the local Pekina Cemetery where many of the extended family also rest. Jack’s grave is in Plot F 22 SE. His service is also recognised in the South Australian Garden of Remembrance.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.