Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Wilfred was one of four sons, Cecil, Bert and Les and a daughter, Dorothy, of Anne Gamilie and Robert Henry Albert Lewis (known as R.H.A.) Born at Scott’s Creek, Wilfred (known as Jim) arrived on the 2nd March 1908.
The Scott’s Creek area of the Mount Lofty Ranges was once briefly mined for both copper and silver, with remains of the associated buildings still visible today. The Lewis children attended the small local school, submitting their work in the Mannum Show where Jim and Les won awards. Post school, Jim remained in the area as a fruit grower.
Jim’s father, R.H.A. was a long serving member of the Stirling Council for several decades. He actively championed local issues, including the upgrade of roads, removal of dangerous trees, the planting of trees on Arbour Day by the local Scott’s Creek School students and the improvement of the local oval and courts, as well as being the local Fire Officer. He and the boys were also involved in the Mt Lofty Football Association, where R.H.A. served as President, and in the Bowls Club.
With the outbreak of WWII, 32-year-old Jim enlisted on the 13th July 1940 and was given the number SX8856 in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. The men’s initial days were spent in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds. The new enlistees then headed back to more familiar territory at Woodside for their preliminary training. Pre-embarkation leave followed before the 2/48th contingent embarked on the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 7th November 1940, arriving on the 17th December 1940. The battalion completed a few months training in Cyrenaica before heading to Tobruk at the start of April 1941. There the dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to the fresh new enlistees. They were to become the famed Rats of Tobruk, in the most highly decorated but decimated Battalion.
The 2/48th Battalion had barely arrived when early in May ‘41 Jim sustained several gunshot wounds to his chest and left hand, with records latter adding that he was also wounded in his left leg. He was fortunate to survive. His injuries occurred in the fierce fighting for Hill 209 which also claimed the lives of seven others in his battalion. John Glenn in his book, ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’ described conditions that day at Dimra: “At 3:50am on 1st May the men of the 2/48th stood-to to await the outcome of the battle which had raged all through the night. In thick mist, darkness, and bitter cold they snatched a quick breakfast of bully beef and hard biscuits.” The men attempted to take Hill 209 in the heavy dust storm, with the added challenge of overhead enemy aircraft targeting their carrying vehicles. ‘D Company moved out steadily with two platoons forward- 18 Platoon under Lieutenant Larkins on the right and 17 Platoon with Sergeant Tonkin in command on the left.’ ‘The company then moved well forward under control, and came under small arms fire, but continued until they came under very heavy machine-gun fire from the direction of the Water Point and Post S4.’
The remainder of that day was chaotic, information scant, the men weary and under heavy fire and a raging sandstorm. The next morning there was a terrific dust storm, but a foot patrol set out to find their soldiers who had not returned. For a few of those missing men it was some time before their fate was confirmed. It was an appalling day for the close knit men of the 2/48th.
Back home in May ’41, the Chronicle listed Jim as one of 29 wounded in action from his battalion. These included Pte. Laurence S. Baker, SX7282, Mambray Creek; Pte. Percival G. Bartholomew, SX7122, Narrung; Pte. Thomas Bell, SX8265, Snowtown; Joseph Buckley, SX8459, Albert Park, Vic; Pte. Robert W. Carvosso, SX7888, Glenelg; Pte. Ernest H. Chapman, SX7289, Koongawa; Pte. Ronald R. Collins, SX7163, Gulnare; Pte. M. G. Day. SX7434, Nairne; Pte. Harold W. Gass, SX7147, Mannum; Pte. Ronald A. Gepp, SX7884, Ashborne; Pte. Roy D. Goodes, SX6917. Cur ramulka; Pte. John Kennedy. SX7842, Adelaide; Lieut. Geoffrey D. Larkins, SX10332. St. Peters; Pte. Wilfred. J. Lewis, SX8856, Scott's Creek; Pte Henry O. Lohman. SX7771, Murray Bridge; Pte. Keith H. Pointon. SX7143. Prospect; Pte. Leonard G. Rex, SX7990, Colonel Light Gar dens; and Pte. Leonard J Rodda, SX7327, Moonta.
Jim was initially evacuated to hospital, then to a convalescing Depot. Ambitiously, he was graded as being ‘temporarily unfit’ for active service but was expected to be fit within six months.
Just prior to Christmas that year, Jim’s younger married brother, Leslie Alfred Dudley enlisted on the 22nd of December as S40980. Unfit for active service, Jim later spent time in the kit store until he embarked for home in March ’43, arriving in Melbourne. His physical condition was later more accurately assessed, and he continued to serve in the kit store until his discharge on the 27th September ’45.
His father, Robert died in hospital in October ’53 and was interred in the Scott Creek Cemetery. His mother, Anne lived a further eight years before her death in ’61. She now rests with Robert.
Aged 75 Jim died on the 4th September 1983 and now also rests in the Scott Creek Cemetery near his parents. A plaque commemorating his life and service marks his grave, remembered by his brothers and sister who all pre-deceased him.
Written and researched by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.