Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John was born on the 7th November 1906 in Adelaide. As a young man, he lived in Hyde Park and was employed as a motor driver. He was fortunate to have just one encounter before the traffic Courts for speeding over an intersection, earning an expensive fine of £2 5/ with 10 costs. The Justice of the Peace who heard John’s and three other speeding infringement cases, took the opportunity to comment "I don't know of any more foolish way of getting rid of money than by giving it to the Crown in fines for speeding offences." Further detail was added that John was travelling at 32 m.p.h. and was timed with a stopwatch – a strong contrast to modern infringements and methodology.
John married Kathleen Beatrice with the two living at Malvern, a southern suburb of Adelaide. For three years, John served as part of the militia in the 48th Battalion. However, with the outbreak of WWII he enlisted to serve as a 33-year-old. He was fortunate to then be placed in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion as SX8852, undertaking intensive training at Woodside. Following pre-embarkation leave he embarked on the Stratheden, arriving in the Middle East on the 17th December ’40. Almost immediately he attended training schools.
He earned an unofficial, but highly regarded title of being a Rat of Tobruk following leaflets being dropped on the troops urging them to surrender, rather than live like rats in the hand-hewn bunkers infested with fleas, dust, dirt and poor conditions. The opposite eventuated, with soldiers and their descendant proudly declaring their heritage as ‘Rats’.
John and the 2/48th Battalion returned to Australia in February ’43 via Melbourne to have a few weeks precious leave. Training in Queensland followed as the men prepared to face a very different enemy in the tropical conditions of New Guinea. John arrived in August ’43, serving there for about five months before returning to Brisbane. He then undertook Special Duties with the Australia Corps Junior Staff School.
By the time he was discharged on the 28th April ’45 the huge physical demands of army life had played havoc with his health, particularly his feet with bunions and flat feet causing much discomfort.
John died on the 19th February 1983. Kathleen lived to be 80 and died on the 9th August 1988 and was buried in Centennial Park Cemetery.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes, SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.