Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Ralph was the second son of Harrold March and Lucy Winifred Adams. Born on the 28th March 1920 at Port Broughton, he lived at Paskeville on the Copper Coast of SA, a wheat and barley farming area where he was involved in farming.
Ralph’s brother Frank married Vera Rose in April ’40 choosing two of his siblings to be involved in the ceremony, sister Thelma as a bridesmaid and Ralph as the best man. Soon after, with the outbreak of WWII, Ralph chose to enlist just after his 20th birthday, on the 6th July 1940. He was assigned to the newly formed 2/48th Battalion, where his initial days were spent in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds. There he met Douglas Bagshaw SX7468 from McLaren Flat, with the two soon becoming firm friends as they joined the other new enlistees at Woodside for their preliminary training. After pre-embarkation leave, the 2/48th contingent embarked on the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 7th November 1940, arriving on the 19th December 1940.
Their 2/48th Battalion completed a few months training in Cyrenaica before going to Tobruk at the start of April 1941 where the dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to these fresh new enlistees. They were to become the famed Rats of Tobruk.
However, within a month of arriving in Tobruk, and just 22 years old, Ralp’s friend Douglas Bagshaw was killed in action on May 1st, less than a year after enlisting. John Glenn in his book, ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’ described conditions at Dimra on that day: “At 3:50 am 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 remainder of that day was chaotic, information scant, the men weary and under heavy fire and a sandstorm raged. 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, however his fellow soldiers were able to recover Douglas’ body. Mark Johnson in his recent book, ‘Derrick In His Own Words’ explained that ‘On 1 May the 2/48th suffered 51 casualties, including 16 killed. Besides Douglas, these included Herbert Neumann SX8014 from Aldgate, Robert Carey SX7943 from Portland, John Christerson SX7791 from Yorketown, John Marshall SX7759 from Hawthorn, William Gates SX6867 from Brompton and Allan Glanville Porter SX7315 all from the 2/48th Battalion. A tragic day.
On the anniversary of Douglas’ death, then Corporal Ralph Adams remembered Douglas in a tribute placed in the Advertiser Friday 1 May 1942, BAGSHAW. —In loving memory of my dear pal Douglas, who was killed in action at Tobruk on May 1, 1941. To live in the hearts of those we love, is not to die. —inserted by L/Cpl Ralph Adams. 2nd A.I.F. (abroad).
Ralph himself was wounded at Tobruk on September 1st ’41. John Glen in ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’ described how the 2/48th was again on the move to the southern sector of the Salient, particularly renown for the fleas and dust. “The shell-fire on this front was very consistent, but by no means as heavy as on the other positions on the salient. Warrant Officer Jack Wilson, Privates R. Adams and C.A. Braund were wounded in the first two days.”
Just over a month later, having been promoted to Lance Corporal, Ralph was wounded in Action on July 11th ’42 in the fierce fighting to take control of the Tel el Eisa Station where ten tanks from passed through the Allied’s artillery fire, crossing and re-crossing the slit trenches in which the 2/48th were sheltered. This was grim news as his younger brother David was also reported as being ‘in an RAAF hospital in Australia.’
Just prior to being discharged, and home on leave, Ralph became engaged to Private Lois Olive Marshall, an only child from Bordertown who was serving with the Australian Women’s Army Service as SF8492, on the 2nd March ’44. She relinquished her position soon after. Within a fortnight they young couple had married at Pirie St. Methodist Church, on Wed. March 15 at 3pm with Lois wearing an engraved gold locket and chain, a gift from Ralph. His youngest sister, Thelma again was a bridesmaid for a sister-in-law. Ralph chose his brother, Alan as his best man. As a mark of respect for Lois’ Army service, when the bridal couple left the church about forty Service girls from H.Q. formed a guard of honour. Ralph was officially discharged on the 17th January ’45 with the young couple then settling in Bordertown.
Life, however was not uneventful. The Border Chronicle reported an incident on the Highway outside of Bordertown where an unusual car accident occurred. A horse which had dislodged Ralph and he was trying to round up, ‘dashed out from among some trees on to the road right in front of the car, not giving the driver a chance to evade it.’ Result was slight damage to the car but the horse had to be destroyed.
As Ralph and Lois settled into their new life, they became willing helpers, including for Violet Day for the Tatiara Hospital with Lois working on the sweets and austerity stalls. Ralph also joined the Pine Hill cricket team, being handy as a batsman.
As troops returned from their overseas duty, several fellow soldiers with whom Ralph had fought in the 2/48th Battalion continued to return to Bordertown. They included Les Grosser who had become a POW. His brother Frank served with Ralph but died early in the conflict of wounds on August 7th ’41. In heartfelt thanks all returnees ‘were unanimous in their praise of the Red Cross and Comforts Fund, and of the benefits these organisations had been able to bring to the personnel of the Services no matter where they were disposed.’ Ralph joined the Returned Servicemen's League at Tatiara, a forward-thinking group that decided to allow those who served in WWII to also be allowed to hold official positions. To this end, Ralph was appointed as the Junior Vice President in 1946. The Border Chronicle reported that Ralph continued to represent Tatiara at various functions, including a memorable ‘47 ‘R.S.L. reception to Field Marshal Montgomery at Adelaide Town Hall last Tuesday. Both were "with Monty" at El Alamein, the battle which proved to be the turning point of the North African campaign.’
Having survived an horrific war Ralph looked forward to the arrival of his first child. Tragically she was premature and only survive for a few hours in September ’46. Three years later he and Lois welcomed their son, Paul Thomas who arrived on October 16 ’49.
Ralph and Lois lived out very full lives at Bordertown where they eventually died, Lois aged 75 on the 24th February 1997 and Ralph aged 83 on the 4th September, 2003. They are both buried in the local Cemetery.

Ralph’s service is commemorated at the Dublin War Memorial and Lois’ on the Bordertown WWII Roll of Honour.

Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.