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Colin was born and grew up in the seaside town of Minlaton, on the Yorke Peninsula, proudly proclaimed as the ‘Barley Capital of the World’ on the 13th April 1918. He was the second surviving son of Albert Keyworth and Edith Emily (Edie) Parsons. His surviving siblings included Leslie Albert and younger brother Allan Clive. Two other sons had died in early childhood, Darcy, in October 1914, aged just 11 months and 1 ½ year old Ernie in September 1917.
Typical of country towns, the whole community became involved in fund raising events. As a nine-year-old, Colin was one of over seventy children who donned fancy dress, presenting as a sailor for a Children's Frolic which was held in aid of the church funds. Mick McKenzie, who was later to enlist with Colin, also won an award as the best sustained character dressed as Felix. Both attended the local Minlaton School.
Just prior to his eleventh birthday, Colin and his father were driving home on back roads in their sulky when it hit a stump. Colin was forcefully thrown out and was taken to the Minlaton Hospital, where Drs Clark and Russell found that he was suffering from serious internal injuries. He eventually recuperated, but the scars remained.
Post school, Colin worked on the family farm as a farmhand, but war was looming. A strong recruiting drive was underway following the declaration of War, for WWII. Country towns were targeted for their fit, young, single men and many heeded the call. Colin was one of these. Having just turned 22 he enlisted in June 1940 at Minlaton and was allocated to the newly formed 2/48th Battalion as SX8239. ‘Mick’ McKenzie enlisted at a similar time and became SX8138 in the same battalion. Their initial days were spent in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds where ‘beds’ were straw filled hessian on wooden pallets. The new enlistees then headed to Woodside for preliminary training.
Colin’s older brother, 27-year-old Leslie, a talented athlete, enlisted the week after Colin and was allocated the number SX8876 in the 2/3rd Machine Gun Battalion. Colin was a highly respected and successful breeder of fox terriers and was unbeaten at country shows including Moonta, Maitland and Minlaton.
At the start of November, the local enlistees returned home on pre-embarkation leave. The Edwards family entertained forty friends at ‘The Bluff’ for a send-off to the new Privates Colin Parsons and Victor ‘Mick’ McKenzie. Music and games were a feature with Miss A. McKenzie rendering a solo. Darcy Edwards also arranged a mock court, which caused much amusement. After the delicious supper Mr. F. E. Swincer spoke on behalf of the Bluff residents and presented both young men with a small parting gift, to which both suitably responded. Three cheers for the boys brought the evening to a close.
The new enlistees then boarded the Stratheden for the Middle East later that month, arriving in the Middle East on the 17th December. On board was another local, SX7615 Private Albert Thomas (Tom) ‘Ripper’ King. Their lives and fortunes were to become linked throughout their service. Their 2/48th Battalion then completed a few months training in Cyrenaica before marching 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 who were later to become the highly respected Rats of Tobruk. During those early days, besides regular army duties was the need to quickly adapt to the locals and local conditions. At that stage, Colin added his older brother Private Leslie Parsons as a supplementary Next of Kin to the name of his father.
Good news was quickly shared with those anxiously waiting back home. In May ‘41, the local Pioneer paper carried letters from local young men, Bill Shegog, Dick Foster, Les Tonkin, Col Parsons, Ern Lock, Tom King. H. S. Searle and the late Stan Button. Colin wrote "Have had a good look around Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and found both places full of interest. Canteen orders are the ideal thing when it is desired to send a donation to members of the A.I.F."—Col Parsons.
To start the New Year of ’42, the Chronicle carried a photo of Colin and SX7900 Ted Feehan, both from the 2/48th and taken in Palestine. The pair were delighted to read their 'Chronicles', and get a thrill out of them, particularly enjoying leave after fighting in Tobruk. In the meantime, Colin experienced several health issues in July that year, including malaria then a very high fever, called Pyrexia of Unknown origin (PUO) which resulted in him being hospitalised.
By the following September he was graded as a Group II Signaller, but soon after in early November he was wounded in action, with gunshot wounds to his right arm and leg. At the time a massive assault was underway to take Trig 29. John Glenn in Tobruk to Tarakan described the conditions. ‘As the flies and the heat made more than a couple of hours’ rest impossible, the men lolled in their holes and prepared their weapons for battle. When they moved off at 7:30 in the fading light there was little talking. There was a bitter night ahead.’ He added ‘one shell made a direct hit on a truck, and a man was killed; then another struck and seven were wounded.’
Conditions were ever-changing and the fighting continuous. Colin’s 2/48th Battalion prepared for the second battle of El Alamein which began on October 23rd. The evening was described by John Glenn as ‘an occasional burst from a machine gun disturbed the night of 24th October. Nevertheless, it was a busy time for the tired men. Little or no sleep could be had. A hot meal sent forward after dark was quickly swallowed. There was no time for yarning. Defences had to be improved, more digging and wiring done, and patrols sent out.’ He later added that ‘the 2/48th had stirred up a real hornets’ nest.’ On that night alone 9 of the Battalion were killed and 20 wounded in action. Of these 16 were from South Australia and the remainder from Western Australia.
Glenn also explained they were ‘running into particularly stiff opposition to the west of the Trig point. It was only after hard fighting, with heavy casualties on both sides, that they were able to consolidate on their objective. Gradually the platoon, small in number to start with, was being whittled away and those remaining were being forced to go to ground.’
Back home, Colin’s parents were anxiously waiting for more detailed news about their first son, Leslie who was first listed as ‘missing’ in the Far East, along with a huge roll of fellow South Australian soldiers early in July ’42. This was later suspected that he was a Prisoner of War but no detailed information was available. They received the news, then shared with the local community through the November ’42 issue of the Pioneer. ‘Mr and Mrs A. K. Parsons have been notified that their second son. Pte. Colin R. Parsons, has been wounded in action in Egypt. Colin left Australia in November, l940. He was in the Tobruk campaign and was among those who held the town for many months. His brother, Gnr. Leslie A. Parsons, is reported to be a prisoner of war in Batavia. He left for overseas on Good Friday, 1941, and saw service in Syria.’ In the same report was news of Colin’s friend and fellow 2/48th soldier, Corporal ‘Ripper’ King, injured in the same battle. ‘Mr and Mrs Geo. King, of Minlaton have been advised that their son, Cpl. Albert T. ("Ripper") King, has been wounded in action in Egypt for the third time. Cpl. King was one of the "Rats of Tobruk," and went through the Libyan campaign. He left Australia in November, 1940.’
Following treatment, Colin was finally able to re-join the 2/48th Battalion at the end of November in time to return to Australia via Melbourne and hence home for well-earned leave at the start of ‘43. Many others from the 2/48th also returned to Minlaton, including SX7615 Albert ‘Tom’ King, SX9395 William Lewis, SX8138 Albert ‘Mick’ McKenzie, SX8143 Harry Searle from the 2/48th Battalion. The community were delighted to have the men back home, with the March meeting of the Ladies’ Social Afternoon entertaining the returnees from the Middle East. Colin was one of three men who won cakes as a result of an exhibition of photos.
By October, Colin’s parents had received a postcard from Les, being held as a Prisoner of War and falsely claiming he was ‘in good health’.
At that stage, Colin was training in Queensland preparing to face a very different enemy in the tropical conditions of New Guinea. He arrived in Milne Bay in August ’43 but soon after was affected by a painful gastric condition called dyspepsia that was treated by field ambulance. An earlier high fever (PUO) returned, as did malaria. By February ’44 Colin returned to Australia via Brisbane.
A 19-year-old cashier clerk, Betty Jennings of Alberton had also enlisted in March ’42 becoming S.F. 64827 and served as part of the Australian Women’s Army Service where she rose to the rank of Lance Corporal. Home on leave, Colin married Betty on the 16th March ’44 at St George’s Church, Alberton in an evening ceremony. The newly-weds had a few weeks at home in Minlaton before returning to Adelaide.
Sadly, Colin’s father 57-year-old Albert died in the Minlaton Hospital on the 24th May ’44, believing that his two sons would both return from the war. Colin was granted compassionate leave for over a month, which was then extended. Not in outstanding health at the time, Colin contracted a skin disease called Pustular Folliculitis and soon after both he and Betty were discharged in August.
By October, ’45 Edie Parsons had learned that her oldest son, 32-year-old Les died whilst a P.O.W. in Sumatra on April 29th, 1945. In a very cruel blow, it was later learned that he had died of the preventable disease, beriberi which had caused heart failure. The inhumane conditions and starvation diet of white rice caused his death. He was buried in the Jakarta War Cemetery, he is also recognised and remembered on his parents’ headstone at Minlaton.
In the ensuing years, the family continued to remember their son, brother and uncle.
Pioneer Friday 3 May 1946 PARSONS, L. A., 2/3rd M/G Battalion— In loving memory of our dear son and brother Les., died P.O.W. in Sumatra on April 29, 1945. To those who knew and loved him His memory will never grow old. —Ever remembered by his loving mother and brother Allan. PARSONS—In fond and loving memory of Les., who died POW in Sumatra on April 29, 1945. Not just today, but every day, In silence we remember, Ever remembered by Colin, Betty, John.
Pioneer Friday 2 May 1947, PARSONS, L. A., 2/3rd M.G. Btn.—In loving memory of our dear son and brother Les. who died in Sumatra, April 29th, 1945. Within our store of memories you hold a place apart. —Inserted by mother and brothers.
Pioneer Friday 30 April 1948, PARSONS—In loving memory of Les, who died at Sumatra, April 29th , 1945. —Ever remembered by his mother and brothers.
Betty was discharged on the 11th August ’44 and Colin four days later. Colin’s medals were forwarded to him and included the ??? In following up her entitlements, Betty was finally awarded the Australian service Medal in ’68 to go with her General service Badge.
Colin’s remaining brother, Allan, married Murl Cranwell in May ’47, choosing Colin as his best man.
Typical of country communities, if an emergency occurred, everyone responded. When a fire swept through Frank Swincer’s Bluff property, in trying circumstances and weather in March ’48, Colin was one of the many who assisted in extinguishing it. Frank placed a public ‘thank you’ in the Pioneer adding a special thanks to Betty; “Also in Mrs. Colin Parsons for sending out sandwiches and 3 gallons of hot tea. Much appreciated.”
Colin became a respected speaker at the Minlaton Agricultural Bureau meetings. At the April ’50 meeting he presented a paper which drew on his war service and observations about the Middle East countryside in which he had fought and the agricultural practices. He spoke of the primitive methods still used in Egypt and Syria; the one-furrow ploughs drawn by bullocks and donkeys; and the very poor sheep. But he also told of the beautiful orange and olive groves which flourish in the regions. The following year his widowed mother transferred ownership of the family farm at Koolywurtie, Sections 167W and 168 officially to Colin Roy Parsons.
Colin enjoyed the tranquillity and ever-changing nature of being outdoors, appreciating and sharing sights of waterbirds on inland water sites. He shared with the Pioneer readers “an unusual sight at The Bluff, near Minlaton. About three hundred yards from the shore half a dozen teal duck were riding the waves — fair-sized waves, five to six feet high. which were breaking ever the reef. They stayed for quite a while and seemed to be enjoying themselves.”
Colin’s mother, Edith lived to be 74 and died on the 26th May 61. Both parents now rest in the Minlaton Cemetery with Les also being recognised and remembered on their headstone. Their little sons and Les’s brothers, Darcy and Ernie rest nearby.
Aged 88 Colin died on the 5th April, 2007 and was buried in the local Minlaton Cemetery. Betty lived to be 90 and died on the 13th August 2014.
Written and researched by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.