Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Born in Wales on the 26th April 1910 to Elizabeth Ellen, Walter and his family came to South Australia and settled at Renmark in the Riverland where Wally worked as a labourer. Wally had three siblings, Leslie, Doris and Chris. Their family was very close to cousins Thomas, Frieda and William (Bill) Smith who also lived in the same town.
With the outbreak of WWII, Wally’s cousin, 21-year-old Thomas Smith was the first of the extended family to enlist on the 26th March ’40, being allocated to the 2/10th Battalion. Aged 28, Tom’s older brother, Dick and 30-year-old Wally followed, enlisting from Renmark on the 6th July 1940. The two cousins became SX8176 and SX8184 respectively and fortuitously were both allocated to the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. At that time many other young Riverland men enlisted including Harry Lock SX6846 and so many were also allocated to the same battalion. They trained at Wayville, now the Adelaide Showgrounds before marching to Woodside for more training.
Wally and many others from the region returned to Renmark on pre-embarkation leave visiting friends and relatives in September. Many of the 17 young men were in his 2/48th Battalion, including SX8176 Dick Smith, SX8039 Donald F. Priester, SX6876 Harold A. J. Roy, SX6866 Roy T. Loveday. SX8179 Howard J. Trenwith, SX6846 Harry Lock, SX6839 James Boothey, SX7996 Colin Roger R. Jacka and SX8274 Andrew Kelly.
The young men were feted at the Renmark Institute in October when presentations were made to those who had enlisted. Over 500 people attended to hear speeches and watch the presentations of propelling pencils and cigarettes made to the 20 local men, including Wally. The Mayor said that “he felt the huge crowd present was more expressive than anything he could say of the regard in which they were held. He felt that the lads they had met to honour were brimful of the true British spirit. Right through history, England had fought for tolerance, freedom, and honour. So was it any wonder that the men of Australia had answered the call as they had.”
Following this brief leave the new soldiers returned to the 2/48th with their contingent then embarking on the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 7th November 1940, arriving on the 19th December 1940. Wally’s voyage included time in the ship’s hospital. His battalion was soon on its way to serve in Tobruk, Syria and Egypt. By the start of April 1941, the 2/48th were in Tobruk where the dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to new enlistees. They were to become the famed Rats of Tobruk.
Wally was wounded in action in August causing him to have several days in hospital before he was able to re-join his battalion. John Glenn in Tobruk to Tarakan told of the conditions at the time. ‘We were in the Salient again, this time to the left of our July position. The days were hot, with the wind like the breath of a furnace, and the nights were bathed in the light of a full moon, curtailing the movement of the Salient men and presenting the ration parties with the difficult task of getting a meal up, with the gaps in the minefields covered by the enemy fixed lines of fire. Every now and then a Spandau would send stream of red tracer bullets across the forward posts.’
‘The attack continued, and the men were forced to move forward over a rise, where they made excellent targets in the moonlight. Anxious eyes peered towards the posts as shells burst right around the front. The 2/48th had suffered casualties as they waited; Lance-Corporal G Richardson and Private R.B. Humphrys had been killed and Private J.L. Duffield and Private L.O. Samuel had been wounded.’ George Richardson was 28. Reg Humphrys was just 18 years old (although his Army record state that he was 21.)
These deaths and injuries were reported back home in the Chronicle with two of his fellow battalion members, 27-year-old Pte. Paul P. Kostera, SX7090, from Balaklava and 34-year-old Pte. Francis R. Holmes, SX7861, from Kingswood were two of Wally’s 2/48th comrades who lost their lives. Others from his battalion who were also wounded included Pte. Robert V. Nash, SX6863, from Barmera; Pte. Clifton Irvine SX7797, from Glenunga and Pte. Louis O. Samuel, SX7367, from Burra.
Where possible, the local Murray Pioneer reported on the young men serving overseas. Wally’s cousin, Driver Dick Smith of the A.A.S.C., Infantry wrote a prophetic verse to the editor which was published in February ‘42, whilst also mentioning that ‘Lester Johnson (SX8213), Max Walters (SX8182), Wally Smith (SX8184) and Andy Kelly (SX8214) were all well at the time of writing and sent their best wishes to their Renmark friends.’
“Six months in this lousy desert
Eating biscuits and bully stew
Six months of blizzards and sandstorms
No wonder I'm feeling blue.
There's Shorty, Nig and Bluey;
They argue the blinken point
As to why we're blinken well fighting
And what we want with this joint.
Of course we play cards in the day time,
When we can't get about on top
We play a game of poker
For a couple of piasters a pop.
We work all night carrying ammo
And come home tired as hell.
Then the fleas take up their positions,
And they dive-bomb us as well.
When we go to the front of a night time,
With grub for the lads in the line,
Jerry opens up with his typewriters;
Believe me they've an ugly whine.
Then he flings over some hardware
They sound nasty the way they flop
Sometimes he gets really vicious
And slings all but the kitchen clock.
But Jerry can do his darndest,
We can take it, and give it by h#ck;
And there will come a day when Adolf,
Will cop it fair in the neck.
Then we get talking about home,
And what we'll do on the boat,
And "Blue" hopes they've got a Boozer
That "codger's" a blooming soak
Now there's a rumour of leave on,
So we'll polish our tattered gear,
And eat the best of tucker,
And fill up on good old beer.
Then we'll forget all these hardships
And how we fought for this land
But we'll never forget our comrades
Whose graves are being covered with sand.”
Five months later, 26-year-old Lester was to become one of Dick’s comrades who were killed in action in Egypt on the 17th July ’42 and Roger Jacka narrowly avoided also dying of wounds.
Walter was finally able to leave the Middle East, disembarking in Melbourne in February ’43. He was able to return to the Riverland where a huge patriotic social was organised in the Renmark Institute for the returning men. Returning with Wally were Walter Coombe SX7412, Bryan Nuske SX5237, Dick Smith, F. Priester SX8039, W. Smith, H. A. J. Roy SX6876, R. T. Loveday SX6866. H. J. Trenwith SX8179, Harry Lock SX6846, D. French, R. Porter, Bryan, Lunday, Boothey. R. Smith, R. Jacka and A. Kelly who were amongst the many A.I.F. men who spent the week-end in Renmark.
The local Murray Pioneer noted the men’s return with record crowds massed at the railway station. A hugely patriotic article appeared. ‘BEHIND the official announcement by the Prime Minister (Mr. Curtin) this week that a further contingent of troops had arrived in Australia from the Middle East lies a story of great excitement and enthusiasm in the River districts. The joy which came to human hearts as trains conveying the troops drew into the various stations could only be appreciated by those who witnessed the unforgettable scenes on the crowded platforms It recalled to the mind happenings of 12 months earlier when the first troops from overseas returned to Australia.
‘Many of these heroes of Rommel's El Alamein debacle—their most recent triumph—had been away from home for three years and were among the "Rats of Tobruk". From the time some days earlier, that news leaked through that the men had arrived at "An Australian port," relatives had lived in an air of joyous expectancy, which broke loose aa the various men reached their home stations on three weeks' leave. Practically without exception the men looked 100 per cent fit, though some carried the unmistakable traces of hard campaigning under difficult conditions.’
‘At Renmark the station yard was crowded on the several occasions when special coaches were attached to the passenger train to brins the men to their home stations. The largest attendance was on the Saturday afternoon that the first of the Diggers arrived home. All parking room in the station yard and approaches having been taken, cars were parked for some hundred yards down the road outside, and there must have been 500 people present. The height of community enthusiasm, however, was not reached until the welcome home social on the Thursday evening, when the record attendance of 1,000 thronged the Institute to honour these heroes of many campaigns.
‘It was Indeed a "meeting of the clans", including people from other districts as well as local residents. The hall's capacity proved unequal to the occasion. Renmark was determined to welcome those who had fought and suffered. A number of wounded men were present. Mothers, wives and sweethearts were noted in the crowd. Seats were provided on the stage as well as all round the hall—sometimes double-banked—but even then there was scarcely "standing room" for the mighty throng.’
In a eulogistic speech the RSL President commented that “in greeting these fine young men, that a mere 35 years ago they were peace loving lads in a peaceful country, but by virtue of their earnest training and their high ideals they were today fighting soldiers second to none in the world. He reiterated that nobody in Australia was more proud of them than members of the original AIF. Old soldiers had watched their exploits with the keenest interest. Many of them were sons of men who had served twenty-five years earlier.
"It must be a matter of pride that of the eleven Victoria Crosses awarded to Australians in this war three of these greatest awards have been made to members of one battalion." The men who bad assisted in these great exploits stood before them. They still had a job to do and he knew from conversation with the gallant men themselves that they desired to complete the task before them. This was not the "welcome" to which they looked forward, but a greeting in passing. He wished them all God speed and a final happy return to Renmark. On behalf of ex-servicemen he congratulated them on what had been accomplished and expressed confidence in their determination to carry on their valorous campaign to victory.’
From there, Wally headed to Queensland, training to prepare for a totally different enemy in the tropical conditions of New Guinea. Cousins Dick and Tom also were part of the troops sent. He arrived in Milne Bay in August ’43 but soon transferred from the 2/48th Battalion to 9th Division Headquarters. The tropical conditions unfortunately contributed to Wally contracting both malaria and gastric problems, requiring hospitalisation back in South Australia. By May ’44 Wally went AWOL for two days and attracted a financial penalty. This re-occurred the following year in August. Wally was finally discharged September ’45.
Wally’s young cousin, Tom Smith died of wounds sustained on Christmas Day ’43. Wally, his mother and siblings continued to remember Tom in the ensuing years.
Murray Pioneer Thursday 23 December 1943, SMITH — Private Tom S. 2/27th Batt. A.I.F. In proud and loving memory of my nephew Tom, died of wounds 25th December 1942, in N.G. Beneath the Cross of Sacrifice Within a silent grave, His comrades laid him down to. Rest Among Australians brave. —Inserted by his Aunty Bess and cousins, Les (RAAF), Wal (AIF), N.G, Doris and Chris.
Murray Pioneer Thursday 20 December 1945, SMITH-In loving memory of Tom, died of wounds 25th December 1942. God watched you as you suffered, He thought you had done your share. He gently closed your weary eyes and took you in his care. Inserted by Aunty Bess, Walt, Chris, Ron and Doris.
Murray Pioneer Thursday 23 December 1948. SMITH, Pte. Tom. — Died of wounds. New Guinea, Dec. 25. 1942. Years may dawn and fade away. But loving memories always stay. —Ever remembered by Auntie Bess and cousins Leslie, Walter, Doris and Chris.
Murray Pioneer Thursday 22 December 1949, SMITH—In loving: memory of Tom, died of wounds in N.G. on December 25, 1942. A tender chord of memory Is sadly touched today. —Always remembered by his Aunty Bess and cousins Les, Wal, Doris and Chris.
Murray Pioneer Thursday 21 December 1950, SMITH-In loving Tom, died of wounds at Gona, December 25th, 1942. So much to remember, Too much to forget. -Inserted by Auntie Bess and cousins.

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