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Herbert (known by his middle name, Peter) was born at Mount Gambier on the 25th April 1913 to Eric James and Alice Mable Gertrude (May) Banks. His siblings included Winnifred Gertrude, Eva, Erica, Doreen, Harold and Donald.
Peter was named after his maternal grandfather, a Scotsman, Peter McIntyre who had come to Australia aged 6 and was a colonist for over 80 years. He acquired Lake Hawdon at Robe where May and Eric also lived with their own growing family and was where Peter spent his childhood years.
Peter’s father, Eric was particularly active in local activities including being Chairman of the District Council, President of the Robe Football Club, President of the Easter Picnic Races Involved with the Agricultural and Horticultural Show, a member of the Oddfellows, Chairing a Committee to raise funds for a doctor’s house at Robe, was a leader with planting experimental crops and also appointed to form a branch of the Defence League in Robe.
Peter’s early schooling was at Robe before he then attended Scotch College in the city. His family regularly entertained at home with tennis, billiards and dancing. Winifred, Peter and Harrold invited about thirty young people to shed the shadow of "hard times," In February ’31, concluding with supper and dancing to a live band until the early hours when the party concluded with the guests joining hands and singing "Auld Lang Syne" and "For They Are Jolly Good Fellows."
With Peter turning 21, the family organised a huge celebration in May ’34 with over 100 guests gathering at Karatta House. The Scotch College colours of blue and yellow decorated the ballroom and supper table. A welcome live band provided music for dancing throughout the evening until supper where speeches were made. Peter was then presented with a gold key which each guest had signed.
Peter was a regular and successful footballer and also tennis player, as were his sisters. He and brother Eric also teamed up to become runners up in a Handicap Gents Doubles in ’36. He and young Nita England became a popular couple through playing tennis and also their involvement with Red Cross. When the latter held a fancy-dress New Year’s Eve fundraiser in ‘35 the couple won the prize for being the best dressed, as a Russian Couple. This was to be a lasting match.
Peter’s oldest sister, Winnifred married Noel Hiern in the St Peter’s church at Robe in March ’35. One of her three bridesmaids was sister Erica, while Noel chose Peter and Donald Banks as his two groomsmen. The three younger children, Harold, Eva and Doreen were guests. Peter’s wedding was next, announcing his engagement that year and marrying Nita England in December ’37 at the Robe St Peter's Church of England in an evening ceremony. Both Peter and Nita, being keen tennis players, were feted by their fellow players who made the tournament afternoon a Kitchen Afternoon, hosted by the President of the Tennis Club. A traditional ‘pantry evening’ had also been held with the local paper commenting that a large and varied assortment of groceries, ranging from a bag of sugar to lesser household commodities were received. For their ceremony, Rita chose Erica Banks as one of her bridesmaids while Peter chose Don and Harold as best man and groomsman respectively.
With war looming, early in July ‘40, a social was arranged by the local Patriotic Council with games and competitions. At that time a war savings group had been formed with children encouraged to subscribe to war saving certificates. Already 17 local young men had enlisted, including two Ryan brothers, two Westland brother plus Peter and Harold. 27-year-old Peter was first to enlist on the 6th July ’40 being allocated the number SX8147 and placed in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. Just a fortnight later, his younger brother, Harold enlisted on the 25th July 1940, becoming SX9637 also in the 2/48th Battalion.
With her husband being sent overseas for an indetermined time, Nita travelled to Adelaide with Peter, having made the decision to spend the coming years in the city for the duration of the war.
The brothers were soon on their way to Tobruk and the fierce fighting in the desert where they would earn the highly respected title of being Rats of Tobruk. Peter’s leadership skills were quickly recognised as he eventually rose to the rank of Sergeant. By August ’42 the Naracoorte Herald reported unwanted news. ‘Mrs. P. Banks has been notified that her husband, Cpl. Peter Banks, has been wounded in action. Cpl. Banks is the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Banks, of Lake Hawdon. He resided at Lake Hawdon with his wife up to the time of his enlistment. Mr. E. J. Banks has been notified that his son, Pte. H. F. Banks, has also been wounded in action. From enquiries made through the Red Cross, it has been ascertained that both received bullet wounds and are expected to recover.’ The Advertiser carried a similar report. ‘Mrs H. P. Banks has been informed that her husband Cpl Peter Banks was wounded in action in July. Cpl. Banks is the eldest son of Mr and Mrs E J. Banks of Lake Hawdon station Robe who have also been advised that their youngest son Pte. H F (Lal) Banks was wounded in action about a week later.’
Back home in ’43 Harold was one of the driving forces behind encouraging people to take up either War Loans or War Savings Certificates. The elected group decided to adopt the Soldier Honor Group scheme for a War Savings
On the 7th June, his father was involved in a nasty accident. ‘Mr. Eric J./Banks (chairman, of the District Council of Robe), met with, a nasty accident when driving a gig on the Lake Hawdon property, last Thursday. The wheel struck a yacca and the gig overturned, throwing Mr Banks heavily to the ground. He managed to walk home, and was taken by his son, Don, to the Narracoorte Hospital. ' Dr. H. K. Pavy made an x-ray examination of his arm and shoulder, and ordered him to the Memorial Hospital, Adelaide, for treatment.’
Unbeknown to the family, Aged 27, Harold was killed in action at Tarakan, Borneo on the 11th June ’45. Peter was discharged the following day. By the 15th June the Narracoorte Herald reported that ‘Mr. E. J. Banks, of Robe, has received word that his son, Harold ("Lal"), has been killed in action with the A.I.F. In this, issue appears a paragraph stating that his (father, Mr. E, J. Banks (chairman of the District Council of Robe) had sustained a nasty accident to his arm and shoulder, and is an inmate of the Memorial Hospital, Adelaide. The sympathy of the residents of Robe and district goes out to Mr. and Mrs. Banks and family in their hour of trouble.'
The Advertiser also reported his death and those of two others from Peter’s battalion. SX9637 L-Sgt. Forrest H. Banks. 2/48th from Robe was killed in action and both SX21753 Lt. Colin D. Simper. 2/48th from Blackwood and SX19309 Pte. M. Thomas, 2/48th Curramulka died of their wounds.
His family publicly thanked their community in the local paper. ‘Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Banks and family of Lake Hawdon Station; Robe, wish to thank all friends and relatives for kind expressions of sympathy in the loss of their Son and brother.’
Post War, Peter followed in his father’s footsteps in becoming involved in the Robe Agricultural and Horticultural Society as secretary in ‘47 also being instrumental in selling a small portion of the showgrounds to the Progress Association for a camping and caravan park.


Tragedy continued to visit the Banks family with the death of their second oldest son, 33-year-old Donald Roland in a drafting accident at the Station in February ’48. The Advertiser reported that he ‘was fatally injured while drafting horses with his brother Peter Banks on their former property at Lake Hawdon on Monday. In an attempt to escape from the yard, a horse dislodged a fencing rail, which struck Banks in the head, throwing him about 15 yards. Suffering from a fractured jaw and arm and concussion, he was unconscious when admitted to hospital, where he died last night. Banks, who was the son of Mr. E. J. Banks, a former chairman of the Robe District Council, has left a widow and 18-month-old son.
Peter and his family were able to move to a property the named ‘Upsandowns’ at Wrattonbully which was established after the war as a soldier settlement. Seventeen farms were allocated to returned soldiers. By ’54 The Wrattonbully Branch of the Naracoorte Fire Fighting Association made application for Peter Banks to be appointed as an additional fire control officer for that area. Various reasons were stated in favour of the application. The final decision was deferred, however until the approach of the summer season.
Aged 69, Peter died on the 20th April ’83 with his ashes being buried in Centennial Park. Nita survived him by 9 years and died on the 22nd February ’92, also having her ashes interred with Peter.
Written and researched by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.