Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Donald Frederick Priester

Don was brought up at Renmark, on the River Murray where his father was a professional fisherman. He was born at Berri on the 10th February 1920, an only son to Frederick and Katherine and brother to Cynthia, Coral and twins, Bette and Mona. Attending the Renmark Town School, Don was a very capable student, featuring each year in the published Credit section and in the Grade VII honour roll having achieved 100%. In the same year he also gained his woodwork certificate, a prized award to achieve. His childhood threw up a few adventures; as a seven-year-old he would accompany his mother when she went to milk the family cows, but had lagged behind. As Katherine waited for him, she felt a sharp bite on her ankle, then saw a small tiger snake wriggling rapidly away from her foot. The Murray Pioneer reported that the alarm was raised and a doctor met Katherine on her way into Renmark where she was treated at the hospital and detained under observation. The paper reported that “All throughout a very trying time, Mrs. Priester showed plenty of pluck, although warned her position might be a serious one.”

Post school, Don worked on Warrakoo station, (named from an aboriginal word meaning ’big bend in river’). The Smith family owners described Don as “a trustworthy and capable station hand”. However, war intervened, with Don being one of the early men to enlist on July 5th 1940, soon after his 20th birthday to become SX8039 and to become part of the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. The following day his father, Fred also enlisted at Wayville briefly being SX8141 but was soon discharged as being medically unfit. He was then successful in joining the 4th Motor Transport as SX11733 where he served as a driver in supply and transport. Both Don and his father were able to have time home on leave in October when presentations were made at the Renmark Institute 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 Don. 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.”

Don was posted overseas to Tobruk within four months of enlisting, serving there for eight months before being moved to Syria. Almost two years after he enlisted, his mother received the news she had been dreading – Don had been wounded in action in Egypt on July 11th. To compound the effect of that distressing news, Katherine also received official notification that her husband, Frederick was missing in Malaya. She had last heard from him in February, five months before the upsetting news. Prior to being transferred to Malaya, Frederick had also been serving in both Libya and Syria. It was to be an anxious wait for Katherine.

In a letter headlined as Buried by a Bomb Burst published in the Murray Pioneer of June 1943, Don was quite graphic in his recount. "When Wavell's forces were coming back to go to Greece, we advanced and re-entered Tobruk. On January 1 Jerry attacked and broke in through the perimeter. He broke in with infantry, tanks and artillery. He held the salient he had won. We attacked him with the bayonet and had casualties. I remember Cpl. H. Lock (now a sergeant) being there in the attack. Jerry came in a blinding dust storm, and we could not see more than about 10 yards. It was here that Pte. Brown, of Barmera, was shot through the head. Lt. Larkin was hit twice through the arm and once in the shoulder. It was a hard fight but we pinned them to what they had taken."

He explained that the battalion was then pulled out to the eastern perimeter for a rest and stayed there for six weeks. Then they moved in again and, said the soldier, "We had a rough-time. Jerry was on rising ground above us and you could not lift your head. Private McFarlane of Cobdogla was hit. He was wounded by shrapnel in the side.

"It was on August 3 we attacked a post held by Germans. They put over a heavy barrage against the company. Sgt. Buckley (now a Lieut.) took a night patrol to the Jerries' wire. Booby traps and mines had to be avoided. The Jerry saw the patrol coming and they clashed. All except one of the Jerries were killed. He got lost and ran into our wire, and was taken prisoner.

"On October 22 and 23 troops were embarked on a cruiser of the Royal Navy. The Navy did a wonderful job. They had everything ready for us and in 45 minutes over 1,000 of us were aboard. I had a Christmas in Palestine. It was wet but after Tobruk we enjoyed ourselves." Don was hospitalised for three weeks as a result of a shell bursting close to him throwing a stone forcefully into his left arm causing an injury. The report continued with the detail that Pte. Priester did not take much part in the Battle of El Alamein having previously been wounded.

With Frank officially listed as missing in Singapore on February 19, 1942, it was well over a year later that Katherine finally received word that he was a Prisoner of War in Borneo in April of 1943. Her only comfort was that Don was home from the Middle East after two and a half years' service with the 9th Division.

By 1944 Don’s sister, Betsy, then aged 18 was one of three young women who enlisted as a WAAFS. It was her contribution, knowing her father was an A.I.F. prisoner of war in Borneo and Don, her only brother had been in the A.I.F. for four years. (Don’s other two sisters were both civilian nurses.) He was finally discharged on the 11th July 1944 to live in Adelaide. Sixteen months later Don was to learn that his father, a POW in Japanese hands' for over three years, died of preventable beriberi illness on March 22, 1945. Fred had been in the AIF for four years, including in Malaya for 10 months, prior to being taken prisoner.

Katherine and the family were devastated that Frank had not survived, but were strongly supported by their community, placing a public thank you in the ‘Murray Pioneer’ in November ’45; “Mrs F. Priester and family wish to thank all kind friends for cards and messages of sympathy in their sad bereavement.” Over the ensuing years, Don, his mother and sisters continued to remember their father and husband:

Murray Pioneer Thursday 21 March 1946, PRIESTER. —In loving memory of Frederick Priester, who died a prisoner of war in. Borneo on March 22nd, 1945.Inserted by his wife and family.

Murray Pioneer Thursday 20 March 1947, PRIESXER—In memory of F, Priester, who died of Illness while ii prisoner of war in Borneo, on March 22. 1945.—Inserted by his wife and family.

Advertiser Saturday 22 March 1947, PRIESTER. — In memory of F. Priester, who died of illness while a prisoner of war in Borneo, on March 22, 1945. — Inserted by his wife and family.

Post war, Katherine moved to live at Royal Park and was able to welcome her first grandchild and Don’s first nephew, Mona and Laurie Flint’s son, Anthony Frederick. A fitting tribute by Mona to both her brother and father. Unexpectedly, Katherine died on the 30th March, 1954 and was buried at Centennial Park. Just two months later, Mona’s second child, a daughter Francine Evelyn Flint arrived.  

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