Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Meredith, the second son, was born on the 10th November 1919 at Keyneton, a small town at the gateway to the Barossa Valley in South Australia. His father, the Reverend George Herbert was attached to the Stow Memorial Church in Adelaide, but continued to be appointed to parishes across Australia.
In January ’32 Rev George and his family were enjoying holiday time at Middleton Beach with several members of the clergy and their families. Unfortunately, the Reverend Harry Joyce and others in the party, became caught in an undertow when the tide turned and were swept out to sea with Rev Wright attempting to pull them back in to shore. Meredith’s mother and Rosalie Joyce were also caught in the heavy seas, but Meredith and his two brothers, all schoolboys, also assisted in their rescue back to shore. Unfortunately, Reverend Joyce died, probably of a heart attack, despite lengthy attempts at resuscitation.
Meredith attended Newington College at Stanmore in Sydney where he was elected as a prefect. Part of his duties also included reading the Old Testament Lesson at the Five Dock Sunday School Anniversary in November ’37. While studying, Meredith was part of the School Cadet Corps, not knowing at the time this would later give him valuable experience in the Army. Post school, Meredith worked as a stockman as did another young man, Lindsay Evans, a grazier, with the two being close friends. Lindsay also had a younger sister, (Edith) Mary Evans who was to feature in Meredith’s life.
With the outbreak of WWII, 20-year-old Meredith and Lindsay both enlisted on the 5th July ’40 and were allocated the numbers SX7971 and SX7979 respectively. Both were placed in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion, where, not unexpectedly, both young men were identified early for their leadership skills. Meredith was briefly promoted to Acting Corporal in September, Acting Lance Sergeant the following month and in November to Acting Sergeant. While on pre-embarkation leave, Meredith and (Edith) Mary Evans of Keyneton married on the 25th October. Mary was part of the Congregational Church to which Meredith belonged and had spent time in England in ’34 then on her return was actively involved in fundraising for the Keyneton Comforts Fund.
Within days Meredith, Lindsay and other new enlistees boarded the Stratheden on the 7th November, arriving in the Middle East on the 17th December. Meredith, known to the troops as ‘Med’, almost immediately began a Bren Gun Course, following which he was further promoted to Sergeant. This also involved him attending more training in the Officer Cadet Unit in January ’41.
Four months later, in May Meredith, known to the troops as Med, was promoted to Lieutenant. This title was proudly part of the announcement in August, ’41 when his wife, Mary delivered their first daughter.
While in the Middle East Med successfully attended the School of Artillery in July ’42. However, on the 21st July, his brother-in-law, Lindsay was involved in the move to capture West Point 24 of Tel el Eisa, facing intense machine gun fire and a continuous call for stretcher bearers. A report from Ray Bloffwitch published in Tobruk to Tarakan described the action. ‘A little forward, Sergeant Lin Evans was hit twice. Lin had been doing a magnificent job for his mates and was setting a spending example when he was knocked. He was an outstanding man.’ Lindsay was killed in action on the 22nd July ’42 aged 22 and was eventually buried in the El Alamein War Cemetery.
Back home, the local newspaper, the Leader carried a tribute in August ’42.
‘District Casualties in the Middle East SGT. Lindsay Reginald Evans, the younger son of Mr and Mrs P.R. Evans, Keyneton, was killed in action in Egypt on July 22, according to advice received by his parents. Lindsay, who was a great grandson of the district's founder, George Fife Angas, was a fine athlete and a good citizen. He was one of the leading players in Angaston football team, and a leading Keyneton cricketer, as well as being club secretary. He helped with Keyneton Flower Show as with all other community efforts and had a pleasing personality that made him widely popular. He enlisted in June, 1940 and went overseas in November of that year; having been a member of the Tobruk garrison for eight months.’

His death preceded the fierce fighting at El Alamein at the end of October. For the valiant 2/48th Battalion only fourty-one weary troops remained in the field. John Glenn summarised the incredible bravery of the troops. Truly it can be said of these men, “They fought themselves and their enemy to a standstill until flesh and blood could stand no more, then they went on fighting.” One of the injured men was Johny Ralla, SX13021who suffered a severe leg wound with his left leg at right angles to his body and a severe bleed in his right groin. Wally Fennell SX6832 had a head wound and ‘Diver’ Derrick SX7964 was also hit but promised to send stretcher bearers back for the wounded. Laurie Sharpe carried Johnny back on his shoulders as far as possible before then going off to look for a stretcher bearer. Johnny told how ‘At daybreak I saw two men nearby, I waved and they came over to me. They were Lieutenant Med Wright and Bert Skinner SX13222. They took turns carrying me until we reached the Blockhouse. It was full of wounded, while outside they seemed to be lying everywhere.’

At the end of that year, as a prelude to their third Christmas in Palestine, the 2/48th Battalion was given several rest days. On New Year’s Day a donkey race meeting was held. Lieutenant M. Wright was Committee President. Events included a list of ‘Donks Showing Extra Form’ with some of the innovative names being ‘latrine out of paper by austerity’ and ‘Quastina out of bounds by routine orders’. By January ’43 Med was finally on his way home to Australia via Melbourne to enjoy leave.
Training in Queensland followed with the now battle harden remains of the battalion preparing to face a very different enemy in the humidity and jungle conditions of New Guinea. Med arrived there in August ’43 and for two months was detached to Headquarters with fellow Lieutenant Wallis as liaison officers. At the time, two other battalions advanced on Lae, with the 2/48th Battalion on divisional reserve. While serving overseas, Med was again unable to be with Mary as she had their second daughter in December ’43.
On return to his 2/48th Battalion, Med attended tactical school before being appointed as temporary captain in February ’44. In May he was granted 3 weeks of compassionate leave, welcoming his daughter in July ’44.
By this stage, conditions of war, the humidity and poor conditions contributed to Med contracting an extremely high fever, followed by malaria. The following year he experienced problems with his nasal cartilage, requiring hospitalisation before again returned to Morotai in April ’45 for the final days of the war and service at Tarakan. With peace finally declared, Med was able to return to South Australia to be discharged on the 15th November ’45.
In June ’46 a Welcome Social was held for the Keyneton returned servicemen, with twelve attendees, including Med. Each serviceman was presented with a valuable book from residents and a sum of money from the Comforts Fund. Sadly, of the local enlistees, Med’s friend, Sergeant Lindsay was the only lost of life at El Alamein.
Med and Mary became very involved n their local community, with Med playing tennis for Keyneton and football for Valley, playing on the wing, with his game highlights being accurate kicking. A popular fundraiser at the time was an Ugly Man Competition. Med was one of three men involved in the ’49 Keyneton contest, designed to raise funds for a Kings College Scholarship. Fund raising efforts also included a dance and other minor competitions of an outstanding man’s tie and hairdo competition. Med was also actively involved in fundraising for the local Institute and the Gawler Congregational Church, as the local Keyneton School as Chairman of the School Committee while Mary was President of the Welfare Club. On Arbor Day ’53 he spoke to the students about the importance of trees – a man ahead of his time in conservation. He and Mary later lived at a property called Kappalunta in Eden Valley.
Aged 81, Meredith died on the 23rd July 2001.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes, SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.