Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Vincent was born in Adelaide on the 4th August, 1908 to Mary Ann and Thomas Malcolm Delany.
Just days after his eleventh birthday, Vince’s older brother 20-year-old Bruce Thomas died suddenly in August ‘19. He had been a highly respected head acolyte at the St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral. The family relied on their strong Catholic faith, parishioners and friends to bring them comfort as he was buried in the West Terrace Cemetery.
Post school, Vincent was employed as a taxi driver and married Lorna Amelia. They welcomed a son, Bruce Wentworth in 1930, naming him in honour of Vince’s older brother. Vincent’s father, Thomas, died aged 87 in June ’36, the year prior to another grandson, Keith Richard being born. Soon after, unrest was evident as the hope of world peace was shattered and WWII was about to erupt, involving Vincent.
Vincent, known as Dick, had served with the Militia in the 48th Battalion, then aged 31 he was an early enlistee in Adelaide, firstly on the 7th December ’39, as SX1622 with the 2/3rd Field regiment, with a note being made about an enlarged heart. (At the time, Lorna was pregnant, so Dick had applied for leave for the period of her confinement.) Ironically, within three months he was discharged on the date of his child’s birth, 5th July ’40. Years later, Dick became aware of a dismissive statement of his worth as a soldier, which disgusted him. Unaware of this, he re-enlisted in July and was given the number SX7965 and placed in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. His early days were spent at Wayville in what is now the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds, before heading to Woodside in the Adelaide Hills for more intensive training. Following pre-embarkation leave, Dick boarded the Stratheden on the 7th November, arriving in the Middle East on the 17th December.
The 2/48th Battalion was soon on its way to serve in Tobruk, Syria and Egypt. There the recruits completing a few months training in Cyrenaica. 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. Close friendships were formed amongst the young men who had come from all corners of South Australia and other states. Don Flanegan, Dick Boothey and Sturt Footballer, Jack Golding were part of the close-knit group of Dick’s friends.
Early in April ‘41, John Glenn in Tobruk to Tarakan described how ‘A Company had been having a pleasant time at Derna, with Italian prisoners as batmen to make their beds and clean their rifles and boots, enjoying the life of garrison troops. They lived in a world of their own, completely isolated, and quite unaware of the enemy’s approach. Private Dick Delaney of 7 Platoon remembers how it ended:
“Life was very easy, and I had an extra good batman who was a particularly good cook. We had an idea that the rest of the boys were up Benghazi way doing a spot of garrison work. The only incident of note was the time Don Flanegan and Dick Boothey, when wandering about near the escarpment, found some cord which they promptly pulled. The result was amazing. They had set off a land mine which brought great pieces of plaster down around my ears. Don and Dick came into the room nearly killing themselves laughing.” He then recounted how, having been given a concert by the prisoners, they went to only to be awakened at 2:00am with the news ‘the Hun’ were just 10 miles down the road. The men then set out down Derna Road towards Tobruk.”
Just days later, in sweltering heat and a khamsin blowing, the 2/48th could see the enemy amassing in No Man’s Land. Pamphlets were dropped by the Germans claiming to have surrounded Tobruk ‘and it is useless to try and escape. Remember Mechili. Our dive bombers and Stukas are awaiting your ships which are lying in Tobruch.’
John Glenn then described how ‘The men stood behind their guns and held their fire until the German trucks were well within range. Don Flanegan patted his anti-tank rifle affectionately and said, “Come on Anzac, let’s do them over.” His first shot hit one of the trucks and sent it up in flames. Then the Bren joined in, and the motorcycle was hit. The other two vehicles fled.’
The fine line between death and life was often captured in actions after events. John Glenn recounted one such incident that occurred around the 19th August 41 at Tobruk where the enemy had the Pimple pinpointed. Battalion headquarters ‘came in for spasmodic but accurate shelling. Direct hits were made on the G Office and Lieutenant McLay’s doove, making a wreck of both. Dick Delaney was fortunate in salvaging a bottle of whiskey which he quickly sampled to soothe his nerves, saving the rest for later.’
Dick was also fortunate to survive a freakish accident on the 25th May ’42. Three batmen had been given permission to collect laundry from Tripoli and were driven there in the C.O’s car by Clarrie Johns. ‘The night was extremely dark, and on the way back Clarrie had to rely on white stones that marked the side of the road, as of course no lights could be used. At a sharp bend near an old bridge 5 miles from Tourbol the car left the road and landed on its hood about 16 feet down, then slid a further seventy feet to the river bed. Privates Delaney, Johns, Jeffrey and T.J. Skehill were badly injured Skehill dying a few days later. The car was a complete write-off.’ Dick suffered concussion and contusions, including a lacerated ear and bruised elbow, spending almost three weeks in a variety of hospitals.
Inevitably, a Court of Inquiry was held, ascertaining that the car had run over the side of a bridge at Miriata. Fortunately, the findings were that Dick was performing his military duty and was nether negligent or blameworthy.
The accident, however, contributed to Dick eventually being declared as Fit for Duties other than those involving field formations, prompting his return to Australia via Western Australia. Following leave, Dick joined the S.A. Records Office, but some instances of being absent without leave charges followed. By the 2nd June ’43 Dick was again discharged on compassionate grounds.
As with so many of those who were fortunate enough to return, Dick’s thoughts often turned to those close friends who had not returned. Anzac Days and the specific dates were marked, sometimes in silence and other times with written tributes. In July ’44 Dick placed a memorial to SX7331, his close friend 29-year-old Jack Golding who was killed in action. ‘GOLDING.—In loving memory of my dear pal Jack. Killed. El Alamein, July 10. 1942. Always remembered by Dick Delany. ex A Coy. 2/48th Batt.’

Dick’s mother lived to see him safely return home. Mary Ann died in January ’45, two months prior to Dick and Lorna welcoming their daughter, Wendy Valerie in March.
Vince had returned to taxi driving. Unfortunately, he failed to stop after an accident, attracting a fine of £2. with £1 – unlike his severe accident experienced in Tripoli.
By August ’49, Dick had found a comment on his discharge papers which contained an observation that he was ‘unlikely to become an efficient soldier’. In a parting sentence at the conclusion of a letter to Army officials, Dick wrote ‘I am also a member of the local branch Tobruk Rats so if I haven’t been an efficient soldier I don’t know who has.’ A new Certificate of Discharge was promptly sent, but no acknowledgement made of the tasteless comment.
Dick spent his last years living at Myrtle Bank until, aged 78 he died on the 18th March, 1987.
Written and researched by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133 2/48th Battalion.