Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Alfred (Alf) was definitely born in the coastal town of Glenelg. Probably his date of birth was accurate when he enlisted to serve in WWI. At that stage (April 1917) he stated that he was 21 years and 11/12 months. 23 years later in June ’40 he claimed to be 39 and 3/12 months old with a birth date of the 16th March 1901, rather than 1895.
Regardless, considering Les’ early years with an extremely inconsistent involvement as a cadet in military training, to be involved in both World Wars was an exceptional service. As a youth, his priorities were elsewhere, causing him to miss numerous compulsory drills. For example, in September ’12 he was accused of absolutely ignoring the military authorities, being seen instead at the beach on several occasions when drills were taking place and had been heard saying he would not attend. He was described as “an active anti-militarist, who had influenced boys against attending drills”. The case went to court with the military Captain Minagall asking that a substantial fine be imposed. Les had further incensed the officer who added that Les was “laughing and carrying on when other cadets were training, and when the parades were started, he was one of a number who threw stones, upsetting the drills.” Consequently, this had had a negative effect on the other cadets. The Captain pushed for a heavy punishment equivalent to 2/- for every hour Les had missed (64 in all), and that he also be committed into custody. The final decision was that Les was fined £6/8/-, with £1 costs, and was committed into the custody of the area officer at Glenelg for 64 hours. In default Les would face 14 days' imprisonment. He was given a week to gather the money.
This had little effect as in September the following year Les and about 20 other young cadets were again prosecuted in the Adelaide Police Court for “failing to render the. personal service required of them during the year.” Les was deficit by 45 hours and was fined £2/15/; 3 years senior cadets, the transferred to Citizen’s Military Forces until he eventually enlisted.
Les gained employment as a fireman and married Gladys Irene Muriel Errington with the couple having two daughters, Isobel and Audrey Jean. However, when the Great War erupted, 21-year-old (and eleven months) Les enlisted on the 4th April, 1917as 1830, serving in the 2nd Light Railway Operating Company in France. His early days were initially spent at Broadmeadows in Victoria, where Alf was promoted to 2nd Corporal prior to sailing to Devonport in July ’17 and thence to France in September ’17. Whilst overseas, Les was fortunate to escape without a financial or behavioral penalty for being involved in a fight in a café and ‘creating a disturbance’ in January ’19. He finally returned to Australia, with the June issue of The Journal listing his return aboard the Devanha, (one of four troopships bringing the troops home), having embarked from England. He was officially discharged in July ’19. Whilst there is no military record of him being gassed while fighting, Les’ later respiratory issues during WWII suggest this was the cause of on-going lung issues for him.
Les also suggested being gassed was the cause of him assaulting a Mounted Constable in Murray Bridge early in December ’22. An incident occurred when Les confronted a local with having accused one of Les’ children of stealing oranges. Responding with a punch, Les was subsequently arrested. While in the police cell, Les apologized, admitting he did not know why he acted as he had. He then pleaded for the incident to be kept out of the papers as he had a wife and family to keep. In Court, Les admitted to having no recall of what had happened, suggesting he had been affected both by the heat, the effects of gas at the war, and that he had a drink or two.
Three months later Les and Gladys welcomed their third child and first son, Raymond Murray in March ’23 at Murray Bridge. Thirteen years later, the family, living at Tailem Bend, were devastated at the death of their wife and mother, 45-year-old Gladys in August ’36.
With the outbreak of WWII, widower Alf, claiming to be 39 years old (rather than 45) was one of the early enlistees on the 5th July 1940. At the time, Alf was working as a Gardener’s labourer so was comparatively fit and healthy. He was immediately placed in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion and attended school at Victoria Park. A brief bout of sickness saw him treated for a fortnight before he rejoined his fellow soldiers on leave.
Alf was soon boarding the Stratheden on the 7th November ’40 travelling to the Middle East, arriving early on the 17th December. Perhaps not over his initial illness, by May the following year, Alf contracted influenza. The ferocity of the conflict, following his experiences during the Great War all probably contributed to Alf being diagnosed with an ‘Anxiety State’, for which he was hospitalized for almost a month. On his discharge, he served in the Depot Battalion. Unfortunately, his health continued to be a concern, developing an extremely high fever (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin), followed by an Upper Respiratory Tract Infection. Inevitably the conclusion was drawn that, while he was fit for duty, he was not able to be involved in active service with Field formations. Whist serving, there was no official attention drawn to his supposed age.
By the end of May Les was heading home, via Colombo, Bombay and Freemantle, then finally Adelaide early in July ’42 to spend time on sick leave. During this time, Les sustained broken ribs and a split (lacerated) lip, causing him further time in Hospital. The rib fracture contributed to him being sent to Kapara to recuperate. By the end of September, Alf was in hospital with a return of his upper respiratory tract infection, soon followed by asthma and bronchitis in November.
That July, Alf’s 19-year-old son, Raymond, a brass fitter, enlisted as SX18723 in the 2/27th Battalion.
A very frustrated Alf absconded from his military hospital ward post-Christmas for several hours. During this time, Les enjoyed an ‘intoxicating liquor’ considered ‘conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline’. It was an expensive drink with him being fined £5. Continuing to experience asthma, Les was declared medically unfit for service and discharged in June ’43. Les later married for a second time, but lost contact with his children. By February ’46, Les’ son, still serving, married Joyce Davis of Watervale with his brother-in-law, Vic Sopp as his best man and also dressed in service uniform.
Aged 62, Alf died in Adelaide on the 21st July 1958 and now rests in the West Terrace Cemetery, Kendrew Oval Road Row 11A Site 13 where he is honoured as a WWI soldier. Sadly, all Les’ medals earned for his service in both Wars, went missing and despite Raymond, his serving son’s efforts, a duplicate set could not be provided to replace the originals.
Tribute researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes, SX8133 2/48th Battalion.

Alfred (Alf) was definitely born in the coastal town of Glenelg. Probably his date of birth was accurate when he enlisted to serve in WWI. At that stage (April 1917) he stated that he was 21 years and 11/12 months. 23 years later in June ’40 he claimed to be 39 and 3/12 months old with a birth date of the 16th March 1901, rather than 1895.
Regardless, considering Les’ early years with an extremely inconsistent involvement as a cadet in military training, to be involved in both World Wars was an exceptional service. As a youth, his priorities were elsewhere, causing him to miss numerous compulsory drills. For example, in September ’12 he was accused of absolutely ignoring the military authorities, being seen instead at the beach on several occasions when drills were taking place and had been heard saying he would not attend. He was described as “an active anti-militarist, who had influenced boys against attending drills”. The case went to court with the military Captain Minagall asking that a substantial fine be imposed. Les had further incensed the officer who added that Les was “laughing and carrying on when other cadets were training, and when the parades were started, he was one of a number who threw stones, upsetting the drills.” Consequently, this had had a negative effect on the other cadets. The Captain pushed for a heavy punishment equivalent to 2/- for every hour Les had missed (64 in all), and that he also be committed into custody. The final decision was that Les was fined £6/8/-, with £1 costs, and was committed into the custody of the area officer at Glenelg for 64 hours. In default Les would face 14 days' imprisonment. He was given a week to gather the money.
This had little effect as in September the following year Les and about 20 other young cadets were again prosecuted in the Adelaide Police Court for “failing to render the. personal service required of them during the year.” Les was deficit by 45 hours and was fined £2/15/; 3 years senior cadets, the transferred to Citizen’s Military Forces until he eventually enlisted.
Les gained employment as a fireman and married Gladys Irene Muriel Errington with the couple having two daughters, Isobel and Audrey Jean. However, when the Great War erupted, 21-year-old (and eleven months) Les enlisted on the 4th April, 1917as 1830, serving in the 2nd Light Railway Operating Company in France. His early days were initially spent at Broadmeadows in Victoria, where Alf was promoted to 2nd Corporal prior to sailing to Devonport in July ’17 and thence to France in September ’17. Whilst overseas, Les was fortunate to escape without a financial or behavioral penalty for being involved in a fight in a café and ‘creating a disturbance’ in January ’19. He finally returned to Australia, with the June issue of The Journal listing his return aboard the Devanha, (one of four troopships bringing the troops home), having embarked from England. He was officially discharged in July ’19. Whilst there is no military record of him being gassed while fighting, Les’ later respiratory issues during WWII suggest this was the cause of on-going lung issues for him.
Les also suggested being gassed was the cause of him assaulting a Mounted Constable in Murray Bridge early in December ’22. An incident occurred when Les confronted a local with having accused one of Les’ children of stealing oranges. Responding with a punch, Les was subsequently arrested. While in the police cell, Les apologized, admitting he did not know why he acted as he had. He then pleaded for the incident to be kept out of the papers as he had a wife and family to keep. In Court, Les admitted to having no recall of what had happened, suggesting he had been affected both by the heat, the effects of gas at the war, and that he had a drink or two.
Three months later Les and Gladys welcomed their third child and first son, Raymond Murray in March ’23 at Murray Bridge. Thirteen years later, the family, living at Tailem Bend, were devastated at the death of their wife and mother, 45-year-old Gladys in August ’36.
With the outbreak of WWII, widower Alf, claiming to be 39 years old (rather than 45) was one of the early enlistees on the 5th July 1940. At the time, Alf was working as a Gardener’s labourer so was comparatively fit and healthy. He was immediately placed in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion and attended school at Victoria Park. A brief bout of sickness saw him treated for a fortnight before he rejoined his fellow soldiers on leave.
Alf was soon boarding the Stratheden on the 7th November ’40 travelling to the Middle East, arriving early on the 17th December. Perhaps not over his initial illness, by May the following year, Alf contracted influenza. The ferocity of the conflict, following his experiences during the Great War all probably contributed to Alf being diagnosed with an ‘Anxiety State’, for which he was hospitalized for almost a month. On his discharge, he served in the Depot Battalion. Unfortunately, his health continued to be a concern, developing an extremely high fever (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin), followed by an Upper Respiratory Tract Infection. Inevitably the conclusion was drawn that, while he was fit for duty, he was not able to be involved in active service with Field formations. Whist serving, there was no official attention drawn to his supposed age.
By the end of May Les was heading home, via Colombo, Bombay and Freemantle, then finally Adelaide early in July ’42 to spend time on sick leave. During this time, Les sustained broken ribs and a split (lacerated) lip, causing him further time in Hospital. The rib fracture contributed to him being sent to Kapara to recuperate. By the end of September, Alf was in hospital with a return of his upper respiratory tract infection, soon followed by asthma and bronchitis in November.
That July, Alf’s 19-year-old son, Raymond, a brass fitter, enlisted as SX18723 in the 2/27th Battalion.
A very frustrated Alf absconded from his military hospital ward post-Christmas for several hours. During this time, Les enjoyed an ‘intoxicating liquor’ considered ‘conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline’. It was an expensive drink with him being fined £5. Continuing to experience asthma, Les was declared medically unfit for service and discharged in June ’43. Les later married for a second time, but lost contact with his children. By February ’46, Les’ son, still serving, married Joyce Davis of Watervale with his brother-in-law, Vic Sopp as his best man and also dressed in service uniform.
Aged 62, Alf died in Adelaide on the 21st July 1958 and now rests in the West Terrace Cemetery, Kendrew Oval Road Row 11A Site 13 where he is honoured as a WWI soldier. Sadly, all Les’ medals earned for his service in both Wars, went missing and despite Raymond, his serving son’s efforts, a duplicate set could not be provided to replace the originals.
Tribute researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes, SX8133 2/48th Battalion.