Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Broken Hill born Rowland was the second son of Lucian Franklin (‘Tom’) and Marian Packard, born on the 13th March 1910. His siblings included Theodore Franklin (Ted) and Anthony Franklin (Tony). The Hayward family was particularly proud of their heritage, which dated back to early settlement days in Tasmania. Rowland’s paternal Grandfather the Rev. Roland Hayward (after whom Rowland was named) was the last prison chaplain at Port Arthur before becoming rector of East Adelaide.
The middle name ‘Franklin’ was in honour of their great grandmother, a niece of Sir John Franklin, who married Captain Price. Unfortunately, Price was later murdered by convicts at Pentridge. Following an unsuccessful early ‘20’s expedition in the Arctic Lady Franklin devoted the whole of her fortune to discover the mystery of the lost expedition which included her husband. (In 1930, after 83 years, the camps were finally found. Precious letters written between Lady Franklin and her niece survived, telling of their constant waiting for news as the years passed.)
Rowland’s father, Private L.F. Hayward, Number 320 served in the Boer War, joining a New South Wales contingent. He had a narrow escape with four comrades, in taking a Cape cart across country, having been cut off from their own regiment and from the column, to which they were sent. They were fired at some Kaffir kralls and kopjes, but despite a lack of food, managed to rejoin their regiments, where they had been given up for lost. Private Hayward was described as a nephew of Colonel Price. In1902 Tom was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for ‘conspicuous gallantry displayed in a bayonet charge on the heights of the Vet River, in which a Maxim gun was captured from the enemy.’
Rowland’s (known as ‘Toby’) family moved to several country areas, including Broken Hill, where Tom was for many years employed as Superintendent at the Sintering Works. During the first World War years, communities were actively involved in fundraising for the local Red Cross at Junior Patriotic Bazaar events. Toby and two friends were in charge of cool drinks and brother Ted trusted with selling ice-cream.
The family later moved to the coastal town of Port Victoria where they immediately became involved in local activities. Tom became a JP and President of the School Committee whilst the brothers relished life by the sea. As a seventeen-year-old, Toby won the Men’s 100-yard swim.
The family moved to Adelaide in March ‘26 with the local community organising a farewell for the family. Ted, Toby and Tony all attended St Peter’s College, their father’s alma mater.
Post school, Toby became a newsagent, with his business located on the Parade. He met Floris Aileen Blackburn, a twin, who worked in the ANA Buildings in Franklin Street. The two married on the 27th April ‘35 at All Souls' Church. St. Peters. The ceremony was announced in the Advertiser ‘HAYWARD —DANIEL. —On the 27th April, at All Souls' Church. St. Peters, by Rev. H. H. Coles, Rowland Franklin, second son of Mr. and Mrs. L. F. Hayward, of Port Victoria, to Floris Aileen, twin daughter of the late H. J. Daniel and Mrs. E. R. Homann, of Sydney.’
With the eruption of WWII, the same strong patriotic feeling his father displayed was also evident in a letter Toby wrote to the Advertiser in June ’40.
A.B.C. And German Music From R. F. Hayward, 80 Beulah road. Norwood: ‘I have just listened to the dreadful war news given over the national network at 3.45 pm. It was preceded by selections from 'Cavalleria Rusticana.' and immediately followed by a selection from Wagner's Lohengrin.' Such gratuitous national insults are intolerable.”
Within a fortnight, Having turned 30, Toby and his older brother, Theodore Frankin both enlisted on the 5th July ’40 from the Citizens Forces. He was allocated the new number of SX7923 and Theodore SX7924 with both placed in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion.
At the annual meeting of the Authorised Newsagents' Association of South Australia the following year, congratulations were extended to Roland and five other newsagents who had all enlisted.
Early days for the brothers were spent at Wayville in the rather primitive exhibition buildings of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds. Following pre-embarkation leave their battalion embarked on the Stratheden on the 7th November ’40, arriving in the Middle East on the 17th December. By July the following year Toby’s leadership abilities were recognised with his promotion to Corporal and by March the following year to Sergeant.
Conditions in the desert contributed to Toby acquiring a panful inflammation of his small intestine but he soon returned to his battalion and a further promotion to Acting Warrant Officer.
By the end of October ’42 Toby was part of the Battle for El Alamein. Conditions at the time were ever-changing and the fighting continuous. Montgomery had ordered the 9th Battalion to attack northward in what was to be relentless fighting in a massive assault to ambitiously take the strategic position of Trig 29.
On the evening of the battle John Glenn in Tobruk to Tarakan described how ‘an occasional burst from a machine gun disturbed the night of 24th October. Nevertheless, it was a busy time for the tired men. Little or no sleep could be had. A hot meal sent forward after dark was quickly swallowed. There was no time for yarning. Defences had to be improved, more digging and wiring done, and patrols sent out.’ He later added that ‘the 2/48th had stirred up a real hornets’ nest from first light until nine o’clock the enemy turned all their fury on the Trig area, with particularly heavy fire on 29 itself, hiding the position in a cloud of dust and smoke.’. On that night alone 9 of the Battalion were killed and 20 wounded in action. Of these 16 were from South Australia and the remainder from Western Australia. Glenn explains they were ‘running into particularly stiff opposition to the west of the Trig point. It was only after hard fighting, with heavy casualties on both sides, that they were able to consolidate on their objective. Gradually the platoon, small in number to start with, was being whittled away and those remaining were being forced to go to ground.’ He added ‘At last light on the same front some three hundred enemy troops attacked, and D Company area was swept by small arms fire.’
Then ‘at zero hour 1 a.m. 31st October, the artillery opened up with a receding barrage – one that creeps back on itself. The attack was towards the guns themselves, the enemy being between troops and the guns…one gun was landing shells right amongst the men… As soon as the main road was reached the two leading companies came under murderous fire, and, from then until they reached the objective, 2,250 yards from the start line, the whole advance was fought in fierce hand to hand fighting.’ ‘Death would have reaped a rich harvest of gallant man. And of the 2/48th Battalion only forty-one weary troops would remain in the field.’ Toby survived but sustained a gunshot wound to his left shoulder.
The November ’42 issue of the Advertiser reported that ‘Mr. and Mrs. L. F. Hayward, of 80 Beulah road, Norwood, have received news that their second son, A/CSM H. F. (Toby) Hayward, was wounded in action on October 31.
Back home, the Chronicle in December ’42 listed those who were killed or wounded in the fighting. From the 2/48th battalion, these included 23-year-old SX12363 Pte. Harry B Irwin Port Augusta: SX6963 Pte Ron A. Jackson, Melrose: 26-year-old SX7506 Pte. Ernest N. Parkyn, Murray Bridge; 22-year-old SX2139 Pte. Harry Pearce, Watervale; and his brother 30-year-old SX7239 Pte. Phillip Pearce. Watervale: 21-year-old SX12157 Pte. Eric K. Stagbouer, Maitland: 29-year-old SX7987 Pte. Douglas Whyte. Joslin. Wounded In Action.- SX9574 Pte. Walter H. Baohm, Beetaloo Valley; SX6729 Pte. Thomas D. Colling. Broken Hill; SX7964 Cpl. Thomas. C Derrick, Berri; SX11938 Pte. Allan J. Dow, Glencoe East; SX7501 Pte. Ronald H. Gerlach, Angaston; SX7291 Pte. Arthur T. Grocke. Koongawa; SX7923 Sgt. Rowland F. Hayward, Nor wood; SX10383 Pte. Milton J. Miles, Foreston; SX8054 Pte. Michael W. J. Salter, Unley Park; SX11348 Pte. Walter J. Treagus. Kyancutta. These were the cream of Australia’s young men.
For his service over this tumultuous time from May to October, Rowland had earned being Mentioned in Despatches but was able to return to his battalion early in November. It was not until October ’43 that correct protocol enabled publicity of Rowland’s bravery to be officially acknowledged with the Advertiser carrying the announcement that ‘Mentioned In Dispatches WO2 R.F. Hayward, the son of Mr. and Mrs. L.F. Hayward, of Beulah Road, Norwood, has been mentioned in dispatches for gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East from May to October 1942’
By the commencement of February, the following year, Rowland and the 2/48th Battalion, proud Rats of Tobruk sailed home for well-earned leave before heading to Queensland to train in the tropical conditions that would emulate those he would face in New Guinea. Not unexpectantly, Rowland was given the rank of Warrant Officer II in September.
Fierce fighting on the 17th November ’43 in an assault on Coconut Ridge was met by the well camouflaged enemy concealed by bamboo. Six of the attacking 2/48th contingent were killed with 26 others wounded. Eight Japanese were also killed. The tightly knit group honoured their fallen men, killed in action or who died of their injuries. One was 20-year-old VX82396 Private Lindsay Dixon. Rowland attended to honour the young man, with the ceremony, led by Padre Sidney Stewart, captured in a photo. Whilst in the tropical conditions, Rowland developed malaria, returning home to recuperate at the Kapara Convalescent Home.
In March ’44, the Mail highlighted the bravery and service given to South Australian men, including one who would become a household name. Several of those honoured were also from the highly decorated 2/48th Battalion.
‘A new name was on the lips of the people. It was the name of Sergeant Tom 'Diver' Derrick, from Berri. who during the week was named as this State's second winner of the Victoria Cross in this war. On leave on a fruit block at Winkie, Sgt. Derrick, V.C., D.C.M., took the news without turning a hair, declared, 'I would have been pleased with something not as great as a V.C. I knew there was the possibility that I would get a decoration, but I was surprised that it was the Victoria Cross — because the show did not warrant it. There was very little to it.' Apart from that, no one could get very much out of him. The official citation said that the award was for 'refusal to admit defeat in the face of a seemingly impossible situation,' and that it was for his work during the final assault on Sattelberg in November, 1943. Sergeant Derrick is the son of Mr. and Mrs. D. Derrick, of Dale street, Port Adelaide, and was married in June. 1939, to Beryl Leslie, formerly of Largs Bay. He is an original member of a South Australian battalion ot the 9th Division; a battalion which scooped the pool for decorations in the Middle East. Also noticed ana officially recognised during the week were a number of other South Australians: — D.F.C.— Flight-Lieutenant H. Triplow, of Main avenue, Frewville. D.F.M. — Flight-Sergeant R. W. Francis, ot Park terrace. North Unley. Mentioned in Despatches.— The late Sergeant E. J. Ross Moyle. Sheffield Shield cricketer and State Baseballer; Major Hedley George Rosevear. MJC, former league football umpire; Major (temporary Lieutenant-Colonel) R. J. Harvey, Major J. D. Day. Captain R. H. Formby, Captain A. W. B. Geddes. Captain J. D. Rice, Captain P. Bobbins, Captain R. W. Sangster. Lieutenant J. W. Smith. Warrant-Officer 1. E. J. Oakes, Warrant-officer H. R. F. Hayward, Warrant-officer TX. 3. P. Innes. Staff-Sergeant D. J. Hay. Sergeants D. R. Carmichael, F. E. Daddow. R. B. Davis, J. G. Glenn. J. McM. Glynn. B. -5. Hunt. H. G. Toms. Lance-Sergeants E. E. Bird. J. W. Hasse. Corporal P. C. Graney, Trooper L. R. Shattock, Privates R. A. W. Bloffwitch. R. G. Heitmann. C. A. Manning. W. Morgan, H. A. Starling.
To add to the news, W.O. 2 R.F. (Toby) and Floris welcomed the arrival of their son in February ’45. Malaria continued to return and it was also discovered that his sight was becoming less acute, eventually leading to his discharge in September ’45.
Toby’s return to civilian life, was highlighted by his involvement playing golf at Glenelg
Aged 70, Rowland died on the 9th May 1980 and was buried in the Centennial Park Cemetery. His wife, Floris lived to be 92 and died in August 2004. She now also rests in the Medika Garden Walk 1 Position 28 at Centennial Park Cemetery.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.