Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Len was born in Kadina on the 8th July 1918 to John George Stamp and Annie Adelaide May. He was the middle son with older brothers John Alexander and David Stamp. He also had three sisters, Sylvia May, Olive and Valda Jean. Apart from his war years, Len lived most of his life in the area around Wallaroo and Kadina on the Yorke Peninsula, an area known for its farm land and being part of the copper triangle.
With five children, both of Len’s parents were constantly active on the Wallaroo Mines School committees and at other local events. The close-knit community frequently came together with social activities, including at the Kadina Show. Eleven-year-old Len, being a capable horse rider, won the children’s flag race.
Post school, Len worked on farms in the area, as did his father. He also proved to be a capable MC at Sylvia, his older sister’s 21st birthday celebrations. To mark the occasion, Len teamed with his brother John to give Sylvia a gold key brooch, while their parents presented her with a gold -wristlet watch.
Aged 21, (just prior to his 22nd birthday) Len enlisted to serve in WWII on the 3rd July ’40. He travelled to Adelaide where his initial days were spent in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds, before his battalion headed to Woodside for preliminary training.
Len returned home for a week of pre-embarkation leave in October, during which time six other enlistees were also home. The young men were Privates Cross, Loveridge, May, Samuel, Stewart, Gully and Bell. The Kadina District Council organised a huge farewell, described as ‘one of the largest gatherings yet’. The Kadina and Wallaroo Times reported that the evening typically began with the singing of the National Anthem before the chairman expressed that it was ‘an honor to preside over a meeting which sought to do honor to the men who were going to serve their King, the Empire and their Country during this hour of stress and trial. The men were shouldering a great responsibility, and we could not do too much for them. He was delighted with the fine attendance, which thus showed its appreciation of the noble decision made by the young men, who were in every way worthy of all commendation.’ "On behalf of the town, and in all sincerity," said the speaker, "I say that we are proud of you, we thank you, and when you come back again, we will welcome you even more heartily and do whatever we possibly can for you, and all that is in our power; I wish you all Godspeed and. a safe return."
Returning to the 2/48th Len’s contingent then embarked on the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 7th November 1940, arriving on the 19th December 1940. Conditions in the army were quite different to those at home, with Len suffering from dysentery and consequently spending time in the ship’s hospital. Once in the Middle East, the recruits completing a few months training in Cyrenaica. From there, they were soon on their way to serve in Tobruk, Syria and Egypt. 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. Len was to become one of the famed Rats of Tobruk.
Unexpected but distressing news reached Len of the death of his 56-year-old father who worked on the Hawke brothers’ farm near Kadina. John Loveridge had previously had heart issues and on the morning complained of feeling unwell but still went to work at 6:45am. Another young worker had arrived in the evening of July 21st ’41 to feed the horses, finding John’s bike propped against a fence with his lunch bag nearby. A search revealed his body next to a straw stack. It was discovered he had died many hours earlier.
A heartfelt tribute was published in the Kadina and Wallaroo Times commenting on “what a wonderful worker he was on the Wallaroo Mines School Committee, and that his place will be very hard to fill. His heart and soul were in the welfare of the young people at the school, and if any job was to be done or needed doing, he was always a willing worker. The one sad thing about this is that we have far too few men of the stamp of George Loveridge, and when they pass away from us, we miss them in the general conduct of our civil life. I know readers will concur with me when I refer to him as I have done, but this is my tribute to his public life and work.”
Back in the Middle East, Len was exceedingly fortunate to survive gunshot wounds to both his right arm and chest on the 24th October ’42, causing him to be hospitalised. Conditions at that time were ever-changing and the fighting continuous. Mongomery had ordered the 9th Battalion to attack northward. October ’42 was to be one of the most devastating times for the Battalion. In his book, Tobruk to Tarakan John Glenn described the time. ‘Preparations for action were so complete that there was nothing to do. Troops found there was little else they could think of but the coming battle. Few spoke but all kept looking at their watches. The darkness was rent by flashes from the mouths of over eight hundred guns. The night exploded as no night before had ever done. The desert burst into flame and shattering sound that shook the earth with its fury. Then came the dreadful whispering of thousands of shells rushing by overhead, the shock of explosion as they smashed into the enemy’s guns, men, tanks and communications… The smell of cordite drifted chokingly through the air, then dust billowed up and blotted out the flashing guns.’ It was under these conditions that Len was wounded.
Back home, this was distressing news for his widowed mother, with the local paper carrying the news ‘Mrs M. Loveridge, of Wallaroo Mines, has received advice that her youngest son, Pvte. Len Loveridge, has been wounded in action in Egypt.’ A list of those wounded also appeared in the November issue of the Chronicle including those of six others from his Battalion. These were Wounded In Action.— SX10318 Cpt. D. Maxwell-Wright. 2/48th Toorak; SX9353 Lt. W. A. Byrne, 2/48th Spalding; SX7743 Pte. L. J. Loveridge, 2/48th, Wallaroo Mines; SX7198 Pte. K. Spears, 2/48th Henley Beach. Dangerously Wounded. — SX11146 Pte M. T. Carter. 2/48th Ngapala; and SX6880 Pte. F. J. Wooldridge 2/48th.
By February ’43 Len was on his way home from the Middle East, via Melbourne. This was joyfully reported in the local paper ‘Pvte. Len Loveridge, youngest son of Mrs Geo. Loveridge, of Wallaroo Mines, is at home on leave after serving for two years and four months in the Middle East, eight months being spent in Tobruk.’ In March he was one of eight soldiers invited to attend the Soldiers' Relatives Club at their monthly meeting where they were entertained with items and a much-appreciated afternoon tea. Two were from Len’s Battalion, Jack Hoey and Clarrie Stewart and the other from their sister battalion the 2/43rd.
Training in Queensland followed to prepare his battalion for the totally different conditions they would experience in New Guinea. Malaria and other illnesses followed, resulting in Len returning to Australia and being transferred to the Australian Training Centre.
His 59-year-old widowed mother, May died in tragic circumstances in September ’43. Whilst she lived with her daughter who worked during the day, tradesmen had also called but had not received a response. Somehow, May had fallen into a tank near the house and drowned. It was reported that she was worried concerning her son and daughter at the war, and in addition was in a state of ill health. But, despite this, there was no indication that she was likely to take her own life. The local paper paid tribute to her as being ‘well known, highly respected and regarded as a splendid neighbor, willing to help, in any way she could, those who needed such. So, with these and other qualities in her personality, we pay our tribute to her by extending our sympathy to those connected with the family.’ Both she and her husband John were highly regarded as strongly community minded people. Poignant, permanent tributes rest on their grave from the Wallaroo Mines School Committee and Mothers’ Club and another from the teachers and scholars of the Wallaroo Mines School.
With the death of both parents, Len then nominated his sister, Sylvia May as his next of kin. In the ensuing year, Len rose to the rank of Corporal in February ’44.
He was finally discharged in September ’45, returning home to a huge welcome afforded to sixty-seven personnel. A massive civil welcome was organised in the Kadina Town Hall with a huge ‘Welcome’ banner displayed in the front while in the evening this was brilliantly illuminated with colored lights. The local band played outside while the interior was described by the local paper as ‘nicely arranged with Allied flags displayed around the hall, and on the stage, pot plants in bloom, with hydrangeas and begonias interwoven with fern, made a delightful scene, and with the happy feelings, a cheerful atmosphere prevailed the whole evening. The seating accommodated about 500 people in the hall, which still left a large area for dancing, while the dress circle was taxed to its capacity, and the only standing room available was soon taken up. At 8 o'clock Girl Guides and Boy Scouts formed a guard of honor from the hall entrance to the stage and the guests moved slowly through headed by two diggers of World War I.’ The National Anthem was enthusiastically sung before the returned men and women were introduced and ‘welcomed them back to Kadina, all receiving the gratitude of the audience with applause, and finally singing "For they are jolly good fellows."
Celebrations continued into the following year with the Willamulka Church being packed to capacity at an enthusiastic Red Cross organised welcome in May. Again, flowers and flags decorated the church. Len was one of sixteen escorted onto a platform. The audience stood for two minutes silence in memory of those who had paid the supreme sacrifice before the "Ode of Remembrance" was recited.
The following year Len became engaged to Elizabeth Pearl (Betty) Sandford in June ’46 with the two marrying in October. They eventually welcomed five children, Jeffrey, Brenton, Joanne, Leonie and Carolyn.
Len returned to farming with his brother near Kadina and became renowned for his production of quality bacon. In the ’51 Bacon competition the brothers took out first prize with the local paper writing that it ‘is evident that pig raising has reached a very high standard indeed, and this has made the competition so keen and gave the judges some hard thinking, ere they came to the final decision. It should augur well for each yearly show as it comes around and raise the standard in every way.’ This was followed the next year in a state-wide competition against 45 entries where the brothers won the championship, by half a point with 83 points, at the State Bacon Appraisement Competitions, held at the abattoirs. The first prize was a £35 silver tea and coffee service on tray and £15 cash prize. The judge commented that ‘the pigs were the best he had seen in a championship.’
Len lived to be 72 and died on the 14th February, ’91. 85-year-old Elizabeth died in May 2010 with both being buried in the Kadina Cemetery Path 54 Block 7.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes, SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.