Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Robert Aldsworth Barrie, who was known as Bob to his friends, worked as a farmer on the family farm at Willowie, a small town in the upper north of South Australia. The farmers of the region had suffered a run of indifferent seasons, and in 1939 a frost wiped out the first promising crop for a number of years. 1940 was the driest year on record, so perhaps enlisting was a way of supplementing income for many of the local young people.

Bob was sharefarming a neighbouring farm, and in 1939 he cut 900 tons of frosted crop as hay, which made up three huge haystacks, a landmark on the Willowie skyline whilst Bob was overseas. It proved to be a good investment for him as in 1944-45 another run of dry years ensured he had a ready market for his hay.

Bob enlisted on the 3rd of July 1940, initially hoping to join the RAAF but after a month with no news opted for the Army. A group of four young men, all friends and relatives, travelled to Adelaide to enlist together. They all  trained at 2 Infantry Training Depot before being assigned to the 2/48th Battalion on the 27th of August, 1940. Bob's home for this 17 weeks was the Motor Pavilion at the Wayville showgrounds, before being transferred to Woodside for 3 weeks of motor duties.

On the 17th November 1940 Bob boarded the troopship HMT Stratheden for the Middle East, to join the 9th Division. Disembarking at El Kantara on the 17th December, and then by train to Dimra, a small Arab village 11 kilometres northeast of Gaza, in Palestine, where training in desert warfare began in earnest.

Based at Dimra for several months he drove trucks throughout the region, - ferrying troops, and supplies, but also carried out guard and escort duty for captured Italian soldiers. On the 13th March 1941 Bob and the 2/48th left Dimra, heading west towards Benghazi, Libya. At the same time Rommels Afrika Corps were heading east towards them.

A diary he kept records his first experience of being strafed by a German plane – “Hell of a shock today when first enemy plane hedge hopped over & machine gunned us. No damage but caused excitement.” In April of 1941, the 9th Division fell back to the port town of Tobruk, Libya, after a German-led counter-attack. Saturday the 12th of April, he wrote – “Returning into outer perimeter of Tobruk defences to make the stand & what next. Much shelling, bombing & gun fire. It’s going to be hard to get to really like it. No doubt about being in action now. At last we’re to have a real go at them.”

The siege of Tobruk had begun, and Australian, British and Indian forces held the "fortress" for the next eight months.

Bob’s unit left Tobruk, aboard the destroyer HMS Latona on the 22nd of October 1941, but remained in Palestine for several months. On the 18th of January 1942 the 2/48th began its move to Syria, for rest and garrison duties.

In July of 1942 the Axis forces had reached El Alamein in Egypt. The 9th Division was rushed from Syria to the El Alamein area and held the northern sector for almost 4 months as the Eighth Army, led by Lieutenant General B.L Montgomery fought the 2nd battle of El Alamein. A cousin of Bob's, John K Stone SX7740, who had enlisted with him, was killed during the battle of El Alamein. On the 7th of July Bob was promoted to Corporal. The unit was withdrawn for a rest on the 2nd of August, and Bob was admitted to hospital two days later with a leg wound, before rejoining his unit later that month.

The 9th Division, including the 2/48th, left El Alamein on the 3rd of December 1942, returning to Gaza, before being recalled to Australia, to face a new enemy – the Japanese. Bob departed the Middle East on the 1st February 1943, arriving in Melbourne on the 25th of February.

Bob returned to Adelaide for leave and on the 10th of March he married Marjorie Helene Kumnick, at Rose Park Methodist Church, followed by a brief three day honeymoon.

On returning to his unit he was sent to northern Queensland for 3 months training for action in the New Guinea regions. He boarded the US attack transport ship Henry T. Allen, at Cairns, destination Milne Bay – Papua New Guinea, where he was promoted once again, to Acting Sergeant, the promotion being ratified in December 1943.

Bob suffered recurring bouts of malaria as did many of his comrades in the hot tropical conditions. 

Bob's father passed away in late December 1943, leaving his mother alone on the farm. Bob applied for a compassionate discharge. He eventaully was discharged from the army on the 29 March 1944.

He returned to the farm with his wife Marjorie, where they raised three sons. Bob worked hard to ensure a viable cropping and livestock operation on a property in the marginal areas at Willowie.

Bob marched every year in the Adelaide Anzac Day March until he was unable to do so due to age and poor health. He enjoyed the 2/48 Battalion and Rats of Tobruk reunions, but declined to talk much to family members about his experiences during the War.

After the celebrations during the anniversary of 50 years since the end of the war in 1995, when there were many television programs of celebration and commemoration, he did talk more to his family, expecially his grand daughters who did projects at school as part of these celebrations. 

After his death the family found several small diaries which he had periodically used during his time in the Middle East. It gave us a small insight into his time there, but I am sure we will never know the full experience these men went though.