Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Max was born at Cowell on the 18th February 1920. He grew up in Kimba, a wheat farming region on the Eyre Peninsula where he attended the quaintly named Pinkawillinie South School gained ‘double honours’ in April ’32. His parents, Charles Richard and Ettie Mabel Fuss had a large family comprising seven daughters and three sons. These included brothers Fred and Ken, with sisters including Jean, Nell, Dorothy, Rene, Elsa and Mollie.
Max had just turned 16 when his 61-year-old father, who had experienced ill health, died in the Ceduna Thevenard Hospital on the 24th August ’36. Just two months later his 55-year-old mother also died unexpectedly. The West Coast Sentinel wrote a fitting tribute to her in October. ‘During her stay in Ceduna, Mrs Fuss had made herself very, popular and1 had done many kindnesses to those in need of them, and her passing comes as a great shock to all who had the privilege of knowing the lady. More particularly sad is it, that Mrs. Fuss had issued invitations for the wedding of her daughter next month. A wedding alas which she was destined never to see. She leaves a large family of seven daughters and- three sons. Two of her sons are in Ceduna, one is in the West as is another daughter. Two of her daughters attended her funeral which took place on Wednesday last, the Revd. L. F. Ashman being the officiating minister. Much genuine sympathy will go out to the family and their friends.’
With the outbreak of WWII a huge campaign was undertaken in country regions to encourage fit young men to enlist. Having turned 20, Max, a labourer, chose this route on the 2nd July ’40, becoming Private SX7559. He and another local, Arthur Whyte SX8307 from Kimba who enlisted six days later, were both allocated to the 2/48th Battalion. They travelled to Adelaide where new soldiers spent their initial days in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds before they headed to Woodside in the Adelaide Hills for preliminary training.
Both popular young men, Max and Arthur returned to Kimba during their brief pre-embarkation leave, returning home to the largest farewell social ever seen and organised in their honour in the Kimba Soldiers' Memorial Hall. The local Kimba Dispatch observed that ‘it must indeed give the boys a thrill to realise that the service they are rendering to their country and Empire is appreciated to such an extent as the attendance indicates.’ Presentations were made on behalf of the district, the Comforts Fund, and the Returned Soldiers Sub-Branch. The Chairman of the Farewell Committee Mr Ferry commented that ‘although the International situation was no brighter it was certainly no blacker and we could rest assured that the guests of the evening would do their share towards securing ultimate victory and upholding the traditions of the first A.I.F.’ Both young men were then presented with a parcel of comforts and assured that the local branch would continue to keep in contact with both men and forward other parcels. The Red Cross also assured the soldiers that ‘should the occasion demand, they would always receive careful attention under the sign of the Red Cross.’
Max and Arthur were then presented with a shock proof wristlet watch as a token of appreciation from the residents ot the district. Max and Arthur suitably responded and thanked all speakers for their kind remarks and presentations, expressing the hope of being able to play their part in keeping up the world-famous traditions of the original A.I.F. Then dancing and a typical country supper followed. With a final singing of ‘Auld Lang Syne’ the farewell concluded with the belief that the evening would ‘live long in the memories of the two boys in whose honour the evening was tendered.’
The men then returned to the 2/48th Battalion which embarked on the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 7th November 1940, arriving on the 19th December 1940 where the Battalion completed a few months training in Cyrenaica. The start of challenge authority began in February that year as Max pushed the rules governing attendance, for which he received a fine. About that time, Max added the nomination of Private Douglas Gray Fuss, SX5380, serving with the General Motor Transport Companies as a next of kin.
The battalion was soon involved in intense conflicts where the reputation for being the most highly decorated but decimated battalion was earned. He was detached to the 1st Australian Ski School in January ’42 before returning to his 2/48th Battalion. The start of challenge authority began in June that year as Max challenged rules of conduct and attendance, with his pay packed suffering the consequences.
Having been in the Middle East for two years, Max’s sister, Nell Blumson, received news that Max had been wounded in action with a gunshot wound to his left knee causing him to be evacuated to hospital. Darren Paech in Adelaide to Alamein described conditions experienced in the fierce fighting that ensued at the end of October ’42. Twelve men were killed in a massive blast from the exploding Allied trucks that had been carrying war equipment. A counter-attack ensued. ‘The night was filled with the screams of men locked in mortal combat at point blank range. While they were pushing forward, a well built-up enemy post unleashed a torrent of fire at the C Company Diggers.
John Glenn in Tobruk to Tarakan also described that night as “some of the bitterest and bloodiest hand to hand fighting in which members of the 2/48th had ever been engaged. Cries and shouts of the men made the night hideous…’
An extensive list was published in the November ‘42 issue of the Chronicle of the cost of that fighting. It named nine from Max’s battalion either killed in action or who died of their wounds. They included SX8468 Pte. Patrick H. Hoare, SX13570 Pte. Charles Holman, SX7771 Pte. Henry O. Lohmann, SX6848 Cpt. Alfred F. Meyer, SX3149 Col. Arthur. H. Peters, SX11768 Pte. John R. Smith, SX13535 Pte. Allan L. Thessinger, SX13162 Pte. Thomas B. Cosgrave and SX7917 Pte. Leslie A. King. Max was one of 26 from his battalion who were listed as being wounded in action but fortunately survived. The 2/48th had paid a high price for their success.
By a strange coincidence, whilst in Palestine Max met up with his older brother Ken WX14309. The two had not seen each other for 13 years.
In February ’43 Max finally left the Middle East, returning to Australia via Melbourne. By June, Max was with the Australian Infantry Trig Battalion, then two months later with the parachute Battalion having qualified as a parachutist. The following year, Max again challenged army protocol with a variety of offences including ‘conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline’, plus being absent without leave. All of these proved to be costly both financially and with personal restrictions.
By the commencement of ’45 Max also changed his nominated next of kin to his brother, Fred Fuss who lived at Moondah. His challenge of authority, however, did not diminish. By April that year, Max was again financially and personally restricted for a week for being absent without leave. By September, Max had contracted mouth lesions, a condition exacerbated by excessive smoking, resulting in him spending over a month in Kapara, a convalescent home in Glenelg.
Aged 25 years, Max was eventually discharged on the 29th October ’45. He married Natalie Kathleen Ann and they had three children, Patricia, Susan and Richard. Max’s medals, the 1939/45 African Star, African Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal were posted to him in the ‘50’s. However it appears they were lost or stolen, so the active Social secretary of the 2/48th Battalion attempted to procure copies of these for his daughter some time after his death. 55-year-old Max died just before Christmas, on the 15th December ’76 and is buried in the Ceduna Cemetery.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.