Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Eric was born at Medindie, a northern suburb of Adelaide, on the 23rd July 1919 to Edwin Percival and Rosa Marrett Simcock. Following the early death of their first-born son, 7 ½ month old Bryan Rex in August 1916, Eric assumed the role of second oldest son. His siblings included an older brother, Douglas Marrett and younger siblings Gerald Cyril and Shirley Joy. (In later years, Gerald named his son, born in January ’57, Bryan in honour of his own brother.)
The children attended Walkerville School in their early years with all featuring in their year level prize list at the conclusion of the academic year. They then attended Adelaide High School in the city.
With the outbreak of war, Eric enlisted on the 2nd July ’40 just days prior to his 21st birthday. He was allocated the number SX7482 and placed in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. He was soon on his way on the Stratheden for service in the Middle East. Later that year, in September Robert Spriggs (known as Max) of Cleve also enlisted as SX10476. Max was one of nine children, one of whom was Valda, who was to feature strongly in Eric’s future life.
By August ’41 Eric’s 18-year-old brother, Gerald also enlisted as 41671, becoming a Flying Officer. Almost three years later their older brother, 29-year-old Douglas enlisted at the start of January ‘44. He was given the number 442732 serving as a leading Aircraftman with the Aircraft Repair and Salvage Depots.
The following year in February, Eric and Max’s 2/48th Battalion was on the way home to Australia via Melbourne. Eric bore the proudly held unofficial title of being a Rat of Tobruk, initially designed to be derogatory, it became a symbol of pride for the Australians. Following brief leave, they were then posted to Queensland to prepare for the tropical conditions that would be experienced in New Guinea.
Home in January ’44, Eric announced his engagement to Valda Camella Linette Spriggs from Cleve (Robert Spriggs’ younger sister). ‘Chronicle Thursday 13 January 1944, SPRIGGS—SIMCOCK. — The engagement is announced of Valda, younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. Spriggs, Cleve, to Eric E. (A.I.F., ret., N.G.). second son of Mr. and Mrs. E. P. Simcock, North Walkerville.’
Whilst on leave that year, both Privates Eric and Max Spriggs attended the Yadnarie Leap Year Ball, organised by the Red Cross. It attracted a huge crowd from the surrounding districts and was a financially successful fundraiser. With the demands of his battalion calling, Valda accompanied Eric on his return flight, before returning to be involved in the Yadnarie Amateur Hour and dance held in May, including giving a rendition of ‘My Own’.
The following month unwelcome news arrived with the Advertiser reporting that ‘Mr. and Mrs. E. P. Simcock, of North Walkerville. have been officially notified that their son. Craftsman, Eric Simcock, 9th Division, was wounded in action in Borneo on June 11.’ The Chronicle carried a list of fellow soldiers from the 2/48th also wounded with Eric. They included Killed In Action. — SX18O85 L-Cpl. Linus. J. Corcoran, Millicent. Died Of Wounds.— SX7964 Lt. Thomas C. Derrick. VC. DCM, Berri; SX17803 Pte. William (Jack) Giddings, Naracoorte. Dangerously Wounded. — SX30687 Pte Steven R. Buck Seaton Park; SX15368 L-Cpl. John K. Walsh, Spalding. Wounded In Action.— SX7670 Pte. Colin R. Aplin, Mornington SX15415 Cpl. Lindsay G. Bradford, Rose Park; SX19253 Pte. Geoffrey F. Chapman, Unley Park; SX7642 Pte. Donald J. Kerin, Burra; SX15505 L-Cpl. William B. Tremain, Payneham and SX7691 Cpl. Keith Turnbull, Bowden.
Eric was finally discharged on the 19th November ’45, just days after older brother, Douglas on the 14th. Gerald was the last of the trio to be discharged, on the 11th March, ’46.
Early in February ’46 Valda’s parents threw a huge informal party for her and Eric prior to their wedding. Valda’s relatives, friends and school pals all attended, enjoying a quirky beauty contest adapted from magazine fashion plates which caused much excitement. Other activities included a Quiz, 1946 paper hat model, community singing and a variety of items. Valda and Eric were given many presents, including money as well as the sincere good wishes for their future happiness. Eric responded on behalf of his fiancée before the inevitable sumptuous supper and the singing of ‘For They are Jolly Good Fellows’ concluded the evening.
Three days later, on the 26th February, Eric and Valda were married at St Michaels' All Angels Church of England, Cleve at 2,30 p m. Valda’s friends had decorated the church. Her brother, Edward acted as best man for Eric and her sister Pat was Valda’s bridesmaid. Eric and Valda spent their honeymoon at Kingscote on Kangaroo Island before then heading to Mount Compass to live, however, their time in Kangaroo Island was to feature in future years.
Valda and Eric welcomed their first child, Dianne Lynette in November ’47 and Richard in August ’50 at the Hindmarsh Maternity Hospital.
Eric’s skills, learnt in the army, were not lost. A competition organised between the Myponga and Kangaroo Island pistol clubs became an annual feature with prizes awarded in the black powder, centre fire, rapid fire and big bore events.
The support offered to returned soldiers was slow in coming but eventually a soldiers’ settlement was established for the WWII group on Kangaroo Island. Initially huts from the Loveday Internment camp in the Riverland were dismantled and shipped across to the Island, to be rebuilt into temporary homes and workshops. The camaraderie was probably the glue that held the families together, but conditions were challenging for many years. Eric is one of those settlers remembered on the Island’s Ex-Servicemen Land Settlers Roll for WWII.
Just prior to his 90th birthday, Eric died on the 29th April 2008 and now rests in Kingscote Cemetery on Kangaroo Island. Four years later, Vald died in March 2012 and now rests with Eric.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.

Eric was born at Medindie, a northern suburb of Adelaide, on the 23rd July 1919 to Edwin Percival and Rosa Marrett Simcock. Following the early death of their first-born son, 7 ½ month old Bryan Rex in August 1916, Eric assumed the role of second oldest son. His siblings included an older brother, Douglas Marrett and younger siblings Gerald Cyril and Shirley Joy. (In later years, Gerald named his son, born in January ’57, Bryan in honour of his own brother.)
The children attended Walkerville School in their early years with all featuring in their year level prize list at the conclusion of the academic year. They then attended Adelaide High School in the city.
With the outbreak of war, Eric enlisted on the 2nd July ’40 just days prior to his 21st birthday. He was allocated the number SX7482 and placed in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. He was soon on his way on the Stratheden for service in the Middle East. Later that year, in September Robert Spriggs (known as Max) of Cleve also enlisted as SX10476. Max was one of nine children, one of whom was Valda, who was to feature strongly in Eric’s future life.
By August ’41 Eric’s 18-year-old brother, Gerald also enlisted as 41671, becoming a Flying Officer. Almost three years later their older brother, 29-year-old Douglas enlisted at the start of January ‘44. He was given the number 442732 serving as a leading Aircraftman with the Aircraft Repair and Salvage Depots.
The following year in February, Eric and Max’s 2/48th Battalion was on the way home to Australia via Melbourne. Eric bore the proudly held unofficial title of being a Rat of Tobruk, initially designed to be derogatory, it became a symbol of pride for the Australians. Following brief leave, they were then posted to Queensland to prepare for the tropical conditions that would be experienced in New Guinea.
Home in January ’44, Eric announced his engagement to Valda Camella Linette Spriggs from Cleve (Robert Spriggs’ younger sister). ‘Chronicle Thursday 13 January 1944, SPRIGGS—SIMCOCK. — The engagement is announced of Valda, younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. Spriggs, Cleve, to Eric E. (A.I.F., ret., N.G.). second son of Mr. and Mrs. E. P. Simcock, North Walkerville.’
Whilst on leave that year, both Privates Eric and Max Spriggs attended the Yadnarie Leap Year Ball, organised by the Red Cross. It attracted a huge crowd from the surrounding districts and was a financially successful fundraiser. With the demands of his battalion calling, Valda accompanied Eric on his return flight, before returning to be involved in the Yadnarie Amateur Hour and dance held in May, including giving a rendition of ‘My Own’.
The following month unwelcome news arrived with the Advertiser reporting that ‘Mr. and Mrs. E. P. Simcock, of North Walkerville. have been officially notified that their son. Craftsman, Eric Simcock, 9th Division, was wounded in action in Borneo on June 11.’ The Chronicle carried a list of fellow soldiers from the 2/48th also wounded with Eric. They included Killed In Action. — SX18O85 L-Cpl. Linus. J. Corcoran, Millicent. Died Of Wounds.— SX7964 Lt. Thomas C. Derrick. VC. DCM, Berri; SX17803 Pte. William (Jack) Giddings, Naracoorte. Dangerously Wounded. — SX30687 Pte Steven R. Buck Seaton Park; SX15368 L-Cpl. John K. Walsh, Spalding. Wounded In Action.— SX7670 Pte. Colin R. Aplin, Mornington SX15415 Cpl. Lindsay G. Bradford, Rose Park; SX19253 Pte. Geoffrey F. Chapman, Unley Park; SX7642 Pte. Donald J. Kerin, Burra; SX15505 L-Cpl. William B. Tremain, Payneham and SX7691 Cpl. Keith Turnbull, Bowden.
Eric was finally discharged on the 19th November ’45, just days after older brother, Douglas on the 14th. Gerald was the last of the trio to be discharged, on the 11th March, ’46.
Early in February ’46 Valda’s parents threw a huge informal party for her and Eric prior to their wedding. Valda’s relatives, friends and school pals all attended, enjoying a quirky beauty contest adapted from magazine fashion plates which caused much excitement. Other activities included a Quiz, 1946 paper hat model, community singing and a variety of items. Valda and Eric were given many presents, including money as well as the sincere good wishes for their future happiness. Eric responded on behalf of his fiancée before the inevitable sumptuous supper and the singing of ‘For They are Jolly Good Fellows’ concluded the evening.
Three days later, on the 26th February, Eric and Valda were married at St Michaels' All Angels Church of England, Cleve at 2,30 p m. Valda’s friends had decorated the church. Her brother, Edward acted as best man for Eric and her sister Pat was Valda’s bridesmaid. Eric and Valda spent their honeymoon at Kingscote on Kangaroo Island before then heading to Mount Compass to live, however, their time in Kangaroo Island was to feature in future years.
Valda and Eric welcomed their first child, Dianne Lynette in November ’47 and Richard in August ’50 at the Hindmarsh Maternity Hospital.
Eric’s skills, learnt in the army, were not lost. A competition organised between the Myponga and Kangaroo Island pistol clubs became an annual feature with prizes awarded in the black powder, centre fire, rapid fire and big bore events.
The support offered to returned soldiers was slow in coming but eventually a soldiers’ settlement was established for the WWII group on Kangaroo Island. Initially huts from the Loveday Internment camp in the Riverland were dismantled and shipped across to the Island, to be rebuilt into temporary homes and workshops. The camaraderie was probably the glue that held the families together, but conditions were challenging for many years. Eric is one of those settlers remembered on the Island’s Ex-Servicemen Land Settlers Roll for WWII.
Just prior to his 90th birthday, Eric died on the 29th April 2008 and now rests in Kingscote Cemetery on Kangaroo Island. Four years later, Vald died in March 2012 and now rests with Eric.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.