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Born in the Riverland town of Loxton on the 17th July 1916, Harry was the first-born son of Hilda Irene and Tom Kevern (T.K.) Dwyer. He had a much younger brother, Peter Neil born in January ‘25. Their father was originally farm foreman at the Payap Estate, then became a highly regarded horse trainer in the area, training virtually all of Warrakoo’s W.T. Smith’s horses. By the late 1930’s Tom had trained over 100 winners on the River and other areas. He was praised for keeping his string of racing horses ‘nice and big and fresh’.
Living on the Payap Estate involved a number of social activities being organised. In May ’26 the ‘young folk’ organised an evening following the success of one organised by the ‘married folk’. Many fun activities were organised with nine-year-old, Master Harry having the closest guess as to how many peas were in a bottle. Another interesting guessing game was to estimate how many currants were in a baked cake.
In those times, Empire Day was an important celebration in schools with 330 children attending the lunch at the Loxton School in ’27. Students and staff had decorated rooms with flags and patriotic emblems in preparation for parents attending in the afternoon to hear songs and recitations. The afternoon was devoted to a variety of races with Harry and his partner coming second in the three-legged race. He repeated this success two years later during the Anzac Day celebrations, also adding success in the sack race. At the end of year concert for the Payap Estate School in ’29, Harry received a book prize for being the neatest boy with his school work.
Still 15, Harry competed in a Picnic Race at Loxton. His performance riding Baladon in the last race, was his first win. The Murray Pioneer astutely predicted that ‘He may have others before long. When Baladon returned to scale after nicely winning the Consolation race, young Harry Dwyer received an ovation for the manner in which he handled Mr. E. O. Thiele's gelding who is a good sort with substance. Riding with hands and heels, little Harry pushed Baladon along in approved style, holding his horse well together, and not attempting to bustle him. Turning into the straight, Baladon was tackled by Rauquart finishing fast. Rauquart drew level with, Baladon, still Dwyer sat still. Fifty yards from the post Baladon and Rauquart were level. Keeping his mount dead straight Dwyer landed Baladon a clever winner by a head. It was a capital piece of steady riding.’ High praise indeed. As predicted, the wins kept coming. Within a year the local paper was reporting about a horse, Hendon which was in capital condition and a credit to T. K. Dwyer, the Loxton trainer and his son H. Dwyer who rode three winners during the day.’ At the same meeting Harry rode another winner. ‘Generator, capitally ridden by H. Dwyer, came on the scene. A tussle right down the straight was seen between Generator on the outside and Fairy Court. Generator drew away to win by half a length.’ Then in a third race, ‘H. Dwyer seized the opportunity of another, what appeared to be a ragged start, and opened up a gap of ten lengths from Sabatah and Mary. She won with a good deal in hand.’
A brief accident caused a pause in Harry’s success as a jockey. Aged 16 Harry was working a horse named Benson, when the gelding suddenly dropped his head and commenced bucking. Harry was thrown, dislocating his ankle and fracturing two small bones in his foot. The injury seriously curtailed Harry’s riding for several weeks, which was frustrating as his career was taking off as he had ridden a fair number of winners already. Two years later, his father was involved in a car accident, breaking two ribs and spending time recuperating. Back in the saddle, Harry rode in the Loxton Handicap, with the race described as ‘Mr. T. K. Dwyer's nice mare Hachilah scored with ease in the Trial Stakes, cutting out the six furlongs in the good time for the course of 1.161. She could have reduced that time by a second and a half. Hachilah is in splendid fettle and a credit to her owner trainer. She was ridden well by H. Dwyer, who however, kept the mare going right up to the post.’
As an 18-year-old, Harry won the Patron’s Whip, sponsored by Mr J.C. Cheriton, after the running of the Berri Handicap in ’35. At the presentation the comment was made that ‘He hoped the whip would always be used with discretion by the jockey and congratulated both the owner of Barter and his rider in having established a course record.’ This was despite the horse Henson throwing Harry at the barrier and moving off down the track. Fortunately, the Clerk of the Course, on a stock horse was able to catch Henson’s bridle and return his to the start. The feisty horse, swung round at the start of the race as the barrier was released but Harry was able to win in an effortless style by seven lengths. The horse was praised as a great galloper, well-conditioned by Harry’s father. That year Harry also won both the Sturt Flying Handicap and the Chaffey Handicap.
Harry suffered his second major injury in August ’39 when he was exercising the racehorse, Lustre Girl. He was thrown to the ground and trodden on. Fortunately, the accident was witnessed, and Harry was taken to the Loxton Hospital. With the war looming, Harry was able to ride once more as there was increasing fundraising efforts for the Red Cross and Comfort Funds. A Picnic Race Meeting was proposed for January ’40 with locals wanting to make it a successful meeting. Harry entered the Ypres Pony race, winning by a very comfortable one and a half lengths. At that time Renmark’s Andy Kelly, a horse trainer, was working at Cal Cal and entered five horses. The two were later to both be allocated to the same battalion (Andy as SX8214) and be involved in a very different form of racing – donkeys.
23-year-old Harry and other locals, Clarence Gallagher and Lenard Dohnt enlisted together on the 1st July 1940, being given the number SX7416, SX7417 and SX7404 respectively. The Adelaide newspaper, Sport, immediately reported that ‘More Hoops Don Khaki’ as Neil Buckingham (SX6116) and Harry both signed up. They summarised Harry’s career saying he ‘has won dozens of races along the river, at Mildura, Wentworth, also at Medindie and Broken Hill. A son of the river trainer, Tom Dwyer, Harry says that the best horse he rode was Buffo. I can recall to mind his winning races on that horse also Henson (many races), Denmarco and Kalilla King.’ The newspaper concluded "The Sport" wishes these boys a pleasant journey and a safe return.’
Over that year many of the local men similarly enlisted and a number were allocated to the same battalion. They initially trained at Wayville, now the Adelaide Showgrounds before marching to Woodside for more training.
The new soldiers from the region returned to Renmark on pre-embarkation leave visiting friends and relatives in September. Many of the 17 young men were in Harry’s 2/48th Battalion, including SX8176 Dick Smith, SX8039 Donald F. Priester, SX8184 Walter Smith, SX6876 Harold A. J. Roy, SX6866 Roy T. Loveday. SX8179 Howard J. Trenwith, SX6846 Harry Lock, SX6839 Henry Boothey, SX7996 Colin Roger R. Jacka and SX8274 Andrew Kelly.
The young men were feted at the Renmark Institute in October when over 500 people attended to hear speeches and watch the presentations of propelling pencils and cigarettes made to the 20 local men, including Harry. The Mayor said that “he felt the huge crowd present was more expressive than anything he could say of the regard in which they were held. He felt that the lads they had met to honour were brimful of the true British spirit. Right through history, England had fought for tolerance, freedom, and honour. So was it any wonder that the men of Australia had answered the call as they had.”
Their brief leave over, the new soldiers returned to the 2/48th. His contingent then embarking on the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 7th November 1940, arriving on the 19th December 1940. There the recruits completing a few months training in Cyrenaica. He was to become one of the famed Rats of Tobruk. Harry was graded a Group II Cook with his Battalion.
News from the young men was shared through the Murray Pioneer. In February ’41 ‘Diver’ Derrick sent photos of a donkey race held in the Desert and the Bull Cup, won by Harry Dwyer. The darkly printed photo was accompanied by the headlines that ‘Andy Kelly-Harry Dwyer Sponsor Successful Donkey "Stable" Pte. Derrick wrote: — I have enclosed some snaps taken at a donkey race meeting here in the Middle East, the meeting having been arranged by men of our Battalion and quite a number of River boys took part in the programme. I am hoping that the snaps and maybe the letter, will be published in your paper, thus giving the folks at home some idea of the time we are having over here. The Major Bull Cup for which there were 12 starters was won by Fire, trained by our Renmark mentor Pte. Andy Kelly, and ridden by another well-known River identity Pte. Harry Dwyer. The winner started from the extreme outside position and desperately ridden by Dwyer lasted long enough to hold off the strong challenge from Aurie's Star and win rather cleverly by a length and a half.’
The Adelaide News also carried the story with the headlines proclaiming ‘Former S.A. Jockey Shows Skill on Donkeys’. The report stated ‘Sportsmen who have enlisted in the A.I.F. have carried on their sporting activities overseas, and news has come to hand that Harry Dwyer, a former South Australian jockey, has gained further success in racing. However. this time it is not on horses, but in donkey races. Dyer is a son of the Murray Bridge trainer T. K. Dwyer, who has won races with Neoflak in recent weeks. John McMahon (SX7292), a friend of Dwyer's, said that Dwyer won three donkey races in one day, and he and Dwyer benefited financially.’ Another report by the same newspaper summarised Harry’s career as being the jockey to ride Lustre Girl to her first win, with that horse continuing a successful career. They added ‘Harry also won dozens of races at the river meetings in South Australia. Victoria and New South Wales on Henson and Aidous, both trained by his father.’
Derrick added ‘You may see by the prices written on the board the bad result the winner gave the fielders. On calling 2 to 1 I was knocked from my stand and immediately cut the price to even money, and still received a steady flow of punters; then with a hasty reckon up I decided the purse couldn't stand much more Fire money, so had to close on Mr. Kelly's nominee and await the sad result, which cost me some 12,000 Mils (about €15 Australian). Now probably the saddest part of this story was the registering of all bookmakers at B.H.Q., thus preventing my making off with the bag, the licence costing 30/- Australian and a security of £10 lodged at the orderly room before the events. And now before getting on parade I can tell all your readers, the River boys are well, happy, and rearing to go, and all send a big cheerio to you folks at home. "She" won’t be long now.”
Harry also write home to Mr Tonkin of Pyap (whose son was SX276 in the 2/10th). “I have come in contact with Allen a couple of times now, and a letter from one who has seen him may be appreciated. The first time I struck him was at Mersa Matruh, when we were going into Lybia from Palestine, and what a reunion! I could not believe my own eyes, not expecting to see him in this country; that was about two months ago. Then yesterday I had a little time on my hands, and I had heard that they had shifted into a position not far from us, so I went and looked him up. He looks just the same big Allen, and you can rest assured he is quite well and happy. We had a couple of hours together and talked mostly of Pyap, and old school days.
“We are into the thing we joined up for now, and right up to our necks into it too. The S.A. soldiers have made a great name for themselves. My biggest worry is those birds that fly over and drop eggs; one is like a rabbit running for its hole, and there are very few that can head me either. I wish you would give Mr. Dohnt a message for me as I promised him on embarkation leave that if I wrote to anyone at Pyap that I would mention how Ben (SX7404) was going. Well he is quite well and happy, and his dugout is only 50 yards from mine. Give all the people at Pyap my kindest regards.”
Harry’s younger brother, Peter enlisted in the Navy in December ’42 as PA/3375. At that time, Harry’s leadership skills were recognised with his promotion to A/Corporal. By March the following year, Corporal Harry returned to Murray Bridge where his parents were then residing. He also made time to catch up with his many friends at Loxton and Payap where a well-attended social was held for the soldiers in the Loxton Institute.
The local Murray Pioneer noted the men’s return with record crowds massed at the railway station. A hugely patriotic article appeared. ‘Behind the official announcement by the Prime Minister (Mr. Curtin) this week that a further contingent of troops had arrived in Australia from the Middle East lies a story of great excitement and enthusiasm in the River districts. The joy which came to human hearts as trains conveying the troops drew into the various stations could only be appreciated by those who witnessed the unforgettable scenes on the crowded platforms It recalled to the mind happenings of 12 months earlier when the first troops from overseas returned to Australia.
‘Many of these heroes of Rommel's El Alamein debacle—their most recent triumph—had been away from home for three years and were among the "Rats of Tobruk". From the time some days earlier, that news leaked through that the men had arrived at "An Australian port," relatives had lived in an air of joyous expectancy, which broke loose aa the various men reached their home stations on three weeks' leave. Practically without exception the men looked 100 per cent fit, though some carried the unmistakable traces of hard campaigning under difficult conditions.’
‘At Renmark the station yard was crowded on the several occasions when special coaches were attached to the passenger train to brins the men to their home stations. The largest attendance was on the Saturday afternoon that the first of the Diggers arrived home. All parking room in the station yard and approaches having been taken, cars were parked for some hundred yards down the road outside, and there must have been 500 people present. The height of community enthusiasm, however, was not reached until the welcome home social on the Thursday evening, when the record attendance of 1,000 thronged the Institute to honour these heroes of many campaigns.
‘It was Indeed a "meeting of the clans", including people from other districts as well as local residents. The hall's capacity proved unequal to the occasion. Renmark was determined to welcome those who had fought and suffered. A number of wounded men were present. Mothers, wives and sweethearts were noted in the crowd. Seats were provided on the stage as well as all round the hall—sometimes double-banked—but even then there was scarcely "standing room" for the mighty throng.’
In a eulogistic speech the RSL President commented that “in greeting these fine young men, that a mere 35 years ago they were peace loving lads in a peaceful country, but by virtue of their earnest training and their high ideals they were today fighting soldiers second to none in the world. He reiterated that nobody in Australia was more proud of them than members of the original AIF. Old soldiers had watched their exploits with the keenest interest. Many of them were sons of men who had served twenty-five years earlier.
"It must be a matter of pride that of the eleven Victoria Crosses awarded to Australians in this war three of these greatest awards have been made to members of one battalion." The men who bad assisted in these great exploits stood before them. They still had a job to do and he knew from conversation with the gallant men themselves that they desired to complete the task before them. This was not the "welcome" to which they looked forward, but a greeting in passing. He wished them all God speed and a final happy return to Renmark. On behalf of ex-servicemen, he congratulated them on what had been accomplished and expressed confidence in their determination to carry on their valorous campaign to victory.’
Training in Queensland followed to prepare the Battalion to face a very different enemy in the tropical conditions of New Guinea. In June ’43 Harry was treated for a laceration, followed a few months later with an injury to his right knee prior to heading to Port Moresby and a further promotion to Corporal. Dengue fever and malaria struck at the start of ’44. The following year he sustained a wound which needed treatment, to his right hand from a fish spike.
With the war coming to an end Harry had several Absent Without Leave offences, clear indication of the effects the conflict had on him. Besides the financial cost, he also reverted to the rank of Private. It was with huge relief that he finally left Morotai to head home to Australia via Sydney. He was finally discharged on the 14th November ’45 and went to Murray Bridge where his parents had retired. His brother Peter was discharged the following year at the end of April ’46. Harry turned his skills to being a successful trainer, described as a popular and capable mentor. He had early victories with Lethea, a horse that led all the way in the Murray Bridge races and others named Sir Randal and Christopher. Besides training, Harry developed other interests in the Murray Bridge district, with rabbits bringing him a good measure of revenue.
Harry was not unscathed, having to recuperate at the Repatriation Hospital, but a positive article appeared in the News in January ’49 where ‘Murray Bridge trainer and former soldier, Harry Dwyer, obtained special leave from hospital to see Lethea, one of his team, win her first race at Murray Bridge. Dwyer has been in the Repatriation Hospital, Springbank, for some time, expects to be there a couple more weeks. His father, T. K. Dwyer, has been looking after his team. Dwyer sen. races Lethea in partnership with Mr. J. Critchley, of Murray Bridge. Dwyer sen. trained many winners of country races in this State and western districts of Victoria, among them being White Patch (dam of Lethea) and Henson, who won about 40 races with Harry Dwyer as rider.’ Harry continued to live in Murray Bridge where he developed into a successful trainer, following in his father’s footsteps.
Harry married Mary Patricia who was particularly proud of Harry’s service. Aged 78, Harry died on the 31st December 1994. Soon after, Mary, then living in Mount Gambier, wrote asking for his medals, which Harry had not received, to be sent to her. He had earned the 1939/45 Star, African Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal., This process took some time but eventually occurred.
Written and researched by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133 2/48th Battalion.