Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Len was the second son of Fred Ernest (Ern) and Antonia Clara Dohnt. He was born on the 18th July 1918 and raised in Loxton on the River Murray in a close knit and supportive farming and grain town, now also known for its fruit and wines. Fred was considered one of the pioneers of Loxton, owning a music shop in the town. Len’s siblings included Clifford Roy, Max and Eileen. Sport also played a major part in keeping the community together as well as producing some outstanding athletes. Every opportunity was given to the young people to develop a wide range of sporting skills. The Loxton Golf Club, for example opened its rinks for ‘juvenile golf enthusiasts’, with the proviso they did not interfere with the very competitive Saturday competition. The youngsters helped rehabilitate the old rinks with several local businesses also donating items such as flags. The Murray Pioneer of June ’28 reported that ‘Some very good play was witnessed’ for the one-hole competition. Ten-year-old Len was one who showed considerable talent. This was followed later with a handicapped nine-hole match in which both Roy and Len displayed their skills, with the comment being made that ‘The lads are making good progress and many of them are the makings of first-class golfers. Arrangements are being made to improve the links. Some of the greens are a little rough and the tins want renewing’.
The Dohnt children were well represented at the end of year school picnic held at Schell’s Well that year in the games and races. Besides Len, Max, Eileen and Roy featured in numerous events. They also were presented with awards for their regular school attendance. By the time Len gained his Qualifying Certificate in ’33, he was also presented with two other awards, one for woodwork and the other for having attended for three successive years without an absence. Post school, Len became a clerk.
However, with the outbreak of WWII, just days prior to his 21st birthday, Len enlisted on the 1st July ‘40 becoming SX7404 in the 2/48th Battalion. Other locals who enlisted with him included, 30 year old Clarence Gallagher and 23-year-old Harry Dwyer, a jockey being given the numbers SX7417 and SX7416, respectively.
His initial days were spent in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds before he and other new enlistees headed to Woodside for their preliminary training. Home on pre-embarkation leave Len and Ben Stasinowsky (27296 in the RAAF) were farewelled at a Loxton Soldiers’ Social. A controversial theme was chosen and reported in the local paper that the locals were ‘not taking the war seriously enough because we are so far away from the actual scene of fighting. "We are not troubled by the whir of planes over head, and the dropping of bombs and their explosions, the continual noise of anti-aircraft guns and the air-raid warnings, which must effect the civilian population to some extent. "I honestly think that our war effort has not been ag great as it might have been, we in Australia still get our three good meals a day and enjoy our recreations. To whom do we owe this freedom from attack and invasion? We owe it to those soldiers in the front line, the gallant men of the British Navy and the R.A.F., not forgetting those who are enlisting voluntarily from the British Dominions for service overseas. We should appreciate this fact more, much more than we do." The speaker, a Mr Hill was also disappointed that other social events clashed with the farewell to the young men and hoped in future they would be postponed as farewells were dependent on the soldiers being home but briefly. He added that “These young men, were going away to fight our battles and that they were going to do a job and when it was done, "we" their friends, would be grateful to them for the part they had. We would pray for their safety and hope to be here to welcome them home.” In conclusion he wished Cpl. Slasinowsky and Pte. Dohnt the best of luck and a safe return. Presentations from the Loxton Benefit Fund were made, followed by a range of items of singing and dancing.
Len returned to his 2/48th Battalion, 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. Close friendships were forged, many to last a lifetime. Their 2/48th Battalion completed a few months training in Cyrenaica before going to Tobruk at the start of April 1941 where the dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to these fresh new enlistees.
Mark Johnston in his immaculately researched Derrick VC In His Own Words, published a poem Derrick had instead of a diary entry for the 27 – 29th August ’41. It was a poem titled STANDING BY. This was also published in several newspapers back home, included the Murray Pioneer of March ’42 sent by Private Len Dohnt SX7404 to his parents:
‘There’s a row of wooden crosses, in a hollow in Tobruk
There’s a row of shallow graves, hard there by the town
And we say a charitable prayer, for those brave lads who never let us down
When the storm of battle’s over & the guns have ceased their roar
And the gentle breezes blow in across the sea
We’ll still hear the(ir?) cheery voices in the waves along the shore
And we’ll take solace in the thought, It had to be
They heard the fall in sounded & knew
That they must go, though on parade
They soon would stand again
Lined up for inspection by the heavenly God whose battalion can’t be filled with mortal men
Where Jerry cannot bomb them, or pelt them with H.E.
And they’re marching with the army of the brave, the proud & free
We’ll meet them over yonder, til then good shooting mates’
You’ve founded a tradition for the 2nd 40 eighth.’
Scant news of the sons serving overseas was invariably shared. Len’s father Ern at a stock meeting was reported to have shared that “his son who is in the Middle East with the A.I.F. had cabled to his mother after the recent battle, stating that he was fit and well.” Harry Dwyer also wrote with his letter published in the local paper. “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 Len (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.”
In April ’42 Len was diagnosed with an astigmatism, causing him to have time in hospital. This seemed not to affect his service as he lasted that year in the Middle East before heading back to Australia via Melbourne.
Back home on leave in March ‘43 Cpl. Heinrich E. Krause, Ptes. Lyall Proud, Len Dohnt, and Paul King were feted with a social at the Loxton Institute. Len then trained in Queensland. However, his sight was re-evaluated and he was put on restricted duties, then transferred to the 2/1 Australian Con. Depot. For the first time, he then went absent without leave in January ‘44 for about ten hours and forfeiting a full day’s pay. He was sent to New Guinea to face a very different enemy in challenging terrain and humidity. He was promoted to Lance Corporal Dohnt but the conditions caused Len to contract a contagious bacterial infection of his skin (bullous impetigo) with blistering. Len returned to Australia and was finally discharged in November ’45. The Murray Pioneer announced that ‘Len Dohnt, after 5 ½ years’ service overseas, and in the Islands, has been discharged and is home with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Dohnt.’
Len returned to again support his Loxton Football Club, of which his father was President. He also generously provided a trophy for the best player in the B grade grand final. The club continued to remember their footballers at the Grand Final celebrations following the Loyal Toast with a minutes’ silence in memory of "Footballers who didn't return."
He was also active in the local RSL as head steward. In the meantime, a popular organist and pianist for many social occasions including weddings was Miss Joyce Eileen Lafsky who had lived at Port Vincent and Minlaton all her life. In January ’49 she moved to Loxton where her sister lived, to take up a position. By July the following year, the two married in the Pirie Street Methodist Church, in an evening service on Saturday, July 8, 1950. They held their reception at the popular Maple Leaf, on Rundle Street. Len chose his brother, Roy as his best man with Colin Dohnt and Tom Woods as his groomsmen.
The young couple welcomed two children, Carolyn and Kym Grant. Aged just 18, Kym was killed in an accident in March ’77.
Joyce pre-deceased Len, dying on the 5th December 1981. Just two years later, Aged 65, Len died on the 15th December 1983. Both are interred in the Loxton cemetery as are so many of his relatives.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.