Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Louis was born in Kadina on the 15th April 1918 to Margaret and Herbert John Samuel. Herbert had grown up in Wilcannia, N.S.W. before moving to Kadina in 1904 where he met and married Margaret Darmody. Herbert, known as John, then worked for the Wallaroo Mines for a time before taking up his interest in dairying. Louis was one of twelve children, the fourth of five sons, with his brothers being John Ottoway, Cornelius William, Herbert Ottoway and Bryant William. His seven sisters included Mavis Mary, Eva Cecilia, Elvie Philomena, Margaret Kathleen, Lucy and Laurencia.
The children all attended the local Kadina School which Louis represented in a football match against Moonta School. He later continued with the sport, playing for Kadina South. Whilst at school, Louis also enjoyed and was successful in his woodwork exams, where, in a group of 85 Kadina students, all gained passes in ’32. The following year Louis again excelled in the High School Section at the Kadina Show where he won the self-designed woodwork model section.
Post school Louis became a clerk, working in Burra. Whilst there he joined the Burra Buffalo Lodge and was also instrumental in forming a Physical Culture Club to offer coaching in boxing, weightlifting, gymnastics and wrestling for boys 10 years and over, as well as young men.
Having just turned 22, Louis enlisted at Clare to serve in WWII. He passed his medical at Burra on June 14th ’40 becoming SX7367 in the 2/48th Battalion. He then travelled to Adelaide where his initial days were spent in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds, before his battalion headed to Woodside for preliminary training. The following month, his 18-year-old brother, Bryant a mechanic’s assistant, enlisted in the R.A.A.F. as 27259 serving in many Australian bases and Port Moresby. Three months later, Louis’ older brother, Herbert, a fitter who had been with the Militia since June ‘39 also enlisted in September with the 43rd Infantry Battalion as S22925, serving in Darwin and the Northern Territory. By July ’42 35-year-old Cornelius had also enlisted as SN 115227 with the R.A.A.F. Four of the five Samuel brothers had all enlisted.
On the 19th October, Louis returned to Burra and a presentation by the Buffalo Lodge where he was gifted a silver cigarette case, inscribed to Bro. L. Samuel, to honour him being a member of the AIF. The Burra Record described the evening where ‘the brethren had gathered together to do honor to Bro. Samuel, who had been a member of the Burra Buffalo Lodge for a considerable time. Whilst a member he had taken a keen interest in lodge matters and the brethren were very sorry to lose his services. On behalf of all the brethren he was wished the best of luck when overseas and a safe and speedy return to Australia. Nearly all the other brethren present expressed similar sentiments in short speeches.’ Louis had had risen through the various offices of the lodge to that of City Marshal, and in so doing had carried out his duties excellently, missing only two meetings in that time. In his response, Louis thanked the members for their generous sentiments, the gift and enjoyable evening.
Two days later, on the 21st October, a huge gathering of locals filled the Kadina Town Hall to wish good luck and Godspeed to their seven young enlistees. Of these, five were allocated to the 2/48th Battalion and besides Louis, were Privates Thomas Bell SX8265, George Gulley SX7264, Len Loveridge SX7743, and Clarence Stewart SX7508. George, who had enlisted just days before Louis was to die of wounds in Egypt on 2nd May ’41. The others were to survive and return home at the conclusion of the war.
Organised by the Kadina District Council, The Kadina and Wallaroo Times reported that the meeting opened with the National Anthem before the chairman, Cr Pedler gave an emotive speech outlining that the Community was seeking “to do honor to the men who were going to serve their King, the Empire and their Country in this hour of stress and trial. The men were shouldering a great responsibility, and we could not do too much for them. He was delighted with the fine attendance, which thus showed its appreciation of the noble decision made by the young men, who were in every way worthy of all commendation.” Mayor Measday spoke in a similar vein saying that “he regretted conscription had been introduced in England, for the men would have offered themselves without it. And this is what our boys had done and were doing. On behalf of the town, and in all sincerity, I say that we are proud of you, we thank you, and when you come back again, we will welcome you even more heartily and do whatever we possibly can for you, and all that is in our power; I wish you all Godspeed and a safe return."
Other speeches followed before the Fighting Forces Comforts Fund presented each man with the customary parcel of comforts. Each soldier responded briefly and in characteristic style. “It was one thing to join up, and another, and harder thing to say goodbye to good friends, said one of them, while another, with a touch of humour, said they were like the man with the wheelbarrow, with their job in front of them." Parents or their representatives then spoke before the final singing of Auld Langsyne and personal farewells to each of the seven men.
Returning to the 2/48th the contingent then embarked on the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 7th November 1940, arriving on the 17th December 1940. Unfortunately, in the trip across, Louis was one of a relatively large group of young men who contracted mumps, resulting in his being admitted to the ship’s hospital. Once in the Middle East, the recruits completing a few months training in Cyrenaica. From there, they were soon on their way to serve in Tobruk, Syria and Egypt. By the start of April 1941, the 2/48th were in Tobruk where the dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to new enlistees. Louis was to become one of the famed Rats of Tobruk.
Louis’ leadership skills were recognised early in his service career with his appointment to Lance Corporal in July ’41. However just weeks later he sustained a gunshot wound to his right thigh and was evacuated to hospital for almost a month. John Glenn in Tobruk to Tarakan told of the conditions at the time. ‘We were in the Salient again, this time to the left of our July position. The days were hot, with the wind like the breath of a furnace, and the nights were bathed in the light of a full moon, curtailing the movement of the Salient men and presenting the ration parties with the difficult task of getting a meal up, with the gaps in the minefields covered by the enemy fixed lines of fire. Every now and then a Spandau would send stream of red tracer bullets across the forward posts.’
‘The attack continued, and the men were forced to move forward over a rise, where they made excellent targets in the moonlight. Anxious eyes peered towards the posts as shells burst right around the front. The 2/48th had suffered casualties as they waited; Lance-Corporal G Richardson and Private R.B. Humphrys had been killed and Private J.L. Duffield and Private L.O. Samuel had been wounded.’ George Richardson was 28. Reg Humphrys was just 18 years old (although his Army record state that he was 21.) Eight soldiers from the South Australian 2/43rd and three from the 2/10th were also killed that day.
The Kadina and Wallaroo Times shared the news that ‘Information was received by Mr and Mrs J. Samuel, of Wallaroo Mines, on Saturday, that their son, Private Louis Samuel, who is serving with the A.I.F. abroad, had been wounded in action.’ 27-year-old Paul Kostera SX7090 from Balaklava and 34-year-old Francis Holmes SX7861 from Naracoorte, were two of Louis’ 2/48th comrades who lost their lives.
In Kadina, the Old Scholars Association were keeping a record of their members who had enlisted. By ’41 the total had reached 64—Navy 8, Army 27, Air Force 29 with Louis being one of those in the AIF.
Following his injury, Louis was hospitalised but unfortunately, after his discharge, the wound became infected and another bout of hospitalisation followed. His last month in the Middle East was marred by another infection and an uncharacteristic, but expensive offence of being absence without leave. Fortunately, his time in the Middle East had come to an end, but his arrival in Melbourne included a frustrating stay in Caulfield. His return to Kadina was hailed in the local paper.’Kadina Boys Return. Last Monday, L/Cpl. Louis Samuel returned to Kadina after serving his country in Northern Africa. Though he was wounded and spent several months in hospital, he has regained his health and now looks very fit. Another son of Mr and Mrs J. Samuel is also home from Northern Australia. Herb, is on sick leave, and will return to Adelaide next Monday.’
Louis also visited Burra during leave in May ’43, catching up with old friends and colleagues who described him as ‘looking well’.
Further promotions followed with Louis becoming a Corporal, then Lance Sergeant. In a sad blow for Louis, his 66-year-old father Herbert died in the Kadina Hospital on the 15th November ’43 and was later interred in the Kadina Cemetery. Louis was re-allocated and continued his service at Royal Park with the 16th Trig. Battalion. Towards the end of ’45, Louis contracted a skin condition similar to eczema (seborrheic dermatitis) possibly caused by stress or the poor hygienic conditions under which he had been living. He received treatment at the Dudley Convalescent Home in New South Wales. Louis was finally discharged in December that year returning home to a huge welcome afforded to sixty-seven personnel.
A massive civil welcome was organised in the Kadina Town Hall with a huge ‘Welcome’ banner displayed in the front while in the evening this was brilliantly illuminated with colored lights. The local band played outside while the interior was described by the local paper as ‘nicely arranged with Allied flags displayed around the hall, and on the stage, pot plants in bloom, with hydrangeas and begonias interwoven with fern, made a delightful scene, and with the happy feelings, a cheerful atmosphere prevailed the whole evening. The seating accommodated about 500 people in the hall, which still left a large area for dancing, while the dress circle was taxed to its capacity, and the only standing room available was soon taken up. At 8 o'clock Girl Guides and Boy Scouts formed a guard of honor from the hall entrance to the stage and the guests moved slowly through headed by two diggers of World War I.’ Allied flags were displayed around the hall, and the stage featured colourful, flowering pot plants, with hydrangeas and begonias interwoven with fern. The National Anthem was enthusiastically sung before the returned men and women were introduced and ‘welcomed them back to Kadina, all receiving the gratitude of the audience with applause. A summary of the role of the local men included ‘we fought on, our men never yielding or giving away until they had to. Then Tobruk and the Middle East and at last, a glimmer of hope when word came through "We stopped them,"' and the turning point was reached in Europe. The Jap treachery at Pearl Harbour, North of Australia, and then their menace to Australia when so many of our noble boys gave their best and all, to save us, and now we are a free country and people for which we thank them. We are here to pay a tribute to the boys who came home and to those who gave their lives that we live in freedom." The assemblage then stood in silence for those who paid the supreme sacrifice’ The evening concluded with all present singing "For they are jolly good fellows."
Louis was finally discharged in December ’45. By March ’49 he announced his engagement to Athalie Melva Brettig of Lobethal. She was a talented and popular musician on both the piano and piano-accordion, playing at many social and formal occasions. In a cruel twist of fate, Athalie’s 32-year-old brother, Leslie Ronald was killed in November, eight months after the engagement. He had been cutting a tree at Lenswood for the Onkaparinga Woollen Mills when the tree is believed to have twisted and fallen on him, killing him instantly.
The young couple married in Adelaide in January ’50. They continued to remember Les. BRETTIG.—In loving memory of Les. accidentally killed on November 8. 1949. Little we knew as we woke that morn Of the sorrow the day would bring Little we knew at the close of the day We would feel death's cruel sting. He left a beautiful memory, And sorrow too great to be told; But to those who loved and lost him, His memory will never grow old. —Always remembered by Athalie and Louis.
Athalie and Louis had four children, Ann, Ian, Josephine and Timothy. Athalie lived to be 77 and died in December ’99. Aged 88, Louis died on the 15th October, 2006 and was buried with her in the Lobethal General Cemetery.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes, SX8133, 2/48th Battalion