Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Allan (Frederick Allan) Fulton SX7302
Allan was one of five children born to Beatrice Alice and Sydney Fulton. His siblings were Gwen, Doreen, Jim (Sydney James) and Barbara. Allan was born on the 9th July, 1922. He and his best mate, also an Allan Porter both attended the Norwood Public School on Osmond Terrace, Norwood where both successfully completed their Qualifying Certificates. The inseparable pair, just in their early teens, gained employment on the same day at the ‘Thamms Toymaking and Wickerwork’ business, located in Capper Street; Kent Town. The thriving business also employed another young lad, Tom Cliff, who lived in the nearby suburb of Maylands. The three became firm friends and thereafter were always together, becoming known as the ‘Inseparable Trio’. They were reliable, hardworking and respected by their fellow workers for their pride in the work they produced as well as having identical interests.
Obviously with the outbreak of war, young men, regardless of their occupation, would have numerous discussions about ‘joining up to do their bit’. At some point, the ‘Inseparable Trio’ were no different. Inevitably they walked together to Wayville to enlist with the Army on the 1st July, 1940. Allan’s official records show his birthdate as the 9th July, 1919 which suggested he was 20 years old. However, the reality is that he was certainly born on the 9th July, but two years later in 1922 (as shown on his headstone) so was just 18 when he enlisted. It appears that the other two may have done similarly as Allan Porter and Tom Cliff’s families later recorded.
Allan’s brother, Jim (Sydney James) enlisted about a fortnight later on the 17th July and rose to be a Corporal with the 2/7 Field Regiment.
The News of August ’41 reported that the trio ‘did preliminary training together, and then separated in two units.’ Because of the initial of their surname Allan and Tom Cliff were enlisted in the 2nd/43rd Battalion becoming respectively SX7302, and SX7305 (Tom giving his date of birth as 29 January 1919). Allan Porter was allocated to the newly formed 2nd /48th Battalion becoming SX7315. Their relatives and friends gave the trio a joint farewell party, knowing they would serve their country with honour.
Allan Porter was the first of the trio of friends, the two Allans and Cliff, to arrive in Tobruk, but they did all reunite in Palestine and marked the occasion with a photo of them together.
On 1st May, 1941 at Tobruk, as number two gunner and within four months of arriving, Allan Porter lost his life in action in Libya. John G. Glenn in ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’ describes how German dive bombers swept over the battalion at the same time as “a heavy concentration of enemy artillery fire. One shell made a direct hit on a dugout of D Company, killing two and wounding two others.” It was under these conditions that Allan was killed in action. His official Army record lists him as being 21, he was just 19. Allan and Tom continued to remember Allan Porter, reflecting on the service he had given. Advertiser Friday 1 May 1942 PORTER. —In loving memory of Pte. Allan Porter, who was killed in action on May 1, 1941. He shall not grow old as we who are left grow old. —Inserted by his mates. Pte. F. A. and Gunner S. J. Fulton. A.I.F. abroad.
However, in a further cruel twist of fate Tom, the second of the Inseparable Trio, died of wounds three months after Allan Porter on the 4th June ‘41. He was listed on his army record as being 22 years old at his death but his family’s tribute state that he was then just 20 years old. John Glenn in ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’ described the fateful encounter which led to his death and the decimation caused to his battalion. ‘In the south, the 2/43rd attacked strongly, but came up against strong and accurate machine-gun fire, and were forced to withdraw. The 2/43rd commenced the attack with 137 men, and came out with only 33 unscathed.’ Allan was also injured at that time, but the severity of the attack meant that accurate documentation of deaths, captures and injuries were challenging and initially inaccurate. The Advertiser of the 20th August ’41 reported that ‘Private F. A. (Allan) Fulton, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Fulton, King William Street, Kent Town, has been wounded in action. He left for overseas in December. His brother is also in the A.I.F. abroad.’ Others from the 2/43rd who were also injured included Cyril Stewart SX6236 and Derek Prance SX11234.
Tom’s fate was initially reported in both the News on the 26th August and the Chronicle on the 28th August ’41 as being ‘Wounded in Action’. The article in that issue of the News reported that ‘Three friends who became known as "the Inseparable Trio— they were parted only once in the past four years—have been reported casualties at Tobruk. They are Pte. Allan G. Porter, of Kent Town (killed in action on May 1st) Pte. F. Allan Fulton, of Kent Town (wounded in action on August 30). Pte. Tom Cliff, of Maylands (wounded in action on August 30). The trio was linked when Ptes Porter and Fulton, who had been school mates. began work at Thamm's wicker works, Kent Town, where Pte. Cliff was already employed. The ties were cemented by comradeship in the A.I.F. All aged about 19½., they enlisted on the same day in June. 1940.’
Having been promoted to Corporal, Allan was again listed as ‘Wounded in Action’ with twelve other South Australians in October 1943.
He was finally discharged on the 25th March 1944. Time with his family was all too precious as his mother, Beatrice died three years later in November, 1947 and was buried in the West terrace cemetery. She was just 60 years old.
Allan eventually moved to live in Darwin and lived to his mid 50’s. He died in 1977 and was buried in the Church of England section of the Darwin General cemetery at Jingili, plot 1005. His brother Jim (Sydney James) who had also served, died in July 1996, aged 75 and is commemorated at Centennial Park.
As the lone survivor of the Inseparable Trio, Allan and his family continued to remember his close friends.
Advertiser Tuesday 4 August 1942, CLIFF. —In loving memory of Pte. Tom Cliff, who died of wounds received at Tobruk, on August 4, 1941. —Will always be remembered by his two mates, Gunner S. J. and Pte. F. A. Fulton, A.I.F., abroad.
Advertiser 1943, PORTER. —In loving memory of Pte, A Porter, who was Killed in action on May 1. 1941.—Always remembered by his mates. Bdr S. J and F A. Fulton 2nd A.I.F., returned.
CLIFF. —In loving memory of Pte. Tom Cliff, who died of wounds received at Tobruk, August 4, 1941. —Always remembered by his mates, Pte. F. A. and Bdr. S. J. Fulton.
Advertiser 1944, PORTER—In loving memory of Pte. Allan Porter, killed in action May 1. 1941. remembered by Jim and Allan. CLIFF. —In loving memory of Pte. Tom Cliff, who was killed in action August 4, 1941. —Ever remembered by T. J. and F. A. Fulton.
Advertiser 1945, PORTER- —In loving memory of Pte. A. Porter, who was killed in action—. May 1, 1941. To be with us in the same old way would be our greatest wish today. Inserted by his mates. S. J. and F A. Fulton. CLIFF. —In loving memory of Pte. Tom Cliff who was killed in action Aug. 4, 1941, at Tobruk. —Always remembered by Fulton family.
Advertiser 1946, PORTER In loving memory of Pte Allan Porter killed in action May 1 1941. Ever remembered by Fulton family. CLIFF. —In loving memory of Pte. Tom Cliff, who was killed in action, August 3, 1941. —Ever remembered by Fulton family.
Advertiser 1947, PORTER. —In loving memory of Pte. Allan Porter, killed in action. May 1, 1941. Always remembered by the Fulton family.

Researched and written by Kaye Lee daughter of Bryan Holmes, SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.