Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Gabriel, the eldest son in his family was born at Mile End on the 23rd May ’20. As was traditional, being the first-born, he was named after his father and grandfather.
Gabe acted as best man for his brother, Jim when he married Mabel Smith in June ‘38. Jim, as captain of the Rifle Club, was honoured with a guard of honor by ten fellow members of the Legion of Frontiersmen. Just two years later and with the outbreak of WWII, Gabriel, a truck driver, enlisted a month after his 20th birthday, on the 1st July ’40. He was given the number SX7281 and placed in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion.
Following leave, Gabe embarked on the Stratheden on the 7th November, arriving in the Middle East on the 17th December. His occupation as a truck driver contributed to him then attending a Mechanic School and being graded as a Group II mechanic in February the following year. By March ’42 he was then graded as a Group I Fitter. Conditions at these times were totally foreign to the Australian troops. The heat, dust, constant bombardment and primitive living conditions were seized on, with the Germans creating a derogatory term designed to destroy morale. The troops seized on the analogy of them living like rats and made it a badge of honour. Gabe and his fellow soldiers earned the proudly claimed title of being a Rat of Tobruk. In typical Aussie style, the men proudly adopted the term as a badge of honour and camaraderie.
During this time, Gabe proposed to Ida May Clements. She worked as a saleswoman in the large retail store, Myers and was a well-recognised defensive basketball (now netball) player who had been amongst the inaugural teams to compete on the newly laid courts on Anzac Highway in ’39. The May issue of the Advertiser carried the announcement that ‘CLEMENTS—BAIRD.—The engagement is announced of Ida May, only child of Mr. and Mrs. O. W. Clements, to Gabriel Richard (Gabe), A.I.F. abroad, eldest son of Mr. and the late Mrs. G. Baird, both of Adelaide.’
Back home, women were also heeding the call to help with the war effort. By September ’42, fiancée Ida enlisted at Keswick for full time duty. Over her time based at Keswick she rose to the rank of Sergeant and undertook courses to become a Physical Training Instructor. Her netball playing background contributed to her general fitness, with her report claiming she was ‘conscientious and a clear thinker’..
Finally, the survivors of the 2/48th returned to Australia via Melbourne in February ’43. Following well-earned leave, Gabe was sent to Queensland, to train in the tropical conditions he would face in New Guinea. He arrived in Milne Bay in August ’43. The heat, humidity and conditions all contributed to him contracting malaria, then dengue fever before his eventual return to Brisbane in February ’44. At the end of that month Gabe was able to return home to Adelaide, where the News proudly announced that ‘CLEMENTS--BAIRD.-Marriage of Ida May (A.W.A.S.), only child of Mr. and Mrs. O. W. Clements. of Adelaide. to Gabriel Richard (A.I.F. returned), eldest son of Mr. and the late Mrs. G. Baird. of Adelaide, at Holy Trinity Church on Wednesday, March 1, at 7 p.m. Reception Maple Leaf Cafe.’
However, the malaria continued to return over the year but in March ’45 Gabe returned to Morotai and thence Tarakan for several months before finally returning to South Australia to be discharged on the 21st September ’45. (Ida had been discharged on the 22nd June the previous year.) He and Ida had two sons, Richard and Graham.
Post war, Gabriel worked at Glenelg as a butcher, travelling to work on a motor bike. In a frustrating incident, Gabe had left his machine on Jetty Road and was most unfortunate to be targeted by thieves who cut the wiring and unscrewed his headlight and battery, valued together at £7.
Aged 85 Gabriel died on the 22nd July 2005 and was buried in the Centennial Park Cemetery. Ida lived for a further four years until aged 88. She died on the 14th November 2009 and was buried with Gabriel.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.