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Australia

Eric was born in Adelaide on the 14th October, 1912 to Horace and Edith May Teague. He was given three names, Eric Alfred Denzal but later at enlistment gave just the first two. Eric was one of five children with a brother and three sisters. His father, Horace initially worked for the Commercial Bank at towns including Murray Bridge and Strathalbyn.
Eric met Auriel Emily Jarred, who, as a Noarlunga student, was involved in an innovative school subject where credit was given for extra, student-driven learning done out of school. Auriel chose her study on rearing pigs and was successful in this venture.
Post school, Eric became a butcher in Crafers in the Adelaide Hills. His early courting years with Auriel were marked by a smattering of road traffic infringement at a time where these seemed minor and fines comparatively high compared to earnings. Eric was caught with Auriel as his pillion passenger on his motor bike when he exceeded the speed limit. It was a costly outing of £5 with 15/ costs. Just over a year later in Unley, the two were again caught traveling at over 25 miles an hour, this time Eric parted with £1and 10/ costs.
The timing was not the best as two months later the young couple married on the 30th July ’38 at the Noarlunga Methodist Church. The young couple moved to Angaston where they welcomed their son, Robert born at the local Angaston Hospital on 18th March ’40. Sadly, the war intervened. Just three months later, Eric was amongst a large group of local Angaston young men who enlisted together on the 29th June, 1940 and were fortunate to all be placed in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. Eric had a short wait to receive the results of an Xray examination before joining Jim Mansfield, Jack Duffield, Steve Johnson, Ron Chinner, Hartley Gerlach and Ken Waters, who had passed the preliminary exam.
Eric was allocated the number SX7208 and placed in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. His early days were spent at Woodside back in the Adelaide Hills just prior to going on pre-embarkation leave. Back home at Angaston, a Social was held in honour of the Angaston ‘boys’. The seven ‘Boys’ were farewelled at a packed Angaston Institute in October. The young men, who had enlisted at a similar time and were all placed in the 2/48th Battalion were SX7499 John (Jack) Duffield, SX7500 Steve Johnson, SX7497 Ron Chinner, SX7208 Eric Teague, SX7501 Hartley Gerlach, SX8275 Geo. Langridge and Colin Weber SX4897. The group was led in and congratulated on their enlistment. As part of the farewells, mention was made that Pte Teague had come to Angaston the previous year and, like Pte. Duffield, was leaving his wife and child in order to do his bit. At the conclusion of the festivities, each soldier was presented with an inscribed gold pencil, plus gifts from the Coop and Glee Club.
Patriotic speeches followed, with praise for the huge attendance which fittingly honoured the boys who “were going to win victory for the nation, with freedom of speech, action and thought.” Anticipation was that they would all soon be back from a victorious campaign. Prophetically, the RSL Representative claimed that “Hitler would soon probably endorse Hindenburg's opinion of the Australians as the men most to be feared.”

Eric was also farewelled at a Crafers Social in the local Institute in July with six other local young men. The Red Cross and Comforts Fund representatives made presentations prior to supper, dancing and finally the singing of "Auld Lang Syne.”

By the 7th November, Eric was on board the Stratheden, disembarking in the Middle East on the 17th November. At the end of January the following year, he was singled out for special duties as a Batman, followed soon after by being detached to the Australian Corps Ski School.

He was to become one of the Legendary Rats of Tobruk, an unofficial title initially designed to destroy morale of the soldiers at El Alamein. Lord Haw-Haw taunted the living conditions of the soldiers in rat and fly infested, dusty dugouts while leaflets were also dropped urging the men to surrender. It had the opposite effect.

Back home, a group of soldiers wrote from the Western Desert, with their letter published in the Saturday August 2nd edition of the Mail. It was signed by SX11171 Lieutenant Lance H. Heffron and all the men in his platoon, including Eric, who were based in the Western Desert. It praised the much-appreciated work of the Fighting Forces Comforts Fund and read:
“THE men of my platoon have asked me to write, on their behalf, an appreciation of the wonderful work your organisation is doing for us members of the A.I.F. We receive periodical Comforts Fund issues of chocolate, oranges, cigarettes, tobacco, saving soap, toothbrushes, and numerous other comforts, which, to us in the Western Desert, are now luxuries. It is impossible for me to express in mere words just how these issues are received, and the manner in which they are appreciated. We have, on so many occasions, been scratching for cigarettes, tobacco, writing paper, etc., which are so difficult to obtain here. Then, just when it appears to be a 'smokeless’ or 'letter-less' few days until our army issues, invariably and magically up pops a Comforts Fund issue, and saves the situation. This week, particularly, we were right out of these little comforts, and along came an orange, two cakes of chocolate, a packet of toffee, and writing paper, with a further parcel of cigarettes. As we are, at the moment, in a far from pleasant position, it just decided the boys that a direct, written appreciation, be sent immediately. If the contributors to your fund, and the helpers who work so hard getting away the parcels, could only see the smiles which light up desert-hardened faces as we dive in our bag of comforts like children at Christmas, I am sure that they would feel amply rewarded.
“Ever since leaving Australia regular issues have been our good fortune, and every soldier has nothing but praise for the work and thoughtfulness of all concerned with the organisation. Would you please accept and convey to your contributors and workers the heartfelt appreciation of all those whose signatures are attached hereto for what you and they have done to bring comforts which are regarded as luxuries in the front line, to us at all times. We wish you every success in the continuation of your efforts — your work at home is a vital part of the whole bitter struggle. Due to your tireless efforts, the morale of the troops is bolstered considerably. We know that we are being remembered, that our home folk are behind us. giving us so many little comforts that otherwise we would miss, and this knowledge spurs us on through the various phases of this most curious of wars until victory at last will be ours. And outstanding through the history of the Second A.I.F. will be the work of the Australian Comforts Fund. Thanking you again and wishing you every good fortune. Signed— Lieut. L. H. Heffron, Sgt. C. H. Fraser, Cpls. T. Bert and E. A Teague, Sig. R. Ramsdale. Dvrs. E. C. Hartman. T. M. Hanrahan and R. D Scott. Pts. H. C. P. Jones. J. S. Nicholson, G. J. Jury. A. Gore, G. Ryan, P. O. Robertson, S. H. Lister, D Sutherland E. J. Chuck, J .E. Young, M. G. Sennard, E. S. Smith, A. D. Watts. H. C Burge, A. C. Kennett. J. J Dolan, W Foster,. W. Everett. G. Molloy, A. Davis.”
In a cruel twist, 27-year-old Lance was kills in Action in Egypt in July the following year.

Eric and the 2/48th were finally able to return home via Melbourne in February ’43. Well-earned leave followed before training in Queensland began. The battalion prepared to face a very different enemy in the tropical conditions of New Guinea. Eric arrived, via Milne Bay in August ’43 but was struck by dengue fever within four months. Back home at this time, Auriel gave birth to their second son, Barry at the Bindara Hospital on December 9th.

In the meantime, Eric was detached for Special Duties as part of an advanced party in January the following year. The conditions of war continued to affect his physical health with dermatitis and spinal difficulties, resulting in him finally being classified as permanently unfit for military service and leading to his discharge on the 11th June ’44.

Eric continued to remember the men with whom he had served. In the ensuing years he placed tributes to his much-admired leaders, Lieutenant Lance Heffron and 39-year-old SX8894 Major Reg L. Batten who died of his wounds in New Guinea on the 23rd November ’43. Undoubtedly each Anzac Day these and other exceptional members and mates of the 2/48th Battalion would be remembered.
Advertiser Saturday 22 July 1944, HEFFRON.—In memory of Lieut. Lance Heffron, killed in action at El Alamein, July 22, 1942.—Inserted by Eric Teague, 2/48th Bn., A.I.F.
Advertiser Thursday 23 November 1944, BATTEN.—in honored memory of Major R. L. Batten, 2/48 Btn, A.I.F., died of wounds. N.G. Nov. 23, 1943.— Always remembered by Eric Teague. late 2/48 Btn.
Aged 73, Eric died on the 27th April ’86 at West Richmond. He was buried in the same plot as his parents at Centennial Park Cemetery in the General Section D Path 19 Grave 438A. His wife Auriel Emily continued to live for more than a decade and aged 82 died on the 1st October 1998. She now rests with Eric.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.