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Alex was born in Quorn on the 14th September 1916 to John Jacob and Marcella Maud Reid. He was one of two sons with brother, Earle Cameron. The family lived in the North of the state where their father was employed as contractor at Wooltana Station, a large sheep station between Blinman and Broken Hill, 80 miles east of Copley. Both boys were educated at the Leigh Creek School of Copley, a small, now deserted railway town between Leigh Creek and Lyndhurst.
As a twelve-year-old, Alex was showing indications of the speed for which he would later be renown. At the time, a sports meeting was held at Quorn in October ’28 with Alex running second behind Ron Collins in the Boys’ Sheffield race.
Post school, Alex worked at a variety of towns, including Whyalla, Iron Knob and Baron, and Port Augusta as a lorry driver and was also known as a respected colt breaker and station hand in Copley and Beltana. Whist working at the Iron Baron, he is reputed to have been legendary for his speed. The licensee of the Iron Knob Hotel recounted two ‘true’ incidents to highlight this fact. “Reid chased a rabbit and caught it in full flight and would have caught another had not a fence stopped him. He kicked a long drop-kick and then ran and marked the ball himself.”
In September ’39 Alex competed in the Smelters Sports at Crystal Brook, where, after having won his heat off 11 yds., was run out in the final. Off 161 yards, he ran second in the 220 yds. handicap. Bill Hill of Port Augusta then began seriously training Alex, aiming for the Bay Sheffield. Competing in the Pirie October Labor Day Sports, Alex ran third off 101 yards, from a slow start but finished like a bullet.
Alex then won the Bay Sheffield at Glenelg on December 28th, astonishing critics with his record time of 114 seconds and running off 11 yards. Almost instantaneously, four towns, Port Augusta, Quorn, Copley and Whyalla all laid claims to Alex. He had gained a labouring job at Whyalla for several weeks before returning to Pirie. However, his trainer, Bill, stated that Port Augusta was Alex’s hometown as he lived there for several years, was taught the finer skills of running in the town, and moved permanently to Augusta in ‘39. Previously Alex had only won small handicap races prior to his Bay Sheffield victory and had only taken running seriously for three years but without sufficient backing had considered giving up the sport. Following the Sheffield success, Alex was coached by a previous winner of the Stawell Cup, Maurice Bishop who, in 1935 won off a handicap of 7 yards in 12 seconds. Bishop, a town inspector at Pirie, intensively trained Alex for just six weeks in Pirie prior to entering the Stawell Gift. Whist Alex’s results were not announced publicly, it was known to a few that he had given phenomenal times in trials and was at peak fitness. The Pirie Recorder in March described Alex as a ‘lithe, rangy runner, who knows the meaning of hard work.’ In leaving for Stawell, Bishop proclaimed that "Reid will win the Stawell Gift. There is nothing there to withstand his finishing burst. He may turn out to be one of the fastest things in spikes Australia has had."
The lady of the Ararat boarding-house also contributed, reputedly knowing all about the needs of runners after many years of experience and produced on request just the right mixture of egg-flip and other soothing draughts. Children at the same boarding-house had also given Alex a rabbit's foot prior to him winning his heat from a handicap of 75 yards. However, following this success, his coach, Maurice was quoted in the Port Pirie Recorder as being protective of his protégé and “refused to permit a dozen boys to enter the dressing- room to pester Reid for autographs. Reid and his party left the back of the ground quietly and caught a car to "an unknown destination" till Monday. "I am confident of Reid, but I am determined that he will not be worried in any way till he does his job," said Bishop. "Reid is in no way worried, but I think that a quiet day in the mountains will do him an immense amount of good." It did. Amidst huge publicity, Alex won the 1940 Stawell Cup, the prestigious handicapped foot race from a handicap of 8 ½ yards, watched by over 20,000 spectators. All newspapers covered the event, where Alex defeated the favourite, Jim Smith from Western Australia.
The March issue of the Chronicle reporting that ‘Producing a last split-second finishing throw at the tape, Alex Reid, of Port Augusta, brilliantly won the 63rd Stawell Gift in one of the most exciting contests seen in recent years. It was only his strength and determination in a hard-fought race that carried him to victory. Reid had disappointed his supporters in the semi-final by an indifferent performance. When he faltered five yards from the post, and the colors of G. J. Guiney went up on the automatic finishing machine, South Australians who were present were amazed, and voiced their surprise. The judges corrected the machine mistake, and the cheer that went up showed that visitors from South Australia were numerous. Smith appeared to have the race in his keeping 15 yards from home, but Reid unleashed his effort and flew through the machine to win by a foot.’ The Minister for the Army (Mr. Street) proclaimed that “It was Reid's ability to kick on when in seeming trouble that enabled him to win the world's greatest foot race.”
In the Recorder Alex’s coach, Maurice relived the win saying that "in the final Alex finished full of running when the others were passing out. From the 60 yds. onward he had the measure of the other four men and won by a clear foot." He added that Alex’s win was also huge for punters. "After the race had been run and won a bookmaker showed me a bet involving £400 which he had made in Melbourne on February 3. That was just one day after Mr. Morris and myself had interviewed Reid at Port Augusta. A great deal of money was won over his success, but it was taken up early in the discussions."
It was also a financial success for Alex and his connections who won a large sum on the race, (£500) having obtained fairly substantial odds early in the betting. Anticipating the win, local M.L.C representative, Mr. Beerworth caught a train from Port Augusta and went on to Stawell to see the races, vowing that if Alex returned to Port Augusta he would be assured of a warm welcome from the townspeople. On the day, members of the town council joined Reid's relatives and friends in extending him a welcome at the railway station. Alex also appeared on stage at the Ozone Theatre and local shop owners also celebrated the win with Barber's Cycle Depot proudly displaying coach Maurice’s and Alex’s Stawell Gift sashes plus Alex’s Bay Sheffield sash in their shop window. Alex was particularly delighted to receive a telegram from his parents and brother. "Congratulations for winning Stawell. All well. Mother, father, and Earle."
A huge number of articles were written about Alex’s success, including by Colin Bottrall, in the Pirie Recorder, who travelled to watch the race and urge on the local hero. Bottrall described the finish recording mechanism at the oval as being most ingenious. Unexpectedly, it was not electrical, but a mechanical device. White wool used as the finishing barrier in each lane was affixed to a trigger, released when the wool was snapped, causing a corresponding color disc mounted at the centre lop to fall into position. The crowd would therefore instantly see the winning runner. Besides the mechanical recorder, four judges were seated in tier chairs at the finishing line as a double check, with all timing done by stopwatch. Bottrall captured the elation at the win. "It was a supreme moment for the Pirie party when Reid and his trainer trotted round the track together before the cheering thousands. One has to be on the spot to know just what the Gift final means."
Back in Pirie, Colin Bottrall showed a motion picture screening of the footage he had taken of the running of the Gift, showing Alex’s clear victory. From the camera’s angle, it seemed that Alex broke the tape a yard out in front, although other observers on the spot gave him a win by only inches. For those who had not attended the race, the vision also showed the Gift track, a strip of closely mown grass in the centre of the oval and the betting ring, with the bookmakers operating on boxes and under shades as at any horserace meeting.
In an interview post-win Alex revealed that he had considered giving up running prior to being approached by his two coaches. Ironically, it was WWII that put an end to Alex’s career.
With war looming, the Stawell Athletic Club gave all the proceeds from that 1940 Gift Meeting to patriotic funds. This was praised as “one of the finest gestures from the Australian sporting world towards Australia's war effort. Gate receipts were £1,030 11/, only £110 down on receipts at the final day in ‘39, when the club had record figures.”
Following his success, Alex received numerous requests from the public, graciously agreeing to appear in the pedestrian events to be conducted at the Port Augusta Claypans. He was second behind Craddock who started from the 3 yards mark and covered the 100 yards distance in 10 seconds. Alex then competed in Renmark on Anzac Day. (These races were subsequently cancelled due to rain.) Alex was drawn to the Riverland, where he had relatives and decided he wanted to take up a block on the River Murray, eventually settling at Moorook. The small block was under vines, would provide a good living and was considered one of the best on the River.
However, with WWII well underway, 23-year-old Alex enlisted on the 25th of June 1940 and was allocated to the newly formed 2/48th Battalion as SX7179. The July issue of the News carried his photo with the caption ‘ALEX REID, the Port Augusta runner, who sensationally won the Stawell Gift last March, is now in uniform as a member of the A.I.F.’ He named his mother, Rosa, who was still living on Wooltana Station, as his next of kin. Alex’s initial days were spent in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds where his ‘bed’ was straw filled hessian on wooden pallets. He was unfortunate to contract a severe cold in these conditions but soon headed to Woodside for preliminary training.
Alex was hoping to mix his training with a final appearance at Norwood Oval on Labor Day in October that year. Besides professional cyclists and athletes, a highlight was anticipated to be a match race between Alex Reid, winner of the 1940 Stawell Gift, and Doug Horstler, an Adelaide fireman and State sprint champion.
At the start of November, the local enlistees returned home on pre-embarkation leave. The Mail reported that ‘Pte. Alex Reid, the well-known athlete, was present. He was last year's Stawell Gift and Glenelg Sheffield winner. Pte. Reid Is visiting relatives at Moorook during leave and opportunity was taken during the ball at night to bid him au revoir.’
He and his fellow recruits then boarded the Stratheden for the Middle East in November, arriving on the 17th December. At this stage he was officially allocated to the 2/48th battalion which then completed a few months training in Cyrenaica before marching to Tobruk at the start of April 1941. There the dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to the fresh new enlistees who were later to become the highly respected Rats of Tobruk. During those early days, besides regular army duties was the need to quickly adapt to the locals and local conditions.
Murray Farquhar from the 2/48th in his early book, ‘Derrick V.C.’ recounted an incident that amused those not caught out. ‘In 1941 New Year’s Day fell on a Wednesday. By way of celebration, the 2/48th held a sports meeting. Diver ran a book on the athletics, even the tug-of-war. He did his brass jotting down ‘Lost 2000mils on the sports but picked it up on the swy. (two-up)’ Well might he have lost on the footraces. The officer commanding A Company, John Loughrey, had marched in from Victoria. As his batman he had a young fellow named Alex Reed (sic). He entered the sprint races. Bandaged on both knees and ankles, he half hobbled onto the track. At the starter’s gun went he fairly exploded, winning in a common canter. The books had been taken for a ride. That same sergeant in C Company, who had ‘commanded’ the shore picquet at Freemantle, cleaned up. Then it dawned on everybody. In 1939 (actually ’40) the Stawell Gift, akin in footrunning to the Melbourne Cup, had been won by an A.J. Reed (sic) This was he.’
in April that year the 2/48th were ordered to drive pell-mell to Tmimi, assembling at the Wadi Cuf for the sprint east. Drivers were ordered to simply ‘follow the road and go fast’ – which they did as speed was critical. Jerry had attacked at Barce and were closing in. ‘Ajax Reed (sic) the Stawell Gift winner and well-chosen runner for the company commander John Loughrey, burst in on 7 Platoon at the prisoner of war cage, shouting, “All out! One section is required to stay till daybreak.” It was then just after one a.m. Charlie Matthews chiacked the section detailed to stay. Stopped in his tracks, he was ordered to join them.’ Poetic justice.
Back home in December ‘41, a steady stream of wounded men were returning to their home towns. Horace Press SX10627 and Henry Woodards, of the 1st Depot Battalion described their experiences at Tobruk where they were wounded. They mentioned the Port Augusta men they had met overseas, including Alex, reporting that all were well at the time.
Alex contracted a local disease and spent some time recovering in hospital over March, ’42. His skills as a driver then contributed to him being transferred to the 2/24th, then the 2/28th Battalions. Unfortunately, by July ’42 he contracted his first bout of malaria. On release from hospital, he was transferred to the Infantry Training Battalion before returning to the 2/28th where he was detached for Special Duties as a Driver, drawing on his peacetime skills of being a lorry driver. Finally, the original soldiers were able to return from the Middle East at the end of ’42, arriving in Australia via Sydney and hence home for well-earned leave at the start of ‘43.
Back home, the Moorook Sub-branch of the RSL held a social in honour of the returned men from the Middle East. Alex and the other soldiers, including Ronald Dadleff SX3532 and Harold Gogel SX9376 from the 2/48th Battalion, were congratulated on the splendid way they had acquitted themselves. Regret was expressed that it was not their final "home coming" but all in attendance hoped it would not be long before the men all would be permanently back home. Gunner Frank Battams, S306772 responded on behalf of the soldiers.
By March ’43 Alex had again contracted Malaria, spending time in the Kapara Convalescent Home. Soon after, he was hospitalised with a case of a severe bacterial infection (furniculosis) in his right arm and left knee. Discharged in June ’43 unfortunately, the following month he again contracted malaria. Training in Queensland followed as the 2/48th Battalion prepared to face a very different enemy in the tropical conditions of New Guinea.
Home on leave from Queensland, Alex proposed to Rosa Mary Petersen from Ardrossan, with the two announcing their engagement in August ’44 and marrying on the 16th September ’44 in Quorn. Rosa had been a competitor in the wartime Miss Red Cross competition, representing Petersville on the Yorke Peninsula. Following their marriage, the two settled in Moorook on the River Murray with their daughter, Gloria.
Alex was discharged in September ’45 with his father John living to see Alex safely return from war. Aged 68, he died on the 20th May ’57. Marcella lived to be 78 and died in October, 68. Both parents now rest in the Barmera Cemetery.
The war meant that the Stawell Gift was cancelled. However, by 1996, Steve Hutton from Alberton became just the eight South Australian to win this prestigious race. (Others from our state were 1896 R.G. Nesbitt Adelaide, 1899 Norn Clark Rosebery, 1903 H. Dew Adelaide, 1905 C.N. McKenzie Mount Gambier, 1931 F. J. Ralph Richmond, 1935 M.M. Bishop from Port Pirie and Alex in 1940 claimed to be from Port Augusta. In 1997 David Millard from Mount Gambier was the most recent.) This regenerated interest from a local, J.L. Hogan who sought to find more information about Alex.
Aged 75 Alex died on the 1st July ’92 and was buried in the local Bundaberg Cemetery in Queensland. Rosa lived for another decade before her death in February 2003. She now rests with Alex.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.