Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Henry James and Evangeline Frances Pointon’s first child, Milton Noel was born in Broken Hill. on the 25 December, 1911. The family then moved to Streaky Bay where particularly Evangaline, was heavily involved in the local church, providing suppers, organising competitions and decorating the Hall for a variety of different activities. Milton was also involved in constructing a scale model of the Methodist Church, the actual building having recently been built by members of the congregation. Keith, the second son, was born in Streaky Bay on the 20th November 1918 before the family again moved.
He attended the local Nailsworth School and proved to be talented in Woodwork, a skill that led to his employment as a cabinetmaker, working at Mile End. As young men, both he and Milton were members of the Militia with Keith being 542139 and Milton 435228. Keith continued to maintain contact with his Nailsworth School, which ran a fund-raising fete and pet show in October ’32. Keith was one of 300 entries in the record-attracting pet division where his un-named cat was announced a winner. A range of categories included traditional pets and a wide variety of birds, native and domestic. Modes of transport ranged from doll’s prams, tricycles and motor cars, with a Meccano and model section, plants, cakes, sausage rolls and produce all contributing to an exceptional tally of more than £100 taken during the day. This funded many facilities for the school.
Milton found employment with Thomas Cook and Sons whilst his parents lived at Solomontown. By that time, he and Lorna Martyn had become firm friends, announcing their engagement in April ’36. The two married in the Unley Methodist Church in September, ‘38 with Milton choosing 17-year-old Keith as his groomsman.
Soon after, WWII loomed. Aged 21, Keith enlisted to serve on the 29th June 1940 and was given the number SX7143 and allocated to the 2/48th Battalion. His early army days were spent in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds, before heading to Woodside for preliminary training.
Following pre-embarkation leave the 2/48th Battalion then left on the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 17th November 1940, disembarking on the 17th December. The young men then completed a few months training in Cyrenaica. 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 the new enlistees. At that stage, they were unaware they were to become the famed Rats of Tobruk.
Keith’s battalion had barely arrived when in May ‘41 he sustained a gunshot wound, in his left thigh, resulting in him being evacuated to hospital. His injury occurred in the fierce fighting for Hill 209 which also claimed the lives of seven others. John Glenn in his book, ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’ described conditions that day at Dimra: “At 3:50am on 1st May the men of the 2/48th stood-to to await the outcome of the battle which had raged all through the night. In thick mist, darkness, and bitter cold they snatched a quick breakfast of bully beef and hard biscuits.” In an attempt to take Hill 209 in the heavy dust storm marked by overhead enemy aircraft targeting their carrying vehicles, ‘D Company moved out steadily with two platoons forward- 18 Platoon under Lieutenant Larkins on the right and 17 Platoon with Sergeant Tonkin in command on the left.’ ‘The company then moved well forward under control, and came under small arms fire, but continued until they came under very heavy machine-gun fire from the direction of the Water Point and Post S4.’
The remainder of that day was chaotic, information scant, the men weary and under heavy fire and a raging sandstorm. The next morning there was a terrific dust storm, but a foot patrol set out to find their soldiers who had not returned. For a few of those missing men it was some time before their fate was confirmed. It was an appalling day for the close knit 2/48th.
Back home, that month, the Chronicle listed Keith as one of 29 wounded in action from his battalion. Others included Pte. Laurence S. Baker, SX7282, Mambray Creek; Pte. Percival G. Bartholomew, SX7122, Narrung; Pte. Thomas Bell, SX8265, Snowtown; Joseph Buckley, SX8459, Albert Park, Vic; Pte. Robert W. Carvosso, SX7888, Glenelg; Pte. Ernest H. Chapman, SX7289, Koongawa; Pte. Ronald R. Collins, SX7163, Gulnare; Pte. M. G. Day. SX7434, Nairne; Pte. Harold W. Gass, SX7147, Mannum; Pte. Ronald A. Gepp, SX7884, Ashborne; Pte. Roy D. Goodes, SX6917. Cur ramulka; Pte. John Kennedy. SX7842, Adelaide; Lieut. Geoffrey D. Larkins, SX10332. St. Peters; Pte. Wilfred. J. Lewis, SX8856, Scott's Creek; Pte Henry O. Lohman. SX7771, Murray Bridge; Pte. Keith H. Pointon. SX7143. Prospect; Pte. Leonard G. Rex, SX7990, Colonel Light Gar dens; and Pte. Leonard J Rodda, SX7327, Moonta.
The May ’41 edition of the News gave added detail that ‘Pte. Keith Pointon, 22, who has been reported wounded in action is the younger son of Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Pointon, of Grassmere road, Prospect. He was born at Streaky Bay and attended the Nailsworth and Flinders Street Schools. Pte. Pointon was engaged in the cabinetmaking trade, and at the time of his enlistment last June was employed at a Mile-End establishment. He left Australia with an infantry unit in November.’
Several months later, Keith’s older married brother, Milton, who had served with the Militia enlisted in October, becoming Lieutenant SX25346. He was finally discharged in February ’46.
The severity of Keith’s wound meant that, inevitably, he was classified as being ‘medically unfit for duties that require active service with field formations.’ However, in June ’42 Keith was briefly promoted to Acting Corporal but by January the following year had reverted to being a Private as the battalion returned from the Middle East to Australia, arriving in March ’43.
Keith was discharged on the 10th August, that year and by January ‘44 announced his engagement to Joyce Margaret Green from Nailsworth. They married five months later, on July 1st at the Pirie Street Methodist Church in a late afternoon ceremony.
Having survived the fierce fighting in the Middle East, Keith was fortunate to escape a collision between his motorcycle and a car at the intersection of Main North Road and Charlbury road, Nailsworth in March ‘50. He sustained a broken leg and shock, with an ambulance taking him to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, where he was admitted. It was his second serious leg injury
Keith and Joyce had two children a daughter, Heather, then Robert Keith who arrived in August ’53.
Henry and Evangaline saw both sons return from serving in the war. Milton, Keith and their families had precious years with them, enabling them to enjoy their grandchildren. 66-year-old Henry died at his Prospect home on the 30th August ’51 and 76-year-old Evangeline, died in ’59.
Aged 72, Keith died on the 26th June 1991 and was buried in the Enfield Memorial Park Cemetery. His ashes were placed in the Eastern Niche wall, Number 1 GA – GU 16,1. Joyce lived to be 94. She died on August 6th 2017 and her ashes were interred nearby in Row M Site 55.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.