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Alf was one of ten children, with Charles and Esther Lovell Poyner having five sons and five daughters. He was born at Melrose on the 14th March 1909. The family later moved to the Spencer Gulf town of Tumby Bay, near Port Lincoln, predominantly a farming area known for its sheep, beef and cereals and inevitably, fishing.
Alf worked as a farm labourer in the Chandada area near Streaky Bay, a close knit and supportive community. He was an active participant in local activities including the annual New Year’s Day Sports, winning the relay ‘Section Fours on Foot’ in ’38. Later that year, Alf, an accomplished horse rider, also was successful at the Poochera Gymkhana, coming equal first in the Rescue Race, before enjoying an equally popular dance in the Poochera Hall.
With the outbreak of WWII, several men from the surrounding areas were quick to enlist. 31-year-old Alf and Harold Bayley, a farmer from Poochera, enlisted on the same day, the 29th June ’40. Alf was allocated the number SX7019 and Harold SX6932 with both being placed in the 2/48th Battalion. Within days, 36-year-old Dominic Leo Reidy who worked at Thurlga Station out from Port Augusta also enlisted and was allocated SX8350, in the 2/48th Battalion.
Initial days for the trio were spent in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds, before they headed to Woodside for preliminary training. Coincidentally, both Alf and Harold were appointed as Acting Lance Corporals prior to returning for pre-embarkation leave back in Tumby Bay. In October, the local Chandada Hall was the venue for a farewell evening for Corporal Alf and Private Leo with people coming from surrounding towns. The Hall was beautifully decorated with Spring blooms, organised by the locals. A number of dignitaries gave speeches, praising the gallantry of both men and strongly supporting their actions in enlisting. In honour of their service, each soldier was presented with a wallet, before a typical country supper followed.
A second farewell was organised in the Poochera Hall the following week for Alf and Harold. Many returned soldiers from WWI attended and again, both men were spoken highly of and wished the best of luck. The Poochera Red Cross group gave each soldier a present, and a large parcel of comforts for their use. Again, a generous supper was provided, followed by dancing into the early hours before the farewell concluded with the singing of "They Are Jolly Good Fellows" and the National Anthem. |
Soon after their leave, Alf and his fellow 2/48th Battalion, boarded the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 7th November 1940 and disembarked on the 17th December. The 2/48th Battalion completed a few months training in Cyrenaica. The next stop was to Tobruk at the start of April 1941 where the dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to these fresh new enlistees. Once there, they completed a few months training in Cyrenaica.
By the time the men had arrived in the Middle East, the small country towns of Chandada, Tootla and Inkster had already planned to have living tributes to those ‘who served their country in times of war and who offered their lives to defend the freedom of all Australians.’ They established Trees of Tribute on the 16th August ’40, with the first town to do so being Chandada. Eucalypts were planted at the intersection of the Streaky Bay to Poochera Road and then the road to Inkster. Alfred’s was the fifth name to be acknowledged with a tree planting which were done by the children from the Tootla and Inkster Schools as part of the Arbor Day celebrations.
Alf fractured the shaft of his left humerus in an accidental injury towards the end of January ’43 but the conditions under which this happened were such that a Court of Enquiry was unnecessary. The fracture was treated and almost immediately, Alf was able to return to his Battalion, eventually returning to Australia via Melbourne at the start of February, ’43. Unfortunately, by the end of April that year, Alf experienced paralysis in his deltoid muscles, rendering him medically unfit for duty. This was later attributed to him having previously dislocated his left shoulder, which had then caused adhesions in and around the joint.
A huge crowd welcomed Lance Corporal Alf home at the Chandada Hall where he was the guest of honour in an event organised by the town’s Comforts' Fund. He was both the first to be farewelled and the first to be discharged. The West Coast Sentinel reported that ‘He fought overseas with the famous 9th Division, and all regret that he has returned with an injury which undoubtedly will be a great handicap to him in his civil life. The very large gathering present was an indication of the popularity and esteem in which this young man is held in this and surrounding districts.’ Besides the locals, were several other servicemen home on leave. Dancing and a generous supper followed with the evening concluding with ‘Auld Lang Syne.’ Alf was so moved by the support the community had given him, he took out a public notice in the August edition of the Sentinel ‘L/CPL. A. POYNER wishes to thank the people of Chandada district for the pleasant evening and presentation tendered him; he especially thanks the Chandada and Poochera Comforts Funds for parcels received while overseas.’ He was finally, officially discharged later that month, carrying a new suit.
In January the following year, while both attended a Dance Hall in Port Lincoln, Alf caught up with Frank Reid, S24083 who served with the 43 Infantry Battalion Militia. As was traditional, both enjoyed a drink together but unfortunately, under the National Security Regulations, they were both changed with consuming liquor within 300 yards of the Dance Hall. Each was fined £3, with 10/- costs – an expense neither man anticipated.
Alf married Gertrude (Gertie) who had two children, James and Ruth. Alf and Gertie then had their own daughter, Evelyn. Sadly, Alf’s 71-year-old father, Charles died four years after Alf’s return in July ’47. His mother, Esther died in August ’69 with both parents buried at Stirling in the Adelaide Hills.
Alf’s enjoyment and use of horses saw him continue to own and be involved with these animals, including those who were also trained to perform in a two-wheel jinker. Unfortunately, one took fright and bolted as it was entering Port Lincoln along the New West Road in November ’47. Quick thinking by the driver in turning into a side street avoided major collision with oncoming traffic. Instead, it crashed into the Centenary Oval fence and tore a gap of about 10 feet in the pickets. The plucky driver was thrown, and the horse finished on its back with neither sustaining serious injury and only very slight damage to the vehicle.
By the end of that year, Alf, who had successfully run a dairy farm at Port Lincoln, sold the venture. This move was also accelerated as the pressure on dairy farmers to produce and feed milking cows, milk and then deliver to a widely spread customer base, continued to increase. However, the demands of the industry meant hours of work were from about 5 a.m. till about 9 p.m., seven days a week, close to a 100-hour week. Over the ensuing years, rising costs and unpayable returns, meant that many dairymen quit the industry, including Alf and Gertie. Alf’s plan as an ex-serviceman, was to give up dairying with a view to taking up land under the soldier settlement scheme.
Aged 76, Alf died on the 26th January, ’86 and was buried in Whyalla. Gertie lived to be 94 and died on the 22nd November 2003.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.