Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The Clegg family proved to be strongly patriotic in the service two generations gave over both World Wars. 32-year-old Herbert Wallace, married Johanna Mathilde Wuttke (from Nairne in S.A.) in Kalgoorlie in 1908 and continued living in Western Australia. They first had four children, Dorothy, Daphne, Charles and Arlene when Herb enlisted to serve in WWI on the 8th September ’14. He was number 22 in the 16th Battalion. He was wounded in Gallipoli a year later before then heading to France where he developed septic hands, legs then gums, plus ulcerated feet and scabies. Whist in hospital, he wrote to his parents, with the letter being published in the Perth Daily News of March 1917.
‘" Soldiering is a very peculiar sort of business. We get the two extremes of life in the army — the very roughest and most dangerous, and the hospital part, which is the very opposite. I am sure that I am getting my full share of the hospital part— cared for as if I was some precious jewel. But no doubt we are precious to our Empire and King, and if we cannot get more and more men to join the forces, we will have to go on till we are all killed or all our man-power is worn right out of our bodies.” He added “It is very cold and snowing almost every day here in England, and my poor comrades in the Somme will be feeling the cold very much. Indeed, just now it is only the physical strength that helps to make our chaps stand the cold, but in about six weeks' time the weather will begin to get fine again. I am going back to harder fighting shortly and putting all my trust in God to bring me safely through, but should He take me I shall meet you all in the better land, but I know all our prayers 'will be heard and answered." [Private Clegg has been at the front since the landing at Gallipoli. He was nearly five months in the trenches when he got septic poisoning and was sent to England. This is his second time in hospital in England.]

Herbert did survive and was discharged on the 23rd Jan 1919 in Adelaide, despite friction between his parents and Johanna plus rumours of two of the children being placed in a salvation Army Home over the war years. On Herb’s return, he and Johanne had two more children, Joy and Wallace Monash born on the 27th March 1921 in Adelaide. Inevitably, Wallace became known as Wally, attending East Adelaide School and Norwood High School, before later taking up the trade of bootmaker.
However, with their father’s strong record of service, when WWII occurred, Herbert’s two sons both enlisted. 27-year-old Charles Reign Scotville enlisted on the 20th October ’39 at Keswick as SX413 and was placed in the Australian Corps Signal Company, rising to the rank of Corporal. He was discharged on the 8th September ’45, having served in Australia, the Middle East and then New Guinea in the 2/6th Field Ambulance.
In June ‘40, Wally added a year to his age, suggesting he was 20. In reality he was born on the 27th March 1921 and was just 19 years old. He had already spent time in the Militia with the 27th Battalion. He was allocated the number SX6947 and placed in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. During training at Woodside, he was quickly promoted to the rank of Acting Corporal, just prior to heading overseas on the Stratheden on the 7th November, ’40 and arriving in the Middle East on the 17th December. Early the following year he was made a Corporal.
The young men had initially completed a few months training in Cyrenaica facing dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment when in Tobruk. Wally was amongst the group of men who were to earn the proudly borne title of being a Rat of Tobruk. Initially this was a term designed to demoralise the allied troops, who at the time were living in hand-hewn underground dugouts. The Germans derisively called this living like rats, but it was immediately seized on as a term of pride.
In May ’41 Wally was wounded in action in the right buttock and thigh. The 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 22nd May ’41 edition of the Chronicle listed those from the 2/48th Battalion who were wounded with Wally. They included Died of Wounds.— Pte. Robert T. Christie, SX8273, Angaston (previously reported wounded in action). Wounded in Action.— Pte. Lancelot W. Braidwood. SX7652, Adelaide; Pte. Douglas D. Cameron, SX8847, Curramulka; A/Cpl. Wallace M. Clegg, SX6947, Joslin; Pte. John W. P. Digan, SX9092, Adelaide; Pte. Harold E. Harris, SX7454, North Croydon; Pte. Blake H. Mclnnes, SX7877, Lancaster; Pte. Alfred W. Morris, SX7798 Norwood; and Pte. Milford R. Uzzell, SX7478, Stepney.
The May issue of the Advertiser carried the report that ‘Cpl. W.M. Clegg, 19, who had been reported wounded in action abroad, is the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Clegg, of Sixth avenue. Joslin. He was educated at the East Adelaide and the Norwood High schools. Before enlisting in the A.I.F. he served in the 27th Battalion. He left South Australia in November. An elder brother is attached to the Signal Corps abroad.’ The News also carried a similar report, including a photo of Wally. ‘Cpl W M Clegg, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. H W Clegg, of Sixth avenue, Joslin, has been wounded in action with an infantry unit. He is 19. Before enlisting, Cpl Clegg was attached to the 27th Battalion (militia) He left Australia in November He was educated at East Adelaide School and Norwood High School. Sig C. Clegg. who is with a signals unit abroad, is a brother.
Prolific diary keeper, ‘Diver’ Derrick drew up a list of the men still left in the platoon at the end of May ’41. The list included Wally (last name misspelt as Clegge) and my father, Bryan Homes SX8133.

Wally spent time convalescing, which he found frustrating, resulting in him disobeying a routine order, fortunately only being reprimanded rather than fined or confined to barracks.
The following year the war started to take its toll, with Wally being treated for exhaustion and concussion from being wounded in action on the 30th July. ’42. At the time, the 9th Division was rushed to the Alamein area where they remained for four months. The battle had a profound impact on the 2/48th with the list published in the News testimony to those in the Battalion either killed or wounded. 17 South Australians were killed and 73 wounded. Those from the 2/48th included Killed in Action: Lce.-CpI. Ray B. Lovelock, Karoonda; Ptes. Ron A. F. Clemens, Eden Valley; Ivan C. Hanel Norwood; Herbert J. Hill, Stirling West; Ebenezer N. Kilsby, New Hindmarsh; Arthur L. Phillips, Murray Bridge; Carle A. R. Sims, Norwood; Hartley R. Stocker, Birdwood; Edward S. Smith. York; John K. Stone. Willowie; Wilfred. R. Wear, Birkenhead ; Victor L. J. Young. Adelaide. Died of Wounds. Lce.-Cpl William J Glennon, Alberton2/48th . Wounded In Action along with Wally were; SX13188 John William Rollbusch and Robert M. O'Callaghan, Kingston2/48th . Others listed as wounded were from the 2/43rd Battalion.
Again, the Advertiser carried a report that ‘Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Clegg of Joslin, have been advised that their youngest son. Cpl Wallace Monash has been wounded in action in Egypt. He was previously wounded at Tobruk in May 1941. He also served in Syria. Cpl Clegg went abroad on active service in November 1940. His elder brother. Cpl Charles Clegg is also in the Middle East.’

With Wally still being treated for his head injury, necessitated him being placed in the Gaza lockup for his own safety under escort, suggesting the concussion was quite severe. Unsurprisingly, Wally asked to revert to being a Private at the end of September ’42. It was past time for the battalion to head home – which they did at the start of February the following year. By that time Wally had learned of the death in hospital of his mother, who by then had anglicised her name. The family placed an announcement in the October issue of the Chronicle. ‘CLEGG.—On October 12, at hospital, Johanna Mathilda, beloved wife of Herbert Clegg, and loving mother of Dorothy, Daphne, Charles (A.l.F. abroad), Arlene, Joy, Wallace (A.l.F. abroad). Aged 56 years.’
Wally arrived in Sydney at the end of the month but almost immediately went AWL and forfeited a day’s pay. Training in Queensland followed before wally left Cairns for Milne Bay and service in New Guinea with the 2/8th Field ambulance. He was affected by malaria and a range of skin conditions which necessitated on-going medical treatment. Inevitably these caused his classification to change to being unfit to serve in hot and humid climates and a return to Queensland, but his skin conditions did not improve.
Just 13 months after the death of his mother, Wally’s father, Herbert married again to 35-year-old Ellen Gertrude Francis in St Paul’s Church, Port Pirie in January ’44, with the two then living in Port Augusta. Wally was unaware of this until he received a letter from Ellen while he was stationed at the Army camp in Queensland. She was distressed as Herbert had deserted her and she did not know where he was. Wally applied for compassionate leave and was told by the Area Office that this had been granted as 24 day’s recreational leave. He travelled to Broken Hill but was unsuccessful in finding his father there, so travelled to Port Augusta where Ellen was still living. Wally tried to help his stepmother and attend to their financial affairs. However, he then discovered his father was bringing charges against Wally as co-respondent in a divorce action against his stepmother, and he waited a while for the court proceedings. as co-respondent in a divorce action against his stepmother, so waited for the court proceedings. In learning the proceedings would not occur until the following month, Wally surrendered to provosts at Wayville.
That year was one of turmoil for Wally as he was charged with being illegally absent in February / March ’45. This caused quite a convoluted set of circumstances, with the Army focussed on the AWL charge, and his father’s application for divorce from Ellen in May, citing Wally as the co-respondent. At the Army hearing, Wally’s defending officer shared that Clegg had served in Tobruk. El Alamein, Lae and Finschhafen. It had been shown that he had an excellent service record and he had done everything possible to obtain leave to look after his stepmother, and attend to their financial affairs. The Army reacted with 45 days of detention and Herbert’s divorce application was uncontested. For Wally, his deteriorating body reacted with an outbreak of boils and hospitalisation which continued for months. He was also found guilty of stealing regimanel property, being dealt 60 days of field punishment and the loss of 60 days precious pay. By the time of his discharge in October ’45. Wally was still suffering the effects of malaria and dermatitis.
(Less than three years later, Wally’s 65-year-old father died in April ’48 and was buried in the West Terrace Cemetery.)
Wally married Eileen May McLeod of Payneham in the Maylands Church of Christ in an evening ceremony on the 8th September ’45. They two had three children, John Marilyn and Di.

Wally became involved in a ‘46 symposium held at the (then) Adelaide Teachers’ College, in a discussion ‘What I Ask of Education’. Speakers came from widely ranging backgrounds of students, politicians, employers and employees, parents and university staff as well as returned servicepeople. He was one of the returned Service Personnel speakers involved training under the Reconstruction Scheme. An exhibition of the work was held at Centennial Hall the following year, attended by almost 80,000 people highlighting the skills of those who undertook courses. Wally earned a Certificate of Merit for his work.

Wally became a prison guard at Yatala Labour Prison for the remainder of his working life. It generally accommodates male high to medium security prisoners who can choose to be involved in learning a variety of industrial skills. He was the only guard to never wear a baton, he was a hard man.

Prolific researcher, Paul Oaten interviewed Wally in 2015, with the two becoming close mates as Paul gleaning recollections from Wally. These included Wally trying to train enlisting civilians in the art of marching, ‘acquiring’ much appreciated tins of cherries from a store room and using captured German weapons abandoned by Italian troops. Memories of the loss of Wally’s best mate were also shared. SX7331 Jack Golding was killed on the 10th July ‘42 .“According to his best mate, Wally Clegg, who was next to Golding at the time, they both had Tommy Guns. Clegg believes that light glinting off a captured pair of binoculars gave away Golding’s position and suggested to the enemy that he was an officer.’

Wally lived to be 96 and was lauded as one of the last remaining Rats of Tobruk. He was reliant on his gopher for mobility, being knocked off several times, but in typical Wally fashion, recovered very quickly. His one great fear was pneumonia, which did, unfortunately cause his death on the 10th December 2016 at Felixstow. The announcement was poignant in its simplicity. ‘CLEGG, Wallace Monash (Wally). Passed away peacefully December 10, 2016.Aged 95 years. Dearly loved husband of Eileen (deceased). Much loved Dad of John, Marilyn and Di. Devoted and respected Grandad/Pa of Rebecca, Penelope, Jamie and Chloe. Great-Grandad/Pa of10 great-grandchildren. Good friend of Sally and Pat. Deep in our hearts memories are kept of one we love and will never forget.’
He was buried in the Enfield Memorial Park Cemetery, Campbell Garden, Subsection Bush Area EJ2 site number 9. He joined his wife, Eileen who predeceased him in 1999.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133 2/48th Battalion. With thanks to Paul Oaten for his very generous sharing of information and photos.