Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Eric was born at Alberton on the 11th September 1918 to Frederick Burnett and Violet Henrietta Lipson and grew up in the seaside town of Semaphore with his two siblings, Reg, and Ena. Sadly, 42-year-old Violet died in May 1929 when Eric was just 10 years old. Frederick later remarried Rose Ann McEllister.
Post school, Eric worked for George Waterman and Company, in their grocery business until the outbreak of WWII when he enlisted on the 29th June 1940 in Adelaide, being allocated the number SX6913 in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. He was quickly off to the Middle East and Tobruk where the dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to new enlistees. Eric was to become one of the famed and highly respected Rats of Tobruk.
Just a month after his 24th birthday, Eric was killed in the fierce fighting for Trig 29 on the 26th October ’42. The 9th Battalion was ordered to attack northward in what was to be relentless fighting in a massive assault to ambitiously take the strategic position of Trig 29.
The evening was described by John Glenn in ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’ as ‘an occasional burst from a machine gun disturbed the night of 24th October. Nevertheless, it was a busy time for the tired men. Little or no sleep could be had. A hot meal sent forward after dark was quickly swallowed. There was no time for yarning. Defences had to be improved, more digging and wiring done and patrols sent out.’ On that night alone 9 of the Battalion were killed and 20 wounded in action. Of these 16 were from South Australia and the remainder from Western Australia.
Glenn described the conditions where arrangements were made for ‘mines, wire ammunition, food, water, overhead cover, sandbags, tools, anti-tank guns, and all the rest, and holding the present position while preparing to launch another attack. And while all this was being done, the battalion was subjected to murderous fire from artillery and mortars.’
John Glenn describes the carnage.
‘The attack continued, however, without pause…it was only after hard fighting, with heavy casualties on both sides, that they were able to consolidate on their objective. The troops had never been more tired.. The 2/48th had stirred up a real hornets’ nest; from first light until nine o’clock the enemy turned all their fury on the Trig area, with particularly heavy fire on 29 itself, hiding the position in a cloud of dust and smoke.’
A strongpost had to be taken before Trig 29 could be reached. Kenneth Slessor writing for the Advertiser wrote an article published in March ’43. In that action both Private Percy Gratwick and Sgt Bill Kibby both from the 2/48th Battalion, earned a Victoria Cross. ‘No 7 platoon with 20 men under Lt. Colin Taggart, was given the job. They set off in three sections. Cpl. Bart Lindsay from South Australia, in charge of number one, on the left. Cpl. Mick Cleave, from West Coast of South Australia in charge of number two, on the right. Taggart between the two sections leading, with Sgt. Alf Meyer from Renmark, just behind, and Sgt. Harry Lock, also from Renmark, bringing up the rear, in charge of number three section. "The moment we crossed the sky-line we got belted with everything - mortars, Spandaus and later on, grenades," said Dillon. It was under these horrific conditions that Eric sustained his fatal injuries. The subsequent action meant that the survivors of the ensuing fighting were not always able to immediately retrieve their fallen men. In ensuing years, Harry Lock, a brilliant and compassionate leader, continued to remember Eric and Lancer Corporal Mick (Percy) Cleave SX6662, both of whom were killed in the offensive.
Back home, the Advertiser reported in November that: ‘Miss Ena Lipson, of Semaphore, has received word that her brother, Pte. Erick V. Lipson, was killed in action in Egypt on October 26. He served in Tobruk, Syria, and Egypt. Before enlisting he was employed by Mr. George Waterman, Rosewater.
The Advertiser published a list in November of those killed at the same time as Eric. They included Killed In Action SX11133 Pte. Gordon J. Bowden. 2/48th North Adelaide. SX7296 Cpl. Roland Bryant. 2/48th . Seacliff. SX7000 A-Cpl. Paul W. Cashen. 2/48th Mile End. SX4129 Pte. Alfred J. Clarke. 2/48th South Plympton. 5X6913 Pte. E. V. Lipson. Inf. Semaphore SX2328 Cpl. Percival C. Millowick, 2/43rd. Glencoe West. SX6775 Pte. Vincent deP. McGahan. 2/48th Glenelg. SX13102 Pte. Thomas V. McMullin. 2/48th North Adelaide. SX13717 Pte. Robert C. Neilson 2/43rd Norwood. SX10522 Pte. Murray T. Nicholson 2/48th Prospect. SX8143 Pte Harry S. Searle. 2/48th Died of Wounds. — SX8979 Cpt. Bryan J. Hemmings, 2/43rd Kalangadoo; SX15837 Pte. Richard D. Hill. 2/43rd Whyalla. Believed Killed SX13512 Pte. Charles E. Dolling. 2/48th Wokurna.
Initially buried in the field, he was interred on the 15th April, ‘43 in the El Alamein War Cemetery where he rests in Plot XVI Row G Grave 10. Nearby are fellow soldiers from the 2/48th Battalion including 35-year-old SX4129 Pte Alfred J. Clarke, 26-year-old SX3149 Corporal Arthur H. Peters and 27-year-old SX7832 Pte Max C Boase as well as others from the 2/13th, and 2/24th Battalions who were killed in the same offensive. Eric’s family chose the headstone inscription ‘He did his duty’ for this new memorial.
A headstone tribute to the three generations of Eric, his mother Violet and maternal grandmother, Ellen Amelia Parry is in the Cheltenham Cemetery. 86-year-old Ellen died in March ’52. His family and fellow soldiers from the 2/48th Battalion, continued to remember him.
Advertiser Saturday 28 November 1942, LIPSON. — Killed In action in Egypt. Oct. 26. Erlc, beloved son of the late Violet H. Lipson, and grandson of Mrs. E Parry. Dulwich. LIPSON. —A loving tribute to our dear nephew. Pte. Erick Lipson. killed in action on October 26. Egypt. —Proudly remembered by his Auntie Nell, Doss and Rene.
Advertiser Tuesday 26 October 1943, LIPSON In loving remembrance of Eric, killed in Egypt October 26 1942.— Inserted by grandma. LIPSON. —In loving memory of Eric killed October 26, 1942, Middle East. “Forever in my thoughts."—Aunty Rene. LIPSON—In loving memory of our dear brother Eric, killed in action at El Alamein. October 26. 1942.—Sadly missed by Ena and Vern. LIPSON-—ln proud memory of my dear brother, Eric, killed in action at El Alamein, October 26. 1942. His duty nobly done-—Always remembered by Reg. LIPSON. —A tribute of memory to dear Eric killed in action at El Alamein. October 26 1942. —Remembered by Hettie. LIPSON. —In loving memory of Eric, who was killed in action on October 26. 1942.—Always remembered by Geo. Waterman and staff. LIPSON. —In fond memory of my pal. Eric, killed in action. Egypt. October 25 or 26. 1942. —Inserted by Fred Marcus. LIPSON. —ln loving memory of Eric, killed in action. El Alamein. October 26. 1942. —Inserted by Mrs. Knowles and A. and G. Hutton. LIPSON. —In loving memory of Eric, killed in action at El Alamein, October 26. 1942.—Inserted by Norma. LIPSON—In memory of Erick. killed in action. Egypt, October 25-26 1942.— Ever remembered by his dad and step mother.
Advertiser Thursday 26 October 1944, CLEAVE, LIPSON. —In memory of my pals, Mick and Eric, killed in action, El Alamein, 1942. —Always remembered by Lieut. Harry Lock. A tribute to boys 2/48th who fell at El Alamein. —Inserted by Bill (Wog) Miller. In loving memory of our pals of the 2/46th Bn. who gave their lives at El Alamein, October 23-31, 1942. Tom McMullin, Eric Lipson, Mick Cleave, Harold Pearce and Sgt. Myers. —Ever remembered by Algy, Ike and Hank. In memory of the boys of 2/48th Bn, who gave their lives at El Alamein between October 23-31, 1942. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. —Inserted by Jack Rollbusch, late A Coy. 2/48th Bn. LIPSON. —In memory of my son Erick, killed in action, El Alamein, October 26, 1942.—Always remembered by his dad and stepmother. LIPSON. —In loving memory of our dear brother, Eric, who was killed in action at El Alamein, October 26, 1942. "Not just today, but every day, in silence we remember."—Ever remembered by Reg, Ena, and brother-in-law Vern. LIPSON. —In loving memory of dear Eric, who was killed in action at El Alamein, October 26, 1942. —Always remembered by Hettie. LIPSON. —In loving memory of Eric, who was killed on October 26, 1942— Will always be remembered by Geo. Waterman and staff.
Advertiser Friday 26 October 1945, LIPSON. —In memory of my son, Eric killed In action abroad. October 26. 1942. —Always remembered by dad and mum. LIPSON. —In loving memory of our dear brother Eric, who was killed in action, October 25-26. 1942. at El Alamein. For ever remembered by Reg, Ena and brother-in-law Vern. LIPSON. —In loving memory of dear Eric who was killed in action October 25-26. 1942. at El Alamein. —Always re membered by Hettie. LIPSON —CLEAVE. —In fond memory of my two pals. Eric and Mick killed El Alamein. 1942.—Ever remembered. Leut. Harry Lock AIF. Borneo.
Advertiser Saturday 26 October 1946, LIPSON. —In loving memory of dear Eric, killed In action at El Alamein. October 26, 1942. —Forever remembered by Reg, Ena and Hettie.

Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes, SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.