Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Henry, known as Harry, was born in Adelaide on the 10th May 1917. His parents were amongst the early river pioneers at Moorook. His mother, Hannah Mary (Gilley) was born at sea as her parents were en route to settle in Adelaide, Australia. Aged 18, she married William Alfred Battams, with the young couple later moving from Payneham to Moorook and a holding near the river. They raised a large family of eleven children, Frank Edward (Fred), William Alfred Jnr., Ruby, Leonard George, Gladys Irene, Sydney Clement, Frank Edward, Hazel Evelyn, Ellen Mary (Nell), Archibald John (Jack) and Harry. Of these, William Snr. and three sons, 18-year-old Frederick Alfred Roy, 18 year old William Henry Jnr (enlisted July 1915) and fought in WWI in France. (Fred was praised for assisting to extinguish a fire in a Belgium Shop, saving the house from being totally destroyed.) William Snr was a trooper in a remount unit, serving in Egypt and other parts of the East. Fred and William Jnr served for four years in the 10th Battalion with William being a Driver.
Harry attended the small local Moorook School which opened in ‘23. He was listed in the early years for his performance in the Arithmetic Shield Competition. The school was very much community driven with a parent Welfare Club being the driving force behind fund raising for equipment and school maintenance, including a shelter shed. The Battams brothers were part of the highly regarded and talented footballers and cricketers playing for Moorook.
An attendee at nearby Cobdogla and quite a talented sports woman, (Freda) Gladys Pope, was to later catch Harry’s eye. The two married young and welcomed their first son, Brian Neville in April ’39. At that stage, Harry, one of the many fruit growers in the Riverland area, was already a member of the Militia, having joined in March as 306773.
With the outbreak of WWII a huge number of young men from the River Murray districts enlisted with many being the sons of WWI soldier settlers. These veterans, included Fred and Bill who had taken up fruit blocks at Moorook, were extremely patriotic with several others also volunteering to again serve. 44-year-old Fred’s WWII service began on the 15th July ‘40 as a Sergeant in the Garrison Battalion at Loveday as S212985. Bill, enlisted in March ’43 as SX30640 and became a Sergeant Instructor at Warradale.
and Len also served at Loveday. Harry and four of his younger brothers all enlisted to serve. They were Len, Sid, Frank, Harry and Jack. All together the brothers were named ‘The Noble Seven’
31-year-old Sydney Clement SX2321 was the first to enlist in April ’40, serving with the 2/31st Battalion in the Middle East. He first went to England seeing at first hand, the devastation caused by the "blitz." On leave, he wandered around England and Scotland. Glasgow, declaring in a letter that it was "the second-best place on earth—Australia, of course, being the first.” He afterwards returned to the Middle East and eventually New Guinea.
The next to enlist were 23-year-old Harry then 28-year-old Frank Edward in June’40 as SX8548 in the 2/7th serving in the Middle East and Tarakan. 25-year-old Archibald John (Jack) followed the next month as SX9367, a Gunner, then transport driver in the 2/7th. He served in the Middle East, then at Loveday to better help his father with the orchard. 38-year-old Leonard George enlisted in March ’43 as SX28857 serving with the 25/33 Loveday Garrison Battalion. As well as the seven brothers William Snr also had a grandson, James William Booth who enlisted in August ’41, serving in the RAAF as 39876
Harry was given the number SX6879, spending his early days in the Wayville Showgrounds, before continuing training at Woodside in the Adelaide Hills. He was allocated to the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. His brother, Private Jack Battams, married whist on leave in August ’40, choosing Sergeant Harry as the groomsman. The following month Driver Harry was guest at a social coordinated by the local ‘Win the War’ Committee, where he was also presented with a farewell gift.
Soon after, Harry embarked on the Stratheden on the 7th November, arriving in the Middle East on the 17th December. In the close confines of the ship, he contracted mumps, consequently spending some time in the ship’s hospital. From the healthy diet enjoyed in the Riverland, food and conditions in the dust, heat and flies of the Middle East, caused Harry stomach complaints.
The 2/48th Battalion’s first orders were to hold Tobruk for two months, however this stretched out to defending the fortress for eight months. Tobruk was typified by flies, minimal water supplies, dust and constant bombardment which provided a continuous challenge to new enlistees. Rations were very basic with bully beef, biscuits, tea, milk and sugar being standard, with extras including jam being shared sparingly. Harry was to become one of the famed Rats of Tobruk. Originally the term was designed by the Germans as a derogatory term because the troops were living like rats underground in their sandy dugouts. Instead, in typical Aussie style, the men proudly adopted the term, a Rat of Tobruk, as a badge of honour and camaraderie.
As with all country towns, news of their ‘boys’ overseas was quickly shared. The local Murray Pioneer was exceptional in this regard. In the April ’41 issue where Private Sid wrote about how precious a day was. He told of his transfer to East Africa from England. He was overjoyed one day, to drop across SX9370 Pte. Eddy Charlton, of Kingston-on-Murray, from whom he learned that his brother, Driver Harry Battams, had been sent out on transport, ahead of the troops, a day previously. Because of troop movements they had not met up, to the time of writing. Brother, Frank, was also abroad on active service.
A further article titled “The Rat of Tobruk" was one such story. ‘Harry, when last heard of, was resting in Palestine after eight months in Tobruk. His letters have given vivid descriptions of the privations undergone by the "Rats of Tobruk" and many of his experiences are almost beyond belief; diving off transports before they were blown up— hastily taking cover and finding another vehicle to carry on with; ducking into any available hole to escape bomb fragments. His pet aversion is fleas, which he said climbed on to flies which were then nick-named "dive-bombers" because of their action. He is awaiting the day- when he will see his young son who was born only a few months ago.’ Gladys and Harry’s second son, John Robert, arrived in June ’41.
Finally, the 2/48th left the Middle East, returning to Australia via Melbourne at the start of February ’43. Harry headed home on leave in March, including an extra ‘unofficial’ two days at the end of the month, which resulted in the loss of a day’s pay and fine. Harry and Gladys were able to visit the Battams family in Moorook and to also attend the local Hall where the RSL Sub-branch held a social in honour of returned men, including Harry and his brothers Jack and Frank, from the Middle East. These young men were congratulated on their achievements, with the only regret being that it was not their final "home coming". Harry’s brother, Gunner Frank responded on behalf of the six young men.
At the end of that year and until mid-March the following year, Harry was granted leave without pay. On his return he joined the 2/7th Field regiment and undertook a course involving Waterproofing Wheeled Vehicles, which he passed with comments that he was a ‘good worker’ and capable. For the closing months of the war Harry served in Tarakan, where a photo of him as a then member of the B Troop 2/7th Field Regiment was taken in July, just prior to his final discharge on the 9th October ’45.
Harry was one of 60 men who returned to Adelaide by train from Melbourne in September ’45. Memories of those with whom he served but who did not return, remained. One was 28-year-old Lewis Semmens SX7189 from nearby Cobdogla who had died of wounds received during a Japanese attack on the 22nd November ’43. A shell made a direct hit on a tree above battalion headquarters, spraying the entire area with shell fragments and inflicting many casualties. Harry was one of many who placed a tribute.
Advertiser Friday 23 November 1945, SEMENS.—In memory of my pal, Lew 2/48th Battalion, who paid the supreme sacrifice Nov. 22, 1943. A true pal at rest. —inserted by Harry Battams ex 2/48th Battalion.
Harry’s father, 74-year-old William, the patriarch of the family, died in October ’47.
In June the following year, 66 ex-servicemen, including three of the Battams brothers became soldier settlers at different allotments of irrigation properties along the River. Frank at Moorook, Jack at Barmera and Harry at Cobdogla. With this announcement the remarkable service of Sid in WWII, Fred and Bill in WWI and in the Militia in WWII, plus their father’s service were all recognised. By August, Harry was farewelled by his fellow workmates from Cobdogla pump. They presented him with leather encased chain measure, with the officer in charge praising Harry, who suitably responded. With everything having to be developed and built from scratch and an appreciation of the cold winters, Harry was soon advertising for an iron wood heater.
Aged 81, Harry died on the 4th March 1999, just a month before his 82nd birthday. He now rests in the Loxton Cemetery. Frida lived to be 90 and lived until 2006. She now also rests with Harry in a beautifully maintained grave, remembered by their children and grandchildren.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.