Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Samuel, born on the 30th September 1911 in Adelaide, was the third child and second son of William Charles Capel and Mary Supple. Sam had an older brother, Thomas William and sister Rachel Anne. Their Irish born father was a man of the land who worked as a labourer and bushman. Much of his time was spent in country regions where he interacted with a variety of stock, including camels, horses and bullocks. Aged 31 he enlisted in January ‘15 to serve in WWI as 4851. At that stage Sam was four years old and the family lived in Adelaide. Not an educated man, William marked his enlistment papers with an ‘X’, which was then witnessed, in acknowledgement of the accuracy of detail. Despite his willingness to serve, William’s eyesight was extremely poor which he put down to having experienced ‘sandy blight’ eight years prior to enlisting. Further testing revealed he was unable to distinguish raised fingers, a pipe, coin or knife at 6 metres and was observed to have unequal sized pupils. He was eventually discharged as medically unfit to serve because of his ‘defective eyesight’ in October 1915.
A fourth child and third son, Jack was born soon after, in December. As an eight-year-old, Sam was unfortunate to sustain a bad cut to his hand whist playing in sand near Register Chambers. Two differing reports were published in the newspapers, one claiming the injury was caused by a piece of tin Sam was playing with and the other that broken glass hidden in sand caused the injury. Regardless, the local Constable took Sam to hospital for the wound to be treated.
All three boys enjoyed sport, particularly football and playing for the local Brompton team. Cricket was also an interest, despite their older brother, 26-year-old Thomas being injured as a wicket-keeper when playing in the Parklands in January ’33. At the time, young players were emulating the body-line tactics employed by Englishmen against Bradman. Thomas was struck above the eye by a fast ball on the leg side. He had to be taken to hospital with three other players who had received facial lacerations. The News reported that ‘Feeling ran so high about body-line bowling in a match between youths in the West Parklands yesterday that a batsman and the leg theory bowler came to blows. Similar affrays and instances of injury have been reported in all States since the leg theory craze has passed from the Tests to parklands matches.’
The Supple children attended the local St Joseph’s Catholic school at Brompton before Sam pursued employment as a blacksmith striker. He later married Florence Winifred Eliza Day with the young couple living in Brompton, just a few streets away from Sam’s parents. However, with the outbreak of WWII, following his younger brother, 24-year-old Jack enlisting on the 20th June 1940, 28 year old Sam followed three days later. Jack was allocated the number SX6108 and Sam SX6755. Both were eventually placed in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. . Sam listed Winni (Florence) as his next of kin and Jack his mother. (Perhaps because her health and eyesight were better than his father’s.)
The brothers and other new enlistees were initially housed in the Motor Pavilion in what is now the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds. Their ‘beds’ were straw filled hessian on wooden pallets. The young men were later given kitbags on which their names were stencilled.
On subsequent days, their new battalion headed to Woodside in the Adelaide Hills for preliminary training. Following leave in October, Sam, Jack and their fellow members of the 2/48th Battalion then embarked on the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 10th April ’41, arriving on the 15th May. The young men then marched to a Staging Camp until July before returning to their battalion. During those early days in the Middle East, besides regular army duties was the need to quickly adapt to the locals as well as soon being involved in intense conflicts where the reputation of the 2/48th Battalion for being the most highly decorated but decimated battalion was earned. Both brothers were to become regarded as one of the famed Rats of Tobruk.
In July the 2/48th Battalion was undertaking a change-over in the Salient. Aged just 25 and having only been in the Middle East for two months, Jack was killed in action by a mortar bomb on July 1st ’41. The men had come under heavy fire from machine guns, mortars and artillery. A corporal and four others were wounded. Sam was devastated. He continued to place memorial notices in the newspapers back home.
Advertiser Thursday 17 July 1941, SUPPLE.—On the 1st of July, 1941, killed in action, Private J. L. Supple, age 25, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Supple, Bowden, brother of Bill, Ann, Sam, A.I.F., abroad. His duty nobly done. R.I.P.
Advertiser Wednesday 1 July 1942, SUPPLE.—in. loving memory of our dear brother Jack, 2nd AIF who was killed in action on July 1. 1941. at Tobruk. Hearts that loved you never forget; In memory you are with us yet. —Ever remembered by his brother Sam (AIF., abroad), sister-in-law and children. In a tribute to his young brother, Sam tiled Jack’s grave as a lasting memorial to him.

The war, however, continued for Sam. On the 26th October ’42 whilst defending Trig 29 Sam was in the middle of a terrific bombardment as the Germans attempted to regain this strategic position. It became so clouded with dust and smoke that orders were given for mortars and artillery to cease fire to give the machine-gunners a clear view of the enemy. Very heavy casualties had been inflicted with the night being filled with cries from wounded men. Patrols sent out later reported that the battlefield was strewn with enemy dead. At 7 pm a jeep approached A Company area. John Glenn, in Tobruk to Tarakan shared how “One man left the jeep and moved away, paused for a moment then shouted out – in German..” Immediately every gun opened up, with some of the occupants making an unsuccessful run for freedom. “Both the men left were badly wounded; they were handed over to our stretcher bearer, Bill Dunn, then placed on the jeep, and with Johnny Ralla driving and Keith Freeman, Mick Salter and Sammy Supple along to give a hand, they were taken back to the battalion headquarters.” It transpired the German soldiers had been on reconnaissance and were returning to Trig 29 which five days previously was still in German hands.
By February ’43 Sam’s time in the Middle East was at an end and he was able to return home to Australia via Melbourne. He again placed a tribute to Jack.
Advertiser Thursday 1 July 1943, SUPPLE. —Pte. Jack Supple. AIF. In loving memory of my dear brother, Jack, Killed in action in Tobruk, July 1. 1941. —Ever remembered.by his loving brother, Sam (AIF.) and sister-in-law and children.

Training in Queensland followed as his battalion prepared for service in New Guinea in tropical conditions and against a very different enemy. Sam arrived in Milne Bay in August ’43. Ill health followed before he returned to Australia from New Guinea, via Brisbane in February ‘44 but was still suffering from malaria and experiencing back pain. This was later diagnosed as Fibrositis then later Lumbosacral Strain (where the muscles and tendons of the lower back are torn), causing him to be hospitalised. However, he continued to remember Jack.
Advertiser Saturday 1 July 1944, SUPPLE.- In loving memory of Jack, killed on July 1, 1941. - Ever remembered by his brother Sam, 2nd A.I.F., sister-in-law, and children.
Sam was eventually able to re-join his battalion in July ’45 but continued to suffer from his back injury and malaria. He was finally discharged on the 8th September ’45 to have time with Win and enjoy his five children, Beryl, Mary, Evelyn, John and Ray.
Memories and tributes to Jack continued in the ensuing years.
Advertiser Monday 1 July 1946 SUPPLE.—In loving memory of my brother Jack, who was killed in action at Tobruk, July 1, 1941.—Always remembered by his brother Sam, 2nd A.I.F., sister-in-law and children.
Advertiser Tuesday 1 July 1947, SUPPLE; —In loving memory of our brother Jack. 2/48. AIF, killed at Tobruk, July 1, 1941. —Ever remembered by his brother Sam and sister-ln-law and family
Advertiser Friday 2 July 1948, SUPPLE—-In loving memory of my dear brother Jack, who was killed in Tobruk. July 1, 1941. Dearly missed by all. lnserted by his loving brother Sam, sister-in-law Win, and children.
Mail Saturday 30 June 1951, SUPPLE. —In loving memory of Jack, killed in action, Tobruk. July 1, 1940. Cherished memories by brother Sam and sister in-law Win, and family.

Aged 66, Sam died in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on the 5th May ’78. He was buried in the Derrick Gardens at Centennial Park, Path 36 Grave 643B. Aged 87 Win’s (Florence) remains were added in April 1998.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133 2/48th Battalion.