Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Born in the mid-north country town of Brinkworth on the 5th March 1916, Rex was the son of Ernest (Ern) and Elsie Lottie Walladge and the third generation of Walladges to reside in Koolunga, to the north of Snowtown on the Broughton River which functioned as a railway siding. His grandparents arrived in the 1840’s and ‘50’s. The children attended Lake View School where Rex’s parents were actively involved in fundraising through such events as Strawberry Fairs. Ern and Elsie also regularly donated a Christmas tree for the end-of-year celebrations and under which Father Christmas distributed prizes before the children enjoyed ice cream, again donated by the family. Elsie was a long-term member on the Parents’ School Committee. When Rex’s older brother Lance gained his Qualifying Certificate in ’26, he was presented with the princely sum of five guineas.
Rex’s father, Ern was part of the Walladge Brothers group, recognised as one of the most consistent supporters of the Great Northern Cup, a race that originated on the Georgetown Plains.
Post school, Rex, affectionately known as ‘Paddy’ and brother Lance or ‘Mick’ worked with their father as farmers on the property ‘Lakeview’. Rex had just turned 17 when his 53-year-old father, Ern died in August ’33 in the Blyth Hospital. The ensuing years were challenging and at times costly for Rex when as a 23-year-old he was arrested for being so much under the influence of intoxicating liquor as to be incapable 'of exercising effective control’ of the vehicle in which he was driving. Additionally, he did not hold a Driver’s Licence, which resulted in a 10/- cost. A night drying out in the Clare Police Cells was then followed by a Court Appearance, with Rex fined £20 with costs 12/6 and a witness fee of 10/6. In default of payment, he would spend a month in the Adelaide Gaol.'
However, with the outbreak of WWII, 24-year-old Paddy enlisted on the 23rd June 1940, the same day as his older brother, Lancelot Hurtle, (Lance) who became SX6483 in the 9th Division Cavalry. 28-year-old Lance had previously been part of the 9/23 Light Horse. He served in both the Middle East and Borneo, becoming a Lance Corporal, surviving the war and was eventually discharged on the 6th November ‘45
Back home on leave, Paddy visited friends and relatives in October ’40 where the locals tendered a social in his honour. He was presented with a wallet and money, and the Comforts Fund presented a parcel of 'woollies' from the Koolunga Unit.
Rex soon boarded the Stratheden and arrived in the Middle East on the 17th November ’40 where he was to become one of the highly regarded Rats of Tobruk.
Back home the following year, the children at Lake View School celebrated Arbor Day in July, planting a series of eleven trees in appreciation of the local young men, all past students. The local Producer newspaper reported the school paid tribute ‘In a praiseworthy effort to show respect to the local lads who have enlisted. The trees were planted as a gesture of genuine appreciation. It is hoped to make the enclosure a memorial garden worthy of the occasion.’ Included in those honoured were Mick and Rex Walladge and SX7090 Paul Kostera who also served in the 2/48th with Rex. (Just a month later, 27-year-old Paul was killed in action on the 5th August ’41 by a sniper.)
That year the desert conditions contributed to Rex contracting influenza and spending a week in hospital over November. Over the following year, minor conditions of the highly contagious bacterial condition (impetigo) and eczema made Rex’s time in the desert unpleasant. Fortunately, he avoided serious physical injury until the battalion was able to return to Australia, via Melbourne in February ’43. Perhaps not unsurprisingly, Rex then took nine hours of ‘unofficial’ leave, forfeiting a day’s pay for the escapade.
Training in the heat and humidity of Queensland followed. Rex first sailed from Cairns to Milne Bay in August ’43 where he contracted malaria. He eventually returned to Brisbane in February the following year where he again succumbed to the disease. His final deployment was from Cairns for Morotai to serve in Tarakan in March ’45, being promoted to Corporal in June. With the war finally at an end, Rex returned to Sydney in November ’45 and travelled home to South Australia where he was discharged on the 19th November.
He returned to Koolunga at the end of ’45 with eight other locals.
Rex met Roma Jeisman, a nurse from Snowtown. The Advertiser of April ’46 carried the news ‘JEISMAN — WALLADGE. —The marriage of Roma, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. R. H. Jeisman, Snowtown, to Rex Maynard (ex-A.I.F., M.E.), second son of Mrs. late Mr. C. L. Walladge, of Joolunga, will be quietly celebrated on April 27, at 4 o'clock, in the Pirie Street Methodist Church.’
Having survived the war comparatively unscathed, Rex was driving a buckboard for the Middletons of Cockatoo Valley when it collided with a truck near Sandy Creek Hall in February ’51. Unfortunately, the accident was adjudged to be Rex’s failure to give right of way at the junction, resulting in a fine of £1 and costs 10/-
86 year old Rex died on the 27th April 2002. He now rests in the Derrick Gardens at Centennial Park Cemetery, Garden Edge 1 Plot 018. At her death in 2014, Roma’s ashes were returned to the family.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.