Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

ROLAND BERNARD (Barney) WITHERS was the son of Howard Henry Hermon WITHERS & Bernice RIGGS and was born on the 30th of September 1917 in Pinnaroo.

His parents were married on the 8th of November 1911 at the residence of Peter PETERSON, Woodville Park.

His father was born on the 11th of October 1886 in Gawler and his mother was born on the 12th of April 1891 in Gawler.

His father was a hairdresser and owned a hairdressing business in Pinnaroo and had also opened a billiard saloon in the premises alongside of the Commercial Hotel in Pinnaroo.

Barney was educated in Pinnaroo and spent 8 years in the Pinnaroo Higher Primary School.

He played as a forward for the Pinnaroo Football Club and represented the Association on more than 1 occasion.

He also played tennis and cricket.

Barney followed in his fathers footsteps and became a hairdresser.

He gained employment with Mr J Howard and transferred to Mt Barker in 1937 where he continued his sports, playing football for Mt Barker.

He rented in Druids Avenue.

In 1939 he kicked 8 goals in the second semi final to keep his team in the grand final race.

He was ranked one of the best full forwards the Mt Barker Football Club has ever had; in one season he averaged 10 goals per match.

He lived in Mt Barker for 3 years before he enlisted.

Barney enlisted into the 9th Infantry Battalion on the 9th of May 1940 in Mt Barker and was allotted the service number SX2657.

The battalion arrived in Egypt on the 31st of December 1940. In the United Kingdom, the 18th Brigade had become part of the newly formed 9th Australian Division, but in Egypt in February 1941 it was transferred to the 7th Division. On the 21st of March, they attacked the Italian outpost of Giarabub and in the first week of April they moved, with the rest of the 18th Brigade, to reinforce Tobruk against the German advance rapidly closing on it.

During March & April, Barney wrote 2 letters home to his parent’s # below

The battalion participated in the defence of Tobruk and was based at Fort Pilastrino, Tobruk.

Barney was killed in action on the 5th of May 1941 in Tobruk.

He is buried in the Tobruk War Cemetery 5.D.13.

On the 23rd of July 1941, the first 3 memorial trees to fallen soldiers were planted in Weld Park, Mt Barker.

One of these trees was dedicated to Barney.

Letter 1

In a letter dated the end of March 1941, Private, R. B. (Barney) Withers writing to his parents in Pinnaroo, said that for the past two weeks they had been fighting the Italians, although the actual fighting occupied only two days.

Continuing, Private Withers said there was a religious village approximately 400 miles south west of where he was writing from, called Jerasub, and until a few years ago had been inhabited by a tribe of Arabs called Senusi. The Italians occupied the place and had turned it into a real fortress with the idea of making it a base for an attack on Cairo while their Egyptian campaign was under way. Situated in the village was a huge mosque containing the remains of an ancient priest, and this prevented the Allied Air Force from bombing it off the map. Barney said his company was given the task of ousting the Italian’s and returning the village to the Arabs.

There were only two roads leading to the village, and 200 men had been stationed around them cutting off their supplies for three months. The only supplies which the enemy could receive were dropped by planes and these came over every four or five days. Approximately 1,100 Italians were stationed in the village, and only 800 Australians were sent forward to recapture it. Considering the nature of the country the Australians expected a much tougher time than they really experienced. The country consisted mainly of hills composed of valleys of rock and sand.

After travelling by train and lorry the Australian troops arrived within 10 miles of the enemy. Next morning they set off again, and came under the Italian’s artillery fire at 4 p. m. the same afternoon. The Australian's were forced to cross a mile of open country, but after traversing half the distance the lorry became stuck in the sand. With shells bursting all around the men jumped out and literary lifted the truck onto firmer ground. Pushing it behind friendly hills they waited until dark before moving on again. When darkness approached eight of Barney’s company were detailed off to cut through barb wire. The men were more than half through their task when a bang and a whistle indicated to them that a shell was on the way. They immediately fell flat on the ground, and the shell landed only two to three feet away, but fortunately, did not explode. Continuing with their task they finished within a quarter of an hour from when they had started, and Barney declared it was the longest quarter of an hour he had ever experienced.

The following day was spent quietly, but next morning at dawn the Australian artillery opened up a barrage which lasted for over an hour.

After a short skirmish the Italians hoisted a white flag. Over 800 prisoners were taken and approximately 300 others were either killed or wounded.

Next morning while attending a burial service to the fallen Australians, four German bombers appeared and dropped their load of bombs harmlessly into the desert, doing no more damage than giving some of them a fright. Barney said that he had never felt nervous during all the fighting. He had only felt excited.

The Australian troops left the village next day after handing it back to the Arabs, who, by this time, had sprung up by the hundreds from nowhere at all.

On the way back the truck in which he was travelling, and which, was a captured one, fell to pieces. They were forced to spend a day in the desert before another truck was sent back to pick them up. They arrived back at their base exactly a fortnight after they had left it.

Letter 2

April 1941 - Writing to his parents Private R.B. (“Barney”) Withers gives details of some interesting experiences he had in Egypt.

Paying a visit with a party to Alexandria on a Sunday he found all the shops open, and gained the impression that the religious day in that country was Friday. After having breakfast they met an old Egyptian, who was as, black as the ace of spades and called himself “Jock McKenzie” and claimed that he was a full blooded Scotsman, despite the fact that he could speak no word of English.

He offered to show the party around Alexandria, and liking his quick wit and ugly face, the sightseer’s engaged his services. The party which comprised of six hired a taxi for 10 ackers and their first visit was made to an enormous tower which “Jock” called Bombi’s chair. According to Jock, Bombi had the habit of sitting in this chair and reaching over the sea to pull out fish. This was supposed to have taken place 3,000 years ago, and as the sea was at least four miles from the chair the party were left, to make out the truth or otherwise, of their guide’s statement.

Passing on the party next visited the Catacomb. This was in the nature of a huge tomb. They descended stairs until they were 50 feet below the ground and then turned into several passages which contained cavities cut into the walls every few feet. They were thus able to see the remains of Romans who had died 6,000 years ago.

The party then paid a visit to King Farouk’s summer residence in Alexandrina. None are supposed to enter this residence, but as the King was in Cairo, and with the passing of a few ackers among his servants, brought the desired result, the party soon found themselves inside. They all took a seat on the chairs in the courtroom, and then decided to lie on the Queen’s bed and also the King’s.

Barney claimed they were the biggest beds he had ever seen, in fact they were big enough to hold six or seven persons, but he put this down to the fact that rulers must have the unusual sort of things. Tiring at last of jumping around on the chairs and beds which almost sank to the floor, the party went out into the gardens.

They roamed around the tiled foot paths surrounded by beautiful flowers, lawns and trees.

The party then decided to move off again, and “Jock” then offered to take them to the Nile. They drove along and came upon the dirtiest piece of water they had ever seen.

It was only about 20 yards across, and the party concluded it was not the Nile, but probably part of the Delta. Squatted around it were countless Egyptians washing, not their bodies, which needed plenty of soap and water, but their clothes.

The party considered that it was no wonder the water was filthy. It must have been their annual washing day. Needless to say they did not stop long as the smell was distasteful.

An inspection was then made of the British Naval School which looked to be the only British part of the place. They then journeyed back to the city and after shopping, caught the train back to the camp.