Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Born in Port Broughton on 9 Jul 1914, the son of Luigi Tolosa, an immigrant from Girgente (Agrigento), Sicily & Rosina Florence May, a native of Port Piri, South Australia

His father, Luigi had emigrated to Adelaide in Dec 1908 & made his application for naturalisation in May 1911 while living in Wallaroo where he first met his soon–to–be wife. He moved to Port Broughton & was employed as a fisherman by Rosina's father, Carmell May

Luigi grew up in the custody of the Destitute Persons Department, Port Broughton & ordered to the Edwardstown Industrial School until reaching the age of 18

He was taken into the home of Walter & Mary 'Adelaide' Harvey of Port Pirie where he worked as a farmer & was an active member of the Amateur Swim Club, many times partaking in the swim through Port Broughton

At age 24, he enlisted in the Citizen Force on 2 May 1939 & was allocated as S/No. 307467 Trooper with the 9th/23rd Light Horse Regiment, A Squadron, Port Pirie Troop

He was promoted Corporal in Jan 1940 & enlisted into the AIF on 14 May, being allocated S/No. SX2709 as Trooper with C Squadron, 7th Division Cavalry Regiment which later became B Squadron of the 8th Div Cav Regiment upon their formation

He was appointed A/Corporal (Driver) on 10 Jan 1941

His unit was re–allocated to the 9th Division in Feb & re–designated as the 9th Division Cavalry Regiment when the 8th Division was sent to Malaya without its armoured elements

He was promoted Sergeant on 10 Apr & the same day sailed for active service in the Middle East on board SS Île de France

He saw action with the regiment in Syria supporting the 7th Division, then later with the 9th Division during the First & Second Battles of El Alamein

During the Second Battle of El Alamein in Oct 1942, he was wounded in action, suffering a fractured radius after receiving a gunshot wound to his left wrist on the 26th

He returned to Australia with his unit in Feb 1943 & in April it began to reorganise on the Atherton Tablelands in Queensland in preparation for jungle fighting against the Japanese. At this time the Australian Army was undergoing a period of restructuring as its strategic focus shifted towards concentrating upon fighting the war against the Japanese in the Pacific

As a part of this there was no need for Divisional Cavalry Regiments; however, it was decided that the Independent Companies should be grouped together under a regimental structure, and in response the Divisional Cavalry Regiments were broken up & their Headquarters elements were used to administer the Commando Squadrons

Three such units were formed at this time, with the 9th Division Cavalry Regiment adopting the title of the 2/9th Cavalry (Commando) Regiment, with SGT Tolosa being allocated to the 2/11th Commando Squadron

He remained with 2/11 Cdo Sqn for a few months until being transferred out to the 17th & later 1st Australian Works Company until receiving his discharge on 25 Sep 1945

Sometime after the war, Luigi became heavily involved with the RSL in Port Germein & was subsequently appointed as the RSL’s President, serving in this capacity for a number of years

Luigi had a tough upbringing & was well regarded around Port Broughton, where he passed away on 16 Nov 2010 at the age of 96