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War Memorial
Australia

John Thomas Boyes (Jack) SX1605
John, (Jack) born in December 9th 1904 was the oldest brother of four children, Alice Laurel, Archibald (Snow) and Mary Alice of John Boyes (snr) and Frances Mary (nee Hater). Much of the family’s early life was spent living on a variety of lighthouses as lighthouse keepers were rotated every 12 months. Where possible, the children would row a boat into shore and thence travel to school. Besides Neptune Island, Penguin Island near Beachport, Cape du Couedic, Port McDonnel, Port Riley, Kingston and Moonta were all islands which required permanent light House Keepers. One such home in which the family lived was the cement and rubble constructed lighthouse keepers’ cottage on South Neptune Island at the base of Cape Spencer. The windswept island lacked both vegetation and a natural water supply plus the soil was unsuitable for growing vegetables. The rainwater tank provided drinking water but, unknown at the time, the attached lead pipes inevitably contributed to lead poisoning of the family in later years. There were wild goats and mutton birds but the family grew up of necessity, becoming self-reliant and proficient fishermen, which served them well when John and Archie were in Tobruk. With the outbreak of WWI regular supplies to the Island lighthouse family were erratic as most seaworthy vessels were needed for the war effort. This meant that supplies and stores deliveries became infrequent or non-existent. (Historically, keepers continued to man the island until the mid-1990’s.)
Life on an island was challenging and the changing mood of the sea also influenced the family being able to row into the mainland if provisions were required. In 1916 the family were living in the lighthouse at Penguin Island, off Millicent in the South East of SA. In April head keeper John(snr) rowed ashore with 12-year-old John for their provisions but on the return journey a huge wave swamped their boat, throwing both into the sea. The Advertiser reported that: ‘Mr. Boyes and his son were thrown half a chain away, and the younger man was attacked by cramp. His father had to swim ashore with him, and the undertaking was exceedingly difficult in the rough sea.’ The family were fortunate that their boat was rescued by strong swimmer a Mr Brett, who ‘was charging to the boat, and, being a good seaman, he managed to keep it from going out to sea. It was full of water, and would not ride the waves, one of which, when it broke on the shore, was nearly 18 ft. high. Within half an hour he managed to beach the boat.’
By May of 1916 English born John (snr) aged 36, had enlisted to serve, citing Francis Mary as his next of kin and recording that he had five children. His service was ‘colourful’ with several bouts of being drunk, disorderly, creating a disturbance, stealing a uniform, contracting VD as well as bronchitis.
John’s alcoholism may have been the cause of him in June, 1916, diving into the Port River from the Birkenhead side of the river in an attempt to swim out to the dredge Saurian, lying at Luff Point where he was the watchman. Fortunately, the fireman, Peter Keough noticed that, after swimming some distance John disappeared beneath the water. His quick reaction in rowing to the spot, hauling John to the surface then taking him ashore where he successfully carried out artificial respiration for about 20 minutes. John was then ferried to the Central Ferry steps, and thence to the Casualty Hospital.
Just three months after this incident, on the 24th August John’s youngest sister, Alice Laurel died at the Isolation Block in the Adelaide Hospital. Her father, then Private John Boyes placed a notice in the paper. In succeeding years Archie, Lottie and his cousin placed an In Memorium notice in The Advertiser 1917: ‘God knew best, He eased her pain, And gave her rest. Similarly, their grandmother, Alice and Mary inserted ‘There’s a home for little children; above the bright blue sky.’ Her parents, Francis and John added: ‘In loving memory of dear little Alice youngest child of Frances and John: Boyes died August 24, 1926. Oh for the touch of a vanished hand, And the sound of a voice that is still. Ever remembered, by her mother, father (on active service), sister, brothers, and grandfather.
In 1928 ‘In loving memory of our dear little niece, Alice, who died at the Isolation Hospital, August 24th. 1916. The flowers upon her grave scarce breathe, so sweet a flower lies hid beneath, As if they feared their growth might stir the sleepy earth that covers her. Inserted by grandma, aunties Alice and Mary, Glanville. BOYES. — In loving memory of Alice Laurel, youngest child of Frances and John Boyes, who died August 24th. 1916, at Adelaide. The sweetest flower is first to fall. The fairest first to fade; The Nearest, sweetest, best of all. Are first laid in the grave. -Ever remembered by her fond mother, father (on active service, France), sister, and brothers, Birkenhead.
Frances and John (Snr) then had a second daughter, Mary Alice, who then carried the name of her older deceased sister. The children’s father believed fear was a great motivator for them to master the skill of swimming. Both boys did quickly master these skills. Unfortunately, when young Mary Alice had the rope tied around her and was thrown into the sea in the usual ‘sink or swim’ philosophy a shark was cruising. Her sheer terror caused her to have ongoing fear of the sea, water and swimming.
Post World War I saw many people struggling to make ends meet so it was not unexpected that in 1927 John became the victim of a pick-pocket who ‘lifted’ John’s purse containing £3 while he boarded a tramcar in front of the Central Hotel, Commercial Road. Ironically this again happened in 1954 (when the contents were personal papers to the value of £1). but the perpetrator in that instance was found and charged.
Living in Port Adelaide between the wars John Snr continued to tangle with the law regarding his drunkenness, use of ‘indecent language’ which could be heard by passers-by. Despite fines, John Snr felt he was being victimised by the police. Conditions were also strained and quite destructive between the two sons, John and Archie and their father. Having had no contact for two years, in 1927, the latter took both sons, John (23) and Archibald (19) to court over threats of violence when the father visited the sons at their home demanding to see his married young daughter, Mary Alice. The father accused his oldest son, John with having wielded an iron bar and to ‘blow his brains out’. In a case where the brothers attempted to support each other from violence, the final verdict was that Archie was given a 12-month good behaviour bond. At the conclusion of the trial, the father vowed that he “would sooner do time than pay any costs to the lawyer who defended his sons”. John Snr continued to come before the courts as his behaviour escalated, including ‘wilful and malicious damage’ to a prison cell.
Given the background of their childhood, it was almost inevitable that Jack and his brother Archie became alcoholics. Like his father, Jack was not unfamiliar with the local court. In 1932 he was charged with using indecent language and indecent behaviour. In choosing to pay the fine with no extra time to pay, he vowed to cut out such behaviour in the future. It was inevitable that Jack would learn to fight and become a competent boxer, effectively being willing to ‘take on anyone’ both pre-war and also while serving when such encounters were both entertaining and highly backed.
He was the first of the two sons to enlist on the 1st December 1939 at the commencement of hostilities, just prior to his 35th birthday. At that stage he was a single labourer, but married Ruby on the 24th Dec 1939 of the same year.
It appears that Jack’s boxing skills resulted in fights even before he embarked as he suffered several injuries while in Sydney, including severe bruising to his back, a possible skull fracture and facial injuries, plus cellulitis early in 1940. He was also AWOL on several occasions, but this may have been because of visits to his new wife, Ruby who was living in Sydney at that time. This behaviour continued from June 1940 with a variety of punishments including being given extra guard duty.
Jack was to serve in the 2/10 Battalion Jack initially served in the United Kingdom, then in the Middle East from 31 December 1940 until 11 February 1942 taking part in the defence of Tobruk, a strategic site, as did his brother, Archie. This was followed by garrison service in Palestine and Syria, before his battalion returned to Adelaide on 29 March 1942.
By this time Jack had quite a colourful history of being AWOL, not attending Parades, insubordinate language to a superior, disobeying a general order and many instances of being drunk from 1941 onwards, for which he received numerous detentions and subsequent loss of pay. This culminated in his arrest and incarceration in the Australian Corps Field Punishment Centre in July 43, and again in December 44. From his record, it appeared one particular officer took delight in goading Jack by calling him a ‘dishwasher’ the lowliest role and a huge insult to one who had served as a respected Rat of Tobruk. The officer was perhaps aware of Jack’s reputation as a boxer in attempting to goad Jack to strike him. Jack was held for 20 days at Cairns for insubordinate language to superior, disobeying a lawful command, using threatening language to superior officer but not guilty of striking superior officer held in confinement awaiting his trial.
Finally, Jack was discharged on the 22nd April 1944 as being incorrigible by reason of numerous convictions. He returned briefly to his wife, Ruby but was ruled ineligible for any government support given to returning servicemen. He was a man of the sea and found some employment in Port Lincoln, and was also employed as a steward on a boat. At times he lived in a converted rainwater tank in the sand dunes at Taperoo but was eventually able to draw a pension in 1960.
In 1950 he applied to receive his awards and medals for his service as a Rat of Tobruk but these were withheld in 1952 on the basis of the manner of his discharge and that he had faced 20 charges in total while serving.
Jack’s sister, Mary Alice Stephens again applied to have the brothers’ service recognised in 1973 but again this was denied. Jack eventually died on the 1st August 1989, still incredibly proud of his fellow Rats of Tobruk but still with his services not being awarded the medals he had earned. He was buried in the Cheltenham Public Cemetery.
Yet another request was submitted in 2011, for the entitlements to be restored and the medals issued, but again was refused. His nephew Ken Stephens (a veteran of Vietnam) continued to fight for justice. He argued that: “as a result of their distressing childhood, Mr Archibald Boyes and Mr John Boyes were both chronic alcoholics when they joined the Army and that condition was exacerbated by their service. This, combined with probable post-traumatic stress inevitably resulted in the disciplinary problems they displayed. Almost all offences were related in some way to the consumption of alcohol.” Both Mr Archibald Boyes and Mr John Boyes ‘have war service plaques on their grave sites … so Veterans’ Affairs has approved their entitlement to war service pensions’, thereby recognising their war service. It follows that their war service should equally be recognised by their medal entitlements being issued.” His final argument was that “both brothers were found not guilty of the court martial offences.” With the finding that neither was discharged as a consequence of judicial decision or misconduct, meant that after almost 69 years John Thomas Boyes, SX1605 was finally but posthumously awarded The Africa Star; The Defence Medal; The War Medal 1939-45; The ASM 1939-45 and the 1939/45 Star.
This then resulted in the Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal investigating how many other servicemen may have been refused honours since 1939. Disturbingly, at least 120 files were examined and anomalies have been found in half of them.
Ken Stephens was finally able to pay tribute to the bravery and service of both his uncles by marching with his two granddaughters and the Rats of Tobruk on Anzac Day wearing his uncles' medals.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133 2/48th Battalion. With thanks to Ken Stephens who so generously provided family photos and back-stories.