Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Alfred Leonard Burgoyne (Len) was the son of Fernley Consort Hannaford and Nellie May Ball Burgoyne. He had a younger brother, Fernley (Fern) and two sisters, Ethel and Joyce. The children initially attended the local Verdun School then Mt Barker High School where Len proved to be a very capable student. He was second overall in his Intermediate Class passing in English (credit), Latin, French, two maths subjects, physics and chemistry. In ’37 he gained his Leaving Certificate with five subjects: English, Latin, Economic History, Physics and Chemistry.
With the outbreak of WWII and wanting to follow in his father’s footsteps of war service, Len enlisted on the 3rd November ‘39 claiming to be 19 and born on the 2nd May, 1920. He had added two years to his chronological age. Len became SX1015 and was allocated to the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. His initial days were spent in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds, before he and other new enlistees headed back to the Hills region, to Woodside for preliminary training.
Len’s father, Fernley was born in Cornwall, England. He had served in the English Navy for 8 years before being invalided from that service. Aged 28, Fernley enlisted in Adelaide in October 1915 to serve as Sapper number 10782 in the 3rd Division Signal Company during WWI. He served in France for close to 15 months before returning to Australia. Fernley’s record indicated that at times, he challenged army rules with incidents of being absent without leave and also gambling ‘contrary to Division standing orders’.
Len’s 18-year-old younger brother, Fernley (Fern) also enlisted on the 19th June ’43 in the RAAF as 442329, becoming a Flight Sergeant.
The Verdun community was close knit and very proud of their young men who volunteered for the War effort. A farewell social was organised for Private Len in January ’40. Bill Hope Murray spoke on the residents’ behalf, wishing Len a safe return before presenting him with an initialled wallet containing a sum of money. Others also spoke in praise of Len before; in response he also spoke thanking the community. A mixed musical group of piano, piano-accordion and banjo then entertained the group which enjoyed games and community singing. A home made supper was enjoyed before the toast to ‘The King’ and patriotic singing of the National Anthem, "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow," and "Auld Lang Syne" closed a pleasant evening.
In July that year a social evening was held in the schoolroom in Digger Fernley Burgoyne’s honour. As with Len’s farewell, the evening commencing with the singing of the National Anthem, followed by the Song of Australia. Community singing and games followed, including a treasure hunt before a fine supper was enjoyed. Four months later, a further competition was held with participants playing ‘beetle’ being involved in a mystery parcel activity and enjoying a barn dance, again to aid Digger Burgoyne.
Len and his fellow 2/48th Battalion members boarded the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 7th November 1940 and disembarked on the 17th December. The 2/48th Battalion completing a few months training in Cyrenaica. The next stop was to Tobruk at the start of April 1941 where the dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to these fresh new enlistees.
Home in Verdun, Len’s father highlighted how precious news from home was to the men serving overseas. In the April ‘41 edition of the Mount Barker Courier appeared a report that ‘District Personal Mr. F. C. H. Burgoyne, himself an old soldier, has a son (Cpl. A. L.) in the A.I.F., abroad, and in a letter the other day he stated that in the camp he picked up a "Courier" containing the report of the "Back to Verdun" celebrations, in which his father was one of the two "Digger" contestants. Strange to say, a copy of the paper had been sent to the soldier, but there is no record of his having received it. He states that the "Courier" is always passed around with interest.’
By March,’43 Len was home in Australia on leave. The following week the Verdun locals organised a welcome home social for Sergeants Stewein and Dudley W. Anderson, Privates Len. Burgoyne, Henry Aubert SX8734, James McMutrie SX7660 all from the 2/48th Battalion and other young men from different battalions. Several speeches were made before a two minutes' silence was observed in memory of fallen comrades. Some of the soldiers responded before ‘For They are Jolly Good Fellows’ was sung, preceding a generous supper.
In October that year, Len’s older sister, Ethel became engaged to Lieutenant Charles Tucker, NX4823 from Balgownie who had enlisted at a similar time to Len. Charles initially served with the 2/3rd Battalion but in July ’44 was posted to the 2/48th Battalion ‘with Regimental Seniority as from the date of transfer.’ He then served in Tarakan for the remainder of the war. The two were married in July ’44 with young sister Joyce as flower girl. That same month Len announced his engagement to Cecilia Doreen Kerr of Woodville Gardens. War could be especially cruel and unforgiving for those involved in the fighting, who were injured or saw their mates killed or wounded. It also affected those loved ones back home. Sadly, the partnership was not to survive with their young marriage officially ending in divorce in June ’49.
Len was finally discharged in September ’45 as a Lance Corporal and his brother, Fern in November. At a Verdun euchre and social evening, Len and three other young men who had also been discharged, were welcomed home with each being presented with a war savings certificate. On behalf of the men, Len responded echoing their thanks. The ‘welcome homes’ continued into January ’49 when the Vigilance Committee provided a dinner to entertain the returned servicemen and women who had enlisted. Many toasts and responses were made with Len responding on behalf of the service men and women. That evening a concert was also held at the school in a large marquee, with items and more good wishes for those who served and for their future. A further presentation was then made. Both of Len’s parents were thanked for their tireless efforts during the war years.
Post war, Len returned to being employed as a clerk and to playing in the forward lines for the Onkaparinga Football Club where his brother Fern was the treasurer. Just prior to Christmas in ’51 Fern married Nancy Cotton at Mount Gambier. His young sister, Joyce was one of the bridesmaids and Len was his best man.
Len’s father, Fernley died in ’63 and just four years later, his 46-year-old son, Len died on the 23rd January, 1968. He was buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery in Plot MGC LL4 Row 2 Number 48. Len’s mother Nellie lived to be 88 years and died in August ’81. She was buried in St Thomas Anglican Church Cemetery Balhannah.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.