Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Edwin Robert Alexander Tait, 2/21st Infantry Battalion was a carpenter and painter prior to enlisting on 15 June 1940, and he was sent to Darwin with the 21/21st Battalion where they trained.

Known as 'Bert', Tait was a renowned boxer in the Riverina of NSW and he finished runner up in the AIF heavyweight boxing match during September 1941 to Frank Redhead. It was reported in the newspapers, "When Cpl. Frank Redhead. 13.9, of '' Yea, defeated Pte. Bert Tait, 13.5, of Deniliquin, for the heavyweight belt of the Winnellie infantry at Darwin he received and gave the heaviest punishment seen in a contest in the north. In the first round, Tait, a southpaw, had Redhead “out” on his feet, stunned with a two-handed battery to the head, the bell saving him. In the last two rounds, after a remarkable recovery, he learnt to counter Tait, and weakened him so with right crosses to the head that the fight was stopped."

Bert embarked for overseas service on 13 December 1941. On 20 April 1942 Pte. Tait was listed as missing in action, and his status as a prisoner of war (POW) was confirmed on 1 June 1942. Pte Tait died of illness at the Ambon prisoner of war camp on 19 July 1945, having been interned for over three years. He was 27 years old.

The following article appeared in the Deniliquin Pastoral Times during October 1945.

"SAD COINCIDENCE"
"A remarkable coincidence has been brought to notice by the Mayor of Echuca (Cr. Ogilvie). In the early days of the war he was stationed at Darwin. In the final of the heavyweight boxing championship there of the 2/21 Battalion were Cpl. Redhead and Pte. Bert Tait. Both were of a fine type. Tait was a footballer well known in Deniliquin. Redhead won the boxing contest on a technical k.o. in the third round. Both of them became prisoners of war at Ambon. Redhead (who became a lieutenant) escaped with four others in a rowing boat and reached Australia. He was killed at Balikpapan on July 17. It has also been disclosed that on the same day Tait died at Ambon of berri berri."

In fact, Frank Redhead was killed in action 6 July 1945 and Bert Tait died on 19 July 1945 but it was a great loss to Australia and their families at such a late stage in the war as they were both fine young sportsmen, admired and respected by their comrades.

During 1946, a Percy Shaw, who had also been a prisoner of war on Ambon, had an article printed in the Deniliquin Independent,

"Mr Shaw was in Japanese hands and met several Deniliquin boys who were 'behind wire' with him as
a prisoner of war. He adds: 'Well Fred', I met some great chaps from Deni who were on Ambon. Two of them stand-out from all the rest and they are Bert Tait and 'Bluey' Farrell. Bert Tait was a remarkable man when the strain came on. I don't think Bert ever thought about himself— it was always for others less fortunate than himself. When Allied planes came to bomb Ambon, Bert never made for an air-raid shelter, but straight to the hospital to help move the sick first, then when he saw they were alright he would take cover himself. Anybody who came back from Ambon will tell you of the sterling qualities of Bert Tait."