The Story of My Grandfather
PRIVATE KEN MCKAY WX3836
By Melissa Zappelli
Official Army Photograph of Private Kenneth McKay, WX 3836
This is the story of of my Grandfather, Ken McKay, my Dad’s Dad. When Australia joined Great Britain by declaring war on Nazi Germany in September 1939, my Grandfather was a young man enjoying the prime of his life with a beautiful wife and new born baby son. Like almost all men of the right age, he answered the call to arms and signed up to join the Australian Imperial Force (AIF), as an adventurous young soldier eager to see the world and prove himself by fighting for King and Country. It was barely a choice, yet that action would profoundly change his destiny and that of those who loved him.
This is a story of courage and love, of the enduring brutality of war and the effects of tragedy on one family. It is the story of a fallen boyish hero with an impish face, pieced together from the fragmented glimpses that have survived the relentless erosion of time. A synthesis of faded memories, decaying letters, battered photographs, family stories, war history and military documentation. There is just enough to establish a sense of who my Grandfather was. It is all that we have. Copyright
First Published in 2018 by Melissa Zappelli
Website; www.melissazappelli.com
© Melissa Zappelli 2018
The moral rights of the author have been asserted.
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 and detailed in the disclaimer below. All inquiries should be made to the author.
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This is a work of non fiction compiled from many sources including family memories, family stories, letters, photographs and military records. It is written with the intention of recording family history for future generations. While every endeavour has been made to portray events accurately, the eroding nature of time has made complete accuracy impossible. Perceptions, opinions and assumptions contained in this work are mine alone and do not necessarily represent those of the individuals involved, or other family members.
An envelope kept by Nan, containing letters from her husband, Ken McKay written while he was abroad as part of the 9th Division in the Middle East, 1941. Source; Family Documents In Memory of Private Kenneth McKay
I have been fascinated by the life of my Grandfather, Kenneth McKay for many years. Without him I would not be here, and without an understanding of his life I would have far less knowledge of myself and my family. I have written this work with the primary intention of recording all information, research, memories, stories, letters, possessions and photographs relating to my Grandfather in one place.
This is an attempt to draw a picture from the eroded fragments of time, and with that to honour my Grandfather’s courageous young life.
A Tribute to Private Kenneth McKay, WX 3836.
God endures forever, The life of man is short. The Pleiades are overhead, The moon is among the stars.
The Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters in Taurus. My favourite constellation. I wonder if my Grandfather gazed up at these beautiful stars too? Source; Alamy Stock Photo. Table of Contents In the Beginning 5 The Battle For The Salient 60 Falling in Love 6 The Strongpoints 61 A Baby Boy and the Outbreak of War 7 The Salient 62 The Munich Agreement 8 Sugar 6 (S6) and Sugar 7 (S7) 63 The Second A.I.F. is Established 9 The Battle Plan 64 The War in Europe Intensifies 10 Time Zero 69 Ken McKay Joins Up 11 Wounded at the Wire 70 The Battle of Britain 12 Trapped in No Mans Land 71 Greece 13 A Disaster for D Company 72 Northern Africa 14 Officially Missing in Action 73 The Suez Canal 15 Tobruk, August 3rd 1941 74 Operation Compass 16 A Devastating Telegram 75 The Convoys 17 The Worst is Realised 76 Convoy US8 18 Shock, Sadness and Loss 77 A Brief Reprieve 19 A Kindness Never Forgotten 78 The Last Family Photos 20 The Aftermath 79 The Golden Pencil 21 Australians Evacuated from Tobruk 80 The First Letter 22 Meanwhile back in Australia 81 Convoy US10 22 The Final Payslip 82 Cruising On A Luxury French Liner 23 The Soldier - A Poem 83 A Hot, Monotonous Journey 24 Precious Possessions 84 The Ile de France 26 Life Goes On 85 A Letter from Colombo 28 The Next Generation 86 Bound for Egypt 30 A Granddaughter’s Obsession 87 Letters from Palestine 30 Researching the Past 88 News of the 2/28th Battalion 33 Thoughts of Libya 89 Arab Camps and Veiled Women 34 A Trip to Tobruk 90 Mail from Home 36 Sometimes You Just Have to Trust 91 Precious Letters 38 The Sahara 92 The Desert Fox 39 The Second Gulf War Continues 93 The Siege of Tobruk 40 Tobruk 94 The Rats of Tobruk 41 Knightsbridge Cemetery 95 Letters from Egypt 42 Together After 62 Years 96 The Second Letter from Egypt 44 The Fig Tree 98 Tobruk Ferry 46 The Battle Ground 99 Dangerous Days at Sea 48 In the Trenches 100 A Short Ferry Trip to Tobruk 49 End of an Extraordinary Day 102 Re-united with the 2/28th at Tobruk 50 Home to Australia 103 Letters from Tobruk 51 Fifteen Years Later 103 A Letter to Mum 53 Everything and Nothing has Changed 104 The Last Letter 54 A Tribute to My Grandparents 105 Page 5 In the Beginning
Ken McKay was born on 30th December 1918 to Ken and Edith McKay (nee Dunwoodie). He was one of five children, the second youngest and the only boy. Surrounded by his sisters, Ruth, Maisy, Verna and Betty, Ken grew up in Salisbury Street, Subiaco, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Ken McKay’s Dad was a metal worker employed in the railway workshops in the suburb of Midland while Ken’s Mum was a homemaker. The happiness of this large, productive family was cut short in 1933 when Ken’s father died suddenly from a heart attack at just 53 years of age. It was a shocking loss and left young Ken with a protective sense of responsibility toward his Mother and four sisters as he became the man of the household at age fifteen. Ken’s Mum, known to all as Mrs Mac was a formidable woman and slowly recovered. To make ends meet and pay the rent on the Salisbury Street house, Mrs Mac used her dressmaking skills to make clothing from home and also took in boarders. Her home was known as one of kindness, productivity and generosity.
Ken & Edith McKay With First Child Ruth. Ken McKay as a Baby. Source; Family Album Source; Family Album
Ken McKay with his Sisters, friends & family. Sister Betty to his left, Sister Verna to his right, and Nan his wife slightly behind him on the right. Source; Family Album Page 6 Falling in Love
Ken McKay fell in love with Kathleen Shirley Wymond (my beautiful Nan) when she was just sixteen years old. Shirley lived with her two sisters, Joy and Merle and her parents, in Stanmore Street, Subiaco, close to Ken’s family home. Shirley’s Dad, Beaumont was an accountant and her Mum, Kathleen was a homemaker. They were a well respected, quiet and hardworking family.
The Wymond family. Parents Kathleen Charlotte & Beaumont Stocker Wymond with their daughters. Joy, the oldest is on the left, Merle the youngest at the front, and Kathleen Shirley, my Nan is on the right. Source; Family Album
Three beautiful sisters. From left to right; Shirley, Merle and Joy Wymond. Source; Family Album Page 7 A Baby Boy and the Outbreak of War
Ken and Shirley courted for a while before Nan fell pregnant in late 1938. They were not married and these were very conservative times. The situation must have been extremely difficult for the young couple as they navigated the disproval of both families and the wider community.
Ken Mckay and Shirley Wymond, Young, smiling and in love. Source; Family Album
A registry office wedding took place on May 16th 1939 and Shirley went to live with Ken in his Mum’s Salisbury Street home before giving birth to a baby boy, Ken McKay junior (my Dad) on the 26th August 1939. Just a few days later, on 3rd of September 1939 Australia joined Britain, France and New Zealand and declared war on Nazi Germany in response to Hitler’s invasion of Poland. While the young McKay couple struggled with the dramas of married life and parenthood in the quiet leafy suburb of Subiaco, the war on the other side of the world intensified.
The front page of The Courier Mail on Monday, September 4th 1939. Australian Prime Minister Mr Menzies supports Britain’s declaration of war on Germany. Source; Trove Page 8 The Munich Agreement
Hitler’s aggression had been building for several years. In March 1938 Germany annexed Austria and promised that would be the end of the country’s expansionist policy, but it was not to be. Just six months later, in September 1938, Germany demanded the Sudetenland, a strategic portion of Czechoslovakia adjoining Germany and Austria which was mostly occupied by German speaking people.
Cartoon published in the Providence Journal, Providence Rhode Island, Friday October 7th 1938. Artist; Henderson, Source; Amazon.
A conference was held in Munich, and in an act of appeasement that ultimately failed, the Munich Agreement sanctioning German annexation of the Sudetenland was signed by Germany, France, Great Britain and Italy. Czechoslovakia had not been invited to the conference and consequently, the Czechs termed the Munich Agreement the Munich Betrayal. German expansion did not stop with the Sudetenland and Hitler soon turned his attention to Poland. Realising Hitler was unlikely to be appeased, Britain began taking precautionary measures.
Participants in the Munich Agreement; From left to right: Chamberlain, Daladier, Hitler, Mussolini, and Ciano pictured before signing the Munich Agreement, which gave the Sudetenland to Germany. Source; Page 9 The Second A.I.F. is Established
In June 1939, a few months before the declaration of war on Germany, Britain had established the Middle East Command (MEC) in Cairo. The role of the MEC was to strengthen the Empire’s position in the region, protect the vital Suez Canal shipping lane and centralise command of British units already operating in the Mediterranean and Northern Africa. Under darkening war clouds, the call to war resounded and throughout the Commonwealth, countries such as Australia, India and South Africa began mobilising armies in support of Britain. In Australia, Prime Minister Menzies, followed his declaration of war by announcing the formation of the Second Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on the 15th September 1939. An intense recruitment drive followed, calling for men across the country to join up and fight.
Recruitment posters and advertisements for the A.I.F. Source; Australian War Memorial
Recruitment posters and advertisements for the A.I.F. This one is particularly relevant to Ken McKay’s situation, with his young wife and baby son. Source; Australian War Memorial Page 10 The War in Europe Intensifies
Predictably, Germany would not be appeased and, by early June 1940, Hitler had invaded and conquered Denmark, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands and France. During the previous year, on 22nd May 1939 ‘The Pact of Steel’ agreement formalising a military partnership between Germany and Italy was signed by Hitler and Mussolini. On 10th of June 1940 the alliance between the two axis powers was cemented when Italy officially declared war on France and Britain. This move was swiftly followed by official declarations of war on Italy by France, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
-Í-'?-- H 2 B H 2Bt | jj HOME "WHAT I'D LIKE TO HAVE .SAID" SUNDAY 9.22 p.m. EDITION MONDAY- 8.30 p.m. . Commencing NEXT SUNDAY EVENING.
Italy Declares War Against Britain And France STOP PRESS LACKED PLANES MUSSOLINI'S PLEDGE NOT LATEST WAK NEWS ?CAXÜBRRA.-^Up to noon, more AND AMMUNITION .han 10,000,'Italians had been seized
TO ATTACK . TURKEY, jy the poli.xp."
LO\TDON.~ - The-.' Itnliuri. carico WHY NORWEGIANS GAVE YUGOSLAVIA AND GREECE .'esscl,, effn'j- N'oli (2180 tons) has UP STRUGGLE í und the Jiien ,sçut".;»> is hurninjr-.in ' (Special to "Tho Miner'') !~ '.'0 St. 'Lawrunco -River,- ' two- miles LONDON, June 10. ' the the German iii COUNTRY PREPARED FOR ALL lurth-ol'-Rimouski. ??; gave, up struggle against . '? NORWAYvaders because her troops lacked ammunition arid LONDON.-A Berlin ^messajco planes, and thc forces of her Allies were needed else- AND ?tates that marched WAR RISKS SACRIFICES; Italian'-troops where. This is explained in a statement by the Nor into Franco .throutîlv. the .-J Riviera wegian Legation'in London.
HEAR «bout- (¡.80 p.nv has of BLACKSHIRTS DECISION This report It says that it'was decided during: Apparently the re-embarkation the last" session of Parliament' that Allied troops was accomplished sue lot been confirmed, v An. Italian (SPECIAL TO "THE MINER") the .Norwegián Government must .'be cess fully despite the German air maintained free and independent attacks. The Allies left behind con- Joveniment'-^pokcsman- said :, "At ROME, June 10. Under all ,conditions, even if forjthat siderable quantities of raw. mate -.acks will not start until after mid purpose it must be moved abroa'd. rials, but rendered much of it unfit - this afternoon declared war Britain and The Government accordingly agreed for use. Italy against j light." last ^Friday that, the King, Grown from Oslo (in' German Prince 'members of .the Govern- Despatches Mussolini and hands) report that shipping communi- the fateful decision announced reside out France, being by ment should (temporarily cations have been reopened between, side-Norway. Germany and Norway, and more than a the Palazzo Venezia to as- : a the in speech from the balcony pf In proclamation to Norwegian 100 vessels have been enlisted for people,- the Government says:' "The service in the Baltic Sea route. Allied Governments, with.which Ger- sembled Blackshirts. B.TE.F. W OU NDED HOME The German High Command an- is at have rendered many war, gener- nounced the complete victory of the ous both in men and AGAIN.-A nurse of St. Alban's help; weapons, German forces at Narvik against the Duce, 'lt is the fate- ITALIANS and :uhtil now'it hasVbèen possible to ' "Our destiny has arrived," said Hospital lighting cigarettes for overwhelming enemy superiority: The conserve part of our country for its German flag is flying in Narvik. is some of the casualties of the Bri- legal but, however, hard ful hour for the fatherland. Our conscience clear. The government; The Allied forces are evacuating INTERNED necessities of war have' forced the tish Expeditionary Forces. adjacent i-egions, while negotiations Governments to - gather all world is aware of the fact that has done Allied for the capitulation of the Norws- whole Italy every- their .'-".strength for the struggle on are in progress. other and they need all their gians are QUICKLY fronts, in to this conflict. not men thing her power avoid Treaties and material on-these; fronts. In these .conditions it is impossible to to avoid continue the in this eternal. It was only necessary tb revise treaties struggle country. THE ITALIAN VULTURE Name Lists SPIRIT AND COURAGE Father's Crime wai*. to attack other this Italy does not intend any country. "Our defence 'forces,; which /hâve for months,-with t h a t fought' two spirit I word to and Greece and are without give my Yugoslavia, Turkey Prepared courage, necessary Against PLUCKS UP COURAGE war material, particularly ammuni- they will not be attacked." _._-Ï_:_;_ tion and. fighting planes, and are no In Advance longer able to obtain them.. To Con- Young Daughter tinue the , MUSSOLINI SAID :-"WE ARE NOW IN THE FIELD WITH GERMANY. IF THE . Tuesday. struggle probably would SYDNEY, lead to the destruction ' COON after the declaration of only complete DEMOCRACIES HAD ACCEPTED HITLERS PROPOSALS THE PRESENT SITUA- of those parts of the country which SYDNEY/ Tuesday.-A 12-year-old war the by Italy, police put are still '. Lismore girl, "who is soon to become ITALY Alter Share In The free. ; HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. ALL THE WORLD KNOWS THAT A internment of Ha TION GOULD theirsplans-for a mother, has been brought to St. The Command has advised SHOULD NOT HA VE RE- lians .smoothly into execution: High Margaret's Hospital for women,.-Dai* HAS TRIED VAINLY FOR PEACE. THE ALLIES callod from their King Haakon and the Government ".Drivers .»were linghurst, for special tare. The Mother. temporarily to. cease the PULSED HITLER'S PEACE OFFER. NOW WE ARE READY TO FACE ALL THE homes, and cars, directed by respon- struggle Reçtress of the hospital said that she Of sible left head- in Norway, but this docs not mean War police officers, police' the would be a hoped .hospital .like OF WAR. GREAT PEOPLE IS READY TO FACE ITS Spoils thc RISKS AND SACRIFICES A of giving fight"- for indepen- quarters'in Sydney for the homes up. ¡haven :of rest"-tô~the "girl- where -'she stations and thc dence, as they will continue to AND MAKE ITS OWN HISTORY. WE WANT TO BREAK THE CHAINS Daily J War Commentary Issued by; thc Department .of'.information aliens.; Othertpolice. would be able, to-forget her terrible DESTINY: : outside the" in * . ; .-li; MELBOURNE. Tuesday. military were" informed. In distant fight' country thc " experiences. '.' AND GREAT PEOPLE CANNOT hope that the invaders will soon US IN THE A thc of a vulture, Fascist'I Calv has been hover-:?. stations police.were instructed to act SUFFOCATING MEDITERRANEAN, persistence The Rev. Father Cullen, who wal Y\TITH lists of names which in most be forced to give up their booty. '.' on thc outskirts of. thfc'war in Europe waiting;an oppor- upon PERMIT OTHERS TO HAMPER ITS DEVELOPMENT. ing 'in ministering to thc girl in the Lismore tunity to strike, yet quite prepared to fly away should there ap- cases had been prepared-months ''Meanwhile the King and the Gov- advance. Hospital, said that no operation would pear any danger in. direct intervention. ernment remain the free spokesmen are be sanctioned the Catholic Church, It is .understood that there of tho Norwegian people's national by rise " which the and her be- Kow .with'..thc Germans on'.'the." iii thq> process of ;;h'is ;ow'ní to approximately 80,000 Italians in Aus- rights." to girl family feels? the time-has come, a share tralia. Of all but are Maren Seine, Italy 'would : allow' these, 20,000 and who longed. Italians On France Towerj. anyone King-ilaakon his' suite, It will be recalled that the when she can safely move". Tho .entry naturalised Australians. the have disembarked girl's .bf triumphs has. apparently not During at a British port thö of ports Berlin of music.und in between prepared-then tl£ father was sentenced to two and. a ."Italy must solve problems the. correspondent of Italy into the war is devoid of any few years scai-cely an overseas from a British entrained the Associated Press of America. listeners .for the .occurred"to 'theMtalians.. Even -were warship/have half hard labor at the Lismore ncr Continental aïxl (Mediterranean speech. clement of .strategic'surprise.'.. Civilis- fiastiner has arrived in the Common- for an unknown destination. Fighting years' the Italian re- able to' aboüt; a German frontiers. Thc Democracies have been British comment : is not yet avail- Thousands,-of , lntest ed nations,, however, found if difficult they* bring' wealth without a large-contingent of in thé Narvik'region of Northern Nor- Quarter Sessions for. a serious offencè able. cruits have left 'Rome and other main and there is lib reason to be- his The Crown hs« to halt of the ; "credit'that a.nation which so victory, Italian the against daughter. trying the-'progress- to long wduld not immigrants.. During past way ceased-at midnight on Sunday, This of Mr. Roosevelt's the has lieve that they -can' they, Italian thc an the.sentMkè' italian people. wai*.-.is a fight' Before- speech, boen a .centre.,óf¿our .'civilisation their 10 years the population of but. as jateas Friday Briti»}wand Nor- lodged appeal against vbf on. the ; Gt -Its .JO^,UJJB-leXt^in. jwasew^n. Commonwealth.was increased -.by wegian troop«: toolc;prisorier-200"Ger- ground -leniency. -,«~ ^foiés^ .?"All"'that" Italy -hat: dohé-.is ,to" ^^r^^i^^^^^^^^^^^^^; spoils.' more than 20,000. mans, the ^ó'nó^lís^K^h^^^S^n^i^^^^o^ 'Mi-. add to the Allies' diffi- sâys American Associated ments have- an affect on to v*'. ."' of share the considerably It is a: of young "countries may Africa. promised a in spoil. Of-about Italians in Press struggle culties widen the nature of 17,000 Queens- correspondent. countries,' who Roosevelt's address tonight." It is officially announced from Mos- last nine months, every and to are in the north among against Imperialist' "Puring:-the land, most HOSPITAL CHANGE cow-that the Italian Ambassador to was meet thc- It is impossible amillHIIIIimillimiMllllllllirmi.Minn.H..munnin.muntum.; Jiave got a of the whole Today was'. Navy Day in Italy, and effort made by the Allies to conflagration. the canefields. of them own monopoly ' Many the Soviet ^Ambassador The what turn events will take, but world. Oui* Kinjr and Emperor fully the Blackshirts were' ordered to mái-ch Moscow and Italian-demands. operation of to say sugar cane holdings. In New South DURING OPERATION thc Rome will resume their posts. It thc contraband control was experts, even in Germany, Wales Italians number between approves, this'" great decision. Our to the Palazzo Venezia to hear to machinery, military 18,000 Duce speak at 5 contin- is that the Russian-.Foreign have never disguised the fact that Kins: has always understood tho soul p.m. Large, reported modified to ; meet Italy's particular and 20,000. Sydney has some 8000 Mord Luck I SYDNEY, Tuesday.-An operation '' marched the -(M. the Italians are fighting mate- For/the 'third timo gents of . to" Secretary Molotoff), addressing trade. were poor as fishmon- of our people. troops Negotiations persisted employed greengrocers, on John Brown (4), of Kogarah, was British arid French Embassies' ánd the Supreme Soviet Council, laid down of the continued deliber- rial, and that the ignominious retreat lascist Italy enters' a wai* as- ons with, in spite gers, market gardeners and artisans. stopped on Saturday while he was Consulates the axiom that the of Russia of another -would be their .THIS is one of the saddest tàW man. I have said/'tb Berlin, 'When to'guard them agains.t'hos policy, ate obstruction. It is apparent, that Caporcto Griffith has more Italians than any one Whatever the rushed from hospital to another. be . intervene in eventual fate, shape of hard luck known. wc have a we march with tiie demonstrations after the speech. must to immediately with complete unscrupulousness, the other N.S'.W. town. About He friend, country , had severed several in " Italian troops must An entrant under the nom tendons, him.' ' The British Embassy instructed the event'of ari assault on the Bal- Italian Government decided to reservé war take's,-'the 3000 there are in engaged mainly his left hand when he fell on an open to says sooner or later a first-class Euro- - of of Lane a Britons off the streets to kans,; the correspon- time when face fruit de-plume "Short," "Finally we shall have, long .period keep .Belgrade any action until a they" growing. tobacco tin,.and had-been taken by avoid incidents. Posters dent bf the "Times." pean army. ,'...:/'. At Broken Hill Street, selected four winners' of peace for Italy, Europe and .for appeared; felt that intervention was likely to approximately his mother a. has so iii the Trench Comforts Fund tR private^hosjntal.tiear the world.-' We salute the Fuhrer of on walls showing a soldier .with a It is believed that Russia has at be fruitful. It seems probable that ?The ^Italian , Navy,ywhich' 500 Italians are employed in min- his home. successes' naval skill conducted on .the on rifle the breaks least 40 divisions on the Rumanian-, far achieved: only at while other test of Germany; Fascist Italy is her and, slogan, "Italy * the Italian intervention will precede ing, at many country Doctors administered an anaesthetic the chains confine her in heh borders.' There are manoeuvres,..will.vfind itself in con- districts Moonee Valley races on Satur- foot, í-endy to strike. This revolution which Hungarian a general deterioration of the posi- Italians are working as and but the the and British He won the £5 award. began to operate, wounó own "_, Italians massed on .thc flict with.' French", day. asserts itself those controll- sea.", \ 150,000 tion in Europe. agriculturists. was so severe against His were that it was decided, to The liners Cotite de. border with fresh forces Mediterranean fleets, which are now winners Portico, the world's riches. It is the Yugoslav ' Rhylu- ing Rex, Sayoia AFTER PRIZES take him to thc Children's Hospital, no Genoa, 'continually at but it at full strength. The task ahead of ster. Ellison and Cumulus. one century against' an- and Augustus are longer at arriving Zara, and the struggle of, v. But the first Camperdown, have operation and circles assume that is noted with relief that there is a 'Further. Italian -possessions in the the Allies, who are already engaging ... .in race, other. People of Italy, run to your diplomatic GIRL DOESN'T MIND he performed by a specialist. used as reduction of the number of Me'd iter ranean area a re un d oubted 1y; all'their resource's .in' France, is a selected Our Boy, which, by arms." -, they are being troopships. steady; After tho resumed operation his % effectives in Albania. This suggests ono of the Mussolini 'but it is one .for which GAOL a most break of Italian troops inarched into. Before Mussolini made his speech prizes hopes-to heavy-'one, unlucky Fate, condition lost the' race was satisfactory. the Berlin Rome radio stations that there are np steps for à move- receive for cringing subservienceto Britain and France, fully conscious through being car- Trance through the Riviera nt and- have not German martial' ; ment towards Salonika at the Nazis. The of ex- from that ho reliance SYDNEY, Tuesday.-"I ried almost off the course by the about 6.30 p.m. (Berlin time) re broadcast Italian and present. grievous folly 'past experience my -riderless North Cape. If North pecting that Hitler, who has sacrificed could bo placed, on -Italy's word, hâve changed mind about going to gaol, don't a Miss Adele had* the so many of his friends arid colleagues been preparing themselves., and I mind it bit," Cape kept out of way, Women Prohibited From Hamilton, aged 20, is reported to have Our Boy would have been an stated. easy winner". Entering Egypt Last week Miss, Hamilton was fined By some amazing oversight, Men Mobilised £1, in default three days' gaol, at though, "Short" failed to send SYDNEY, Minister Car ' Tuesday.-the- Drove WhileUnder thc for refused in a selection for the last of the Interior would Will Man Fined For Traffic Court .having, race. TSéná'tbr Foll)' Australia Aged indicate whether the Nations to tell a constable who was thc driver Notwithstanding that Burbang not Government By . Offensive Behavior of her car ,:when it was parked in won at 33 to 1, if an entrant intended to direct Australian women Take Care Rawson Place for an hour on Febru- can pick what would ordinarily, now. in Egypt and Palestine to return Of (Special to "The-Miner.") Of ary 28. be the first five winners, his luck to Australia, but it is understood that Influence Stating that it would do him good LONDON, June 10. Miss -Hamilton declared at. cpurt might have been good enough to such action might be taken shortly.. Liquor; to have n clean Mr. A. B. Collins, up; is said to have; had 2,471,000 that she would serve.' the 'sentence, pick the. last. Senator Foll emphasised' that no JTALY War the Police Court fined S.M., in today so i men mobilised oii'.April 15, ac- Orphans and give the fine to the Lord Mayor's And he missed £40, by two further would be issued to a 74-year-old laborer £3-in default, passports cording to the Chicago news Patriotic Fund. The she said, peculiar tricks of Fate. any .Australian woman to travel .to To £12 maga- six days' imprisonment, and refused charge, Motorist The this week now the war zine "Times," which estimates the was unjust. .The magistrate, however, prize, has zone, which included the him time to , Pay pay. to l. numbers mobilised in other nations À SYDNEY,- Tuesday.-Ari assurance insisted, on giving her 21 days in increased £45. United Kingdom, Egypt, Palestine, William Richard Pritchard (74), on that-date as that tho. British and -Al which to the fine. and the Mediterranean.' plan-to give laborer, charged with having be- pay in thc ? Groat wiiiv a hs e in Aus tralla .was WHEN" before Mr. A. B. Collins, S.M., . Britain. 2,663,000.s lied a. hom he pleaded guilty orph haved in^ an offensive manner in? Sul- . ' 1 with a while under " \ in Coiirt driven motor'car France, 5,697,933.. woüld>not!/interfere, any way , Police today .to having .Street. ,. the war' phide fined £12 and Germany, 8,763,000. care of¿Australian orphans' i thc influence bf liquor. James Dwyer; was disqualified Constable Watson .said, he saw the ;. ; 65,000.. tho FederahGovernment was from a licence. . .. ?. Norway. b'y given defendant obtaining , . ' two men outside ., approach t 650¿000. the "Minister. for- External * Holland, by Affairs "The Barrier Mirier" office and ask a of and. the., owner. of the -car The withdrew charge Dwyer ; ,. Bolgium;';645,000.;..... ; (Senator: Foll). ... police ;,'?-,".;: them for a cigarette.- Later he. jostled but the driver was were' both under the : influence of negligent driving, Australian ?; '."Wo will look after! oin* ! "v.. ?: a people! fined licence. had ; stated he had £2 for driving without/a liquor. Dwyer' war need: have1 any Sergt. Phillipson said the defendant " but'-later at' the orphans; nobody- James was licence,' admitted, ' Dwyer (33) charged RENOVATIONS Át; fear on that point," he said. "Be-, would not go to the old men's home. with on: June 4 "driven a motor Police Station he did. not have one. British having POST OFFICE : cause we want, to help .'and The magistrate fined Pritchard £3 vehicle in Lane' Lane while under the Blake" told Mr. Davoren Allied children-'who have in i rn it" Constable lost;^bjeir, 'default,? six days' imprisonment influence of intoxicating liquor. He the entrance from the. lane was very 'Tenders' are. being called for repairs fathers in thc \var.: it does nót\'mean; with hard labor. He refused time to was also with driven .. charged having rough. « and'.renovations to the '.Post -Office. that we shall in any way. relax-our. pay. in a a.third manner, and in said ; efforts care negligent . Mr. Davoren it. was only a will bo. up till noon on 'to ïor.'-. our own iwar '.'It will- do you to have a They received, ' good case was charged with being an un- collision. The owner of the car . orphans. '?-.' X ;- y ! clean the said. slight June Í8. : up," magistrate Tuesday, Mmm LEFT, WILL I SET THAT JOS.? vout> eü THAT JOS iF_WEa,ff ' JSZm «rn I V licensed driver. ![ had asked defendant, to 'take charge The "It is riot to be expected that'there Mm postmaster '¡(Mi Johnston) said, NO! AND WHY? JUST I ONLy YOUD TALK TO VOUR Mr. J, J. Davoren intimated he owner cari 'be an immediate rush of '.war ^HF^^^HB flH OENTIST fl of the car because the feit today that the renóva^tibns.wóúld be of NEW CABINET POST would entef a of guilty to two after his head.'.«.' a Australia. What is plea, dizzy striking, general nature throughout the office. orphans to vitally, FOR MR. McEWEN charges. The withdrew the '.it 'becomes police . The fined £12 on be where necessary,i'if a-.'-.practical magistrate Dwyer Painting .would carried, out , charge of negligent driving. the of drunken and them here.' is to charge driving, necessary. The building.had hot been proposition'to bring Tuesday.-lt is Constable on June a SYDNEY, reported Blake said that him from renovated a considerable ensure that' wo have- thc "adequate disqualified obtaining »for .period, ; a that the,, Minister for* 'External Af- 4 at about 8.10 p.m. Dwyer drove licence for of 12 months. For want for thc reception "and a" period ánd'WoulóV a -lot of '.overhauling. machinery;, fairs McEwen) be car in near a children (Mr. may promoted Lane' Lane Oxide Street without licence he .was fined .There,- were no additions to be made placement -\of these when driving to a in the Federal Cabinet which anil was a ..'?'-'?:. post concerned in collision with "£2. Johnston. they arrive herc.". "'?'.'.>'.'?.? to the. Mi*. .will a structure,'said ¡niake him'the: direct confidant of car ia the direction.. ' going opposite 'the Minister i Mr. Prime ( Menzies ). In'the-event of Mr. McEwen's' promo- KING HAAKON ILL tion it is believed that Sir Henry Gul- DEATH OF* MR. THOMAS let, .who has just relinquished control SOBELS of ,the, Department of. Information, (Special to. "The / Miner.") Br would: probably .become Minister .for TESTS SHOW THAT /WOST BAP NEW YORK, June 9. King External Affairs. ^^ BREATrT^M COMES PROM DECAYING FOOD DEPOSITS IN ^^^^^ÊT^^^^^^^L^M^Wi 54 ill since ?MT WÊ ADELAIDE, Tuesday.-After Haakon,'who is; 67; has been Wj&^ Jmn Hi with Bros. and Co. ? HIDDEN CREVICES WM National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page3434795 Italian Declaration of War on Britain and France. Front Page of the Barrier Miner on Tuesday, 11th June 1940. Source; National Library of Australia The potential battleground had widened, and anticipating war with the Italians in the Middle East, the British established the Western Desert Force (WDF) in Cairo on 17th June 1940. The WDF initially consisted of the British Armoured 7th Division and the 4th Indian Infantry Division. It was a force of approximately 36,000 soldiers and 65 tanks. With this move, the Empire’s foresight and preparation proved invaluable as things were about to get much much worse. Page 11 Ken McKay Joins Up It was in June 1940, aged just 21, that Ken McKay answered the nationwide call to arms and joined the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) along with most of his young friends and extended family members. It was the only thing to do, an opportunity to prove himself by fighting for his country and a chance for great adventure. He was given the service number WX3836 and was assigned to D (Don) Company of the 2/28th Battalion. An official Army photograph of Private Ken McKay’s Platoon, D Company, 2/28th Battalion. Photographed at Northam Training Camp in 1940. Source; Family Album Ken was sent to Northam for training and over the next year, the boy was transformed into a soldier. D Company included a diverse mix of older WW1 veterans and naive young recruits, of which Ken was one of the youngest. There is a wonderful formal photo of Ken with his army platoon showing him sitting right at the very front with his trademark impish grin. Ken’s army camp life was broken up by short visits back to his Mum’s Salisbury Street home to see Nan and baby Ken and enjoy big happy home cooked meals with his sisters and extended family. Meanwhile, on the other side of the world the war continued to escalate. A telegram sent by Ken to Nan from Northam Training Camp. Source; Family Documents Private Ken McKay with his impish grin in the official photograph. Source; Family Album Page 12 The Battle of Britain Following the dramatic success of Germany’s blitzkrieg expansion in Europe, Hitler turned his eye toward Britain and on the 10th July 1940 the Luftwaffe began bombing strategic ports and military targets. The Battle of Britain had started and over the next few months the situation grew increasingly grim as German Messerschmitts relentlessly bombed London in a determined attempt to destroy civilian infrastructure and the morale of the British people. Ultimately the superiority of the British RAF won out and by October 1940 the bombings largely ceased and Hitler’s plan to invade Britain was thwarted. Meanwhile, Italy invaded Greece and Egypt. A squadron of the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) Hawker Hurricane flies overhead during the Battle of Britain Summer/Autumn 1940, United Kingdom. Source; World History Archive/Alamy Stock Image Total Destruction during the Blitz in London. Bombing near the monument in the City. Circa 1940. Source; Chronicle/Alamy Stock Photo. Page 13 Greece On the 28th October 1940, Mussolini, envious of German success in Europe and desperate to bolster respect and expand Italian territory, invaded Greece with an army of 140,000 soldiers. This move had not been discussed with Hitler and compromised broader German strategy by opening a new front in Europe. Mussolini severely underestimated both the difficulty of fighting through mountainous terrain and the unshakeable tenacity of the Greek resistance. The poorly planned and badly led Italian invasion was a disaster and by mid November the Italian army had been pushed back to the border. Italy Invades Greece. Front page of the Evening Greek Victory against an Italian Invasion. Front page of the Standard, London, Monday 28th October 1940. Daily Mirror, Saturday, November 23rd 1940. Source; Alamy Stock Photo Source; Alamy Stock Photo A strong Greek counter attack followed, pushing the Italian Army out of Greece entirely and back across Italian held Albania. Over the next few months, a stand-off scenario ensued as Greek and Italian forces faced off along an Albanian front. With both armies running down in strength it became apparent to the British that the Greeks would require military support to hold their position. Hitler’s frustration escalated as it became apparent that German forces would be needed to defend Italian territory against British assistance to Greece. Hitler would have to complete the invasion that Mussolini had started. These events would have a significant influence on the role the A.I.F would play in the war, and the initial posting of Ken McKay’s 2/28th Battalion. As the allied fight against the axis powers escalated, armies from around the world were organised and directed to fight on the various fronts that developed as the war unfolded. Page 14 Northern Africa Italian interests in Northern Africa long preceded WW2, with an Italian occupation of Somalia in 1880, Eritrea in 1890, Libya in 1912 and Ethiopia in 1936. To this end, Italy already had two massive armies deployed in Libya when war broke out in 1939. The Italian 5th Army defended the Western borders of Libya, while the 10th Army defended the Eastern borders. Operating with increasing delusions of grandeur, Mussolini envisioned the Italian occupation of Egypt as another step toward re-creating the glory of the Roman Empire and restoring Italy as a world power. A Map Illustrating Mussolini’s Vision for World War Two. Published in the New York Journal-American on 2nd June 1940. Source; Cornell University Digital Collection. On September 13th, 1940, the Italian 10th Army marched across the Libyan border into Egypt with plans to defeat the growing British forces centralised in Cairo and seize the Suez Canal. It was a large force of 250,000 men, but was constrained by poor leadership, low morale and outdated tactics and equipment. The Italian Invasion of Egypt. Front Page of the Daily Express, Wednesday 7th August 1940. Source; Alamy Stock Photo Page 15 The Suez Canal Map of the Suez Canal published by the Oriental Commercial Bureau in 1927. Source; WWW oldimprints.com Britain’s military success depended on control of the Suez Canal. Completed in 1869, the Suez Canal is 193 klm long and links the Mediterranean and Red Seas via an artificial channel cut through the desert. It is a crucial shipping lane, effectively linking the North Atlantic and Indian Oceans, thereby cutting the length of voyages between Europe and Asia in half. Without it, allied ships and troop carriers had to sail around the entire African continent to access their destination. Additionally, allied forces were heavily dependent on Middle Eastern oil reserves making control of Egypt and it’s oil rich neighbours crucial to victory. The Middle Eastern theatre of war would essentially be a battle for control of the Suez Canal and the region’s oil reserves. Map illustrating British Empire shipping in 1937. The map plots the location of 2476 ships carrying cargo in excess of 3000 tonnes. The Suez Canal was a major shipping lane, of crucial strategic importance to the Empire Source; HM Admiralty/National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London. Satellite imagery of the Suez Canal. Source; Hodoyoshi Satellite Shorter shipping routes via the Suez Canal. Source; Quora Page 16 Operation Compass The Italian 10th Army made it about 95klm into Egypt to Sidi Barrani where they began establishing defensive positions. On the 8th December 1940, Western Desert Forces advanced from Cairo toward the Italian positions with the intention of conducting a five day raid. The campaign was named Operation Compass and involved 31,000 British and Indian soldiers. The Western Desert Force was far smaller than the Italian 10th Army, but, was highly mobile with the advantage of robust leadership, good training and modern equipment and tactics. Italian defences at Sidi Barrani were quickly overrun and the 10th Army was pushed back across the desert into Libya. Map illustrating British success in Operation Compass. Front Page of the Daily Mail, For King and Empire, Thursday 12th December 1940. Source; Alamy Stock Photo. Operation Compass had been a spectacular success. On 18th December 1940 the 4th Indian Division was withdrawn to fight a large Italian army in Eritrea and replaced by the raw, newly arrived Australian 6th Division led by General Archibald Wavell. This would be the first combat action encountered by Australian soldiers in WW2. The success of Operation Compass continued, as demoralised Italian units surrendered en masse. Over the course of December 1940 and January 1941 over 100,000 Italian soldiers became prisoners of war in North Africa. Australian soldiers successfully captured the Libyan towns of Bardia, Tobruk and Derna before pushing remnant Italian forces far West to the Gulf of Sirte. The Italian 10th Army had effectively been destroyed. News of Australian success in Libya arrives home with reports of the A.I.F. led by General Wavell taking Bardia from the Italians. Front Page of the Sunday Express; Sunday January 5th 1941. Source; Alamy Stock Photo Both of Mussolini’s campaigns were disastrous failures, and by early 1941 the Italian Army had been spectacularly defeated in Greece and Northern Africa necessitating substantial German reinforcements on both fronts. Page 17 The Convoys In response to Britain’s growing need for allied soldiers in the Middle East, the Australian Imperial Force had mobilised. The rapid escalation of WW2 initiated the movement of troops and equipment around the world on a scale never seen before. In allied countries, troops were trained and weapons, equipment and vehicles manufactured and transported to centralised locations. Throughout the world, merchant ships and luxury passenger liners were commandeered and hastily converted into troop and equipment carriers. Convoy US1, Ships carrying troops in the first convoy to leave Australia after the outbreak of war arrives in Colombo (Ceylon/Sri Lanka) where they stopped for one day. Source; Australian War Memorial. The ocean had become increasingly dangerous with ships running the gauntlet of sea mines, enemy submarines and aerial attack. To minimise the risk, troops and equipment were transported in large convoys with protection from naval warships. To assist with identification and communication, all allied convoys were given a unique designation. Convoys leaving Australia for the Middle East were allocated the letters US and then numbered accordingly in ascending order. The first convoy, US1, left Fremantle on 20th January 1940 and consisted of 11 ocean liners and approximately 13,500 Australian and New Zealand soldiers including the 16th Brigade of the Australian 6th Division. A large crowd of Australian soldiers aboard the transport ship "SS Mauretania" watching a boxing match between two soldiers. Source; Australian War Memorial, Donor D. Rintel Page 18 Convoy US8 On 6th January 1941 a massive convoy (US8) involving five liners left Fremantle loaded with approximately 20,000 soldiers, from Australia and New Zealand. Ships in this convoy had embarked troops in Wellington, Sydney, Melbourne and finally Fremantle before leaving Australia. Included in the convoy was, the Queen Mary carrying 8000 men, the Mauritania carrying 2000, the Awatea carrying 700, the Dominion Monarch carrying 1550 and the Aquitania carrying 7800 including the 2/28th Battalion. Convoy US8, 27th December 1940, Sydney Harbour. The morning of embarkation of troops for service in the Middle East. The Aquitania is leaving the wharf while the Queen Mary is still at her moorings. Source; Australian War Memorial Embarkation march of D Company, 2/28th Battalion. The men travelled by train from Perth Railway Station to the North Wharf at Fremantle. Source; Australian War Memorial Page 19 A Brief Reprieve Ken McKay was destined to leave Australia on Convoy US8 however circumstances intervened. On 27th November 1940 Ken was granted pre-embarkation leave which ran until the 3rd December. Ken returned from leave but a few days later went AWOL (Absent Without Leave) for two days. On return to his Army camp Ken was punished for the misdemeanour by being confined to Barracks for seven days and forfeiting two days pay. Excerpt from Private Ken McKay’s official army service record. Source; Australian War Memorial When his confinement ended Ken McKay was transferred out of the 2/28th Battalion to No. 2 Training Battalion at Northam. Perhaps this demotion was part of his punishment, or perhaps he missed a vital part of pre-embarkation training. In any event, when the 2/28th Battalion left Australia on the Aquitania in January 1941, Ken McKay remained in Northam at the army training camp. We know from Ken’s service record that his misdemeanours continued. Over the next few months he was charged with breaking out of camp, going AWOL and being absent from Parade. The punishments varied but usually involved forfeiture of pay and confinement to barracks. Excerpt from Private Ken McKay’s official army service record. Source; Australian War Memorial Page 20 The Last Family Photos During this time, a few photos were taken of Ken McKay in a garden, wearing his army uniform, with his family. There is one of him kneeling down with his arms around baby Ken Junior, another with Nan and baby and one with his Mum. Meanwhile, in Northern Africa, Australia’s involvement in the war expanded and the convoys of men and equipment continued. Private Ken McKay in army uniform with baby Ken. Private Ken McKay, wife Shirley and baby Ken. Source; Family Album Source; Family Album Private Ken McKay with his Mum, Mrs Edith McKay. Source; Family Album Page 21 The Golden Pencil Ken McKay’s days in Australia were numbered. Realising that his departure was imminent, Ken’s family gave him a golden pencil engraved with the words ‘Ken McKay, Safe Return, Love from the Family’. Ken would use his pencil to diligently write letters in beautiful handwriting, to his Mum and his Wife on any paper he could find. My Grandfather, Ken McKay’s golden pencil. Source; Photograph Melissa Zappelli Close up of the engraving on the golden pencil. ‘Ken McKay, Safe Return, Love From the Family’ Source; Photograph Melissa Zappelli The first letter was written before he left. Thrown from a train en-route to Fremantle and the waiting troop transport ship, in the hope it would find its way. It did, and is one of eighteen letters Nan received from Ken while he was away. Nan kept the precious letters for many years, before eventually giving them to Dad, who gave them to me. Scanned image of Original Letter written by Private Kenneth McKay. Source; Family Documents. Page 22 The First Letter ‘16th April 1941 Dear Shirl Well darling as I am writing this we are on our way down to the boat. Yesterday I tried to send you a wire but was knocked back. We were told at lunchtime yesterday offcially that we were going this morning so we had no chance of getting down at night time. I have no means of posting this letter darling so will have to throw it out at one of the suburban stations and trust to luck that whoever picks it up will be good enough to post it to you. We spent all last evening packing up gear and parading every hour or two so I got no chance at all of writing then but will write you a letter soon as I get half a minute. Someone may have told you already that we will be going through today so there is still a chance that I may see you down the line somewhere. Well Shirl now that the time has come for us to part it is hard to take even if we did have one or two disagreements. But then it will soon be over and then we can settle down to that happy life which is before us. So bear up dear and try to keep smiling while I’m away I will feel so much happier if I know you are not down in the dumps. Give my love to all at home (both homes darling) and remember that whatever I may have said dear was only bought about by the fact I was leaving you and was trying not to show just how upset I really was. Well dear I must close now and try to get someone to post this for me to my own sweet wife. Cheerio sweetheart until more letters. Your ever-loving husband Ken’ Convoy US10 In early April 1941 Convoy US10, consisting of five massive liners, the Ile de France, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary, Mauritania and the Nieuw Amsterdam left Sydney almost fully loaded with Australian and New Zealand troops. The convoy arrived in Fremantle on the 16th April where the Ile de France took on a further 778 troops including Private Ken Mckay. On the 19th of April the ships left Fremantle and headed for Ceylon (Sri Lanka), escorted by three Australian navy cruisers the HMAS Australia, HMAS Canberra and HMAS Sydney. In total, the convoy was carrying 22,000 soldiers, the much loved husbands, fathers and sons, of Australia and New Zealand. The SS Ile de France on a postcard illustrating the former luxury passenger liner in full glory. Source; www.greatships.net Page 23 Cruising On A Luxury French Liner After embarking in Fremantle, Ken McKay wrote four letters from the boat before the convoy arrived at Colombo in Ceylon a week later. These letters mainly describe the monotony of the trip, the heat and Ken’s home sickness. The first of these letters is dated 18th April 1941 and was written while the boat was docked at Fremantle wharf being loaded with men and provisions. In it Ken tells Nan he is on the Ile de France and asks if she received the previous letter thrown from the train. Ken also mentions his sad feelings at their separation and advises Nan to sit and write him a letter whenever she feels upset. This letter was given to one of the lumpers (dock workers) to post home to Nan, and like the one before, it made it. The next day Ken McKay sailed out of Fremantle Harbour on the Ile de France and left Australia as part of Convoy US10. Scanned image of Original Letter written by Private Kenneth McKay. Source; Family Documents. Ken McKay writes; ‘2/28th Batt Abroad 18th April 1941 Dear Shirl I don’t know whether you got my last letter or not. You see I wrote it as I was coming down here on the train and gave it to a girl at Midland station. Rather when I say gave I mean I threw it out and a girl grabbed it. I hope darling that she sent it on and didn’t open it herself. Anyway darling I have to trust to luck you’ll get this one also as I am going to give it to one of the lumpers to take and post for me. So far darling I have not received any word from you but am hoping for the best. I suppose that you heard by now that we are down here darling and I know how you must have felt about it. I felt just the same dear. But then we must face it now and wait until that time when we are together once more which won’t be long darling so keep smiling dear and when you start feeling blue just sit down and start writing a letter and don’t worry about me answering them as I have plenty of time on my hands and that’s what I’ll be doing every minute I have spare. Well dear I am on the Ile de France and she’s a beauty but is just about buggered now. Tell Ruth that Happy Burlawitz is in the same mob as I am. He is a decent bloke. Well darling I have said more than I should have done already so must hope that this gets through to you all right. I must close not dear as they reckon the lumpers are ready to move off so will say cheerio and lots of love and keep smiling. Your ever-loving husband Kennie’ Page 24 A Hot, Monotonous Journey Ken’s next letter was written on 21st April 1941, a few days after the convoy left Fremantle. In it Ken complains about the intense heat and mentions receiving a parcel and letters from home. He notes that the mail delivery provided an extremely welcome break in the monotony of the voyage. During the war all letters were censored to prevent information passing into enemy hands should the mail be somehow captured. In several of Ken’s letters there are examples of censorship, particularly where place names and dates are mentioned. In this letter, the censor has cut a small section off the top of the pages and rubbed out a few words. Scanned image of Original Letter written by Private Kenneth McKay. Source; Family Documents. Ken McKay Writes; ‘21st April 1941 Dear Shirl I have no idea when this letter will reach you but as I have the opportunity of scribbling a few lines I’ve taken advantage of it. You have no idea how hot it is here darling and yet only yesterday morning it was so cool. It has been getting hotter all day and they say it will be hotter tomorrow and still hotter as we proceed RUBBED OUT BY CENSOR. Well darling I received my parcel the day before yesterday and was quite bucked by the notes which were in it. You must have some idea darling of how welcome letters or notes of any kind are. Things are that monotonous that even the sight of a few fying fsh were the talk of the crowd today. Personally I have not seen any sight of any kind of life apart from the men on the ship since Sunday morning, not even a porpoise. I hope you got my two other letters, which I took a chance on getting to you. Once from Midland and one from Fremantle. Anyway dear I‘ll write per air-mail or possible cable if possible as soon as I possibly can but when that is I have no idea. How much will be cut out by the censor I don’t know either but hope it won’t be much CUT OUT BY CENSOR for you must excuse me writing on the back of this. Darling the sweat is absolutely pouring off means off everyone around me. We are allowed one bottle of beer per person per day. I just had mine and believe me dear it was terribly moorish. How is everyone at home dear, don’t forget to write all about everything thats happening will you. Mainly about yourself and Kennie Jnr. Also don’t forget to go and see Dr Smith like you promised. This paper is just about wet through from the sweat off my arm. Well darling duty calls I must away so give my love to all in Perth rather Subi and let them all see this note as its absolutely too hot to sit any longer and write to them individually. By the way I haven’t been sea sick but was very close to it. Tell Carl I felt something furry in my throat and remembered what he told me so swallowed it again. Lots of love darling Cheerio, Your loving husband Ken P.S. How did the photos come out and don’t forget to send some. Saw two seagulls this morning.’ Page 25 Ken’s next letter is dated 24th April 1941 and again discusses missing home, seeing fish and hoping for mail. Ken addresses this letter to ‘Darling Wifey’ and mentions that the words will probably make the censor blush. It must have jagged the censor’s attention, because on the second page in darker pen is a note from the censor which reads ‘PS It takes quite a lot to make a censor blush.’ Scanned image of Original Letter written by Private Kenneth McKay. Source; Family Documents. Ken McKay writes; ‘24th April 1941 Darling Wifey That sounds good doesn’t it. By gee Shirl I bet those poor beggars who have to censor these letters get a lot of smiles out of some of the things that are written by the troops. You know darling I can just see the censor blushing as he reads this. Anyway sweetheart to get down to serious news (such of it as we are allowed to pass on) nothing new has happened except that I saw three or four fsh yesterday and also received a pair of sox from the Subiaco Women’s Auxiliary Branch. I suppose dear that you will receive this at the same post as the last I wrote and that you will have received the air mail letter which I am going to send when I can. I am living in hopes of a letter or two when we get to where ever we are going. I suppose there will be one waiting. Anyway sweetheart as there is absolutely nothing new to write about I will close my note and start again as soon as I have something to write about. Well dear give my love to all at Subi and to little Ken and also take an issue for yourself. Don’t forget to let me know how things are getting along at home won’t you dear. You have no idea how I long to be back home dear and yet I have only just left. But this will make home life all the sweeter when we do eventually come back. Well cheerio for the present dear and ill write again soon. Your ever-loving husband Kennie P.S. The ship’s paper comes out today and I will send you a copy with another letter. ‘ Page 26 The Ile de France The SS Ile de France was a boat with an interesting story. It was built in 1926, and was a magnificent ship with a lavish interior, entirely decorated in the art deco style. The history of the ship flagged Ken Mckay’s interest and in his next letter to Nan he writes; Scanned image of Original Letter written by Private Kenneth McKay. Source; Family Documents. ‘P.S. I have sent two other letters by sea mail so don’t know when you will get them. Dear Shirley As I write this dear I’m losing pounds through perspiration. These pleasure cruises aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. I don’t think I have ever experienced such a rotten kind of heat in all my life. The boat we are in must have been a picture in her cruising days as she is still very elaborate and showy even stripped as she is for troop carrying. From where I am sitting on an upholstered chair with heavy inlaid line underfoot I can see great marble pillars and walls all around me. Also large carved wooden vases. This is merely the foyer in the centre of the ship. The men’s mess must have been beautiful in days gone by, it is still very elaborate now with it’s marble pillars and hundreds of oblong lights all over the ceilings and two large paintings, one at each end. One depicts a group of hunters pursuing deer and wild duck while the other appears to be some kind of map CUT BY CENSOR showing different castles, racecourses, bathing resorts etc. There is also what is known as the forward lounge, which is an immense place furnished with lovely upholstered lounge chairs and small tables. Someone was telling me that they took up a huge rug valued at about 3,000 pounds from this foor before she sailed on this voyage. Then there is the after lounge, which is much smaller and may have been used as a sort of cocktail lounge. Apart from these which I have mentioned, there are others I have not seen so you can judge what sort of place she has been.’ The elaborate art deco interior of the SS Ile de France. Some remnants of the luxury remained even after the liner had been converted into a troop carrier. Source; Alamy Stock Photos. Page 27 ‘The meals have been very good up to date but the heat has made eating just one of the necessities of life and one does not enjoy the meals as well as one should. There are several canteens on board from which you can buy all that you need and things are much cheaper than in Perth for instance 2oz tobacco costs 1/3 compared to 2/6 Perth prices. Bottles of beer cost 10, all Eastern States beer which costs 2/3 a bottle at home, biscuits, cool drink and sweets are all cheaper here. We received three packets of tobacco from the comforts fund, also 3/- today or yesterday, some woollen goods and pyjamas were given out. I got a pair of sox out of it. They were marked as having been donated by the Subiaco Women’s Auxiliary. We CUT BY CENSOR very little since we came on board but spend most of our time on the sun decks lounging around trying to keep cool. There is no swimming pool on this boat. Well darling there is not much more which I can write about excepts to tell you I’d love to be home with you instead of all these miles away. Well darling I’ll say cheerio and send a big kiss to you and all at home. Send this letter round won’t you dear. Cheerio from your loving husband and pal. Ken’ The Ile de France was the last ship to leave France before war was declared in September 1939. It was bound for New York, overcrowded with American tourists desperate to return to the safety of their homeland. The ship travelled with it’s lights extinguished to avoid attack and berthed safely in New York on September 9th, 1939. It was lucky, as many other ships travelling at the time were sunk by sea mines or torpedoes. Following this voyage, the luxury liner was lent to the British who used it to transport tonnes of war equipment including, fuel, oil, tanks, shells and aircraft to Europe. From Europe, the Ile de France travelled to Singapore where it was officially seized by the British after the fall of France and converted into a troop carrier. Conditions on all of the ships in Convoy US10 were terrible. The luxury liners had been hastily converted into troop carriers and consequently, there were major issues with workmanship, ventilation, sanitation, provisions and food preparation all exacerbated by overcrowding and intense tropical heat. The SS Ile de France on a postcard illustrating the former luxury passenger liner in full glory. Source; www.greatships.net A near mutiny had occurred on the Ile de France before it arrived in Fremantle, calmed only by a severe dressing down from one of the soldiers, Lieutenant Colonel Blackman a WW1 veteran and Victoria Cross recipient who’s words shamed the angry soldiers into submission. The addition of 778 more men in Fremantle to an already overcrowded, tense situation did not help, however a resigned acceptance eventually fell over the voyage as the ships made their way into war. The troops were ultimately destined for Palestine to undergo further training and reorganisation, before being allocated to Battalions serving in North Africa as reinforcements where needed. Page 28 A Letter from Colombo Scanned image of Original Letter written by Private Kenneth McKay. Source; Family Documents. After leaving Fremantle, Convoy US10 had proceeded without incident toward Ceylon. A few days into the journey, the Niew Amsterdam peeled off alone to Singapore arriving safely a few days later. As the four remaining liners approached Ceylon the convoy split into two. The Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth headed for Trincomalee while the Ile de France and the Mauretania headed for Colombo with all ships arriving at their destinations on 26th April 1941. After loading fuel and provisions, the two Queens headed for Egypt almost immediately, arriving at Port Tewfik on 3rd May 1941. Meanwhile the Ile de France and the Mauretania anchored off Colombo for ten days where they were joined by the Aquitania. The troops were granted shore leave, and during this time Ken Mckay wrote and posted a letter home enclosing an opal necklet and kimono that he had purchased for Nan in Colombo and a pressed white temple flower. This letter has some strong language, referring to the people of Colombo as niggers. It is not a term I agree with, grew up with or would ever use, however I feel it is important to represent Ken’s letters exactly as they were written illustrating the language and sentiments of the time. Ken Mckay writes; ‘4th May 1941 Dear Shirl Well darling up to date I have had no word from home since we left Fremantle and I don’t suppose you have received my letters either. But then that will only tend to make them all the more welcome when they do arrive and believe me darling there is no one more anxious to receive mail from home that I am, so I hope you have written plenty dear. We have had a few separate days since we’ve been here darling and Stan and I have seen just about all there is to see about Colombo itself although we did not get out into the plantation country. You’ve got to have a few bob to get around even in the city itself. We had a ride in a rickshaw frst and were taken down by him. He took us about 1 1/2 miles and tried to charge us 1 rupee which is equal to about 2/-, but we knew it should not cost that much so we gave him 50 cents, which is half a rupee, and thought we were getting off light but have since learned that they’ll take you that distance for as little as 10 cents. Anyway I’m blowed if I’d care to pull one around in this dam heat for 10 cents or even 10 rupees for that matter. Anyway after getting rid of our pullers we strolled down one of the many nigger infested streets. All the nigger shops were open in expectation of the suckers about to be taken in. We were gradually learning that if a nig asked 1 rupee for a thing the proper thing to do was offer him 25 cents. Really we did not intend to buy anything at all on the Sunday but we wandered into one or two shops (incidentally nearly every second shop is a jewellers shop and about every other one a beer house, not actually a pub but they nearly all sell beer or native arak or toddy) to get back to where I left off went into one place and I saw that opal necklet so as I could have it for 3 rupees which at the time I thought was cheap so I bought it. But was later on to fnd out that I could have got the same one for 2 rupees. One must pay for experience. We spent the rest of the day wandering around the native quarters and bazaars but eventually the smell drove us out of there and we returned to the ship about 6 o’clock. No night leave at all has been granted to the men here. Page 29 Monday we were again granted leave and so took the opportunity of going to the Buddhist temple and a place called Mt Lavinia Hotel and a bit of a beach. The temple was really worth seeing. The Salvation Army placed buses at our disposal and a very well educated Salvo accompanied us as a guide. He told us the temple took 30 years to decorate and I have no doubt that it must have done. Before you get to the porch of the place you are besieged by native children who immediately grab your boots and take them off. According to the religion of the place you must not enter with shoes on. The kids of course expect some sort of tip for this service rendered. Well the inside of the place is covered with statues small and large. One, the sleeping Buddha must be about 30 foot long. The walls of the place are covered with paintings of more Buddhas, in fact everywhere you look there are Buddhas and on shelves in front of these Buddhas are placed fowers as offerings. These fowers according to the guide must be plucked not picked or cut, the offering must mean life and fowers picked or cut are supposed to be killed whereas plucked fowers will retain the life in them. One of the natives gave me one of the temple fowers, which I will enclose in this letter. I suppose by the time it gets home it will be unrecognisable as a fower but originally it was a white petalled fower with a yellow centre colouring gradually fading into white. Well darling so much for my travels I suppose I will hear all about what’s been going on at home in your letters don’t forget to write and tell me all about what’s going on as that will help relieve the attacks of one sickness which assail me. I hope everything has been going smoothly at home dear and that you are getting along well with Mum and the family. I know you will get on well for my sake. How is the little chap Shirt darling I suppose he is just about talking properly by now and still getting into mischief about the place. Don’t forget dear about getting impatient with him and don’t let them spoil him dear as he was getting a bit that way wasn’t he. Well darling that just about fnishes my news until later on so pass this letter around dear and give my love to all. Tell Mum and your Mum that I’ll write to them very soon. Well Cheerio my darling and keep smiling. We’ll be back soon. Your ever loving husband and pal. Ken’ Scanned image of two postcards written by Private Kenneth McKay from Colombo. Source; Family Documents. Page 30 Bound for Egypt On 6th May, the Ile de France, Mauretania and Aquitania left Ceylon bound for Egypt. The convoy arrived at Port Tewfik at the southern end of the Suez Canal on 11th May. Over the next few days the troops disembarked and were transferred to training camps in Palestine. As quoted in Peter Plowman’s book, Across the Sea to War; ‘No-one was more pleased to see the Australian troops go ashore than the officers and crew of the Ile de France. As one officer was heard to remark, I shouldn’t like to be old Rommel, you know, these chaps are quite bad enough when they’re with you.’ The Ile de France in the Suez Canal. Source; Reddit Letters from Palestine The next five letters were posted from Palestine with one dated 19th May 1941 and another 14th June 1941, the remaining three were undated. These letters are lighthearted and describe army camp life and the general surroundings. Scanned image of Original Letter written by Private Kenneth McKay. Source; Family Documents. Page 31 In his first letter from Palestine Ken Mckay writes; ‘Pte K McKay WX3836 2/28 Coy 24th A.I.T.B. A.I.F. Abroad My Dear Shirl and all at home Well darling as you will notice I have again changed my address, so when you write again be sure and see that the address is exactly the same as the example above so as to cut down the chances of it going astray. Up to date darling I have received no mail at all from home but hope it won’t be long as I’m just dying to hear all the news and how your getting on without me to see to all your wants. The mail closes here for censorship on Sunday at noon and also at noon on Wednesday and as it is nearly 11.30 now this note will have to be a short one only. But I will settle down and write a very long one before the next mail day. We have hardly settled down properly yet dear so you must excuse this only being short. By the way darling I am in Palestine now and its not such a bad sort of place much different to what I expected. The camp we are in seems to have been an orchard at some time or another as there are almond trees and grape vines dotted all over the place and down the road a bit there seems to be an orange orchard but I wouldn’t be sure as I have not been down there. The Arabs here come around with their donkeys loaded with oranges which they sell to the troops for about 10 mils for 4 or 5 which is about 3/- in Australian money. The money here is all worked out in mils which work out at about one thousand to the pound. It seems funny to hear the chaps saying they have a few thousand mils. You’d expect them to be INDECIPHERABLE but I don’t think there are too many that are that way. Most of the money is silver and 20 mils which is about 6 is a coin as large if not larger than a two bob bit and has a hole cut out of the centre. Well darling they are calling us to mess so I must close now and get this note in for censoring. Cheerio my darling and lots of love from your homesick husband. Ken’ A typical army camp in Palestine, Hill 95 tent lines, probably 2/1st Light Anti Aircraft Regiment. Source; Australian War Memorial Page 32 A leaflet issued to A.I.F. troops when they arrived in Palestine. Source; Australian War Memorial Page 33 News of the 2/28th Battalion In a subsequent letter from Palestine Ken Mckay writes about catching up with news of old mates from the 2/28th Battalion who were now stationed at Tobruk. These were men that had embarked with the main Battalion in January on Convoy US8; Scanned image of Original Letter written by Private Kenneth McKay. Source; Family Documents. ‘There’s really not much to tell you apart from what I’ve already put in my other letters but as you instructed me not to miss a mail Dear I’ll endeavour to fll a page or two. I met one of the chaps from the old mob the other day, he’d been in hospital and was waiting to be sent to rejoin them. He was telling me how the boys were getting on. Old Eddy Saggers is a Lance Corporal now and doing exceptionally well. You remember Froggy Bevan, you know the bloke that was always getting full and failing to return. Well this chap was telling me that Frog got on the booze pretty heavily after he left Aussie and fnished up losing his rife. The punishment for which is a court marshal without any excuses. He’s waiting for it now I believe. Poor old Frog he wasn’t a bad sort of bloke when he was sober, even when he was full he was decent enough. This chap said as far as he knew the rest of the chaps were all doing fne. After we’ve been in this camp a fortnight we are eligible for leave, that is a certain amount of us. We were told that a fare to Jerusalem would be about 4/- and that we might have a night and a day there so I hope I am lucky enough to get in to see it. The Padre here talked about all the various places of interest, which we should try to see if possible.’ Aerial view of an A.I.F. Training Camp in Palestine. Source Australian War Memorial Page 34 Arab Camps and Veiled Women In Ken Mckay’s next letter he writes about Arab camps nearby and comments on the veiled women. In this letter the Arab people are referred to as wogs. This is not a term I agree with, grew up with or would ever use, however I feel it is important to portray Ken’s letters exactly as they were written, representing the language and sentiment of the time. Ken McKay writes; Scanned image of Original Letter written by Private Kenneth McKay. Source; Family Documents. ‘We went for a bit of a march and swim yesterday and passed through several camps of wogs tucked away among the hills. As we neared them we could see the women running away out of sight or else if they didn’t have time they’d pull their veils or what nots over their faces. I suppose it is part of their religion or maybe they’ve heard all about the Australians. Then again maybe they haven’t only heard. They have not improved the methods of thrashing the grain since the days of Joseph. We passed several places where they had camels, donkeys and cows all harnessed up together walking round and round on the barley and corn and then sifting the grain from the pieces of waste by hand. Well folks that’s about all I can tell you of my new residence for the time being so will close now. With lots of love from your absent son and brother and husband and father. How are Gran and Grandad, give them my love Shirl and pass this on to all and last but not least little Ken.’ A subsequent letter describes the cities of Tel-Aviv and Jaffa and again mentions that no mail has been received from home. In this letter Ken enclosed a photograph of himself drinking beer with two friends, Jack Viney and Bill Brown while on leave in Tel-Aviv. Scanned image of Original Letter written by Private Kenneth McKay. Source; Family Documents. Page 35 Ken McKay writes; ‘WX 3836 Pte Ken McKay 2/28 Coy 24th A.T.B. AIF Abroad My darling wife and family, As it is getting close to mail closing time I thought I had better run off a few sheets even though there is still practically nothing to tell. You see I haven’t received any mail from home though one or two of the chaps have had letters. Still I suppose mine will turn up sooner or lateral least I hope so. And don’t forget sweetheart that you must write at least two letters a week. Well dear I went on leave the other day to Tel-Aviv but as we only had a few hours to get around we didn’t see too much of the place. Actually there are two cities joining one another. Tel Aviv (the new city) and Jaffa (the old). Tel Aviv is a very modern sort of place made up mainly of hotels and cabarets. But as we were only in, in the day time did not have a chance to see the real life of the place. In any case to see much of it you need a pretty handy sized wad of notes in your pocket and as you know dear I am not likely to have one of those. I did take a ride through both cities in a taxi and you’d be surprised at the contrast between Tel Aviv and Jaffa. As you near the outskirts of the new city the amount of Arabs increase and when you eventually enter Jaffa you hardly see any of the well dressed Jews or Europeans of which there were so many in Tel Aviv. This Jaffa is a squalid sort of place though not as stinking as the other place I wrote you about. Most of the buildings in this Jaffa are made of mud bricks and are not very elegant to look at even though they are picturesque to a certain extent. But it doesn’t come anywhere near to being as nice a place as Perth. Anyway I know where I’d sooner be. One of the chaps just this minute received a letter from Aussie and his missus said that it was the seventh letter she had written. It was the frst he had received so I guess mine are in the same place as his are. Well dear how is everything going? I am doing pretty good myself and am putting on a little weight although not much. I suppose everyone back home is pretty good and I want you to give them all my love dear. Well darling must close for a day or two now and will write again as soon as I get some more news. Cheerio sweetheart and lots of love Your ever loving husband and sweetheart P.S. Am enclosing a photo taken in Tel Aviv Ken’ Photo of Ken McKay, Jack Viney and Bill Brown taken in Tel Aviv and posted home. Source; Family Documents. ‘How do you like your Romeo husband. You know that isn’t Clark Gable on the left without a hat, it’s me. The others are Jack Viney next to me and Bill Brown, two friends with whom I went to Tel-Aviv for a days leave. It’s not a bad sort of place so I’ll tell you about it in my letter to you. Lots of love. From your old sweetheart. Ken.’ Page 36 Mail from Home Ken McKay’s next letter is dated 14th June 1941 and it is a long one. He has finally received mail from home and sounds really happy. Ken is still in Palestine but mentions they might be moving soon, however, he doesn’t know when or where to, or perhaps he just can’t say. Most of this letter is spent discussing the very welcome news from home, Nan’s purchase of a sewing or knitting machine and updates on different family members and friends. Realising that mail delivery is inconsistent both ways, Ken McKay begins numbering his letters designating this number one. Scanned image of Original Letter written by Private Kenneth McKay. Source; Family Documents. Ken McKay writes; ‘14th June 1941 WX3836 Pte K McKay 2/28 Coy 24th A.I.T.B. A.I.F. Abroad P.S. I haven’t been numbering my letters up to date but think I’ve written about six or seven so will start numbering from this one. Letter No. 1 My Darling Wife, Well sweetheart I am feeling in the best of spirits as I have just fnished reading your very welcome love letters, for the fourth or ffth time. You’ve no idea how I felt yesterday when I heard my name called out for a letter. The humorous part of it was I’d just been told that there was none for me, but one had been overlooked and a few secs later I had the pleasure of getting the frst letter from home. Actually it was not the frst but the third letter you had written. The frst has not turned up yet but I got the second at lunchtime today, also one from Gran and Grandad so I’ll be able to keep going for a day or two. You know dear having a read of them now and again breaks the monotony of this place, and believe me Shirl it can get monotonous here.’ Page 37 A few paragraphs later, Ken McKay refers to the photo of him drinking beer that he posted Nan in the previous letter……… ‘How did you like my photo sweetheart, don’t get the idea that’s all I’m doing over here as that was the only leave I’ve had since we got here, and it might be the last as we might be moving, but when and where to I have no idea. So don’t be alarmed if there should happen to be a break between my letters. In any case this address will still fnd me. How’s the knitting going dear. I can just imagine you sitting in the lounge by the fre at night. I suppose you’ve just about fnished the jumper by now. Up to date we’ve had no use for sweaters at all, but they say it gets very cold at night in some places round here so a jumper should come in handy. Shirl if you’ve got a few bob to spare you might get a fountain pen as the handling of letters we write from here is liable to get a bit rough and though my pencil is terribly handy and useful a pen would be a great advantage. So see what you do won’t you dear and when you send it put in a couple of bottle of ink with it. About that machine Shirl I think it’s a pretty good idea so long as you’ve got something to use it on yourself, but don’t you think Dear that there are other things which are more important that that? Of course once you’ve bought it you’ll always have it as according to Mum they seem to last for ages. So don’t think for a moment Shirl that I disagree, as you know I told you to get whatever you thought you’d need. So carry on the good work sweetheart. Regarding your memo not to forget to write to mum and your mum Shirl, you know we don’t get much time and a lot less news but I’ll certainly write as soon as possible. But in the meantime dear I hope your passing the parts of my letters which are not strictly personal on to them all. I’ve written one letter to Mum Shirl, I suppose its arrived home by now or should have anyway. You might also send a stamp or two over in your letters Shirl as they always seem short about the place. Glad to hear about your holiday at Chittering Dear and hope you had a nice time. You didn’t say whether you took Kennie or not but I suppose you did as it would do him good too. Talking about mushrooms, I’d give a years pay for a feed of wild duck and mushrooms cooked up in genuine Wymond style but then I’ll make up for it when I come home so you’d better start revising your cooking lessons as I’ll keep you going for six months without a break at least. Just fnished lunch Shirl, we had salmon for lunch done up in the Adelphi Hotel style. Actually the food over here isn’t too bad, lately we have been having a fair amount of tinned fsh such as salmon and herring, I think it is, although wouldn’t be certain. Well sweetheart I’ll have to close now as that just about cuts out the news so I’ll say so long and lots of love from your old sweetheart and pal. Ken’ A medical inspection of the 26th Australian Infantry Training Battalion at Mughazi, Palestine. Source; Australian War Memorial Page 38 Precious Letters In Ken McKay’s letters he often mentions the mail, wondering when he will receive mail, wondering why he hasn’t, wondering if Nan has written and stating how happy he feels when his name is called and he receives a letter from home. These letters were extremely precious, they were kept safe and read over and over many times. Mail was the only link to home and family and it must have meant everything to soldiers such as Ken. The Poem ‘Air Mail-Palestine’ by David McNicoll, words which capture the meaning of mail to the soldiers. Below; front cover of David McNoll’s book an a sketch of him by a fellow soldier. Source; State Library of Victoria Page 39 The Desert Fox While Ken’s unit was in Palestine, undergoing further training and re-organisation, the war in the Western Desert, just across the Egyptian border in Libya was escalating. In January 1941, as part of Operation Compass, the Australian 6th Division had advanced across Egypt from Cairo and captured Tobruk, a town valued for its strategic deep water harbour. It had been an impressive victory against Italian forces, however, things change very quickly during war. During March 1941 it became apparent that a German invasion of Greece in support of the disastrous Italian campaign was imminent. Allied action was urgently needed to defend the small country and consequently, the battle hardened Australian 6th Division, was transferred to Greece along with most of the tanks, armoured vehicles, heavy artillery, weapons and equipment in the region. In their place, the untested 9th division, which included Ken McKay’s 2/28th Battalion, was transferred to Tobruk and tasked with garrisoning the town and protecting the harbour. They were effectively a skeleton force, inexperienced, ill-equipped and unprepared for what was to come. Lieutenant General, Erwin Rommel. Source Alamy Stock Photo Far to the West, in the Libyan city of Tripoli, German forces were gathering. The newly appointed German Lieutenant General, Erwin Rommel, was busy assembling a small but powerful division which became known as the Afrikakorps. Rommel was a military genius, a hardworking career soldier who earned respect on both sides as a brilliant tactician who excelled in tank command and long range desert warfare. He would become known as the Desert Fox. The Desert Fox, Lieutenant General, Erwin Rommel traversing the Libyan desert. Source; Alamy Stock Photo Page 40 The Siege of Tobruk Realising the allies were overstretched and ill equipped, Rommel seized the opportunity, and began an intense campaign to re-capture Tobruk and it’s precious harbour. For both sides, control of the harbour was crucial to victory as it meant troops and supplies could be quickly transported en masse by sea. Without the harbour, supply lines had to be stretched across over 1000 klm of inhospitable, waterless desert, wasting resources and seriously hindering the speed and efficiency of any advance. In a dramatic, highly mobile, well equipped, unstoppable offensive, Rommel led his soldiers through the desert, crossing Libya to encircle Tobruk and trap the Australian 9th Division firmly within the town’s perimeter. On 10th April 1941 the allies found themselves surrounded by German forces. Thus began the famous ‘Siege of Tobruk’, an unforeseen and desperate situation which would continue for 241 days, finally ending on 27th November 1941. Map illustrating Rommel’s advance across Cyrenaica (Eastern Libya) toward Tobruk in April 1941. Source; Alamy Stock Photo Within what became known as ‘Fortress Tobruk’, the trapped soldiers began digging extensive tunnel systems and shelters to supplement pre-existing fortifications and provide additional protection from the continual German aerial bombardment and ground onslaught. Allied control of the harbour had to be maintained at all cost. A German map showing Allied defences at ‘Fortress Tobruk’. Source; Alamy Stock Photo Page 41 The Rats of Tobruk In an attempt to ridicule the allied predicament, German propaganda radio broadcasts derided the trapped 9th Division by referring to them as the ‘poor desert rats of Tobruk’. The broadcasts illustrated a poor understanding of Australian humour as the trapped soldiers enthusiastically embraced the term and immediately began referring to themselves as the ‘Rats of Tobruk’. The description stuck, becoming firmly embedded within Australia’s nationalistic history. To this day, the men who participated in the great siege are proudly referred to as The Rats of Tobruk. Movie Poster for the release of The Fighting Rats of Tobruk in America in 1951. The movie was originally released in Australia in 1944. Source; moviemem.com In Tobruk, a few creative soldiers designed and made an unofficial medal as a souvenir to reflect their grand new status as ‘Rats’. The initial medals were made out of shell casing copper with aluminium from a German plane that had been shot down. When other soldiers saw these clever creations they wanted one, so a die was created and more medals cast. Sometime later a jeweller in Palestine was commissioned to produce more of these medals. It is believed that between 300-500 medals were cast before the practice was deemed illegal by the AIF. The die was destroyed and further duplication stopped, but a few of the medals have survived. A surviving ‘Rats of Tobruk 1941’ unofficial medal. Source; The Numismatic Bibliographic Society Page 42 Letters from Egypt Ken McKay’s next two letters are undated but mention that he has been moved to Egypt. We know from Ken’s Service Record that he was transferred to a Staging Camp at Amiriya on 16th or 17th of June 1941. Amiriya is in Egypt, located about 16kms south west of Alexandria. The camp at Amiriya was a central hub. Troops continually arrived from Palestine and Cairo and then left to fight at Tobruk, while wounded and sick soldiers evacuated from Tobruk arrived for treatment and transport out. Weapons, fuel, food medical supplies and ammunition were all moved through Amiriya to be shipped into Tobruk along with reinforcing troops, while refugees and prisoners from the battlefield were processed and transported to prison camps. The first of Ken’s letters from the Amiriya is a humorous description of training camp life. It is designated letter number three, meaning that letter number two probably never made it to Nan, or wasn’t kept for some reason. Excerpt from Private Ken McKay’s official army service record. Source; Australian War Memorial Scanned image of Original Letter written by Private Kenneth McKay. Source; Family Documents. Ken McKay writes; ‘WX 3836 K McKay 2/28th Batt A.I.F. Abroad No. 3 Letter My Dear Shirl and all at home Well folks and sweetheart as I told you in my last letter, we were expecting a shift. Well we’ve shifted and are now in Egypt the land of Pyramids and Sphinxes or so they tell us, but I wouldn’t know as I’ve never seen any. But the sights to be seen from where I am now sitting are many. In the middle distance is a gorgeous rise in the ground. Extremely pretty believe me. It is absolutely smothered in a beautiful slate coloured dust and lovely rocks. It’s beauty is not disfgured in any way by the growth of any form of vegetation. Can you imagine the spectacular vision before me. You know it almost makes me wish I was a poet that I may do the scene justice. This is the sort of view which confronts one on all sides here. You know those travel folks at the regal never boon any place up enough. Why even in my own dear little home in Egypt I have at the moment the great luck to be able to gaze adoringly at the more intelligent side of Brownie’s very unintelligent hat rack (the back of his queerly shaped head). Poor old Brownie, he’s sitting here laboriously penning a few sweet words of love to the dear little woman left at home, unconscious of the fact that I am behind him slinging mud at his efforts. Page 43 While Gill the dill sits opposite bemoaning the fact that he kicks his lip every time he walks. You see one of several million of our pet feas got nasty the other day and bit him on the lower portion of his facial apparatus so that it now looks like a football bladder. Poor old Gillie he’s a cocky who we gathered into our fold during the course of our wanderings. Today he received two letters from home lucky bugger and in one of them his mother, who by the way, must be a lover of fowers, like your Mum, asked him to please send home dry seeds of the beautiful fowers which must abound here. But I think she’ll be a little unlucky as the only one which would interest only appears once every couple of hundred years and at the moment it’s midseason but thats bad luck. Its a pity to see the millions of delicate pansies, violets, forget-me-nots and other beautiful fowers which she must trample down as we wander about among our various mansions. Poor old Harry Hotchin is diligently searching for his thirty tame feas. It seems that about a dozen of them have transferred their loving affections from him unto some of the other boys and I am not sure but I think I may have a few of them, but I am not going to let onto him as he’s almost heartbroken. The heartless wretches, why he even got a tin of beautiful brown powder (fea powder), specially made for them which he keeps under his easy sleep slumber king bed. But all to no avail they have deserted him. Bluey Anderson the company’s one bottle drunk has just made the grand record he arrived home after having consumed the tremendous quantity of liquor. I’ll guarantee he must have had at least half a glass of shandy and three lemonades. But regardless of this stupendous feat he still remains on his feet although his speech is horribly slurred. Hold it though he’s down but as luck would have it he has landed on his double bed so he’ll be right there for the night. Well darling the time is now half past eight and its getting slightly dim as we have no lights its getting a bit diffcult to see so will complete this epistle tomorrow. Good night sweetheart. Well sweetheart its now morning and I have already had a bathe in the delightful brook running past our home. Anyway to get down to facts Shirl, this Egypt is all right but I’d sooner be home I think. Up to date I’ve been doing fne, feeling in the best of health and spirits (not whiskey). So dear I hope you and all at home are the same, you know I still haven’t had any more mail but I suppose it will turn up soon or I hope so anyway. Hows the machine going Shirl, I suppose its being used all day now so it will be keeping you busy. Well dear as its getting near parade time I’ll have to fnish this note off soon. So give my love to everyone won’t you and give yourself a big kiss for me. By the way Shirl at last I’ve had my teeth fxed and the dentist made a perfect job of them. I suppose Kennie has got all his own by now. Well cheerio sweetheart and I’ll write again on Sunday. In the meantime I’ll be dreaming of thee. Your ever-loving old pal Ken P.S. This will have to come by sea as I haven’t got time to try and get a stamp.’ Members of the Australian Army Nursing Service, 2/11 Australian General Hospital in a trench used for protection from air raids at El Amiriya, Egypt, 1941. Source; Australian War Memorial Page 44 The Second Letter from Egypt Ken writes a second letter from Egypt in which he discusses the mail and mentions that he has received letters from home that were written back in January, by his Mum and Nan when they thought he had left on Convoy US8 with the main 2/28th Battalion. This letter also discusses domestic matters including the health of Nan and baby Ken, banking and news of friends and family back home. Interestingly this letter is not numbered like the previous two. Scanned image of Original Letter written by Private Kenneth McKay. Source; Family Documents. Ken McKay writes; ‘Pte McKay WX3836 2/28 Batt My Dear Shirl I suppose you will be worrying a bit about not getting a letter for a while but you see darling I have written two letters and have found out since I wrote them that they’ve been posted by sea mail by one of the chaps, that is one of them, and the other, as I did not have a stamp, I posted it by sea myself. So here is a short note just to let you know that Egypt has not altered my health any since I last wrote. I received four letters from home yesterday and believe me darling they were very welcome. It is funny you know, two of them were those you and mum wrote in January when you thought I had gone and even though it was stale news it was still very welcome. The other two were one from your Mum and the one you wrote after you got my frst email from Palestine. I’m glad you liked the necklet and pendant. You did not mention what you thought of the Kimono but I suppose you got it also. Your mother mentioned a parcel, which you had sent me and I suppose I will get eventually. Tell your Mum dear that if I do see a broach at any time which I think will suit her I’ll certainly get it but when it will be I don’t know as I expect to be CUT BY CENSOR time. But to CUT BY CENSOR know. But will let you know. You mentioned a wedding dear but didn’t say whose. Shirl I suppose you got my letter in which I asked you to take the young bloke to the Doc about his watsername. I hope you took him dear even though it might not be bad, its just as well to have it seen to and then be assured its alright. Your mother says you have not been to good yourself, hope your feeling better by now and if not please go down and see the doc Shirl as I will feel much happier to know you are alright. Page 45 How is the banking account going dear? I hope you’ve got plenty because I am dammed if I have. I suppose you’ve started in the building society by now. I hope Mum had a good time up with Mais and that she is well I guess she would enjoy herself up there as they are two bonzer kids aren’t they. Tell Mum I’ll write her another letter as soon as I get a chance. I suppose she has received the one I wrote the other day by now and that I’ll get a note from her soon. You know I can just imagine how you all felt in January when you thought I’d gone. In your letters each one says that the other was pretty upset. So you didn’t think I could write a descriptive letter like that did you. Well dear wait till you get the one, which is no on it’s way. That is if its not six months getting there. I meant to ask you dear if the censor had cut much out of my letters but I don’t suppose he has as I very seldom put much in that would be likely to be cut out. That was the same chap that came out to tennis Shirl but he and I have parted since then, I think I told you about it in my letters from Palestine. It was too bad as he was a bonzer chap and I was very sorry to see him go, but then I have got used to seeing my friends go by now and I suppose he won’t be the last of them I will lose touch of. Let me know how Bet got on over her £1 won’t you dear and tell her that I want a letter form her soon and some snaps as some of the boys were talking about her and the others want to see her and Bet is the only one I haven’t got a snap of. And dear don’t forget those snaps of yourself and the boy. You might take a run down and see Aunty Nell and the girls Shirl and tell them I was asking after them and send my love. Well darling I’ve just about flled this up so will have to ring off. Lots of love to yourself, Mum, Gran and Grandad and the girls, also your Mum and family. Your ever loving husband and pal. Ken P.S. Hope your sending these letters around Shirl as I really can’t write to everyone but will write to Mum again as soon as poss and your Mum. You might enclose a stamp in any of yours as I might have a bit of trouble getting them now.’ ‘Getting ready our first meal in desert. Amiriya, November 1940.’ Image from a large album of 86 pages containing 1858 photographs associated with the service of Lieutenant Robert Otto Boese, VX9912 Warrant Officer (WO) with 2/1 Casualty Clearing Station during the Second World War. Source; Australian War Memorial Page 46 Tobruk Ferry When German and Italian forces led by Rommel encircled Tobruk in April 1941 they effectively trapped around 14,000 Australian troops from the 9th Division within the town’s perimeter. Holding Tobruk and it’s deep water harbour was absolutely crucial in preventing a German advance across Egypt toward the Suez Canal. Control of the harbour, by either side, meant dramatically shorter supply lines and a major advantage. As long as the allies held the harbour, Rommel’s Afrikacorps were forced to march supplies and reinforcements across 1500 klms of desert from Tripoli. Diversion of valuable axis resources into maintaining lengthy supply lines severely limited the range and efficiency of the Afrikakorps, effectively preventing a German invasion of Egypt. Alexandria, Egypt, 1940. British Fleet Destroyers HMS Juno (F46) and HMS Janus (F53) as seen from HMAS Vampire. HMS Hero is moored in the background. Source; Australian War Memorial With overland access in and out of Tobruk blocked by the German siege, the allies depended on the harbour to transport food, ammunition, weapons, medical supplies, mail and reinforcements in, and wounded soldiers out. Destroyers from the British and Australian navy were employed to run the gauntlet of mines, U Boats and aerial bombing in a continual transport run back and forth between Alexandria, Mersa Matruh and Tobruk. Map illustrating the Tobruk Ferry routes between Tobruk, Mersa Matruh and Alexandria and the effect on German Supply lines. Source; StepMap Page 47 This became known as the Tobruk Ferry Service and initially involved HMAS Stuart, HMAS Vampire, HMAS Vendetta, HMAS Waterhen, HMAS Voyager, HMS Defender, HMS Hotspur, HMS Hero and HMS Abdiel. The destroyers would generally leave Alexandria in the morning and arrive at Tobruk around midnight where they would unload reinforcement troops, supplies and mail before embarking the wounded and sailing at full speed back to Mersa Matruh or Alexandria. HMAS Waterhen before the war. Source; Australian War Memorial Initially the destroyers operated alone, however it was a dangerous business, and they soon began operating in pairs so one could assist the other and rescue survivors in the event of disaster. On 29th June 1941 HMAS Waterhen and HMS Defender were bombed in an attack that led to the sinking of HMAS Waterhen. Not long after on 11th July 1941 HMS Defender and HMAS Vendetta were bombed in an attack that led to the loss of HMS Defender. In each of these incidents the surviving destroyer was able to save the lives of many soldiers and crew who otherwise would have drowned at sea. Troops bunked down in the open on the top deck of the destroyer HMAS Vendetta on one of her voyages to the besieged port city of Tobruk. The Vendetta made the voyage 39 times between May and August 1941, more than any other vessel. Source; Australian War Memorial Page 48 Dangerous Days at Sea The HMAS Waterhen lists dangerously after being attacked by German dive bombers. The crew along with troops being transported to Tobruk prepare to abandon ship and board the HMS Defender. HMAS Waterhen sank the next day. Source; Australian War Memorial In addition to the tragic loss of life each time a Tobruk Ferry was destroyed, mailbags filled with letters were also lost to the depths of the ocean. Precious letters from soldiers such as my Grandfather, filled with descriptions of how they were, where they were and who they were with, were lost. Words from the battlefield representing the only way of maintaining a connection with wives, children and family in Australia sank to the bottom of the ocean. Also lost, were letters going the other way, from loved ones in Australia to the soldiers abroad. Letters filled with news from home, messages, sentiments of love and hope for the life they would have when their men returned from war. Receiving letters from home was enormously important to the well being and morale of the soldiers, especially when the noise and darkness of battle was close. Excerpt from Proceedings of the 10th Destroyer Flotilla for the month of June 1941 detailing the movements and sinking of HMAS Waterhen. Source; Australian War Memorial, AWM78/376/1 An excerpt from an Official Memorandum reporting the loss of A.I.F. mail following the sinking of a Tobruk Ferry transport ship. I wonder if any of Nan’s letters were in the bags lost? Source; Australian War Memorial Page 49 A Short Ferry Trip to Tobruk Entry from Amiriya Line of Communication Sub Area diary for 17th July 1941 noting AIF troops leaving the staging camp on the road to the quays. Ken McKay was one of these soldiers. Source; Australian War Memorial Entry from the Tobruk Shipping diary for the 17th July 1941 noting that Destroyers HMS Hero and HMS Hotspur arrived at Tobruk Harbour on that day. Source; Australian War Memorial Entry from the 9th Australian Division General Staff Branch Diary for the 19th July 1941. The Naval Report notes that HMS Hero and HMS Hotspur left Tobruk on 18th July 1941. Source; Australian War Memorial On 17th July 1941 Ken McKay was one of 377 soldiers transported from the Amiriya Staging camp to the quays at Alexandria where the HMS Hero and HMS Hotspur were waiting. The two destroyers left Alexandria and arrived at Tobruk Harbour late that night where 124 soldiers disembarked from HMS Hero and 253 disembarked from HMS Hotspur. Two tonnes of mail, along with the usual stores were unloaded before 77 wounded and 375 evacuating soldiers were taken on board. In the early hours of July 18th, the two destroyers left Tobruk and returned to Alexandria. HMS Hero. Source; Australian War Memorial HMS Hotspur. Source; Australian War Memorial Tobruk Harbour 1941. Source; Australian War Memorial Page 50 Re-united with the 2/28th at Tobruk We know from Ken McKay’s service record that he was transferred out of his Training Battalion and back to the 2/28th Battalion on 17th July 1941. The 2/28th Battalion diary notes that reinforcements arrived at Tobruk on 19th July 1941. Ken McKay was one of these men, with his name appearing as a transfer in on the Battalion strength list for the 20th July 1941. Excerpt, 2/28th Battalion Diary noting arrival of reinforcements on 19th July 1941. Source; Australian War Memorial Excerpt, 2/28th Battalion Diary Casualty Return from showing Private Ken McKay being transferred in on 18th July 1941. Source; Australian War Memorial Excerpt, 2/28th Battalion Diary typed listing of 2nd Reinforcements transferred in on 18th July 1941. Note that Private Ken McKay is assigned back to D Company. Source; Australian War Memorial Page 51 Letters from Tobruk Ken’s next two letters, were enclosed in the same envelope and are undated but mention that he is now in the Western Desert and has rejoined his old mates from D Company. Scanned image of Original Letter written by Private Kenneth McKay. Source; Family Documents. The first letter is to Nan, in which, Ken makes his first reference to fighting, stating obliquely that ‘the idea is to keep your head down if you want to keep it at all’. He also states that the Western Desert ‘is not such a bright sort of place, though I suppose it could be a dam site worse’. It seems that Ken McKay was now well within the active battle zone, reunited with his 2/28th Battalion mates at Tobruk. Among other things, Ken takes this opportunity to include messages for his sisters Vern and Betty and his Mum, in reply to letters and notes they have sent him. Ken McKay writes; ‘Pte K McKay WX3836 D Coy 2/28 Battalion A.I.F. Dear Shirley and all Well darling as you will notice by my address I have caught up with the boys at last. They all seem to be much the same as when I last saw them, perhaps some of them have lost a little weight but some have put weight on so there isn’t much difference. You have no idea how surprised they all were when they saw me roll up. The rumour had gone around that I was out of the Army and another that I was a transport driver. Anyway they never reckoned I’d ever join them over here. Blue and Tony were both asking after you and wished to be remembered to you all. Also, Eddie Saggers. Blue has been hospitalised for a while but seems all right now. That was right what Mum said dear, I am in the Western Desert and believe me it is not such a bright sort of place though I suppose it could be a dam site worse. Maybe. I received three letters last night dear, one from yourself, the frst letter you wrote which contained a note from Mum and one from Bet, also two from Vern. So I am not doing to bad for a common soldier am I. No darling that couldn’t have been me doing all the waving down at the boat, as I was right up the South end looking for anyone I could see, but I saw nothing as you know. But really Shirl I was rather glad that I didn’t, as it may have seemed harder than it was and goodness knows it was hard enough. Funny, me not getting the wire on the boat, as I did get the parcel. It struck me as being humorous; I mean the piece in your letter about keeping your chin up. The general idea here is to keep your head down if you want to keep it at all. By the time this reaches home dear it must be getting close to Kenny’s birthday so give him a big kiss from his Dad won’t you. Page 52 Vern was saying that she hadn’t heard from Mart or Johnnie for a while but I suppose she has by now. I haven’t run into either of them yet but hope to eventually, but when I have no idea. Shirl, will you tell Mum and your Mother that I’m terribly sorry I haven’t answered their letters yet but as soon as we move somewhere where writing is easier I’ll do so immediately. Tell them dear that though I haven’t written I haven’t by any means forgotten them and am constantly thinking of you all, while I think of it dear your last couple of letters have not had numbers on them so I do not know where I am up to. Vern said you had written to her just before she wrote to mess next time you write dear, tell her I got her two letters, one dated 27/04/1941 and the other 2/5/1941. But so far those are the only two I’ve had from her but suppose I’ll get the next in due course if not sooner. Also give my thanks to Dot for the note she sent with Vern’s letter and tell her that the only girls I’ve seen since I left are black ones and they have a veil over their faces so there’s not much chance of me making eyes at them even if I wanted to. Well Bet I’ve just received your note and very welcome it was to. No Bet I wasn’t seasick on the way over though I did feel a bit dizzy on the frst day but that soon passed off and from then on I had a good trip. I certainly will remember you to the boys, but when I’ll be seeing Brownie again I don’t know as he’s gone into the transport, but Bluey Archibald asked after you so that’s one anyway. Tiger and all the boys who kissed you goodbye on Christmas day are all here so will give them your love instead. Well Mum as you say I had a fair idea we’d be leaving then but just couldn’t bring myself to say so as I thought that we might possibly manage to scrape another day or so in but it was not to be so. I hope Gran is better by now and also Grandad. Give them both my love and tell them that they are also constantly in my thoughts as I am in theirs. Well Shirl I also received your two letters with the snaps in them they came out exceptionally well didn't they. Especially, the one of the group, and the one of you and baby. Whenever you can dear don’t forget to send over a few snaps so I can see how you are all getting on. You might also put in a stamp or two dear, as they are pretty hard to get at times and always handy over here. Postman, Tobruk 1941. Source; Australian War Memorial Last night we got an issue of cigarettes and matches, also biscuits and tinned fruit so things aren’t so bad. I don’t know who gives us these issues but they’re very acceptable. We got 50 cigarettes and boxes of matches. I believe they get them every week. The boys were telling me that they had been pretty short of smokes a while back but have been pretty well off lately. Your Mother mentioned a parcel in her letter Shirl so I suppose I’ll get it within the next month or sort least I hope so. I suppose my jumper will be in it that’s if you’ve fnished it. Well sweetheart as there is not much more I can write about and as its getting a bit on the dark side I’ll have to end now wishing you lots of love and sending a big kiss. Your ever loving husband and pal Ken P.S. give my love to all, remember to Mais and Ruth also Joy.’ Page 53 A Letter to Mum Included in the same envelope as the above letter to Nan was a note written to Ken’s Mum. It is lighthearted, perhaps deliberately so, and mostly discusses family and friends. Scanned image of Original Letter written by Private Kenneth McKay. Source; Family Documents. Ken McKay writes; ‘D Coy 2/28th Batt To Mother With Love Save the duck Mum I’ll kill it when I come home not long now. Dear Mum You must excuse this note being in with Shirl’s but as there was room and I saved a star I know you won’t mind also please excuse the piece of paper but this is the last of my stock so will have to go on the bum from now on. Well Mum I’ve had two or three of your letters so far and was ever so happy to hear from you as I know you will be from me. Have you received any other letters yet I suppose you have and answered it by now. You will notice by my address above that I’ve rejoined all the old friends and they are all doing pretty well. Bluey hasn’t changed a scrap he’s still the same drawling grinning old Blue that sat in our kitchen waiting to take me back to camp that early morning. It’s good to see them all again and though I got used to being with those others after the 28th had left I never actually felt so much at home with them as I do now that I’m back amongst this crowd. Really they’re a bonzer lot of chaps. Do you remember Tiger Clarke, well he’s still as humorous as ever he was and always got some joke to crack when you meet him. I wonder how his wife is, she was a nice girl wasn’t she. Glad to hear that you went up and stopped with Mais and Arth for a while Mum and hope you had a nice time. I’m sure you would with them. Give them both my love when you write and tell them that when I catch up with some of my back mail I’ll write to them also. I had a letter from Aunty Nell last night, dear old soul I must write to her too but in the meantime Mum if you happen to see her tell her I was asking after her and sent lots of love to her and the girls. Enid’s husband is a postal clerk in Alexandria nice job to have I wouldn’t mind it. Have also had a couple of letters from Vern, which I must answer when I get a chance and the ingredients. So pass my love to her and tell her too much bike riding makes bigger bums and walking makes sore dogs so give em both up. Well Mum tell Gran and Grandad I was enquiring after them and am sorry to hear that Gran hasn’t been well but hearty congratulations on the birthday and love to both. Cheerio Mum lots of love your ever loving son Ken’ Page 54 The Last Letter Scanned image of Original Letter written by Private Kenneth McKay. Source; Family Documents. Ken’s final letter is dated July 31st. This letter had a far more serious tone than previous correspondence and was placed in a special Green envelope which rendered it out of bounds to the censors. The letter was written to Ken’s Mum and to Nan but it contained a private page just for Nan. This page mostly dealt with an unresolved disagreement between them over religion, with Ken asking Nan to forget the differences they had and remember the happy times. There is a sense that Ken was trying to mend old wounds, that he knew he was in an extremely dangerous situation and was taking the opportunity to say what he felt needed to be said. Ken’s maternal Grandparents were very religious and strongly disapproved of alcohol. In this letter Ken expresses concern that they may have taken a ‘poor view’ of the photo he sent previously where he was drinking with mates in Tel Aviv. In order to fix any misconceptions, Ken explains in detail that it was a one off incident and the price of alcohol renders regular drinking impossible. Tragically, this was the last letter from Ken McKay that we have. Tobruk Town 1941. Source; Australian War Memorial Page 55 Ken McKay writes; ‘WX 3836 Pte K McKay D Coy 2/28 Bat A.I.F. Abroad This may be a bit hard to read but please excuse, as paper is pretty scarce. To my Darling Wife with Love My Dear Wife and Pal Well darling I’ve been in the boom as far as mail is concerned, during the last couple of days it’s been my luck to receive 5 letters in the last two nights actually I’ve received more than my share but you can just imagine how happy I was to get them even if they were mostly all dated about a few weeks after I left Aussie. One was from poor old Aunty Nell and she was saying she that she hadn’t seen any of our family except Gran for some time so Shirl I’d like you to make a trip down and see the old dear as she has been so good dear and I know how happy she’d be to see you and Kenny, so do that won’t you dear. I was glad to hear that Mum had received a letter from Johnnie, as I was a bit worried when you and Vern both said you had not heard from him for a good while. Vern also says she has had a couple of letters from Mart so am glad to hear this news. Natural wells at Tobruk in the 9th Division area. These wells were a crucial water supply during the siege and were targeted by German bombers for that reason. Source; Australian War Memorial I am going to put this letter in what is known as a green envelope, when you use these they are not censored here by our own offcers but may be opened at base then again they may not but of course you are on your honour not to disclose anything relating to the military actually they are for private and domestic affairs only and can be obtained on application to the offcer in charge of the platoon. Glad to hear that Laurie got his stripes back it will give him a bit of encouragement, as I don’t think he’d have been much of a soldier as a private. He’s not the type who’d become a good private as I think he’s too dam conscientious, anyway when he gets over this way he’ll quieten down as this side of the world would quieten anyone. Also glad to hear about Bob Kendal for Gwen’s sake. Page 56 I don’t suppose Carl would recognise a common private like me seeing as how he’s got those dog legs. How do these guys work these things, do you think he’s got 100mph or is he a change daily girl, you must ask him the secret of his success and let me know maybe it was because he knew what the dirty little rat bag was good for, that he got them or did he just look intelligent and have them given to him, anyway he ought to do pretty well as he’s naturally an easy sort of joker to get on with. I can just imagine Carl on the parade ground gosh I’d like to see him. Anyway hope he gets on well as I expect him to. Advanced Headquarters 9th Australian Division at Tobruk. Source; Australian War Memorial By the way I think I mentioned receiving those snaps taken at the zoo didn’t I or if I didn’t I meant to anyway they were pretty good weren’t they. Tell Bet that she needn’t worry about looking like me as I think I’m a pretty handsome fella that is the last time I saw a mirror but that’s some time ago now and I don’t think I would know myself with this growth I have on my face at the present time but will run the mower over it one of these days and cut it back a bit. But that’s getting away from the subject, what I was going to say was that I received a snap of Max and Kennie. It wasn’t bad at all was it. One of the two letters I received from you of the fve that I mentioned is dated 31st May 1941 and has a note on top about the ship’s paper and no word in it. Well you see dear we weren’t allowed to put any in, in fact the paper itself was censored to make sure you didn’t underline certain words or anything like that. Anyway I’ll have to hang off for a while and have a smoke. Destruction in the town of Tobruk caused by air raids during the siege. Source; Australian War Memorial Page 57 This is your own page sweetheart and please don’t be angry with anything on it and show it to noone. Well smoke is over and we’re off again. Glad you liked your little present Shirt, I thought you’d like the pendant and the necklet would be alright if you got a decent clip put on it. The kimono I bought as I couldn’t get any decent oriental material to suit my limited purse. I think I told you I intended to get a dress length or something of that sort but the good stuff was all too dear and scarce and that sort of thing too common looking. Anyway, it was just a bit of a souvenir really. Since then I haven’t been to anywhere when I’ve had enough to buy anything else but must get Mum and your Mother something when I get the chance. Goodness knows when that will be. Shirl I don’t want you to remember any of the little differences we may have had just before I left as we were both in a crazy sort of daze and I don't think either of us knew what we were quarrelling over anyway. Dear I’ve forgotten them altogether and only like to remember the happy times we did have together and there were plenty to remember weren’t there. While I’m on this trend of thought Shirl I’d just want to say that as you know yourself that my honest opinion of that Science and all its angles are bumkum and that to actually pay for it is a waste of dam good money. I don’t want to make this appear nasty Shirl as that’s the last thing I ever want any of my letters to be but Shirl thinking the way I do and seeing what I’m seeing over on this side I just can’t imagine science as being what they crack it up to brand that’s not just the opinion I had when I was in Aussie honestly dear it has been doubly strengthened since I left home and apart from all this Shirl as I used to say before I don’t think I could imagine us settling down and going through life without having rows about this as things would be bound to crop up when two persons such as yourself and I were of totally different opinion about a religious or rather semi religious subject such as this. For instance Shirl I could never see Kennie’s head flled with what I think is a lot of rot and Shirl as you must realise is what would eventually happen. So think it over dear as you did once before remember before I left Australia and I think Shirl we would be much happier if we just carried on without it. Of course if you think its going to help you during my absence well that’s for you to decide and I’m not actually going to say carry on as I wouldn’t mean it but please Shirl if you do decide you want to keep on with it don’t get too interested in it till you’ve thought it out from both our points of view and try and think of the future when we’ll be together again rather than the present when we are so far apart. Whatever you do Shirl try and think this thing out for yourself dear and don’t go asking other peoples advice as whatever decision you make darling I want it to be your own and not someone else to make up your mind for you so just keep this to ourselves dear and everything will turn out right. Kathleen Shirley Wymond (Nan). Source Family Album Page 58 NEXT PAGE Really darling I’ve lost count of which letter this one is so you must go by the dates from now on. I didn’t think we could date them but we can. Rather humorous that censors remark wasn’t it. I never thought when I was writing that he’d have anything to say on it so I suppose he must have taken it all in good heart. By the way do you remember who it was, was it Bird or Munro they were both fne fellows but we’ve left there now. Glad to hear that you have fnished the jumper dear I suppose it is over here somewhere not but when I’ll get I don’t know as parcels have a queer habit of going astray for long periods and then turning up when you’ve given them up for lost. My old green jumper Ruth made me has done some pretty good work up to date but it’s a bit hot where we are at present to wear much. I can just imagine you dear sitting in front of the fre at nights knitting, knitting and dreaming of me. Sorry to hear about your Dad’s leg Shirl, tell him I often think of him going through the same sort of thing as this and can realise now what his memories must be. Your telling me I’d love to see little INDECIPHERABLE I can just imagine him growing up and wonder what he will be like when I get back actually I don’t suppose there will be much of a difference and yourself dear one of my chief activities is sitting in my bunk day dreaming of you and all at home, things each one has said and done at different times, sometimes I actually wake up and get a shock to fnd where I am. I hope you haven’t changed any sweetheart as I always want to remember you as you were when I left and expect to come back and fnd you just the same. So lookout for yourself if you’ve changed any and I don’t recognise you when I get off the boat. I can just imagine what a great help the little bloke must be in helping you keep your spirits up and pass the time away, he must be a darling. Pity it wasn’t me instead of the photo that got the bath as I have been thinking that I detected a faint whiff of body odour during the last week but wouldn’t be certain, I may be by the end of a week or so. You mentioned sending a canteen order over Shirl you might slip one in occasionally as we sometimes get a canteen come up to us and one or two would be handy but don’t go sending a lot as it would be much better in a bank or building society. Have you started one yet, I hope so dear as it will be very handy to us in the near future. Talking about socks they are all pretty stiff at present and are very handy that way I can stand them in the corner of my ole out of the way but not near my nose. Its nice to see Kennie has learned to spell so quickly that’s not a bad effort on the bottom is it, although the Kennie part is not so hot. So much for that letter, I’ll start answering your other now, the one written on 27/06/41 in which you say you’ve received my photo. Glad you liked it wasn’t bad was it. Tobruk, Libya. 1941. A night photograph showing an air raid on the town. Search-lights, gun-flashes, tracers and bomb explosions can be seen. Source; Australian War Memorial Page 59 These are in order now but I can’t put page no.s on the back so have just numbered front page of each leaf. I’m INDECIPHERABLE and don’t like leaving any space. But don’t get the idea that because there are a few bottles about that I’m boozing my life away over here as that was the only decent drink I‘ve had since I left and that wasn’t so extra a big one as you’ll notice there are three of us. I thought perhaps Gran and Grandad might take a very poor view of the episode but then really it wasn’t enough to give one a thirst and it wan’t as though we just went and got horribly drunk as soon as we got out of camp as some chaps do. For one thing we didn’t have so much as a pound each and you’d be astonished at the prices you have to pay for such things as meals, photos, drinks etc in these places. So we couldn’t very well have too much. That piece about not caring what I do Shirl, I know you don’t mind me having a few jugs but you also know dear that there are some things which I would not do whether you cared or not. A little bit of water won’t hurt Kenny, Shirl but would hate to think of him laying eggs as it might hurt him a bit, specially of they were duck eggs. So sorry to hear about poor old Molly tell her I was asking how she was getting along when you see her won’t you Shirl. Yes Shirl I did meet Geoff Madden once or twice seemed quite a nice sort of chap. That toothbrush isn’t a patch on the one I’m INDECIPHERABLE. Tell Arth from me that I reckon he’s a mug. I always did reckon the more you saw of Laurrie the better you liked him, that is once you got used to his ways. Will be glad to get those snaps but hope there are some of you all and not just INDECIPHERABLE as I love to get photos of each one. You might write down and ask Ruth if she has any snaps of herself and family as it’s that long since I saw them all I’ve almost forgotten what they look like. Also one of Mum on her own as all the photos I got are of her with someone else that one with Tots Mother is a nice one of her isn’t it. How is everyone down home Shirl? I hope they’re all well and everything is going fne. Don’t forget to remember me to them all and tell them that I will write as soon as possible. By the way if you see any of Aunty Elsie’s family tell them that the frst person I struck when I arrived up here was Charlie Butler and he seems to be doing alright and had a big grin on his face when he recognised me. Well sweetheart these are only small pages INDECIPHERABLE no more paper and sore fngers from holding the pencil. I’ll close this letter and write another as soon as pos. Cheerio my darling and lots of love from your ever loving husband and best pal. Ken’ Tobruk 1941. The cookhouse at 9th Division Rear HQ. A typical lunchtime scene. Source; Australian War Memorial Page 60 The Battle For The Salient What wasn’t known to the family back home was that on the 3rd of August 1941, Ken’s Battalion, the 2/28th, would participate in a deadly battle. After surrounding Tobruk in mid April, Rommel’s Afrikakorps had besieged the town in an impenetrable stranglehold, trapping the Australian 9th Division and other allied forces within the town and it’s immediate surrounds. Map illustrating the defensive positions of A.I.F. Battalions in May 1941. Source; Australian War Memorial As the situation became increasingly desperate, the perimeter of allied control formed a continually shifting zone of constant fighting and skirmish with Germans forces pushing in and the Allied forces pushing out. West of Tobruk is a hill called Ras El Medaaur, a barren rocky rise with the crumbling ruins of a Roman Fortress on the summit. It is the only significantly high ground in the area and consequently has been a strategic piece of real estate since ancient times. On military maps and in battle descriptions, Ras El Medaaur is often referred to as Point 209 or Hill 209. Men of the 9th Division Cooking Corps carrying provisions to troops in forward areas. Source; Australian War Memorial Page 61 The Strongpoints Hill 209 is surrounded by the remains of Italian fortifications, strong points, underground bunkers and elaborate interconnected concrete trenches which were built during the Italian occupation of Libya before WWII. Strongpoints to the west of Ras El Medaaur were named S2 through to S45, while those to the east were named R1 through to R84. The strongpoints had been built in a zig zag pattern with posts alternating front and rear to create two parallel rows of fortifications. The distance between each strongpoint was about 750m and the distance between the front and rear rows was about 500m. The individual strongpoints were about 80m long with three circular concrete weapon pits set flush to the ground and connected by a covered communications trench. A circular anti tank ditch, booby traps, mines and extensive barbed wire fencing protected the weapon pits. In a flat, featureless desert, which offered no cover, these robust Italian fortifications proved extremely strategic to both sides and became the focus of many intense battles. Satellite imagery from 2018 showing several strongpoints and an interconnected trench system. The remains of the perimeter are still clearly visible. Source; Google Earth Satellite imagery from 2018 showing a single strongpoint alongside a diagram showing the typical structure of the Italian Strongpoints. Source; Google Earth & ‘Tobruk & El Alamein by Barton Maughan, 1966. German diagram of a Tobruk Strongpoint. Source; http://rommelsriposte.com Page 62 The Salient In early May 1941 German forces had captured Ras El Medaaur and several of the surrounding strong points from the Australians. This area became known as the Salient and extended the zone of German controlled territory well into the original perimeter. It was a heavy loss for the allied forces, and consequently, plans to re-capture the Salient with its high ground and valuable strongpoints became an immediate priority. An overview of the situation in the Salient. The left map shows the Allied defensive position at Tobruk indicating the original Perimeter. The right map shows the area of land lost to German forces in early May 1941 (indicated by the dashed line. Over subsequent months, Allied forces pushed back and slowly re- claimed much of the Salient. Source; http://tothosewhoserved.org/aus/army/ausarm03/chapter07.html After months of intelligence gathering and planning, the battle for the Salient was set for the 3rd August 1941 and involved two Brigades and several Battalions. As part of the broader operation, Ken McKay’s D (Don) company of the 2/28th Battalion was given the task of re-capturing two strongpoints, S6 and S7 (Sugar 6 and Sugar 7), located slightly west of Ras El Medaaur within the Salient. Hand drawn map from 2/28th Battalion diary illustrating the original Perimeter (thick red line) and the line of control (thin red line) after German forces took a large area of the Salient in early May 1941. Source; Australian War Memorial, 2/28th Battalion Diary, August 1941, Maps. Page 63 Sugar 6 (S6) and Sugar 7 (S7) D (Don) Company consisted of a Headquarters unit plus three Platoons, numbered Sixteen, Seventeen and Eighteen each with approximately thirty men. Ken McKay’s Seventeen Platoon led by Lieutenant John Head, was allocated the task of taking S6, while, Sixteen Platoon led by Lieutenant Harold Coppock and Eighteen Platoon led by Lieutenant Steve McHenry were jointly allocated the task of taking S7. Map illustrating the battle plan for the D Company, 2/28th Battalion attack on S6 and S7. The arrows indicate the direction of advance for 16, 17, and 18 Platoons. Source; http:// tothosewhoserved.org/aus/army An exhaustive battle plan was drawn up and can be found within the 2/28th Battalion and 24th and 20th Brigade diaries. This plan includes the timetable of attack, geographical parameters, hand drawn maps, intelligence on enemy strength and position, projected platoon movements, supporting artillery fire plans, communication protocols including signal codes and passwords, ambulance locations, dress code, ammunition, rations, water and medical supplies to be carried and reinforcement contingencies. Letter to the Brigadier from participating 2/13th Battalion requesting permission to initiate the battle plan for the 2-3rd August 1941 attack on S6 and S7. An excerpt from the 28th Battalion diary detailing the secret passwords to be used on 3rd August 1941 during the battle. Codes for success signals for the capture of S6 and S7. Source; Australian War Memorial 20th Brigade Diaries & 2/28th Battalion Diaries Page 64 The Battle Plan Operation Order 10, 2/28th Battalion. The detailed plan for D Company’s attack on S6 and S7 over the night 2-3 August 1941. Source; Australian War Memorial, 2/28th Battalion Diary Page 65 Operation Order 10, 2/28th Battalion. The detailed plan for D Company’s attack on S6 and S7 over the night 2-3 August 1941. Source; Australian War Memorial, 2/28th Battalion Diary Page 66 Operation Order 10, 2/28th Battalion. The detailed plan for D Company’s attack on S6 and S7 over the night 2-3 August 1941. Source; Australian War Memorial, 2/28th Battalion Diary Page 67 Operation Order 10, 2/28th Battalion. The detailed plan for D Company’s attack on S6 and S7 over the night 2-3 August 1941. Source; Australian War Memorial, 2/28th Battalion Diary Page 68 Operation Order 10, 2/28th Battalion. The detailed plan for D Company’s attack on S6 and S7 over the night 2-3 August 1941. Source; Australian War Memorial, 2/28th Battalion Diary Page 69 Time Zero Excerpt from Operation Order 10, 2/28th Battalion, Attack on S6 and S7. The timing of the battle where ZERO represents the start time. Source; Australian War Memorial It had been determined that the battle would begin at 3.30 am on the 3rd of August 1941. Wrist watches were synchronised at 2130 on 2nd August and again at 0100 on the 3rd of August to ensure that all involved had the same time. By 0245 on the 3rd of August 1941, Sixteen, Seventeen and Eighteen Platoons were assembled at their start points and at 0330 the attack commenced as each Platoon began advancing toward their objective. The thirty two men of Seventeen Platoon moved toward S6, however, they encountered heavy mortar fire and had to cross an extensive booby trapped minefield. Many soldiers were killed or severely wounded during this advance including both Platoon engineers or sappers and leader, Lieutenant John Head. Official report of events concerning 17 Platoon, D Company, 2/28th Battalion on the night 2-3rd August 1941. Source; Australian War Memorial, 2/28th Battalion Diary A German teller mine, this type of mine was used extensively at Tobruk. A wire acted as a trip to set the mine off. As a double menace a pull type igniter was often placed under the mine so it would explode if lifted or removed. Source; Australian War Memorial Page 70 Wounded at the Wire Despite extremely heavy losses, Seventeen Platoon continued on and made it to a position 40m short of S6, close to the extensive barb-wire barrier that surrounded the strongpoint. By this point, the Platoon had been decimated and without the expertise of sappers were unable to utilise their explosive Bangalore torpedoes, necessary to blow a hole in the wire. It was now 5am, and realising they no longer had the capacity to re-capture and hold S6, Lieutenant John Head made a decision to withdraw. Ken McKay was one of the men who made it to the wire and was in sight of S6 when he was shot and severely wounded in the chest. Excerpt from an official report on events over 2-3rd August 1941 detailing 17 Platoon’s situation as it attacked S6. Source; Australian War Memorial, 24th Brigade Diary Approaching the wire surrounding a strongpoint at Tobruk. An illustration of the typical defensive wire barrier that surrounding Strongpoints. Source; Australian War Memorial Official log of events for 3rd August attack on S6 and S7 in 24th Brigade Diary. Note the report of troops withdrawing from S6 at 5am. Source; Australian War Memorial Page 71 Trapped in No Mans Land It appears that Ken was unable to move and could not retreat to safety with the survivors of his Platoon. The long night of fighting was over, however, as dawn rose over the Salient Ken McKay was trapped in no mans land. He remained there, hiding, in a sangar (a small shelter of rocks) over the course of the day (3rd August 1941) with two other soldiers, Private Hewitt (WX4687) and Private Richardson (WX6016). Both of these soldiers were also badly wounded. Private Richardson’s legs had been injured by a mine and one of Private Hewitt’s legs had been hit by shell shrapnel. A report in Ken McKay’s service record states that the three missing men from D company could not be contacted. This report also states that a message detailing their situation and position was received by Company Headquarters at 0715. The message is recorded in the Battalion diary communication log and also states that Italian forces were seen re-occupying S6. Excerpt from 2/28th Battalion Communication Log for 3rd August 1941. Messages received at 7.15pm and 7.30pm detail the fate of Private Ken McKay. Source; Australian War Memorial, 2/28th Battalion Diary, August 1941, Appendix 2 In response to the 0715 message, a runner was sent out to find the missing men, however, the timing coincided with a strong German counter-attack on S7. The heavy barrage of artillery and machine gun fire made it impossible for the runner to reach the missing men. At some point Private Hewitt and Private Richardson left Ken where he lay and crawled out to get help. Their subsequent account of the events states that ‘they believed it was not possible for McKay to live’. Hewitt and Richardson were picked up by fellow soldiers patrolling the area but, according to Lieutenant Head’s report, found themselves in the midst of German lines and were unable to return to Ken’s position. Page 72 A Disaster for D Company Over the course of the next night German forces re-captured S6 and S7 and held the entire area strongly. The attack had been an unmitigated disaster. Of the 32 men in Seventeen Platoon only five survived the battle unharmed. The remainder were either dead, missing, wounded in allied care, or wounded and German prisoners. Sixteen Platoon fared even worse with only one man out of 29 unscathed. Reports in the 2/28th Battalion diary acknowledged that the force necessary to capture S6 and S7 had been severely underestimated. A force much larger than a Company was required. It took several days to ascertain the fate of the soldiers from D Company. Information had to be gathered from survivors and compiled into official reports and lists. Two of these reports appear within Ken McKay’s service record and represent the only official information detailing how, when and where he was wounded. 2/28th Battalion - D Company - Platoon Outcomes - S6 & S7 Battle - 2/3 August 1941 Platoon Number of Men Unscathed Wounded/Killed/Prisoner Sixteen 29 1 28 Seventeen 32 5 27 Eighteen 32 24 8 Official report by Lieutenant John Head, detailing the events which led to Private Ken McKay being wounded and subsequently taken prisoner. The report mirrors the hand written diary not in the Battalion Communication Log. Source; Australian War Memorial, Private Kenneth McKay WX3836, Service Page 73 Officially Missing in Action The 2/28th Battalion diary contains a nominal roll of all those who participated in the battle for S6 and S7. Once events had been pieced together, the nominal roll was re-issued and details the fate of every soldier involved. Ken McKay’s name is the first on the page and appears under the heading ‘Wounded in Action and Missing’. Excerpt from 2/28th Battalion diary, listing detailing the fate of all participants in the S6 and S6 battle of 2-3rd August 1941. Ken McKay’s name appears at the top of the list under the heading ‘Wounded in Action and Missing’. Source; Australian War Memorial, 2/28th Battalion Diary, August 1941 Official Reports describing the events which led to Private Kenneth McKay being wounded and subsequently taken prisoner. Source; Australian War Memorial, Private Kenneth McKay WX3836, Service Record. Page 74 Tobruk, August 3rd 1941 A poem describing the brutality that occurred on the night Ken McKay was wounded, was written immediately after the battle by Paul Buddee, a soldier who participated. The poem is included in the book called ‘Stand To and Other War Poems on page 18 and is entitled ‘Tobruch, August 3rd 1941’. The horror is palpable and something that could only be articulated by someone that witnessed it. Poem written by Paul Buddee describing the night of 2-3rd August 1941. The night Private Kenneth McKay was wounded. Source; Stand To and Other War Poems by Paul Buddee Page 75 A Devastating Telegram Back at home in Subiaco, Perth, Ken McKay’s family remained unaware of his fate until the 22nd August 1941 when a dreaded telegram was delivered to Ken’s wife, my Nan. The telegram states; ‘Private McKay wounded in action and missing. Regret to inform you that WX3836 Private Kenneth McKay has been reported wounded in action and missing 3/8/41. The Minister for the Army and the Military Board extend sincere sympathy. Minister for the Army’ Official telegram received by Nan, communicating that her husband Private Kenneth McKay had been wounded in action on 3rd August 1941 and was missing. Source; Family Documents A few days later on 26th August Nan made an official enquiry to the Red Cross which had the role of gathering and recording information on the welfare and whereabouts of Prisoners of War. The Red Cross created a Prisoner of War card for Ken McKay and commenced enquiries into his situation. To add to the confusion and uncertainty, undated letters written by Ken before his death almost certainly arrived at the family home in the weeks following. Months passed and no conclusive news was forthcoming. The wait must have been agonising. The Red Cross card that was completed for Private Kenneth McKay in response to Nan’s enquiry after receiving the telegram advising that he had been wounded and was missing. Source; University of Melbourne Archives Page 76 The Worst is Realised We can see that the Red Cross card was updated on 24th October 1941 with the notation ‘Died Tobruk August’. There is also a letter from AIF headquarters in London communicating Ken’s death with details of the German casualty list on which his name appeared. A telegram to this effect must have been sent to Nan from the army, however she did not keep it and we do not have a copy. Family memories and stories tell us that the news of Ken’s death was followed by the arrival of a letter he had started to write from a field hospital just before he died. The letter was completed on his behalf by another wounded Australian soldier who posted it home. Nan did not keep this letter, so we can only guess at it’s content. Ken’s family and loved ones were shocked and distraught. He was so young, barely a man and now he was gone. Private Kenneth McKay (WX 3836) Letter from A.I.F. Headquarters, London communicating the death of Private Kenneth McKay. Source; Australian War Memorial Page 77 Shock, Sadness and Loss Ken Mckay was cherished by his big family and large circle of friends. As the only boy in a family of five without a father, he received special attention as the man of the house and was doted on by his mother and four sisters. Ken’s death devastated his Mum, who had now lost both her husband and only son in the space of a few years. Ken’s gentle young wife had loved him deeply and was left a widow at just 19 years of age, grief-stricken and alone with a baby son to raise. Ken’s sisters had lost their only brother, the cheeky boy with an impish face who had shared their childhood antics and loved and protected them. Ken’s friends were shocked, he had seemed so young and invincible, full of life, and now he was gone. Death notices from the family appeared in the West Australian on the 3rd November 1941. Death notices for Private Kenneth McKay, published in the West Australian newspaper on 3rd November 1941. Source; Trove & Family Documents Page 78 A Kindness Never Forgotten The grief felt by Ken’s family was compounded by a lack of information surrounding the circumstances of his death. They knew that he had been listed as wounded and missing on the 3rd of August 1941 and that he had died a few days later on the 8th of August 1941. What had happened in-between remained a mystery until Ken’s Mum received a visitor many months later. A soldier named Stan came to the door of the family home in Salisbury Street, Subiaco. Stan was in the 2/28th Battalion, had served with Ken in Tobruk and was also wounded in the S6/S7 battle on 3rd August 1941 and taken prisoner. Unlike Ken, Stan recovered from his injuries and was returned to the AIF in a prisoner exchange brokered by the Red Cross. After being badly wounded before dawn on 3rd August 1941 Ken McKay had lain in the Salient, near S6, hiding with Privates Hewitt and Richardson. At some point Ken was left alone when Hewitt and Richardson crawled out to get help and were unable to return. That night or possibly the next day (4th August 1941), Ken McKay was picked up by German Stretcher Bearers and taken to a German Field Hospital. There were other wounded Australian soldiers in the hospital with Ken and one of them was Stan. In what must have been an extremely difficult visit, Stan told the grief-stricken McKay family that he had been with Ken when he died. Stan relayed that Ken had been very severely wounded and could not be saved. He also told the family that the German Doctors had been very caring toward all of them, but treated Ken with extra compassion, maybe due to his young age or the extent of his wounds. One of the Senior German Doctors had given Ken his daily ration of brandy to help with the pain. It was an insightful act of kindness within the brutal environment of a war-time field hospital, and it was not forgotten by those who witnessed it. The story gave the family some comfort, and a degree of closure, at least he had been treated kindly by his enemy captors in those final hours and he hadn’t died alone. Even in the worst of circumstances humanity can prevail. Excerpt from Aunty Betty’s letter describing events of 1941. Source Family Documents Stan’s visit had been extremely helpful to the grieving family and was never forgotten. In a letter written 60 years later, Aunty Betty, Ken’s youngest sister clearly recalls Stan’s visit. The letter is written by her husband, Uncle Harry to my Dad and documents the story. Uncle Harry writes; ‘Aunty Bet recalls the visit to her home by the soldier whose name was Stan. Neither of us can now recall his surname but we agree it was not Stan Lowry. It was Stan who provided advice of the truly caring treatment accorded Ken by the German medical staff, during those few days he survived, one senior Doctor brought Ken his own daily brandy issue to aid his suffering. Stan’s visit was of course most comforting to the family.’ Page 79 The Aftermath I can only imagine that the entire experience of Ken’s death must have seemed unreal to Nan, a young wife, a new mother, removed from any direct experience of the war. Information was delayed, sketchy and fragmented. It had only been a few months since Ken had left Australia and now he was dead. Nan would never see him again. There had been no goodbyes and no funeral. It must have been very hard to rationalise and grieve. Family memories tell us that Nan never really accepted that Ken had died. She held on to the thought that perhaps he had swapped his identifying dog tag with a mate before he died and was somehow alive but unreachable on the other side of the world. Nan with baby Ken and her older sister Joy. Source Family Album Nan and the entire family focused on the one positive thing within the suffocating sadness, Ken McKay’s baby son, little Kennie junior, my Dad, who was now a chubby two year old. Dad looked a lot like his father and had the same mischievous personality. Ken McKay’s Mum and sisters had always loved their baby grandson and nephew but now the cheeky toddler was all the more precious. A living, growing reminder of Ken McKay and their love for him. Like his father, Dad would always receive extra special attention within his family. As the only son of an only son young Kennie now carried the McKay legacy and was the recipient of an enormous amount of love from both his parent’s families and all who had known Private Ken McKay. Baby Ken Source; Family Album Baby Ken; Source; Family Album Page 80 Australians Evacuated from Tobruk On the other side of the world, in Fortress Tobruk, the war continued. The Australian 9th Division continued to hold off the German onslaught enduring constant aerial bombardment and fighting skirmishes along the perimeter. In desperate conditions with shortages of food, weapons, ammunition and men, the Rats of Tobruk had endured, showing incredible tenacity and strength. In mid 1941 Lieutenant General Thomas Blamey, commander of the AIF in the Middle East demanded that the 9th Division be evacuated and relieved, arguing that the men’s health had deteriorated to a point where they could no longer hold their position. Over several dark moonless nights in mid August, navy destroyers began evacuating the Australian soldiers. Evacuations continued over the months of September and October and by November, almost all of the Australian troops had been replaced by Polish, Czech and British forces. The timing of Ken McKay’s posting to Tobruk was tragic. He had only been there two weeks before he was fatally wounded, and just two weeks after he died, evacuation of the Australian 9th Division began. In late November, the British Eighth Army with Indian, South African and New Zealand troops launched Operation Crusader to relieve allied forces besieged in Fortress Tobruk. The attack was ultimately successful and on 10th December 1941 besieged soldiers broke through the Eastern Perimeter and the siege was lifted. Rommels troops were pushed West to form a new front at El Agheila. However, this was not the last action that Tobruk would see. In early January 1942 Rommel began a second offensive and on 21st June 1942 again captured Tobruk from allied troops. This time Rommel was able to push further East across the Egyptian border to capture Mersa Matruh and attack allied defences at El Alamein. A new front formed in Egypt and fierce fighting between allied and axis forces continued over much of 1942. On 13th November the British Eighth army once again captured Tobruk from German forces and marched west to capture Tripoli on 23rd January 1943. The push west continued and in early May British and American troops arrived in Tunisia forcing the final surrender of axis forces on 13th May 1943. The war in Northern Africa was finally over. Map illustrating the main campaigns in the Middle East theatre of war between September 1940 and July 1942. Source; http://www.asisbiz.com Page 81 Meanwhile back in Australia Nan received Ken McKay’s final payslip from the army and somehow the precious golden pencil used to write all of his letters made it back to Australia, presumably returned by the army with personal effects when his death was confirmed. The engraved words ‘K.McKay Safe return love from the family’ would have seemed particularly poignant. Several years later, Nan received a small brown cardboard box containing Ken McKay’ service medals. There were four, the 1939/45 Star, the Africa Star, the War Medal and the Australian Service Medal. The package Ken McKay’s war medals arrived in. Ken McKay’s war medals. The letter from the Department of Army which accompanied Ken McKay’s war medals. Source; Family Documents Page 82 The Final Payslip The Department of Army payslip accompanying Ken McKay’s final pay packet. Source; Family Documents The letter from the Department of Army Accompanying Ken McKay’s final pay packet. Source; Family Documents Page 83 The Soldier - A Poem Ken McKay had made an impression on those who fought with him. In the years immediately after the war a small book of poetry named ‘Stand To’ was published. On page 14 was a poem called ‘The Soldier’ written in memory of my grandfather, Private Ken McKay and his tragic death at Tobruk. ‘The Soldier’ A poem written in memory of my Grandfather, Private Kenneth McKay. Source; Stand To and Other War Poems by Paul Buddee Page 84 Precious Possessions Nan kept these precious processions, along with Ken’s letters in a small, black wooden box, the only tangible fragments of her young husband’s war-time experience. Perhaps they helped her make sense of it all. Aside from the memories, a few family photos and a grave in a far distant land, they were all that remained of her handsome young husband, the heroic boy soldier who had left Australia in April 1941. Conscious that her young son would have no memory of his father, Nan gave the black box to Dad when he was a little older. Dad treasured the possessions in the box and the stories about his father. As time passed, Ken McKay became known as a hero within his family, revered with an almost mythical status as the brave young soldier who gave his life for his country. The black box where Ken McKay’s letters, medals and the golden pencil was kept. A golden frame made by Private Ken McKay’s eldest sister Ruth for Dad. It has ‘The Soldier’ poem alongside the precious photo of father and son. Page 85 Life Goes On A few years later Nan re-married and Dad found himself with a Stepfather and baby sister. Donald Shepard, Nan’s new husband was also a soldier, and a kind stable influence. Dad didn’t always get on with his stepfather, but he had the option of staying with his maternal grandmother who lived close by so he rotated between the two households. Nan and Pop. Nan married Donald Shepard in 1944. The had a baby girl, my Aunty Sue, sister to Dad. Source; Family Album Life had moved on and Dad had a happy childhood filled with love from his large extended family. Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and cousins on both sides all took a special interest in young Ken McKay junior. Despite this, the death of his father had left a void that could never be filled. He had been too young to form any sense of who his father was, and consequently, would always wonder what could have been? There were many questions that could never be answered. Dad, Ken McKay junior as a child. A baby sister. Dad, Ken McKay junior with baby Source; Family Album Sue. Source; Family Album Page 86 The Next Generation Dad grew up and married my Mum, Aileen Anderson and together they had three children. I am the oldest followed by my sister Melainie and brother Jamie. We grew up with the story of our heroic Grandfather, Ken McKay. We knew he had died in the war and was buried in the desert at Tobruk in Libya. Dad and Mum on their wedding day. Ken McKay marries Aileen Anderson. Source; Family Album A photograph of him in army uniform holding my Dad as a baby sat on our mantlepiece in a gold frame. Whenever my Grandfather was mentioned, I felt very proud that I was related to such a brave soldier who had taken part in the famous Siege of Tobruk. In the old family photos, my Grandfather always seemed to have a cheeky expression on his face. An irreverent and ridiculous sense of humour runs through our family. Humour is always prioritised, especially in difficult situations. It is a trait that I absolutely love and something that rightly or wrongly I attribute to my Grandfather. Jamie, Melainie and Melissa McKay (Left to Right). Source; Family Album Page 87 A Granddaughter’s Obsession In my early twenties my interest in my Grandfather and his war time experience intensified. I was now married and had a gorgeous baby girl. My beautiful Nan had died of breast cancer in early 1998, about a year after Soraya was born. We were reminiscing about her life. I had always been particularly close to Nan. We seemed to share an unspoken understanding. In the years when I was at boarding school, living a long way from my remote desert home, Nan had been a lifeline. I called her almost every week and we had long conversations about everything that was happening in both of our lives, but, for some reason we never spoke of her first husband Ken Mckay. On the day before she died, Nan gave me a piece of advice that I have never forgotten and, try to live by, with varying degrees of success. I had taken Soraya to visit her in hospital for the last time. Nan’s body was tiny, ravaged by cancer and fading fast from this world. In a very soft voice she said, ‘Lissie (her name for me) you just have to love everyone’. It was a moment of rare clarity and those words made perfect sense. It is not easy to love everyone, and Nan’s soft gentle nature had struggled for a lifetime to hold true against the tragedies of life and pressures wrought by those with stronger, louder personalities. It had been a quiet, yet intense battle that took place in the shadows but she had done it, and those words summed up her greatest achievement. A photograph of Nan and me on my wedding day to John, Soraya’s Dad. Source; Family Album In the months following her death, Dad showed me the black box which contained the letters his father had written to his mother. The letters were old, the paper was fragile and some of them were falling apart. They were mostly written in pencil and the pencil that wrote them was in the box. It was a heavy golden pencil, engraved with words of love. I imagined my Grandfather holding it, sitting in a dusty desert trench in the middle of some desperate war writing letters home. I was mesmerised. It was an enduring link to the past. Something tangible and beautiful. Love letters written by my heroic Grandfather with his golden pencil on the other side of the world. A tiny window into his life and into his death. A glimpse into the character of this mythical man and his relationship with my beautiful Nan and my Dad. Here was a wonderful story, fragmented by time, full of mystery and unanswered questions. I became obsessed. Page 88 Researching the Past It was 1997 when I began researching my Grandfather’s death. At the time it was difficult to obtain historical information. The Australian War Memorial was the custodian of most wartime records. There were Battalion Diaries, Brigade Diaries, and Service Records for individual soldiers, however it was early days for the internet and well before scanning and digital access was common. While it was possible to request photocopies of records, there was a charge per page and unless you knew exactly what you were requesting it was an expensive exercise. I obtained a copy of Ken McKay’s service record and read the Battalion history, a book called ‘The Second 28th’ by Philip Masel and a book by Chester Wilmot called ‘Tobruk’. I typed out each of my Grandad’s letters and tried to put them in order so I could piece together events. The two books pivotal to my research on Tobruk and my Grandfather I talked at length to my Dad and together we contacted various family members to ask what they remembered. There were only a handful of people left alive that had witnessed the family tragedy of 1941. Aunty Betty, Ken McKay’s youngest sister and her husband Uncle Harry, were particularly helpful. I sent them a copy of my research and together they wrote a long letter to Dad documenting everything they could remember about the events surrounding Ken McKay’s death. Scanned image of Original Letter written by Betty McKay, Ken McKay’s youngest sister. Source; Family Documents. Page 89 Aunty Betty Writes; Dear Aileen and Ken, Here is the copy of 'Stand To’ for Melissa, I couldn’t be happier for her to have it. We are absolutely enthralled with the documentation you kindly sent and thank you so much. We think Melissa has made the most excellent job of it all and can appreciate the amount of work and hours she must have put into gathering and collating it all. I must admit I have found it a mite disturbing, I have been cast back into my teens and all those traumatic happenings. Harry and I are going through the documents and searching memories for names - many as I remember and happenings. Will write it all up and send it to you. Will also look at a couple of old snap shots I seem to remember, should be ‘carefully put away somewhere’. Do hope all is well and everything OK. Will be in touch again soon. Photo of Betty and Ken McKay as Love Aunty Bet children. Source; Family Album Uncle Harry (Aunty Betty’s Husband) Writes Dear Ken Thanks for sending us Melissa’s fne recording of Ken’s military history. We have each read it closely and discussed it at length. It was something of a moving experience especially for Betty, but I to was around the McKay family in those long ago days. It has been rather like a journey in a time machine. We have agreed on the issues that we can throw some light on. The attached information is offered in all good faith and to the best of our combined memories. My very best wishes to all the family. Enjoy your retirement - I can recommend it. Kind Regards Harry Thoughts of Libya In pursuit of more detailed information, I visited the military museum in Fremantle and obtained copies of military maps from Tobruk in 1941 detailing the position of various Battalions and strategic landmarks. I contacted the Australian War Graves Commission and obtained details of the cemetery where Ken McKay was buried. There was a lot of discussion with Dad and much excitement as each new piece of information about his father came to light or a question was answered. Inevitably, our minds turned to Libya, imagining the battlefield where Ken McKay was wounded and his final resting place in the desert on the outskirts of Tobruk. While the memory of Ken had been strongly held in the hearts of those that loved him, and woven through our family story, no one had ever visited his grave. He had been alone in the desert since 1941. With this in mind, we made a decision to travel to Libya. It was simply something we had to do. Mum and Dad would come, along with John, my husband, and little Soraya who was just four years old. Page 90 A Trip to Tobruk At the time, travel to Libya was difficult. Westerners were not permitted to travel the country without a Libyan minder. There were international sanctions in place as a result of the Lockerbie plane bombing, and consequently, it was not possible to obtain Libyan visas in Australia or transfer money to Libyan travel companies. We would need to travel to Malta to get visas from the Libyan Embassy in Valetta, and the entire trip would have to be paid for in cash. After much research I found a Libyan company, willing to accomodate our plans and we put together an ambitious itinerary. In addition to visiting Tobruk, we would descend deep into the Sahara desert to visit the Acacus Mountains on the Libyan/Algerian border before returning to the coast to visit numerous ancient Roman and Greek ruins along with the modern cities of Tripoli and Benghazi. It would be an incredible adventure and was all planned when the September 11 terrorist attacks occurred and America responded by invading Afghanistan. Anti-western sentiment was at an all time high as the political situation in the Middle East became increasingly unstable and unpredictable. We decided it was too dangerous to travel. A few years passed, but we did not stop thinking about Libya or forget about Ken McKay’s unvisited grave. Dad was getting older and had previously suffered a major heart attack, several strokes and a cancer scare. He had recovered well, but, his health was very uncertain. In 2003 we decided that if we were going to travel to Libya now was the time. Soraya was six years old. We had avoided the aftermath of September 11, however as preparations for our trip were being finalised, America’s inquiries into Iraq’s supposed weapons of mass destruction, had escalated into a military campaign. The political situation in the Middle East once again deteriorated at exactly the time we planned to travel. It was an anxious choice, but we decided to go anyway. We left Australia on 15th March 2003, flying to Dubai and then to Malta for a few days where we received our Libyan visas without incident. War in the Middle East now appeared imminent. In the preceding weeks, American attempts to obtain UN authorisation for the use of force against Iraq had failed spectacularly. Opposition to the proposed invasion of Iraq had coalesced worldwide, culminating in massive anti war protests. America and it’s allies remained undeterred. Leading a coalition force which included the United Kingdom, Australia, Poland, Spain, Denmark and Italy, America began massing troops on the Iraqi border. On March 17th, 2003, George Bush issued a final ultimatum to Sadaam Hussein and his sons giving them 48 hours to leave their country. We were still in Malta, when, on the 19th of March 2003, a few hours before the ultimatum deadline, coalition forces launched dramatic pre-emptive bombing strikes on several targets within Iraq. The following day the Iraqi Presidential Palace in Bagdad was bombed, and George Bush announced an ‘attack of opportunity’ as coalition forces began crossing the border into Iraq. The invasion had begun. It was the 20th of March 2003, the exact same day as our flight from Malta to Tripoli, the capital of Libya. Anti-western sentiment within the Arab world was at an all time high. Once again, we anxiously decided to go anyway and boarded our flight. Muammar Mohammed Abu Minyar Gaddafi. The Libyan visa, written in Arabic and pasted into our Source; The Internet passports. Source; Family Documents Page 91 Sometimes You Just Have to Trust Our plane landed in Tripoli and we entered the airport, conspicuous as the only westerners in the entire building. In the background TV screens blared in Arabic with Al Jazzera news broadcasting the start of the second Gulf War. We felt extremely vulnerable, however, our anxiety proved unfounded as we were respectfully ushered to the front of every queue and then out of the airport to a waiting car. We were driven to a hotel in the centre of Tripoli, where, we met Yousri, the owner of the Libyan travel company, Juddaim Travel. Yousri had put an enormous effort into arranging our complicated itinerary. Guides, accomodation, province entry permits and vehicles had all been arranged on trust that we would arrive. That night, we handed over payment for the entire trip in US dollars, and hoped desperately that someone from the travel company would appear the next day. They did, and it was a profound lesson in life that I have never forgotten, sometimes, if you want something, you just have to trust!! Ali Ghoula and Mum in Libya. Source; Family Album Soraya in the Sahara. Source; Family Album Our guide for the next six weeks was Ali Ghoula, a 30 year old petrochemical engineer, educated in London. Ali had been involved with the Scout movement in Libya since he was a child, spending a lot of time camping and travelling throughout his country. He drew on these experiences to work as a guide in his spare time. Ali was kind, funny and insightful, a genuine down to earth guy with a deep knowledge and love of his beautiful historic country. He was a wonderful guide. Page 92 The Sahara We drove south into the desert, and for the next month or so traversed the Sahara. In old Toyota Landcruisers with two exotic Tuareg drivers, Zaidan and Yah Yah, we drove through endless sand seas, stunning dune systems and massive dust storms. We explored decaying desert cities, climbed rugged mountains, swam in palm lined oasis, ate camel curry, and clambered through rocky caves to view ancient rock art. At night we cooked on campfires, told stories, sang songs, gazed at the stars and listened to Jackals howling in the distance. To the horror of Ali, Dad shunned his tent and slept in the sand, waking in the morning surrounded by the tracks of scorpions, desert mice, foxes and other night creatures. It truly was a trip of a life-time and one day will be the subject of another story. After exploring the Sahara we returned to the coast and headed East toward the Egyptian border and Tobruk, exploring numerous ancient Roman and Greek ruins on the way. Soraya, Zaidan, Yah Yah and Myself in the Sahara. Source; Family Album Soraya and Yah Yah at an oasis in the desert. Soraya, Zaidan and Yah Yah at an oasis. Source Family Album Source Family Album Page 93 The Second Gulf War Continues In almost every cafe and hotel foyer we visited, televisions blared in Arabic with Al Jazzera news broadcasting 24 hour coverage of the war in Iraq. It was difficult to piece together exactly what was happening but we managed to get the general idea and it wasn’t good. Our country was involved in an escalating war with the Arab world, yet everywhere we went we were treated with utmost respect. Almost all of the Libyan people we met expressed amazement and gratitude that we were interested in their country and had travelled so far to see it. Soraya making friends with Medusa in the ancient Roman City of Leptis Magna. Source; Family Album Having a young child with us helped immensely. Soraya was a happy and animated little girl, full of smiles, curiosity and laughs. From the very beginning, people have been drawn to her, and the Libyan folks absolutely love children. People would would cross the street to talk to us, often giving Soraya sweets or little gifts and pointing out any thing of interest in the neighbourhood. There was only one incident in the entire trip. In happened in Benghazi when a man in the street started yelling at us, loudly asking Why? Why? Why do Amrika, Britannia and Australi do this? Why Johnny Howard a dog for Bush? Ali tried to talk to him but he was extremely angry and left in a rage, still yelling. Bystanders in the street looked awkward and embarrassed. We continued wandering the city, and a few minutes later the man came back. He had calmed down and was now humble and very apologetic, explaining, it is not you, it is your government!! I am so sorry, please let me make it up to you, please come to my house for lunch!!. Page 94 Tobruk As we got closer to Ken McKay’s grave, emotions built. We had passed through the massive dirty city of Benghazi, the town of Derna and arrived at Tobruk, which was now a large sprawling town. It was a relief to finally be so close to our main objective. On each leg of our trip Juddaim Travel had provided local experts and guides so we could maximise our experience. That night, in the Tobruk Hotel we met with Idris, the Commissioner for Tourism for the province to discuss our itinerary for the next few days. Our main priority was Knightsbridge Cemetery and Ken McKay’s grave, however we also wanted to locate S6 and S7, visit Ras Al Medaaur and the site of the Australian Fig Tree Hospital. It was very strange, sad and intensely poignant to be tracing the threads left by a war that occurred 62 years ago, while a new war was raging in the region. I went to bed with very mixed emotions. Tomorrow was going to be an interesting day, exciting and sad, the culmination of an enormous amount of research, planning and trust. Tomorrow, my father would be with his father for the first time since 1941. I went to sleep hoping that my Dad was Ok. The next day, we left the hotel early in two utes, with Ali, Idris and a driver who knew the local area well. Knightsbridge Cemetery is located about 20 klms West of Tobruk. To get there we drove through the flat, stony, featureless desert. Soft dawn light and subtle colours, pierced the harshness of the surroundings. It was a place of intense contrasts. The cemetery was a place of peace, an oasis of serenity in a stark landscape. It was beautifully maintained by Mohammed, a Libyan caretaker and his family, who lived nearby. Mohammed had inherited the job from his father and took his role as guardian of the dead very seriously. Trees and gardens had been watered that morning and the ground was still wet. A gentle breeze was blowing, camels wandered along a low ridge line. It was difficult to believe that the cemetery was located literally on top of a brutal battle ground. Consummate evidence that absolutely everything in life changes, the very fact that we were there told the story. Tragic events leave deep scars which become woven through families and relationships, changing the fabric of the future and rippling down through subsequent generations with subtle mostly unseen yet profound effect. A herd of camels traverse a ridge in the desert outside Tobruk. Source; Family Album Page 95 Knightsbridge Cemetery Knightsbridge Cemetery is the final resting place for 3,649 fallen soldiers, their bodies gathered from many smaller battlefield burial grounds and scattered desert graves after the war. Soldiers from the United Kingdom, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Canada, France, Greece, Poland, Yugoslavia and Australia are buried there. Many of the dead could not be identified and were commemorated by 993 graves with headstones that simply read ‘Known unto God’. Two English soldiers, John Beeley and George Gunn buried at Knightsbridge earned Victoria Crosses for their courage and self sacrifice during battles in late 1941. Visiting such places, is a sobering reminder of the cost of war. The layout of Knightsbridge War Cemetery Acroma. Source; Commonwealth War Graves Commission The grave of an Unknown Soldier buried at Knightsbridge War Cemetery. One of Many. Source; Family Album Page 96 Together After 62 Years We easily found Ken McKay’s grave, located in Plot 7, Row B Number 22. It was marked with a standard white granite headstone, inscribed with the words ’ Private Ken Mckay WX 3836. Loving Wife, Son and Mother’. The inscription had been chosen by my Nan and Ken’s Mum at some point in the past. In anticipation of the occasion we had an Australian flag with us and a bouquet of dried pressed flowers, Kangaroo Paws, Everlastings, Leschanaultia and Wattle that Dad had picked from the bush at home. It was a very emotional few hours as we laid the flowers on the grave and draped it with our Australian flag. My Dad, Ken McKay at the grave of his father, Private Kenneth McKay. Source; Family Album It is a difficult experience to describe, felt rather than thought and forever seared into our memories. There were tears and contemplation and of course a lot of photos. Many of Ken McKay’s friends, mentioned in his letters home were buried in adjoining plots. We had a list of men to visit and one by one we found their graves and took a picture for any relatives and descendants back home. In the background six year old Soraya played with rocks and sticks amongst the headstones. Dad with his Dad in 1941. Source; Family Album Page 97 It was very hard for all of us to leave the cemetery. This day had been so long coming and we didn’t want to sever the fragile connection that had just opened up. A lot happened during those few hours yet most of it can never be expressed in words. Ken McKay, Melissa McKay and Soraya Haynes at the grave of Private Kenneth McKay. Source; Family Album Knightsbridge Cemetery page from my Libya album. Source; Family Album Page 98 The Fig Tree With very raw feelings we got back into the utes and drove through the desert to the famous Fig Tree. This was the site of an Australian Field Hospital, located safely underground in an elaborate cave system and marked by a defiant twisted fig tree growing over the entrance. The Fig Tree Australian Field Hospital in 1941. Soraya at the site of the Fig Tree Australian Field Source; Australian War Memorial Hospital in 2003. Source; Family Album That ancient gnarly tree had seen terrible things, but life moves on, as evidenced by the baby green leaves and buds along the branches. This was a place where wounded soldiers were treated and men sheltered from the battle, heat, dust and noise. The cave beneath the tree had fallen in and was flooded with water so it was impossible to go inside. New leaves from the Fig Tree. Source; The Fig Tree Page 99 The Battle Ground Apart from the tree and the cave entrance, the surrounding desert was devoid of features until you looked closely. Absolutely everywhere, the hard rocky ground was scarred with shallow circular depressions a few metres in diameter. Bomb craters. A bomb crater at the site of a 1941 battlefield. Source; Family Album A study of the ground revealed that most ‘rocks’ were in fact twisted, rusted shards of metal, some small and some large. Shrapnel from the war. A few pieces were recognisable as fragments of grenade shells, mortar bombs and projectiles. Scattered within this brutal museum were personal remnants of the men who fought and died. Rusted metal water canteens, plates, belt buckles, watch cogs and tobacco tins. Remnants of weapons on the battlefield. Source; Family Album Page 100 In the Trenches We continued on to a series of well preserved interconnected concrete trenches and bunker systems. These had been built during the Italian occupation before the war and connected the series of defensive strongpoints including S6 and S7 which formed the perimeter around Tobruk. Ken McKay had lost his life when the 2/28th attempted to capture these strongpoints from the Germans. It was fascinating to see where it all happened. Soraya in a Strongpoint trench. A wide trench linking strongpoints. Source; Family Album Source; Family Album To get a sense of scale and actually see the landmarks mentioned in the Battalion war diaries and marked on the battle maps. The immense strategic value of the strongpoints, bunkers and trenches was explicit in this barren landscape devoid of feature and shelter. Surrounding the trenches, were massive rolls of tangled barbed wire, the remains of the ‘wire’ barriers that protected the strongpoints. Miles and miles of rusty wire had literally been rolled up into great balls which now stood silhouetted on the horizon as knowing sentinels that had seen it all. Remains of the Italian Fortifications over which many battles took place in 1941. Source Family Album Page 101 As we fossicked in and around the trenches we found many live bullets, a few rusty but intact grenades, and one unexploded anti tank mine which on initial inspection had looked like a jam tin lid. We opened a couple of the bullets and found that even after all of these years, the gunpowder still burnt brightly when lit with a match. Everyone was extremely wary of the mine and even though it appeared to be rusted out, Ali and Idriss very gently built a wall of rocks around it to prevent future horror. The terror that these devices must have invoked in 1941 when they were everywhere was unimaginable. Interestingly the trench system and concrete ruins have created the ideal habitat for snakes. We found three death adders in just a few hours, the only snakes we had seen on our entire trip, fitting occupants for this horrific place. A land mine. Large tracts of the desert were mined. Source; Family Album After a few more hours exploring the area our drive through the desert continued. We found another fig tree not far from the trenches and had our lunch. Sitting in a grassy spot under the shade of the trees, eating chicken and salad, it was very difficult to comprehend what had happened here, 62 years ago. It really can only be described by a word I hesitate to use, surreal. Lunch under a Fig Tree in the desert. Source; Family Album Page 102 End of an Extraordinary Day After lunch we drove to Ras el Medaur (Hill 209), the only significant hill in the area, strategically prized high ground and the site of many battles and skirmishes during the siege. We climbed to the top and wandered through the remains of a Roman fort. This hill had been sought after for over 3000 years.. From the top of the hill we were able to see for a long way in all directions, the Town of Tobruk distinctly visible in the distance. We headed back in the direction of Tobruk and spent the rest of the day visiting a small and musty museum. There were lots of Italian war time relics, a motorbike, various weapons and gas masks. There was a photo of Rommel sent by his wife after his untimely death, and other photos showing land mines and bombs being exploded after the war. A collection of terribly sad images showed Libyan people, many of them children missing limbs and badly wounded after they had stepped on land mines left from the war. Tragedy had continued long after the war was over and both armies had left the country. Soraya on a WW2 motorbike in the Tobruk Museum. Source; Family Album That night we had a delicious meal in Tobruk, a huge grilled fish shared by everyone, followed by a smaller fish for each person along with the usual soups, salads, dips and bread that make up modern Libyan fare. We discussed the day in detail with Ali and Idriss trying to make sense of all we had seen. I had my copy of Chester Wilmots book ‘Tobruk’ with me, and Idriss in particular was fascinated. He took the book to his office to have it photocopied in entirety while we ate. Even now, almost twenty years later that day stands out as one of a very few in my life that have been truly extraordinary. Exhausted, we went to bed and the next day we headed West along the coast back toward Benghazi. Page 103 Home to Australia Our trip ended a week or so later after we had explored the ancient Roman cities of Leptus Magna and Sabratha. We returned to Tripoli and during our final few days had the honour of meeting Ali’s parents and sisters and enjoying an extravagant home cooked Libyan dinner in his family home. It was a fitting end to our trip and the perfect way to say goodbye to this gentle and insightful man who had made everything possible. I have never forgotten Ali’s kindness. We boarded a plane in Tripoli flew back to Malta and then home to Australia. It took a while to process the enormity of what had been experienced, and then as it does, life went on. Soraya, my beautiful baby girl. The one great love of my life!! Source; Family Album Fifteen Years Later It is now 2018 and fifteen years have passed since our trip to Libya. Everything has changed and nothing has changed. My parents are older. Dad is now 79 and going well, having made it to a good age against all odds. Soraya is 21 and has grown into a beautiful, kind, capable and independent young women, that loves adventure. Along with Killian, my sister Melainie’s son, she will carry the legacy of her Great Grandfather, Ken McKay, into new generations. Impish, intelligent, cheeky children of the future. Dad, geared up for an Eagles match. The beautiful Soraya all grown up. Source; Family Album Source; Family Album Page 104 Everything and Nothing has Changed The second Gulf War ended many years ago but the fallout continues as large swathes of the Middle East are gripped by violent fundamentalism and unrest. The tense political stability in Libya fell apart in 2011 when Dictator Colonel Ghadaffi, was deposed as leader and killed leaving a dark political vacuum. Seven years later, the vast country remains in turmoil as a fragile UN backed Government attempts to unify the interests of rival factions, and mend deepening idealogical, geographical and economic divides that are choking the country. Within the chaos and instability, armed militias, warlords and terrorist organisations force dark ugly agendas creating angry seeds of future wars. Thousands and thousands of people, soldiers, civilians, men, women, children and babies have died terrible deaths. The absolute, indescribable horror of war continues and, in the middle of all this, Ken McKay’s grave sits in the desert where it has always been. Within my family, the impact from Ken McKay’s death back in 1941 is still felt. My Dad, Ken McKay junior has lived a full, happy, adventure filled life. Yet within the normality is a strong restlessness. A yearning for the unreachable, the impact of a hole which could never be filled, a place where enough is never enough. It is something which has pervaded Dad’s life, gifting him with incredible endurance, driving ambition and a work ethic that cannot be beaten. It has taken him to amazing places and driven him to take risks and do things few others would. Yet, beneath the adventure is a sense of hollowness and sadness that can not be reached and occasionally lashes out in misdirected frustration. Dad is a complicated man, an unforgettable character, and the darkness I speak of is balanced by a fascinating, unpredictable and irreverent sense of humour, generosity, fairness, kindness, empathy and deep love for his family. In many ways I am very similar in personality to my Dad, either through nature or nurture and many of the traits I have just described exist within me and my life. To a small degree I understand and share what he feels. Within my family is a need to seek approval, be loved and a deep longing to be known and seen for who we truly are. I believe some of this can be directly attributed to the tragic events of 1941. Understanding where we have come from and why is integral to understanding ourselves and this in part is what has driven my obsession to know as much as I can of my Grandfather’s life and death. It has been fascinating to uncover those events and, rightly or wrongly link them to broader traits and behaviours that I see within my family and myself. A photo of me, Melissa Zappelli. Source; Family Album Page 105 A Tribute to My Grandparents To end this story I would like to pay tribute to my Grandfather Ken McKay and my beautiful Nan. My Grandfather and Dad Nan Ken McKay was barely a man when he gave his life for his country. His letters showed that he loved Nan and baby Ken dearly. They also showed that he had a wonderful sense of humour and insight. ‘The Soldier’ poem written by Paul Buddee from memories of those who fought beside him show that he left a deep impression on those he met and was loved by his mates and fellow soldiers. The night he was wounded, Ken McKay made it to the wire, he crossed booby trapped minefields, and fought in an intense battle before he was shot in the chest. These actions speak of bravery, courage and loyalty to those fighting with him. Within Ken McKay’s letters is a strong sense of love, for his wife and son, for his Mum, for his Sisters, for his extended family and for his friends and fellow soldiers. He was very young, but, he knew the value of love. Nan was just a girl when she fell pregnant and married Ken McKay. At tender age she had to navigate the disapproval of both families and face the challenges of married life with a newborn baby. Australia’s involvement in the war compounded Nan’s difficulties as she faced a looming separation from her handsome, young husband at a time when she really needed him. It is difficult to imagine the emotions and anxiety that must have pervaded Nan’s life when Ken McKay left Australia. It is even more difficult to imagine the grief she felt when her childhood sweetheart was killed and her world fell apart. Nan was a soft, gentle, quiet lady but inside she must have had incredible strength, tenacity and endurance to survive those difficulties and move on happily in life. I never thought of these things when Nan was alive and we never spoke of her first husband. The first inkling I had of Nan’s internal strength was when she was dying. The cancer that overtook her body was ugly, but Nan faced death with unshakeable, quiet dignity and great courage. She did not look back. Nan’s last words of advice will always ring loudly in my mind. Those words shine strongly through Ken McKay’s letters. They are woven integrally through the fabric of my family. They affect the world in a far broader context. Those words apply to everything. ‘Lissie, You Just Have to Love Everyone’.