Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Samuel, named in honour of his father, was born in Bendigo, Victoria to Annie Elizabeth (May) and Samuel Henry Bolitho on the 16th September, 1909. He was one of three children, including brother William Lindsay and sister, Betty. Samuel Snr moved to Port Augusta to work in the Commonwealth Railways. A number of incidents whilst an engine driver (including allowing the water to get too low in the boiler of an engine and called ‘unskilful enginemanship’) probably contributed to him enlisting to serve in WWI. In France Samuel Snr. sustained a gunshot wound to his hand in April ’18 but was able to recover in an English hospital. That injury, plus reported fractures to both legs when he was thrown from a buggy and run over several years prior to enlisting, all eventually contributed to his discharge.
Back in Port Augusta, Samuel was heavily involved in the community, serving on the Local Council, including being particularly vocal in support of the establishment of a maternity ward at the hospital and post WWI, the establishment of a soldiers’ memorial, and raising funds for the Tubercular Soldiers’ Appeal. He was also an active supporter of sporting competitions, including donating a medal for ‘the best all-round veteran (a playing member for over eight years).’
It was therefore inevitable that Samuel Jnr, known as Jeff, became an active sportsman in both cricket and football, where he earned his nickname of ‘Scrapper’. He played cricket for Curdnatta, where he proving to be useful with both bat and ball, earning selection in the Port Augusta Representative team. Jeff was very much a team player, as illustrated by him scoring a very quick 25 runs in ’32 and then retiring to give his teammates a hit. Probably his most exciting but equally frustrating match was played for Curdnatta against Railways in February ’27. Railways had scored 135 all out when the Curdnatta ‘tail began to wag’. The Transcontinental reported that ‘The last two batsmen - Jeff Bolitho and E. M. S. Hutton- each had one run to their credit, and their team only wanted two to win or one to draw. Excitement was at a high pitch when Bolitho hit a short one and called to run, with the result that his partner was run out, and Railways won the day.’ So close..
Playing football for South, Jeff was frequently mentioned in the best player list, particularly for his clever passing and tenacity, which contributed to his affectionate nickname of ‘Scrapper’. By June ’27, during an adjournment in the B grade match at Stirling oval, members of his South Football Club assembled to farewell Jeff prior to his leaving for Adelaide to work as a clerk. Jeff’s association with the club was praised, as were his football skills. He was then presented with a leather kit bag. Embarrassed at the unexpected praise, Jeff sincerely thanked the players and spectators before the game resumed.
When his older brother, Lindsay married Maybelle Giles in February ’39 in Port Augusta, Jeff was honoured to act as groomsman. War, however, was looming. Aged 31, Jeff followed his father’s example by enlisted to serve on the 10th June ’41 at Wayville. He was allocated the number SX13181 initially in the 2/10th Battalion but then to the 2/48th Battalion as part of the reinforcements. Training at Woodside during those winter months contributed to him contracting an upper respiratory tract infection prior to pre-embarkation leave. At that time, he returned home to a presentation by the Port Augusta Swimming Club which presented him and Robert Crotty SX13729, also an enlistee from the 2/48th Battalion, with a wallet containing a 10/- note. Jeff was also feted at the R.S.A. Clubrooms with the sub-branch also presenting him with a gift.
Soon after, over 500 people attended a Civic Service at the Town Hall on the Day of National Prayer, observed at the express wish of His Majesty the King. A huge parade of clubs marched to the venue. Jeff and Robert were two of six enlistees home on leave who were seated on the stage with the Mayor and other officials. As part of the formalities, Jeff and Robert were honoured by the President of the R.S.A. who shared that he had ‘known both Jeff Bolitho and Bob Crotty for the major portion of their lives. Having played cricket with both these boys he was able to speak of their qualities and mentioned that when batting against the enemy there would be no slow bowlers to bat against, but all fast ones, and their job would be to keep their heads down.’ He continued to praise their willingness to serve their King and country before then presenting each with a distinctive certificate from the Corporation and citizens of Port Augusta. The singing of the National Anthem concluded the formalities.
Both young men were then on their way to the Middle East. Soon after his arrival, Jeff spent time with the Trig Battalion, before being graded as a Group III clerk, building on his civilian skills. Fellow soldiers who returned home in December, including Horace Press SX10627 who had lost his right leg above the knee, reported seeing other local men, including Jeff. In the early months of service, Jeff made several challenges to Officer’s commands with the resultant punishments escalating from an admonishment to the forfeiture of a hefty month’s pay by November ’42. This may well have been in relation to an incident in August ’42 where a ‘certain high ranking Axis officer’, an Italian Colonel was captured but on arrival at camp complained about some thieving Australian soldier who had the nerve to ‘clifti’ his watch; receiving ‘a sympathetic hearing from those who sit and fight at base’ according to John Glenn in Tobruk to Tarakan. This escalated to an order that the 2/48th immediately restore the watch. Despite kit inspections over several days the elusive watch was never found in the belongings of the cohesive and highly loyal members of the 2/48th. The men resented being ‘mucked about’. George Bonney and Co printed the original issue of the Khamseen Kronicle on 17th August 1942. It included a poem by fellow soldier in Jeff’s battalion Port Lincoln’s ‘Lofty’ Whait SX11158, known as the Bard of D Company. It was titled ‘The Watch’ which clearly captured the resentment and frustration of the Battalion. Jeff sent a copy of the poem home to his family. The poem included the stanzas:
“The 48th is in disgrace for robbing an Axis nob;
Some rascal snatched a Colonel’s watch worth about two bob,
It surely was an awful deed; in the army it’s just not done,
And I suppose until they find it, no victory can be won.” And concluded with:
“I don’t suppose they asked him who took our comrades’ lives
Took away those good Australians, leaving sorrowing kids and wives,
No, they’ll see that he is comfortable and treat him like a toff
While the people at home are paying us to kill the blighters off.”

Unfortunately, just prior to returning to Australia in ’43 Jeff was adjudged neglectful in losing his military equipment, for which he was fined. His record does not indicate what was lost.
Following brief leave at home, Jeff then travelled to Queensland with his battalion to prepare for a very different enemy in the tropical conditions of New Guinea. Just months after arriving in Milne Bay he contracted his first bout of malaria, a disease which was to continue to be debilitating for Jeff. He also contracted a very high fever (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin) which preceded him contracting malaria in September ’44. Service in Morotai, then Tarakan followed. . A fellow Port Augusta friend, Gunner Winter, wrote home to the local RSL Sub branch in May “to let you diggers at the club know how the local lads are going up at Tarakan, Borneo. Being artillery men, Sugar Hall and I have a little more time to do the writing. Jim Absolom, Jim Just, Bob Crotty and "Scranner" Bolitho, of that famous infantry unit which has a credit of four Victoria Crosses, are living up to the name they made in Africa. There are quite a number of Port Augusta lads here in Borneo. I know that they haven’t time to write, but I am sure that when they all get home they will have some interesting tales to tell."
A fellow Port Augusta friend, Gunner Winter, wrote home to the local RSL Sub branch in May “to let you diggers at the club know how the local lads are going up at Tarakan, Borneo. Being artillery men, Sugar Hall and I have a little more time to do the writing. Jim Absolom, Jim Just, Bob Crotty and "Scranner" Bolitho, of that famous infantry unit which has a credit of four Victoria Crosses, are living up to the name they made in Africa. There are quite a number of Port Augusta lads here in Borneo. I know that they haven’t time to write, but I am sure that when they all get home they will have some interesting tales to tell."
With the surrender of the Japanese, Jeff was soon promoted to Corporal and was part of the force which travelled to Japan as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force. He wrote to friends back home soon after arriving with the Transcontinental reporting that that he had “arrived in Japan, with the Australian occupation forces and is in camp at a place called Kaitaichi, about 5 miles from Hiroshima (of atom bomb fame). Cpl. Bolitho states that the weather is freezing cold, snow falling on the mountains nearby. The Aussies are all being well looked after, the Jap men doing all the manual work and the Jap women, the washing. He adds that the Hiroshima folk didn't exactly cordially greet the Australians. However, that was to be expected when one sees that their city had been a big place but is now transformed to just nothing.”
Whilst still serving, Sam married Venice Way. In February ’47, he was appointed L/Sergeant but unfortunately, several incidents of malaria continued to affect him while he was in Japan. He was stationed there when two diverse family events occurred. The first was the death of his father, Samuel, who had been in ill health for some time and died in the Port August hospital on the 9th September ’46. Jeff was awarded leave on compassionate grounds enabling him to return briefly to Australia in November ’46. Jeff and Venice placed a tribute in the local Transcontinental the following year ‘BOLITHO: In loving memory of Pop (late 1st AIF), who passed away at Port Augusta after a long illness. Inserted by Jeff (BCOF) and Ven. Rest in Peace.’
Back in Japan in June, Jeff had a brief brush with his Commanding Officer for not appearing on Parade, earning a reprimand. Far better news arrived in September ’47 when Venice delivered their daughter at the Mile End Emergency Hospital.
Illness continued to affect Jeff with a digestive complaint resulted in him being hospitalised for a week before his final return to Australia via Sydney in time to celebrate Christmas ’48. He was officially discharged in January ’49.
Aged 70, Sam died of heart related illness on the 9th May 1980. He was buried at Centennial Park where a plaque commemorates his service. Venice lived for a further nine years. Aged 79, she died on the 2nd December 1989 and her name added to Jeff’s plaque.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.