Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

“HOME Monday, marry Wednesday” . That’s the telegram Bob McAuley sent to his fiance Margaret in June 1944 while serving on the HMAS Shropshire in the Pacific Ocean during World War II.

Bob served in the Royal Australian Navy from 1942-46 as part of a team which loaded ammunition shells into the back of eight-inch guns.

Born to Thomas, who also served in the navy, during World War I, and Lois, he was the eldest of five boys.

After Thomas took a job with SA Railways, he, Lois and six-week-old Bob moved from WA to Manoora, in the Mid North of South Australia.

They moved to Adelaide in 1930, where Bob went to Brompton Primary School.

At school, he met Margaret, who lived four doors down from his family home in Brompton. Once Bob was in high school at Thebarton Boys Technical, Margaret’s father banned her from seeing him, so he would climb a windmill in his backyard to yell out “hello” to her.

Bob played state school football, kicking five goals in one game on the Melbourne Cricket Ground. But the war interrupted his football, as well as his new job as a junior draughtsman.

During the war, Bob saw active service throughout the Pacific , including the Battle of Leyte Gulf, one of the biggest naval campaigns.

He was also at the signing of the surrender in Tokyo Bay in September 1945.

While on leave for 10 days in October 1943, he popped the question to Margaret.

She was making ammunition at a Penfield factory at the time. Later, she would joke: “I’ll make the shells, Bob, and you shoot them.”

They married at Scots Church, on North Terrace, city, on June 7, 1944. Daughter Rosemary was born in 1946, followed by Jenny in 1948.

They moved into their own home in Flinders Park in 1953 after living in a granny flat for seven years. Son Lindsay was born in February 1961.

After several jobs, Bob became state manager for Kosta Boda glassware, during which he would frequently travel interstate and overseas.

He retired from work in 1985 and, while at a relative’s funeral, made a decision to start documenting the family tree. This started a 35-year passion for genealogy.

Also in 1985, he helped start the Flinders Park Neighbourhood Watch and was involved in the program for almost five years. He won 1986 Citizen of the Year at the former Woodville Council.

Bob and Margaret moved into a retirement village in 1987 and, in 2017, she passed away after illness. Bob continued to organise the annual family Christmas party at the Lakes Resort Hotel. He died at 96 after a short illness.

Bob is survived by children Rosemary, Jenny and Lindsay, seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren .


Copyright © 2020 News Pty Limited