Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

written 2002 by my father, Mervyn Thomas Pallant

Born 4th July 1916 at home at Willyaroo, so my sister tells me. My young life was simple and very rewarding, with no worries. I look back now and wonder how mum and dad reared us seven children, we were all so happy. My job was to get the kindling wood for dad to light the open fire early in the morning, one night I missed getting it. I was always one to get into bed as quickly as I could after the evening meal. I heard dad talking about me not getting the firewood in, he called out “are you asleep Mervyn ?”, of course I said “yes”, he couldn't scald me for laughing. Dad was very strict with us, and told us “never let me catch you stealing anything.” One day at Belvidere, George and I went bike riding and I saw a pear tree in a paddock, I said “George, look, they are ripe !”, we ate one each, then put a few in our shirts and went home, and put them under the bed, in a bag. Mum was making the bed, when her foot touched something, it was our pears, o – oh. At the tea table dad says, “okay boys, where did you get the pears ?” “Mr Ropers dad,” “well” he said, “tomorrow, you take them back, and tell Mr Roper, what you did.” We would rather he scalded us. When we to Mr Roper's, he said, “hello boys, what are you doing here.” His answer was “boys will be boys, take them home and get your mother to make a pie with them.”
My first work away from home was at 'Dalveen', the Richardson family property at Woodchester, minding sheep on road, the wage being 10 shillings a week, very boring. My second job was cutting timber for dad at Macclesfield for shed building. I remember Horace, my eldest brother driving a model 'T' ford truck, for carting timber logs over the river and up the hill, to the road, two at a time, them unload, and come back for more. He had me carrying a stone up the hill, in case the old bus stopped. One day I put the stone under the wheel, but forgot to take my finger out, “oh boy”.
A little later in life, dad bought 500 acres of scrub land in the Belvidere area, and we boys helped him build a scrub roller, which was pulled by horses, to knock the scrub down, and then it was burnt. Later on dad said that some of us had to go out to work as their were too many mouths to feed at home.
On the 6th January 1936, I went to work for Arthur Davidson on an Angas Plains farming property. Horace, my eldest brother, was already working there. I went for 2 weeks, to help cart hay, when hay carting was finished, he kept me on, as he was getting old, the wage was 2 pounds and 5 shillings a week. About 2 years later my old boss died, and the property was left to his two nephews, and I continued to work for them.
When World War 2 broke out, I was in the 18 to 24 age group, being called up for service in the C.M.F. my number being S29913, transferred into the horse transport, stayed in this unit for sometime, before being transferred into the water transport in the A.I.F. My number was SX38168. I married Margaret McMillan on the 18th of April 1942. And after a short break was sent to New Britain. I was in a landing barge company, and was given the duty of engineer. Our first task was ship to shore, as there was no wharf, troops and supplies. While waiting to come home after war ended, I was given the task of looking after 300 Japanese prisoner's of war, discharged with the rank of sergeant. I did enjoy my army life, sometimes risky, other times amusing.
After being discharged from the army, Margaret and I lived at Belvidere for a short while, and then moved to 'Woodburn', Angas Plains, on the Davidson's property where I worked, until we bought our own property at Angas Plains. While at 'Woodburn' I had the use of 20 acres, where I kept 6 cows, and at one stage, 300 laying hens, when in full lay, selling 90 dozen eggs per week, which was quite a steady income, along with my wages. We raised three sons (James, Kevin, and Trevor) while at 'Woodburn', and they all attended the Strathalbyn primary and high schools.
In 1960 we bought a small property at Angas Plains, our main source of income from dairying, growing lucerne, and potatoes watered from bores, two of which we sunk ourselves. Margaret liked cooking and exhibiting in shows. She entered a 'bake a cake - win a car' competition, sponsored by Harpers cornflour, the judge being Lilian Newman, the cooking expert. Margaret was the lucky winner, - the car was a Simca Aronde, built by Chrysler, the presentation took place at the Burnside town hall. Her other interests were oil and china painting, some of her paintings are hanging in the Strathalbyn Kalimna Hostel. Margaret was also a keen lawn bowler, being club champion three times at Milang woman's bowling club. After a long battle with cancer, Margaret passed away on the 18th of November 1985, a great loss to me and my family. I carried on the property as best I could, under great strain, for a number of years.
Eventually the property was sold, and I now live in retirement in Strathalbyn. In 1992, I remarried, Joan Stacey, and we enjoy playing lawn bowls, indoor bowls, cards, bingo and the fellowship of the members of the senior citizens, I also volunteer for several organisations.