Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Born at Willaston, in Gawler on the 22nd October, 1915 to Walter John and Johanna (Annie) Gertrude Tape, Ken was one of seven children including Dorothy, Jim, Ken, Stan, Myrie, Audrey and Marcia who were all part of a strongly Lutheran family. Aged fourteen Ken was one of ten boys and four girls to be confirmed in the Gawler Zion Lutheran Church in an evening service.
Ken attended Gawler High School, where, as a 12-year-old, he was chosen in the representative team to play football against Woodville High. The local Bunyip newspaper reported that he was ‘constantly in the limelight’ and one of the best players.
Ken followed his father in learning the trade of a baker. Whilst undertaking deliveries in April ’40 Ken was attempting a ‘speedy’ delivery but unfortunately was charged with reckless driving following an accident on Ral Ral Avenue when his van struck the radiator of a car, turning that vehicle around. Ken’s van mounted the curb and broke three posts. The discrepancy between the speed Ken was travelling and that assessed by a witness suggested that the lengthy skid marks of Ken’s van were more in keeping with travel at 50 miles per hour rather than his estimated 25 mph. The prosecuting Sergeant asked for a substantial fine with Ken being fined £5, with court fees 10/- and witness fees of 12/6. This was an expensive lesson.
Just months later, with the outbreak of war, 24-year-old Ken was an early enlistee at Renmark on the 12th August ’40 as S26625 with the 48th Battalion. Training at Woodside followed where his leadership skills were recognised with an early promotion to Corporal in June 41 and within a month, he was appointed L/Sergeant in July. Ken then assumed full time duties in September ’41 as SX24923, enlisting on the 18th July 1942 at Walgrove in New South Wales. Initially with the 48th Battalion, Ken was transferred to the Infantry in October ’42 and was soon promoted to Sergeant. He was fortunate in being able to spend Christmas that year home on leave.
In ’43 Ken had two stints where he could again spend his leave at home – in February and July for a considerable time to help at the family bakery, recognised as an ‘essential service’. This first leave also coincided with his sister, Audrey marrying Sergeant Harry Lock, a Rat of Tobruk serving with the 2/48th battalion. Ken acted as groomsman for Harry. In later years Harry become known as a ‘living treasure’ and legend of Renmark.
In October, whist in Adelaide heading back to join his unit interstate, Ken was again recalled back home as his mother had been knocked down whilst unharnessing a horse, fracturing her jaw in three places, breaking two ribs and badly straining her shoulder. Resultantly she spent several weeks in hospital and was unable to work in the family bakery. As such, the business was granted extra petrol rations for their deliveries pursuance to a licence which was granted under the official National Security Regulations, by the Liquid Fuel Control Board. Ken was finally discharged from the 147 Light Anti-Aircraft Battery on the 11th December ’43.
Being generous, Ken gave his brother eight gallons of fuel for personal use. This was a costly error, resulting in a hefty fine of £7/10/-, with costs of £1/11/- imposed by the Renmark Court early in March ‘44. Considering that Ken had served his country and been comparatively young at 28, he escaped a possible gaol sentence. This would have been catastrophic for the family planning the wedding of Ken’s sister Myrie to Kevin Chegwidden weeks later. (Kevin was SX7159 with the Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.)
Post war, Ken returned to playing for the Renmark Town Tennis Club. At the Opening Day in September ’48 a presentation was made to Ken on his forthcoming wedding to nurse Dorothy Mavis Roberts, from Kangaroo Island, who had worked at the Renmark Hospital. The two were popular mixed doubles players for the club. Heartfelt wishes were extended by the members for the couple’s every happiness for the future and the hope that they would both be members of the club for many years to come. The following month, the Henderson family held a pre-wedding party for Ken with competitions, magic performances, items and the highly entertaining ballet dance by the ‘Shubobgeoffhenski’ troupe of friends Shubert, Ward, Abbott and Henderson. Supper and a presentation followed this hilarious performance.
Following their wedding at the Kingscote Methodist Church on October 14th 1948, the couple honeymooned at Victor Harbor and Kangaroo Island before returning to live in Renmark. Ken continued to work as a baker for Star Bakeries as a foreman. His skills and expertise were not initially recognised or financially compensated until Ken finally took the company owners to court in March ’49 where he was granted £60/17/11 back wages. (This followed an incident where a frustrated Ken had attempted to extract 10/- in silver from the change bags being prepared for the cart hands.)
Ken continued to be an active supporter of the Renmark Sub Branch, including being Vice President at the fourth Anniversary. In that time, membership had grown from an initial 21 to 130 members with the aim of striving for a square deal for ex-servicemen and women. Both he and Dorothy were also active in raising funds for the Renmark Town School through such activities as a VP Ball.
By March ’50 Ken and Dorothy welcomed their first child, Kenneth George, born at the local Renmark District Hospital. Four further children, Charmaine, Margaret, David and Sue followed.
Aged 76, Ken died on the 30th April 1992 and was buried in the Upper Murray Garden of Memory in the Barmera Cemetery. 62-year-old Dorothy died in November 2009.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133 2/48th Battalion.