Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Contributed by Kingston Community School

Allan Charles Leslie Beggs was born to Ivy Beatrice Beggs (nee Matherson) and Theodore Charles Beggs, on April 23, 1920, in Ararat, Victoria. The family moved to South Australia in a horse and buggy when Beggs was just a toddler, and he attended Lucindale Area school until the first term of Grade 3; he had no further schooling or education. He learnt to persevere through challenging times at a young age, residing in a tent with his family until they could source and afford a property at Reedy Creek. He was the eldest in a large family of 4 brothers and 3 sisters. Beggs was a labourer, living and working on a family farm in Reedy Creek; a small farming community in the states' south east. He would also supplement his income by working in local shearing sheds to contribute to the family's financial stability.

Beggs enlisted for the Australian Imperial Force, much to his mother's dismay, on March 31, 1941 in Wayville, South Australia. Inspired by a sense of duty, and a desire to follow in his father's footsteps, he was the only sibling to enlist. Beggs' father Theodore Charles Beggs, a WWI veteran, served in France and Gallipoli which Australians were unprepared for. Australian troops were accustomed to the dry, flat territory of their home soil, meaning they were required to acclimatise to the cruel climate, deep valleys, exceedingly steep inclines, and drenching rain once in Papua New Guinea. Not only were the soldiers affected by the war, the local Papua New Guineans alike struggled, facing problems such as starvation, disease and casualties from military action.

The battle of Kokoda was deemed one of the hardest battles fought in WWII, as it was disease ridden and exhausting. When the war concluded, soldiers reflected upon their time at war, sharing and comparing their experiences to those of other Australian troops. Fellow south east farmer, Desmond George Loxton, who fought in the deserts of North Africa as a 'Rat of Tobruk', stated that he had the utmost respect for the "Kokoda boys", and that Loxton's troop were fortunate to not have fought in Papua Guinea. "I think we had it better off than the Kokoda... we had desert, dust and flies... those boys had to fight in the jungle. We did not have it as tough as they had it."This comment concurs with the statement that Australian soldiers were not adequately prepared to fight in the gruelling conditions of the jungle. After stating the difficulties faced by Australian soldiers on the Kokoda Trail, the struggles alike of the Japanese troops should not be overlooked as they also suffered tremendously, the battle taking the lives of over 10,000 Japanese soldiers.

Beggs met Jean in hospital when his sister, Kit brought her to visit him, and the two fell in love. Later in the war, Beggs was granted 7 days leave, so he wrote to Jean, asking her to marry him. She accepted and was left with one week to plan the wedding, the family used all of their war coupons to buy material for her mother to make her wedding dress. They married on February 20, 1945, and shortly after Beggs then returned to New Guinea to continue fighting. The battalion went on to fight in the battles of Balikpapan, North Borneo, Gana, Ramu Valley and Shaggy Ridge. When he was officially discharged from war on January 9, 1946, Beggs and Jean lived together in a happy marriage for 66 years, until sadly Jean passed away in 2007.

Upon his return from war, Beggs went back to work for Ralph England at "The Snuggery ", a locally owned farm on Tapfields Road. He remained working at The Snuggery for 34 years before retiring. Beggs was actively involved in the community and RSL until he became bedridden due to failing health, suffering from Chronic Obstructive Airways Disease.