Virtual
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Australia

Robert was a country boy, born in Cowell on the 13th January 1918 and raised in the nearby town of Cleve, a farming town on the Central Eyre Peninsula. His parents were Arthur and Helena Spriggs, proud of their large family where Robert was the sixth child and third son of nine children. These included Ruby Alice, Marjory May, Edward Arthur, Clement Keith, Lorna Mary, Gilbert James, Daphne Estelle, and Valda Camella Linette who all attended the local Yadnarie School.
Robert, called Max, was a capable athlete, participating in the local Rudall Athletic Sports held in Autumn, attracting participants from all the surrounding communities, including Cowell, Mangalo, Cummins, Verran, Yadnarie, Waddikee, Arno Bay and Rudall. Max won the Consolation Race in March and was one of the competitors noted as ‘shaping well’ in the ensuing competitions. Other Athletic Competitions were also run at Cleve to raise funds for the Cleve Institute, where Max ran second in the 220-yard handicap.
With the Depression contributing to extreme shortages of employment and the outbreak of WWII, Max was unemployed. A huge recruitment drive was implemented, aimed at encouraging fit, single young men, particularly in country areas, to enlist. 22-year-old Max heeded the call and signed up in September ‘40 as SX10476 being allocated to the 2/48th Battalion. He initially undertook two courses, a rifle then Map Reading Course. Training in the mid-north area of Terowie followed. By March Max, by then a Corporal, and three others, returned to Cleve on precious six days of pre-embarkation leave. They included SX11289 Private Bill Tilmouth and SX11288 Private Maurice Quinn who were also allocated to the 2/48th Battalion. Both these young men as teenagers, had fortunate escapes through handling .22 rifles whilst rabbit hunting. The fourth enlistee was SX11353, Malcolm McIntyre who was with the 2/27th battalion. (While both Bill and Maurice were wounded in October ’42, Maurice’s injuries were fatal, and he died on the 1st November that year.)
Max and his fellow enlistees left in April ’41, arriving in the Middle East in May. From there, they marched to a Staging Camp before joining the rest of their battalion. Max was promoted to Acting Corporal in May and the same month contracted bronchitis, causing him to be hospitalised for two weeks. By January ’42 the young man from the coast was detached to the Australian Corps Ski School. However, a frustrating fracture to his wrist bone in August ’42 and the effects of snow on his eyesight resulted in a week’s treatment. This perhaps contributed to Max being found ‘beyond the limits fixed by a General Order’ resulting in the hefty loss of a week’s pay in November.
21-year-old Gilbert James followed older brother Max’s example by enlisted on the 6th April ‘42 as SX18230 in the 2/7th Battalion. Just four months later, the Eyre Peninsula Tribune reported that ‘Pte G. T. Spriggs, A.I.F. training depot, who is reported seriously ill is the youngest son of Mr and Mrs A. Spriggs of Yadnarie. Their other son Max, who is serving with his unit overseas, and had been affected with snow-blindness, advised during the week that he is now fit and well.’ (Gilbert had contracted a mild case of mumps which was followed by severe pneumonia.)
By the following year in February, Max’s battalion was on the way home to Australia via Melbourne, but several illnesses caused him to have time in hospital. He and the 2/48th battalion were then heading to Queensland for training to face a very different enemy in the tropical conditions of New Guinea. Max arrived in Milne Bay early in August ’43 but by September was being treated for a very high fever, called Pyrexia of Unknown Origin (PUO) followed by Scrub Typhus then in March swollen lymph glands all of which contributed to him returning to Australia via Townsville in ’44. Asthma followed, causing Max to be diagnosed with restricted medical fitness. He was transferred to the Local Purchase Office with the medical diagnosis of a post typhus disability in June before he suffered another bout of malaria in August. Infective meningitis followed.
By April ’44 Max had precious leave back home in Yadnarie, but ill health, glandular fever, caused him to have time in the Kapara Convalescent Home. Max married Betty Joyce Nicholson on the 6th May ‘44 then by December after four years-service in the Middle East and New Guinea he was discharged on the 27th November 1944. He and Betty then headed back home to Cleve to spend time with the family who immediately organised a social evening to celebrate Max’s 24th Birthday and to also welcome Betty at the Yadnarie Hall with large crowds attending from the district. The local papers summarised Max’s service ‘Pte Spriggs, who before going overseas had the rank of A/Sgt, participated in many battles including Tobruk, Syria and Allemein and later in New Guinea. Contracting malaria and glandular fever, he spent several months in hospital and was recently discharged as unfit for further service.’ Numerous speeches were made following which Max was presented with a sum of money donated by those present. Dancing and a hearty supper followed. The following year, Max’s brother Gilbert was discharged on the 9th May ’46. In February that year, Max and Betty left his parent’s home at Yadnarie for Cherry Gardens in the Adelaide Hills near Coromandel Valley where he had acquired a mixed farming property. Betty and Max later welcomed two sons, Robert, born in the Mount Barker Hospital I October ‘49 and Brenton Lindsey at Port Lincoln in May ‘54.
Using his acquired skills from the Army, Max became a police Constable, initially in Hindmarsh before being appointed to Port Lincoln in ‘54. Some visiting ship’s crew to Port Lincoln overstepped acceptable behavioural standards, resulting in Max being involved in arresting and charging the miscreants, some of whom were sentenced to 12 months Jail for violent assault, wilful damage of the local Alfred’s café, carrying an offensive weapon as well as resisting arrest plus the use of indecent language. All in a day’s work.
However, two years later, Max resigned from the force to take up farming in the Cummins district. He also invested in a holiday home at Coffin Bay, aptly named "Thisseldo". Whenever possible Max and the family would escape to join others from Port Lincoln at their retreat and celebrated several birthdays there, including Betty’s. Max quickly became known as the "Water Melon Man" for his contributions to the group.
By ’68 Max had become the President of the Cummins Red Football Club, immediately organising a pre-season picnic for 80 attendees at Louth Bay with the Port Lincoln Times reporting that ‘Barbecued chops and sausages, savs and rolls provided for the needs of the inner man. The main attraction for footballers was the Sheffield, with 21 runners taking part.’ Inevitably, Max also provided two water melons for a popular competition. Prior to the start of the season, Max also generously delivered two loads of gravel for the Cummins Recreation Centre, used by the Football Club. He and Betty also held dances at the Cockaleechie Hall for the Football Club where they judged the Belle of the Ball Competition and convened popular supper offerings. As the season progressed Max and Betty coordinated other social activities, including a memorable concert which included skits, singing, dancing, novelty presentations, and a memorable ballet where the rugged football team backman became a graceful ballerina in the "Cummins Oval Lake" performance by "Boathaven".
Despite wintry weather conditions, Max invariably praised his Cummins Red Club for their efforts each week and their ability to play superior football to achieve a win. Max also hosted renown footballer and cricketer, Eric Freeman and his wife at the Cummins Trophy evening. Besides presenting the season’s trophies, Eric also spoke about his experiences as a member of the Australian cricket team which toured India, Ceylon, and South Africa.
Max continued to farm on section 52 in the Cummins District, finding a banded bird in May ’71. His contact with the CSIRO revealed detailed information about the bird, a mountain duck which was tagged at Narrunga two years previously and had ‘flown 209 miles, in a WNW direction’. Max’s actions were praised for his ‘significant contribution to the knowledge of migration habits of Australian birds.’ That year was also memorable as their son, Robert married Sue Lobb in June in Whyalla.
Max and Betty continued to be active community members, giving outstanding service in the Cummins Football canteen, running the drinks and icecream stall for the Coffin Bay Gala Day and with Max being the President of the Coffin Bay Progress Association where he was actively involved in coordinating volunteer work on the Coffin Bay Golf course. He was also installed as the Cummins Master of Lodge Sinus, of the Masonic Lodge in ’79.
The following year Max and his son, Brenton were both involved in the first ever wedding conducted at Coffin Bay between Robyn Mattsson and Trevor Kloeden. Brenton was the best man and Max the toastmaster. That year, Max relinquished his role as President of the Coffin Bay Progress Association but remained on the committee. Max’s help continued to be sought from small boat owners, including one which ran aground at Point Longnose after an engine breakdown in ’81. A fishing boat putting to sea transmitted a message for the stranded party, seeking assistance from Max in Coffin Bay. However, before he reached the disabled boat it had been found and towed back to Coffin Bay.
Max and Betty were delighted to host their son, Brenton and Vicki Boys’ wedding in their Coffin Bay garden in 1980. Adding to the uniqueness of the day, an eighty-year-old historic arch from Mount Dutton Bay Methodist church was used. Brenton chose his brother, Bob as his bestman. Robert (Bob) also followed his father’s example by continuing to serve his community as Ceduna’s regional fisheries officer, including in ’94 when an unusual plague of Portuguese Man of War jellyfish were affecting swimmers in local waters, causing painful stings from their tentacles. He gave advice on the structure of the jelly fish and how to treat their sting.
Betty pre-deceased Max and died in 2002 in Clare. Aged 93 Max died of sepsis in Wudinna on the 15th August 2011. His service is recognised in the Port Lincoln Garden of Remembrance.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.