PROMOTING THE HISTORY AND ARCHIVES OF MT COMPASS
McAllan, Bob
Robert George (Bob) McAllan (Leading Aircraftman - RAAF)
Robert (Bob) McAllan was born on 4th March 1924 at Kensington Park, Adelaide to George Arnold McAllan and Lucy Emily McAllan (nee Small).
He attended Marmon Jabuk (now Jabuk) Public School which he left in 1937 after completing Grade 6 and reaching the leaving age of 14. He then assisted his father with farming, which continued when in 1939, the family moved on to their new property at Mt Compass.
With World War 2 in full swing and aged 17, Bob unsuccessfully applied for a position as an Air Crew Trainee with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Not to be deterred, the day after turning eighteen, Bob tried again to sign up with the RAAF and was formally interviewed that month.
Bob’s work experience up to this time is written in his own hand on two of the RAAF forms. He appears to have been very keen to enrol in any position that ensured his acceptance. In March 1942 he was unsuccessful again, this time in applying to become a wireless mechanic. He stated his work experience as being: “Soldering while at A W Dobbie, also one term of electrical wiring at School of Mines. Was employed at Dobbies for three months.”
Following a suggestion from the recruiting office, he re-applied a few weeks later, this time for a position as ‘Aircraft Hand’ and now noted the following work experiences: “lathe operating experience at Pope Products, tractor driving for 3 months with a contractor and 20 hours Fitting & Turning at A B Engineering School.”
He was at that time, mainly employed as a market gardener by his father (who had already enlisted in 1939). As he was under the age of 21, his mother signed the application form as being agreeable to him joining up for “service at home or overseas”.
This time Bob was advised that his name had been recorded on a waiting list should he be required. Shortly after, he was advised that all those on the waiting list would now be enrolled in the Air Force Reserve.
Bob was formally enlisted with the RAAF on 23rd July 1942 as a ‘General Hand’. His record shows he was 6’ 1” tall with blue eyes and black hair, his religion was noted as Church of England.
The conditions of his enlistment included agreeing to undergo vaccination and inoculation, surrender his civilian Identity Card and produce his Ration Book, when reporting for duty.
He was first sent to Shepparton and then to Point Cook in Victoria for training, followed by transferring to the new RAAF airport at Bankstown. Bob was sent overseas in November 1943 to Kiriwina Island and Nadzab in New Guinea. Nadzab was a massive airbase complex built by the US army which became a forward base of operations against Japanese positions in the Pacific. For a time, it was home to numerous United States and Australian Air Force units, including Bob’s 24th Squadron.
Upon his return to Australia in April 1944, Bob served at Lowood, a base for dive-bombers, followed by the heavy-bomber airfield of Fenton, both in the Northern Territory and then onto the Manbulloo base in Queensland. His final few months of the war saw him based back in Adelaide.
Bob was demobbed on 2nd January 1946. He received the Pacific Star, War Medal (1939-45) and the Defence Medal.
In November 1957 Bob married Edith Eleanor Payne, who was originally from Waddikee Rocks near Kyancutta. Edith had moved to her sister’s home on Berry Road/Lane at the age of 21, following the death of both her parents. Bob and Edith were to have two children, Heather Edith and Kenneth Robert (Ken).
It is recalled of Bob that he was always interested in machinery and in 1965 made his own backhoe which he used to dig out many drains around Mt Compass. For around 30 years, Bob was much sought after as a drain contractor in the summer months as, with the aid of a few planks, he could dig a drain anywhere. He also grew vegetables which he sold in Adelaide.
The McAllans sold their land to the Miller family (Millers Sand Mine) but retained the house block and old dairy, which allowed them to grow and sell flowers.
Bob and Edith continued to see out their lives in Mt Compass, contributing to the community in various ways. Bob became a member of the RSL and was responsible for carrying the roofing material from Adelaide for their new Clubrooms. Edith was a member of the CWA and the Anglican Church.
Bob passed away on the 8th July 1996, at the age of 72 and is buried in the Mt Compass Cemetery. Edith passed away in 2012 and was also buried in the Mt Compass Cemetery.
References: https://www.ww2places.qld.gov.au/place?id=870, Wikipedia, RAAF Service Records, Heather Temby (nee McAllan), Mt Compass Archive records, “Where the Compass Leads You” by Linton Jacobs. Entre Nous article July 1994.
