Alan Cyril Thorley (1910 - 1986)

Born 1910 in Warragul, Victoria, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Dorothy Mary (Vale) Thorley — married 1947 in Mont Albert, Victoria, Australia

Died 1986 at about age 76 in Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Richard Ian Thorley [send private message]

Biography

Alan was born in 1910. He passed away in 1986.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Personal recollection of events witnessed by Richard Ian Thorley as remembered 18 Apr 2024.

Alan Cyril (known as Cyril) Thorley was born on September 2, 1912, at Victoria Street in Warragul, Victoria, where his parents ran a cordial factory. He was the child of Thomas Allan and Mary (known as May) Agnes Thorley. Thomas was a cordial manufacturer but later became an Automotive Specialist and Investor.

Cyril had memories of living at a number of different houses as a child, some of them at Traralgon, Deniliquin, Mildura, St Arnaud, and prestigious St Kilda. He recalled as a child assisting his father with cordial deliveries by horse and dray to Maffra, Traralgon and Warragul.

He boarded at not one, but five different private schools during his high school years. Like many of his generation, his handwriting was "copperplate" and almost a work of art.

He attended Geelong Grammar School in 1927 boarding at Cuthbertson House, Corio. He passed the "boating test" here. He was second in the swimming championships competing in the under 15 grade.

He was lightweight boxing champion at All Saints Grammar School.

The last secondary school he attended was Wesley College. He remained a staunch old collegian into his very senior years, retaining his old school tie. He was an avid sportsman, competing competitively in rowing, boxing, tennis, diving, swimming and golf.

Growing up, he lived a privileged lifestyle. He was taught how to drive at Aspendale Race track by one of the top racing drivers of the day, Hal Cooper in a 2.5 litre Issota Fraschini (a top of the line luxury car second only to a Rolls Royce). His first car, a gift from his father, was a sports Bugatti which had been stripped for racing.

Cyril really appreciated music, particularly jazz. He had a fine singing voice and could play stringed instruments.

Upon the 1936 death of his mother at Summerland Mansions, St Kilda, where the family lived in a large apartment, his father auctioned all the family possessions, so very little exists in the way of family heirlooms.

1936 Electoral Roll shows he was a salesman living with his parents at 23 Fitzroy Street (Summerland Mansions).

He enlisted in the Army in 1941, when he was living with his father at 318 Beaconsfield Parade, on the beachfront at St. Kilda. The unit was the 14th Infantry at Prahan. For whatever reason, his birthdate was advised as 1913, not 1912. His occupation was shown as "Operater (Hosiery)".

He was trained as a Refrigeration Mechanic in the Army.

Cyril was living with his father at 16 Cobden street Bendigo when he enlisted in the AIF in 1943. He served during WWII in New Guinea and Borneo....at Lae, Moratai, Balikpapan and Tarakan, primarily with Water Transport.

AUSTRALIAN ARMY RECORD VX123477 Sapper Alan Cyril Thorley record is as follows:

Enlisted in the Australian Citizen Military Forces at Church Hall, Commercial Road, Prahran, Victoria on14 March 1941 and allotted Army number V66871.

He stated on enlistment that: (1) he was born at Warragul, Victoria on 2 September 1913, and (2) his next of kin was his Father, Mr T.A. Thorley of Beaconsfield Parade, St Kilda, Victoria.

Transferred to the 2nd Australian Imperial Force on 22 February 1943 and allotted Army number VX123477.

Served in Australia with the following units: (1) 14th Australian Infantry Battalion (2) 38th Australian Infantry Battalion (3) Australian Water Transport (Small Craft) Training Centre (4) 11th Australian Small Ships Company (5) 5th Australian Refrigeration Lighter Section (6) 62nd Australian Water Transport Ships Company (7) Headquarters 2nd Australian Docks Group

Embarked at Townsville, Queensland for service overseas with the 11th Australian Water Transport Operating Company per ‘GORGON’ on 20 December 1943.

Served in New Guinea from 20 December 1943 to 20 May 1944 and in Morotai and Tarakan from 8 April 1945 to 21 January 1946 with the following units: (1) 11th Australian Transport Operating Company (2) Headquarters 2nd Australian Docks Group (3) 5th Australian Refrigeration Light Section (4) 11th Australian Small Ships Company

Disembarkation details not recorded.

Discharged from the 2nd Australian Imperial Force at Royal Park, Victoria on 31 January 1946.

Decorations, Awards or Medals: (1) 1939/45 Star (2) Pacific Star (3) War Medal (4) Australia Service Medal

Cyril was in a truck rollover during his army service and his back was broken. He had three of his vertebrae fused together and according to Cyril was told he would most likely never walk again. He back caused him extreme pain for much of the rest of his life but he rarely complained. He was of the opinion that his health was of no-one else’s concern. It is a tribute to his determination and perseverance that he proved the doctors wrong and not only walked again but played golf three times in the same week that he died aged 72.

Cyril’s War experience left him with a vehement hatred of things Japanese. He would not knowingly buy any product if he knew it was made in Japan, and was not impressed with either of his two sons when they purchased Japanese made vehicles.

He did not like to speak of his army experience except to boast that he was busted from WO2 to base rank for calling his commanding officer “the son of an illegitimate accident” and swearing at him in Dutch. He apparently learned the Dutch during his army service in the islands.

His army records do not indicate promotion past Sapper.

He did tell of making "Jap souvenirs" from Australian bayonets and selling them to the Yanks. His black market trading earned him a lot of dutch guilders. He claimed to have sent a big bundle of notes to Mum by mail, but the plane was shot down!

Cyril had a very good knowledge of English, grammar and his handwriting was exquisite. As many of his generation, he learned to write well by repetitive writing exercises, often with the threat of a ruler across their knuckles if the pen and nib were not held and used correctly.

As a parent, he was a strict disciplinarian. His children were under the threat of the Razor Strop if they did not behave according to his rules. A razor strop comprises two leather straps joined at each end and having a leather handle. It was used to sharpen Cutthroat Razors. It did hurt a bit but the sound of the leather hitting bare flesh was magnified by the two leather straps and made the punishment seem worse than it actually was. He did not use a cutthroat razor, but kept the strop to impress manners and behaviour. In fairness to him, the strop was not used very often and usually the recipient of the punishment really deserved it.

When his children were little, he often remarked that “Children should be seen and not heard” . This certainly instilled a respect for elders amongst his children, but when with his favourite grand-children it seemed as if they really warmed his heart.

Cyril was no saint and his “Victorian” attitudes prevailed when his youngest daughter moved out to live with her boyfriend and eventually have her two children out of wedlock. Cyril refused to visit them. For many years, Dot often travelled the two hour journey by two buses to visit, but on her own.

After the war he had his own business, Ideal Automotive Products which operated from Queen Street Melbourne. It dealt in war surplus goods.

He married Dorothy Mary Vale on March 22, 1947, in Victoria. Their marriage was the first in the newly consecrated Monte Albert North Church. They set up house at 4 Martin Street, Elwood.

Their two sons, Frank and Richard were born in Melbourne.

Cyril was employed by Colgate Palmolive as a Travelling Sales Representative. Later he was employed by Phillip Morris, the cigarette company. He was transferred to South Australia where the family resided temporarily at 4 Wirra Wirra Avenue, Enfield.

Eventually, using his War Service loan entitlement, they purchased the house at 2 Torquay Road Darlington. A futher three children, Jenny, John and Anita were born at Rose Park.

Other employment was by Spartan Paints then Colton Palmer Preston Ltd (hardware sales), Mathais Furniture, Adelaide Motors, and Morris Earthmovers.

He was an active member of the Marion RSL for many years and later joined the Blackwood RSL.

The back porch at 2 Torquay road for many years contained a circular saw bench and carpentry tools which he used with great skill, although he managed to twice cut off the top of his thumb!

He made much of the furniture in the house and often constructed items for friends. He was fastidious in his attention to detail and the finished products were of high quality.

He was inventive and constructed a three-wheeled pedal car for his two sons when they were very young. He experimented with recycled tyres, eventually making and selling a series of vinyl covered pouffes which were very popular amongst his friends.

He spent much of his retirement years at Flagstaff Hill Golf Club where even after two heart attacks he liked to play at least 4 times a week with the help of a mini bike.

He died on July 4, 1986, in Bedford Park, South Australia, at the age of 73, from his third heart attack. His death certificate states cause of death was coronary thrombosis (1 hour) and ischaemic heart disease (8 years) and he died at Flinders Medical Centre.

Although there is a memorial plaque at Centennial Park Cemetery celebrating his war service, his ashes were scattered at Loch Hillan, the lake at Flagstaff Hill Golf Course. His playing partners donated a trophy cabinet to the golf club in his memory. The trophy cabinet at the top of the stairs, includes a small plaque dedicated to Cyril.

Compiled by a son, Richard Thorley 2024