Australia under attack

Violet and Alan Glover

The Glovers moved to Melbourne from western Victoria just before the war and Violet found work in a munitions factory. Alan joined the second AIF on 2 June 1941. Five days later they married, just before Alan began his basic training. In late July Alan embarked with his unit to join the 8th Division in Malaya; Violet got a job as a tram conductor. They wrote to each other almost daily.

In January 1942 Violet returned to the munitions factory. A month later Singapore fell and Alan was marched into captivity with the rest of his unit, the 4th Anti-Tank Regiment. From March Violet’s letters to Alan were returned. In July she was informed he was listed “missing”.

On 5 December 1944 Violet was informed that her husband had been killed on 6 June 1942, the eve of their first wedding anniversary. Alan had been executed for attempting to escape from a prison camp in Burma. Violet never remarried, and died in August 2003.

Alan and Violet Glover on their wedding dayP04254.001

Alan Glover's medalsREL32411.001, .002, .003, .004

Female Relative badgeREL32412

Mothers and Widows badgeREL32413

Brooch for a soldier’s sweetheartREL32415