Of Tragedy and Valor
Geoffrey Malin Rumbelow

Geoffrey Malin Rumbelow was born at Victor Harbor on 12th June 1917 to parents Charles Malen Rumbelow and Ruby Lillian Theissenger.  Charles and Ruby had two sons; Howard (who died when 10 days old) and Geoffrey.

Geoffrey enlisted at an age of 23, serving three years with the militia 18th Light Horse Machine Gun Regiment. He was posted to the newly formed 2/48th Infantry Battalion, which was undergoing an intense regime of training, drill and discipline.  The Battalion was ordered for overseas service and Geoff proceeded on pre-embarkation leave on 22 October 1940.  On 18 November, the Battalion embarked on the HMS Stratheden along with another 2,100 troops. 

In early 1941, the Battalion along with the rest of the 9th Division, moved to Cyrenica, Libya to complete its training. After a German-led attack, the Division fell back to Tobruk and the 2/48th Battalion formed part of the town’s defences on 9 April 1941.

On Easter Monday, 14 April the Battalion helped defeat the Axis assault on Tobruk, while manning part of the outer defences. On 15-16 April, patrols from the 2/48th captured 800 Italian soldiers from the 62nd Trento Regiment.

Over the ensuing months, the 2/48th rotated in and out of the frontline. Enemy aerial attacks continued against the Tobruk defences and the harbour. The port was the only supply route into the beleaguered garrison. Even the rear positions in the Tobruk area were subjected to aerial attacks and artillery barrages and no area within the perimeter was safe. Water and rations were in short supply, whilst the lack of vitamins and of good food caused the sickness rate to rise alarmingly. All the men were very thin, living as they were on the barest rations and essentials and under conditions of dust, dirt, fleas and flies.

On 28 September, Geoff was evacuated to the 2/4th Australian General Hospital with acute gastritis, a common illness at Tobruk. He was diagnosed with catarrhal jaundice. In early October 1941, the Battalion was relieved by the 3rd Polish Battalion and Geoff and his fellow casualties were evacuated to Egypt by sea on the night of 12 October.

The Battalion reformed in Palestine; by 6 July 1942, the men were at Shammama Halt, Egypt where they prepared for the imminent German assault. Tobruk had fallen and Rommel’s forces were headed eastwards towards the Suez Canal. In what would become known as the First Battle of El Alamein, the 9th Division started its advance and by 10 July, they were moving through the minefields. Attacking just before dawn, the 2/48th took its first objectives and captured about 400 prisoners.

Geoff was wounded in the attack with blast injuries and was admitted to the Battalion’s Casualty Section; he returned to duty shortly after. Tel el Eisa was captured the following morning.

The Second Battle of El Alamein commenced on 23 October and was fought until 11 November. The 2/48th was again at the front and the fighting was bitter and intense, and many casualties were suffered. Alamein was a great success for the Allies and the Axis forces were in general retreat. With the battle over, the Division was needed back in Australia to defend against the Japanese. The Battalion sailed from Suez on 1 February 1943 and docked in Melbourne on 25 February. 

After some leave, the Battalion reformed but Geoff had been admitted to hospital suffering from a fractured metatarsal. Extended convalescence leave meant Geoff would not rejoin the Battalion. On 16 September 1943, after a lengthy medical examination, Geoff was classified medically unfit for front line duty and posted to General Details Depot at Wayville.

On 27 December 1943, Geoff married Shirley Dawn Heath at Yilki Church, Victor Harbor. Mr. Don Bartel (R.A.N.) was best man.

Miss Margaret Heath (W.A.A.A.F.), the bride's sister, sang "'Because" during the signing of the register. Mrs. Ivan Bartel played the Wedding March.  The reception of near relatives was held at the home of Mr. Lionel Rumbelow. 

Geoff was discharged from the army on 2 October 1945. He had served a total of 830 days outside of Australia.

Geoff was stationed at Keswick Barracks until the conclusion of the War. Immediately following the War, Geoff was employed by the SA Harbours Board in Port Adelaide. Geoff and Shirley lived at Wayville when they welcomed their first son, 

• Ian Charles was born on 25 May 1946. 

Shirley and Geoff returned to Yilki, Victor Harbor and took up residence where they remained for the rest of their married life, living originally in a cottage and then moving into Geoff’s mothers home. The remainder of Geoff and Shirley’s five children were born at Victor Harbor:

• James Malen was born on 28 October 1948

• Lynnette Dawn was born on 20 April 1952

• John Eric was born on 15 September 1955

• Susan Margaret was born on 13 July 1958

With thanks to Ian MILNES, History Research Team, Victor Harbor RSL Sub-Branch 

Geoff was a contract carrier and a respected member of Rotary and the RSL. As a member of the Victor Harbor Rotary Club, he played a leading hand in the rehabilitation of the old Tabernacle Cemetery near Yilki a few years ago.

Geoffrey died in tragic circumstances on 16th May 1975. On a stormy day at Yilki his Clausen Craft 17-foot clinker boat broke its anchor chain and drifted out to sea. Geoff was rowing his dinghy in high seas to retrieve the boat when he was swamped by a big wave about 300 yards from shore and he clung to the dinghy for about five minutes before being forced to let go.

Mr Ken Proctor, a holidaying school teacher, rowed his dinghy to rescue Geoff but could not pull him aboard until Graham Rumbelow also rowed out with Chris Tapscott, a member of the Port Elliot Surf Lifesaving Club, who gave mouth to mouth resuscitation. Waves continually broke over the dinghy and Chris ended up in the water supporting Geoff as they rowed ashore.

St John personnel administered oxygen when Geoff was brought ashore but he did not respond. The drama was enacted with family members watching helplessly from the shore.

Drowning at Encounter Bay

Victor Harbour Times (SA : 1932 - 1986) 

Thu 22 May 1975 

Well known Yilki resident, Mr. Geoffrey Malin Rumbelow, about 55, was drowned in heavy seas last Friday afternoon while attempting to retrieve his Clausen Craft 17-foot clinker boat which had broken anchor and was drifting out to sea.

Mr. Rumbelow was rowing his dinghy in high seas when it was swamped by a big wave about 300 yards from the shore off Yilki.

Mr. Ken Proctor, school teacher, of Vale Park, who has a holiday house at Yilki, said that Mr. Rumbelow clung to the dinghy for about five minutes and then let go. Mr. Proctor then rowed his nine-foot dinghy out to Mr. Rumbelow, grabbed his arm with one hand and tried to paddle with the other. 

Mr. Proctor struggled to hold Mr. Rumbelow and row at the same time for about five minutes.

Mr. Graham Rumbelow, a cousin, launched his dinghy with help from Mr. Chris Tapscott, of Port Elliot. They reached the other men and Mr. Geoffrey Rumbelow was pulled over the stern of the dinghy and given mouth to mouth resuscitation by Mr. Tapscott who is a member of the Port Elliot Surf Life Saving Club.

Waves were continually breaking over the dinghy and Mr. Tapscott lost hold of Mr. Rumbelow and dived into the water to support him.

When brought ashore, Mr. Rumbelow was given oxygen by St. John Ambulance men, but failed to respond.

Mr. Rumbelow, who is survived by his widow, three sons and two daughters, served with the 2nd 48th Battalion during World War 11. He was a popular member of the Victor Harbor Rotary and R.S.L. clubs and the cortege to the Victor Harbor cemetery on Monday was the largest seen for many years.

Prior to the funeral, a service was held in the Yilki Congregational Church which was packed to overflowing with scores of mourners outside.

Medals for bravery

Victor Harbour Times (SA : 1932 - 1986) 

 Wed 1 Jun 1977 

Three men involved in a sea rescue at Yilki, Encounter Bay, in May 1975, last Friday received Royal Humane Society bronze medals for bravery. The three were among nine men to receive the medals from the Lieutenant-Governor (Mr. W.R. Cricker) at a ceremony at Government House.

The men involved in the Encounter Bay rescue were;

Mr. Kenneth Proctor, 51, of Vale Park; 

Mr. Graham Rumbelow. 49 of Victor Harbor; 

Mr. Christopher Tapscott, 23, of Port Elliot.

They went to the aid of Mr. Geoffrey Malin Rumbelow whose boat had broken from its moorings. They managed to get him ashore but he did not respond to treatment.

Mr. Graham Rumbelow said that many years ago his grandfather had been involved in successfully rescuing a man in the same area.

Trouble at Encounter Bay

Encounter Coast Adventures
A collection of true stories about Victor Harbor, Port Elliot and Goolwa from 1802 to 2010.
Compiled by Brian Simpson
2010, First Edition

A gallant rescue bid occurred on 16th May, 1975, at a place where normal conditions allow youngsters to wade in rock pools in search of crabs or starfish. But this day was far from normal. A storm somewhere out at sea had thrown up massive swells and, with the high tide, the sea was forced up and over the sea wall at Yilki between Victor Harbor and The Bluff. 

A long time visitor to the coast, Ron Hooper, was looking out across the bay and in 30 years he had not seen a bigger sea. Then, in mid afternoon he noticed Geoff Rumbelow's clawson timbered boat riding hard at her anchor and as he watched something snapped and she broke free. Dragging its unattached chain, the boat began to drift N.E. of Wright Island where it was taking a terrific battering. 

Down at the beach, Geoff Rumbelow had arrived from work and without consideration, he jumped into a dinghy and made for the boat. Being a man of the sea his single-mindedness was understandable although one look at the conditions would have told him that to attempt to reach the boat was out of the question.  When about 100 metres from shore three large waves struck the dinghy, the third of which pitched him out of the boat and into the sea.

Soon after this the phone at Lin Shannon's place rang. It was Malin Rumbelow, proprietor of the fresh fish shop at Yilki; his urgent message was that someone was in difficulty in the surf out from the shop and help was needed. 

Chris Tapscott was there, so Chris and Lin jumped in the car and sped to the beach. Down at the beachfront Lin and Graham Rumbelow prepared to launch another dinghy and Chris, having had considerable experience in surf, persuaded Lin to remain on shore. Just prior to this another dinghy, manned by Kenneth Proctor, had also reached Geoff Rumbelow, but Proctor found it impossible to try and control his dinghy whilst attempting to hold the man in the sea. 

By the time Chris and Graham Rumbelow reached Proctor's dinghy Geoff Rumbelow was blue and unconscious, with his head submerged under the water. Chris grabbed the drowning man and attempted to haul him as far as he could over the stern so that mouth to mouth resuscitation could be attempted. 

After moving some distance towards the shore, a big wave hit the dinghy, Rumbelow was swept away and Chris jumped in to secure him once more. Chris remembers the chill of the water took away his breath and how he found swimming a tough contract in his flared corduroy jeans. Catching hold of the drowned man he fought his way back to the dinghy where all his strength would permit was to grasp the stern of the dinghy with one arm whilst he held the man with the other. 

When they finally neared shore bystanders swam out to assist and they lifted Geoff Rumbelow from the sea and carried him to the seaweed spattered sea wall. There they tried to revive him but he would not respond. 

Kenneth Proctor, Graham Rumbelow and Chris Tapscott were awarded Royal Humane Society Bronze Medallions for their brave efforts.