 McAloney was born on 12 May 1910 in Adelaide , South Australia , the eldest son of William Samuel McAloney and his wife Mary ( née Murphy ) . The young McAloney was educated at Thebarton Technical High School and the Adelaide School of Mines . In 1925 , McAloney registered for compulsory military training in the Citizen Military Force , serving as a private with the 43rd Battalion until November 1929 . During this time , he gained employment as an automotive mechanic with Vrai Ltd , where he received on @-@ the @-@ job training in place of a formal apprenticeship . McAloney was employed with Vrai for three years , before he took a position with Adelaide Car Service . 
