Thomas Playford was the third child born to the family, with two sisters before him and one following.
He started school at the age of six, going to the local Norton Summit School.
The school had one room, one teacher, two assistants and 60 students, and taught children aged six to twelve.
Playford, while an adept learner, frequently argued with his teacher, and was the first child to have been caned there.
While learning, he accompanied his father down to the East End Markets with their farming produce.

It was the influence of Playford's mother Elizabeth that contributed to his relative Puritanism and social habits.
She was a devout Baptist Christian, and it was primarily because of her that he publicly abstained from alcohol, smoking, and gambling throughout his lifetime.
However, despite her influence on his social habits, he did not regularly attend church like his family.
His father suffered a fall and a broken leg when Playford was thirteen.
He requested permission to leave school and take over the family farm; this was granted, and the boy, even after his father had recovered, dominated the management of the farm.
While out of school, Playford continued to learn; he joined the local Norton Summit Society, and took part in classes and debates in Adelaide.
He won a public speaking award for a speech he made to an Adelaide literary society.

World War I broke out in 1914, and Playford wished to join the Australian Imperial Force.
His parents persuaded him to assist them on the farm until close to his 19th birthday.
He entered Keswick Barracks on 17 May 1915, was enlisted as a private and placed in the 27th Battalion, 2nd Division.
Playford was one of those who left Adelaide on HMAT Geelong on 31 May. The Geelong picked up more soldiers at Perth, and then sailed to Suez, Egypt.
The Australian soldiers received training in Egypt, but during the evenings left their camps to indulge themselves in the Egyptian towns and cities.
Frequent fights broke out between the Australian troops and the locals, with responsible soldiers left to take the rest back to camp.
Playford assisted in this and dragged Australian soldiers from the beds of Egyptian prostitutes.
Training was completed after two months and Playford landed at Anzac Cove on 12 September 1915.

After taking part in the Gallipoli Campaign, Playford and his battalion left for France on 15 March 1916.
He fought on the Western Front and was shot and wounded on 20 October, evacuated to London, and kept out of action for a year.
Playford endured many operations during this time to remove the shrapnel that had penetrated his body, although some of it remained within him, and his hearing was permanently damaged.
Turning down an offer for a staff job in India, Playford returned to his battalion in October 1917 and continued fighting in Belgium and France.

With the end of the Great War, Playford returned to South Australia with his battalion, disembarking at Outer Harbor, Adelaide on 2 July 1919.
He had received no decorations, but had been commissioned from the ranks as an officer and was honourably discharged in October with the rank of lieutenant.
Despite Playford's intellectual capability, he shunned the Government's offer of free university education for soldiers and returned to his orchard.
He continued growing cherries on the property, and engaged in his hobby of horticulture.
His involvement in various organisations and clubs was renewed.

Through relatives Playford met his future wife Lorna Clark, who lived with her family in Nailsworth.
Although both families were religiously devout, the Clarks were even more so than the Playfords, and a long courtship ensued.
Taking her out on his Harley Davidson motorcycle at night, the two were forced to leave the theatre halfway through performances so as to not raise the ire of the Clarks.
Before their wedding on 1 January 1928, they were engaged for three years.
During their engagement, Playford built their new house on his property, mostly by his own hands and indented in the hills themselves; it remained their home throughout th
Thomas Playford was the third child born to the family, with two sisters before him and one following. He started school at the age of six, going to the local Norton Summit School. The school had one room, one teacher, two assistants and 60 students, and taught children aged six to twelve. Playford, while an adept learner, frequently argued with his teacher, and was the first child to have been caned there. While learning, he accompanied his father down to the East End Markets with their farming produce.
It was the influence of Playford's mother Elizabeth that contributed to his relative Puritanism and social habits. She was a devout Baptist Christian, and it was primarily because of her that he publicly abstained from alcohol, smoking, and gambling throughout his lifetime. However, despite her influence on his social habits, he did not regularly attend church like his family. His father suffered a fall and a broken leg when Playford was thirteen. He requested permission to leave school and take over the family farm; this was granted, and the boy, even after his father had recovered, dominated the management of the farm. While out of school, Playford continued to learn; he joined the local Norton Summit Society, and took part in classes and debates in Adelaide. He won a public speaking award for a speech he made to an Adelaide literary society.
World War I broke out in 1914, and Playford wished to join the Australian Imperial Force. His parents persuaded him to assist them on the farm until close to his 19th birthday. He entered Keswick Barracks on 17 May 1915, was enlisted as a private and placed in the 27th Battalion, 2nd Division. Playford was one of those who left Adelaide on HMAT Geelong on 31 May. The Geelong picked up more soldiers at Perth, and then sailed to Suez, Egypt. The Australian soldiers received training in Egypt, but during the evenings left their camps to indulge themselves in the Egyptian towns and cities. Frequent fights broke out between the Australian troops and the locals, with responsible soldiers left to take the rest back to camp. Playford assisted in this and dragged Australian soldiers from the beds of Egyptian prostitutes. Training was completed after two months and Playford landed at Anzac Cove on 12 September 1915.
After taking part in the Gallipoli Campaign, Playford and his battalion left for France on 15 March 1916. He fought on the Western Front and was shot and wounded on 20 October, evacuated to London, and kept out of action for a year. Playford endured many operations during this time to remove the shrapnel that had penetrated his body, although some of it remained within him, and his hearing was permanently damaged. Turning down an offer for a staff job in India, Playford returned to his battalion in October 1917 and continued fighting in Belgium and France.
With the end of the Great War, Playford returned to South Australia with his battalion, disembarking at Outer Harbor, Adelaide on 2 July 1919. He had received no decorations, but had been commissioned from the ranks as an officer and was honourably discharged in October with the rank of lieutenant. Despite Playford's intellectual capability, he shunned the Government's offer of free university education for soldiers and returned to his orchard. He continued growing cherries on the property, and engaged in his hobby of horticulture. His involvement in various organisations and clubs was renewed.
Through relatives Playford met his future wife Lorna Clark, who lived with her family in Nailsworth. Although both families were religiously devout, the Clarks were even more so than the Playfords, and a long courtship ensued. Taking her out on his Harley Davidson motorcycle at night, the two were forced to leave the theatre halfway through performances so as to not raise the ire of the Clarks. Before their wedding on 1 January 1928, they were engaged for three years. During their engagement, Playford built their new house on his property, mostly by his own hands and indented in the hills themselves; it remained their home throughout th
Thomas Playford IV