OUR HEROES – THEIR STORIES

World War II was at a bad stage and I decided to join the AIF to serve my country as my father had done in World War I. He was in an original Anzac. My mother wouldn’t let me go until I was 20. She signed my papers two days after my 20th birthday.

The next day I caught a steam train to Sydney and went to the Tivoli Theatre that night to watch a show that included Roy (Mo) Rene, a great actor and comedian in those days, little realising I would see him again three years later when he came to entertain troops in New Guinea.

The following morning, August 26, 1941, I enlisted at the Marrickville Recruiting Centre for medical tests and signing papers to join the Army. Suddenly I was young rookie soldier. There were about six or seven other young fellows joining too.
We were taken by truck to the Sydney Showground and issued with our Army clothes, khaki pants, shirts, socks and boots plus a kit bag to carry everything.

Our first duty was to start learning how to march. We were a rabble when we started. No one could keep step. After two or three days we picked it up, but what a motley crew we were that first day. My first duty as a soldier was unloading ships at Darling Harbour. At that time the wharfies were not happy with their conditions and weren’t working the wharves. This was our first taste of Army regulations, that is, do what you are told when you are told.

We new recruits unloaded ships for one week before being put on a train at Central Railway Station and taken to Dubbo Army Training Barracks At Dubbo we were accommodated in a 36 -man hut and allocated two blankets and a hessian bag that we filled with straw for a mattress.

We used our kit bags as pillows. Reveille was at 6am and after being given five minutes to dress we were on the parade ground with a P.E. instructor. A shower and shave followed. Blankets had to be folded Army style on the head of the bed before breakfast. Each morning after breakfast an N.C.O .inspected the beds and cleanliness of the area around the beds and throughout the hut. Our initial training was marching, arms drill, and general cleaning of rifles and Army equipment, and peeling spuds. Our draft was intended to be trained as reinforcements for the experienced 2nd/3rd Pioneer Battalion stationed in Darwin. However, after two weeks training we were transferred to become reinforcements to the 2/ 33rd Infantry Battalion which had been formed up in England for fighting and had lost men in the Syrian campaign.

For the next two months we trained as riflemen and learnt desert warfare techniques, although even after that time I still felt I knew little about being a soldier.

The training was completed and on October 10, 1941. I was given seven days pre-embarkation vacation leave and went back to Kulnura to see Mum and Dad, brothers Tom and Colin, and sister, Joan.

A wonderful farewell party was arranged by the local people in the hall with speeches by local dignitaries and hugs from all my old friends. I remember the singing of Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye.

Back in Sydney we marched onto the original Queen Elizabeth where we were assigned work duties. My first task was as a mess orderly serving food to the troops. However I had to be relieved of duties as soon as we passed through Sydney heads and the ship started to roll. My stomach started to churn. It wasn’t long before I was as sick as a dog. I thought I was going to die. The ship rolled from the time we left Sydney until we reached Freemantle in Western Australia. It was very rough going through the Great Australian Bight.

On the Queen Elizabeth we trained every day. Physical culture each morning then rifle drills and manning Bren Guns in case of air attacks. We used ack ack guns on deck. There were also boxing matches, and lifeboat drills every day in case of submarine or battleship attacks. All of this was so different to my life on the farm.

After we left Fremantle the voyage was much smoother. We called in at Friga Malu, in Ceylon, for fuel before sailing on to Port Tewfik on the eastern end of the Suez Canal. Here we disembarked and were given breakfast before being loaded onto cattle trucks and travelled day and night until we were unloaded at Dimra, an Army camp in Palestine used for training new recruits in desert warfare.

Our first lesson was to chain our rifles to the centre poles of our tents to avoid them being stolen by the local Arabs. The rifles were worth a lot of money to them. Each day started with reveille at 6am. Followed by a parade, roll call, half an hour of physical exercise, after which we were dismissed to shave, make our beds and proceed to breakfast. Some personnel were given duties such as helping in the cookhouse, cleaning ablution facilities and latrines.

The rest of us were doing training, arms drill, sloping arms and all that goes with making we rookies into some kind of disciplined Aussie Army. Because the food was terrible – camel meat, dry potatoes, baked beans, bread and marmalade jam – I was often hungry. The canteen used to supply hamburgers which were much more flavoursome, provided you had enough money so you could buy a meal at the canteen of an evening. We did a lot of training out in the sandhills.

An interesting side of all this was when six or eight year old kids would turn up miles from anywhere selling oranges. The price was always was five oranges for five mills which was their money. It never ceased to amaze us where they came from. At this time we were also being trained in desert night warfare as all indications were that when we joined our Battalion we would be up the desert to relieve the 9th Division at Tobruk.

We were still at Dimra for Christmas. It was very cold and we could see snow falling on the mountains in Syria. As was a routine in the Army the officers and sergeants serve the privates at Christmas dinner. Most times we had all the Christmas trimmings providing we weren’t in the frontline.

In early January we were marched out of Dimra to join the 2/33rd Australian infantry Battalion at Kilo 89 Camp. We were a much fitter and better- trained team of recruits. The Battalion, which had fought in Syria as part of the 25th Brigade, Seventh Division, had been stationed at Kilo 89 since the end of the Syrian campaign, which had ended in victory for our troops.

We recruits were brought in to fill the vacancies of those who were killed or wounded personnel in the Battalion. On joining the Battalion I was drafted to 13 Platoon, C Company. I would return to the same platoon after every action or sickness. In Borneo I was a sergeant and ended up taking over as Platoon Sergeant, the position I still held at war’s end in 1945.

We had not long joined the 2/33rd Battalion when orders had come for our Battalion to be on the move. Our understanding was we would be moving as a division up to Tobruk to relieve the 9th division. At this time the 8th Division, comprising British and Indian troops, were in trouble on Singapore Island and the Malaysian Peninsula. The Japanese were pushing them back until our troops had nowhere to go. The Japanese were also taking islands throughout the Pacific, and were invading New Guinea and Rabaul.

Unbeknown to us, John Curtin, our Australian Prime Minister, and Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister, were in discussions regarding the future of the AIF 6th, 7th and 9th divisions. Eventually, our 7th Division was informed that it was to move, but where to we didn’t know. Next our 25th Brigade was once again loaded onto trucks, then taken by rail back to Port Tewfik at the eastern end of the Suez Canal.

Waiting in the harbour was a huge American ship the U.S.S. Mount Vernon, an American raiding ship with 6 to 8 inch guns as some of its armament. We were loaded on board. We had no idea where we were going. The U.S.S.Mount Vernon was a very fast ship and did not have an escort. Normally warships escorted ships carrying so many troops.

After some weeks at sea we arrived in Colombo, the capital of Ceylon, now known as Sri Lanka. We were held there for one week and given one day’s leave. While the ship was in the harbour, the local people would row out to sell the troops all sorts of goods, mainly ebony animals or silk material. A lot of bargaining took place. We would lower a rope over the ship’s side to exchange money for goods.

The American captain of the U.S.S. Mount Vernon was not happy that so many small craft were so close to the ship. Instructions were given to the Navy personnel to train the pressurized water hoses on the boats, thus tipping them upside down. Our troops were not happy with what was happening and started to cut the hoses. This nearly caused a riot on board until both Navy and Army officers took control and stopped the Army personnel by calling them on parade. I never did know how it all ended. We were told to behave ourselves or we would be put in the brig, which was equivalent to a lock-up or jail.

Eventually we moved out of Colombo Harbour. Rumours were rife on-board ship. First we were going to Rangoon and then Batavia (now Indonesia), which was held by the Dutch. Then it was other islands in the Dutch East Indies. Eventually, we arrived in Freemantle Harbour and given an evening’s leave.

I know I ended up at a dance with a number of other chaps. It was great after being cooped up on a ship for weeks. I have recollections of meeting a lass with whom I think I danced with for most of the night. We said we would write to one another, which we did for some months. As I moved about, for some reason we ended our letter writing. We arrived back on ship late that night. Next morning the ship was on the move again, but we still didn’t know where we were going to end up.

Some days later we berthed in the Adelaide outer harbour in South Australia. This was our destination. After disembarking we entrained and were taken to an Army camp at Woodside in the Adelaide hills. This was an excellent camp with all wooden floored huts. We were once again being given well-prepared meals, and much better sleeping conditions than what we had in Palestine.

We were hardly settled into Woodside camp when a lot of the troops who had been in England were going AWL. The decision had been made we would not be given home leave. These troops had gone to England in 1939 and believed they were entitled to home leave. Some did not come back to the Battalion for some weeks, and some never returned.

As was expected, we started training in jungle warfare as now we knew we would eventually end up in New Guinea. Long route marches and a lot of night training. We were given leave to visit Adelaide, which was great.

The war in the Pacific wasn’t going well in the Allies favour. Britain had lost two large battleships at Singapore. The Japanese had control of the skies and were bombing Darwin and Port Moresby at will. Japanese midget submarines were active in Sydney Harbour and Newcastle

Our next move was by train from Woodside, in South Australia, to Casino in New South Wales. This trip took roughly a week to complete. Once again we were to erect tents which were our new camp. We were only there a couple of weeks, mainly doing jungle training and long night route matches. We were allowed some leave into Casino.

It wasn’t long before our unit was on the move again, this time by trucks to Caboolture, north of Brisbane. On our way it rained. We had a meal break at a town called Beenleigh just over the New South Wales border in Queensland. As most people would know the town was famous for Beenleigh Rum. Some of the chaps hit the rum and it took some hours to get them all back into the trucks. Most of them look like drowned rats.

Next day we arrived at Caboolture to another tent camp, which we had to set about building. That included building kitchens, latrines and ablution blocks for washing and showering. We soon learned we were to help build what was to be known as the Brisbane line, digging trenches building roads, tank traps and much more. It soon became apparent to we troops “Why here?”

The Japs were in control of the sea and skies and could land anywhere on our eastern seaboard. Anyway the work was done. We were given some overnight leave into Brisbane and other towns close to our camp. Mostly we would go to dances and enjoy some female company. To get back to camp one had to find the train which was going north, board the train and hope it would stop at Caboolture for us to return to camp in time for our early parade.

At this time we were also being trained in the use of landing craft. A lot of it was carried out near Bribie Island, also crossing the Petrie River. The night I was involved in a river crossing too many troops and equipment were on board and our small boat sank. What a mess. It was the finish of my watch, which got salt water into the works. I was unable to get it to a jeweller to have it oiled.

The Americans had come into the war at this time after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Douglas MacArthur had been promoted to the position of supreme commander of Allied forces, with Tom Blamey, the Australian general in command of all Australian troops. Many American military personnel were arriving in Australia and in New Guinea.

The Australian troops were fighting the Japanese in the Owen Stanley Range between Port Moresby and Gona Buna where the Japanese had landed a large force of troops. Our young troops under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Honner were doing a great job in repelling the Japanese who had many more troops.

The 7th Division’s 21 Brigade had already been sent to Port Moresby and was on its way to support the 39th Battalion, a militia Battalion that had very little training and was very poorly equipped with weapons and food supplies.

This unit proved themselves in battle holding up the Japanese advance for some weeks and enabling 21 Brigade to join them in Kokoda. At long last we were given seven days leave before our brigade was on the water in an old Dutch trading ship. On our way to Port Moresby we embarked from Brisbane and sailed along the Great Barrier Reef and into Port Moresby Harbour.

Because Port Moresby was being bombed by the Japanese, mostly at night, we were moved to a camp out of the city. Next day trucks were arriving to take us to Kiotaki up in the Highlands. What a trip. The road was narrow and often we would be travelling along a narrow dirt road in these high wheelbase trucks very concerned that our driver had any knowledge of the road ahead.

These were trucks that were used in the deserts of Palestine in Libya. There were made to drive through deep sand dunes. If a truck had gone over the edge there was a drop of 1000 feet all the way down to the river below. Eventually we arrived at our destination without mishap.

Our camp was in a rubber plantation and I think there was coffee growing in a part of it. On arrival we were stripped of our khaki clothes, which were dumped into coppers of boiling water with green dye. We then had to take the clothes out and hang them up to dry. Seeing it rained every night in these high mountains one wondered if the clothes would ever dry. That night we were as cold as charity. Nothing except our underpants and an overcoat to sleep in. You can imagine, not much sleep that night.

Next day we put on our so-called jungle greens and were soon moving up the track to meet the Japanese. It was so humid the sweat was pouring out of us. Soon the dye started to run down our bodies. We looked more like a speckled dog.

Our clothes were not green for long as we marched up this muddy track. The engineers were attempting to build a road enabling our Artillery (25- pounders) to be brought forward to help the infantry when they were pinned down and could not move.

What I understand, one 25 pounder eventually was able to fire at the enemy some weeks after we had gone forward. At this time the Army was trying to get food and ammunition to the front by packhorses and mules. My observation of what was happening was that the track was bad enough with troops trying to get a foothold. The animals were only making a much bigger bog hole.

The fuzzy wuzzies were involved in bringing in food and ammunition and taking out our wounded. They too had a hell of a job traversing the track.

The Japanese had what was called a mountain gun, much smaller than a 25 pounder. It could be pulled to pieces and carried by a number of them to a new position. This piece of equipment was causing our troops a lot of worry. We had nothing to counter it except our 3-inch mortars, which were unable to fire the distances of their gun or get the mortar shells to penetrate the heavy tree growth.

We left McDonalds Plantation for Owers Corner. This was the actual start of the track and the mud. On our way to McDonald’s Plantation we drove via Hombrom Bluff and Rouna Falls, 25 miles from Port Moresby. These falls fell some 1500 feet into the river, which was very fast flowing. The first small village we came to was Uberi. It consisted of five to seven native huts that were being used as a staging camp. The Salvation Army was there with a cup of tea and biscuits, very much appreciated by all. The huts were being used by medical people to treat the wounded being brought back by the Fuzzy Wuzzy angels from the front line. Another use was to store food rations and ammunition.

It was late afternoon when we left Uberi to tackle what was known as the Golden Staircase. This track led to Iorobaiwa Mountain top. I remember it well pouring, with rain and mud everywhere. One took a step forward and three backwards.

Half way up the track, dark, wet and feeling like a drowned rat, we were told to bed down for the night. What a statement. The jungle was alight with fireflies and phosphorus on the trees. The jungle was literally lit up like a city. One could hear rifles firing all around us. We did not know where the enemy was and on our way forward many wounded were walking or being carried out.

We were given so many different stories. Anyway I found an old rotten log on the side of the track, put my tin hat on and bedded down beside the log. What a helluva night, my first night in the front line. I’ve never forgotten it. Before daylight we were on the move again. Our objective was Imita Ridge, which meant we had to get to the top of Ioribaiwa Mountain then 1,000-foot drop to the Brown River. Once there it was another 1,000 feet or more climb to the top of Imita Ridge. Here we met up with units of 21 Brigade and the Third Militia Battalion.

These troops were being attacked by the Japs and were being forced back. We were set the task of attempting to find a way round the Japs, cut off their supply route and attack them from their rear. The terrain was so steep and the jungle so thick that even though we could see the Japs we were unable to get near them. Some platoons of Don Company were involved in a short skirmish but was unable to perform the task allotted to them. One of our officers and a private were killed.

At this point our mission was called off and Battalion headquarters were informed by the 25 Brigade commander he was withdrawing all his troops back to the Ioribaiwa Ridge. That meant the 2/26th, 2/31st and the 2/ 33rd Battalions. It was the beginning of the end for the Japanese, even though Tom Blamey and Douglas Macarthur were very critical of the move.

As we all agreed they were not there and didn’t have a clue about the terrain or the position our troops were in. Ioribaiwa Ridge was in ideal place to have some say in controlling how the Japs advanced.

It was a long straight ridge where the whole brigade could be used to stop the Japs from infiltrating through our defensive positions. Fortunately it was never used this way. I will now proceed to tell you why.

At this time the 14th Artillery Unit had two 25 pounder guns in place where they could be used to support our infantry. In the meantime the 2/33rd’s C Company, of which I was a member, was given the task to ambush the Japs on their next move forward. Our company was set in the ambush position late one afternoon.

At 0645 hours the next morning the Japs, some 50 or more, came marching down the track into the ambush. No one was to use their weapons until the Company Commander, Captain Miller, fired the first shot. Capt Miller fell the Jap officer leading the group then all hell let loose. Not one of the Japs survived. We didn’t lose a man killed or wounded. Our company withdrew, as instructed, back to Ioribaiwa Ridge to our allocated position.

You can read about this action on page 173 of The Foot Soldiers (2nd edition) our war history. As the Japs didn’t show up over the following days patrols were sent out to see what they were up to. C Company moved out at first light on September 19 Bill Innes’s 14 Platoon patrols found no trace of Japs anywhere. The Japs hadn’t been seen since C Company’s’ ambush. You’ll need to read The Foot Soldiers for further episodes of the Battalion’s Kokoda battles.

On Ioribaiwa Ridge I went down with dysentery and Malaria. The doc said I should go back for treatment. But where? No one could tell me. I set off back down the track feeling very weak and unsteady on my feet. After three days walking on my own I arrived back at McDonald’s Plantation and eventually found the dysentery hospital which had 100 or more chaps being cared for.

After a week of being treated for both dysentery and malaria I still had a very high temperature, which I shouldn’t have had. The medical orderlies decided to look over my body for what I was unable to say except what I thought was a boil on my upper right arm. After tests were processed I was told I had scrub typhus, from which many of our troops had died. In my case, I found out later seven chaps had contracted scrub typhus in the same area on Ioribaiwa Ridge as I did. Five had died and only two of us had lived. Many more had died whilst in New Guinea.

I was moved from that hospital down to the 4th medical dressing station some 10 miles out of Morseby for further treatment. Here I soon found out about the typhus. It was carried on rats. Ticks lived on the rats. We must have been in a rat-infested area for so many of us to be bitten at the same time. I had a very high temperature. I didn’t eat any food for weeks, just drank soft drink or water. I was 13 stone when I went into action and after weeks at the 4th Medical Dressing Station and then a rehabilitation camp at Koitaki, I was down to seven stone.

While in the 4th Medical Dressing Station a doctor, who was a major, came and interviewed me every day and wrote in a book all I could tell him. I was not sent back into action again. By the time I had recovered our boys were fighting at Buna and Gona under very difficult conditions. I was told there were only about 175 of them left to fight. They had a very gruelling time over nearly five months. By November 29, 1942, there were only eight officers and 165 other ranks left out of the 800 troops who started on the Kokoda Track.

At 1630 hours on December 4 the Battalion was ordered to return to Port Moresby. They had to March 10 miles to Poppondetta airstrip. On December 15 they were flown back to Moresby, then via Rouna Falls Road to a rest camp at Donadabu. Many were sick and very weak after five months on very meagre rations and fighting in very harsh conditions in swamps and high Kunai grass on the flat land around Gona and Buna.

After their rest and Christmas dinner at this rest camp these troops were sent home on a Dutch ship the S.S. Cremer. Conditions on the ship were terrible. Our troops were pleased when they arrived at Hamilton Wharf in Brisbane on January 8, 1943. After a refit with clothing all were given leave.

The 300 reinforcements who were waiting at the McDonald’s Plantation camp where they had been sent some weeks before were then formed into a composite Battalion unit. Those of us who had been convalescing after scrub typhus and wounds also joined these troops. We started to train as a fighting unit.

The powers that be were contemplating sending us to Gona–Buna to reinforce those troops still fighting the Japs. In the meantime, the Japanese who had survived were either drowned in the sea trying to get back to Rabaul or were captured. From then on no further fighting took place at Buna Gona. After doing more training these troops were marched up the track to Imita Ridge to give them a taste of the terrain they would be fighting in. Those of us who had already been on the track were given other chores to do in a field below Rouna Falls.

This was done to allow the Fuzzy Wuzzies to spray all the waterways that were stagnant, using insecticides to stop more mosquitoes from breeding. After further jungle training and night marches the composite unit was given notice we were returning to Australia.

On January 17 nine officers and 368 other ranks embarked on S.S. Both and M.V. Duntroon. The S.S. Both was another old Dutch trading ship very poorly equipped to carry troops. I know, as I was one of the troops on board. We disembarked at Cairns and then entrained to travel to Ravenshoe on the Atherton Tablelands on January 21.

After settling in at Ravenshoe those of us who returned to Ravenshoe were given 14 days leave. Many of us were to end up in Concord Hospital with return bouts of malaria. I ended up there twice on that leave as I contracted yellow jaundice.

After leave we were to report back to a billets camp in Brisbane. From there we were taken by train back to Ravenshoe on the Atherton tablelands. This trip could take a week or more. On one such return trip because of flooding along the coast we were taken on an inland line via Barcaldine and Charters Towers. Sometimes we would be held up at Innisfail and would be taken by trucks up over the mountain via Milla Milla to our camp at Ravenshoe.

On return to camp we were soon doing very long hours of training. P.E .at 6am every morning. We often went on long route marches and jungle training for days on end using a rifle range for practice on rifles, Bren Guns, Owen Guns and grenade throwing. Some of the routine was to have fighter planes come in and fire live rounds over our heads to give the new recruits some knowledge what could happen in actual battle situations. It was important for them to come under these attacks as in our next campaign aircraft were used a lot in situations where the infantry couldn’t dislodge the enemy.

At this time sport became a very competitive part of training in the 7th Division. Tom Cotton who had now taken over Commanding Officer of the 2/33rd Battalion from Alf Buttrose was very proud of his Battalion’s football (rugby league) team. The team won the 7th Division final just before we were to embark for our next battle in New Guinea with the Japs.

We were to move to a staging camp called Oonoonba not far from Townsville . On July 19 C and D companies embarked on the M.V. Canberra and A and B companies boarded the M.V. Duntroon. Both vessels left Townsville on the same night, arriving at Moresby on 0930 hours on July 22. We were taken by road transport to a place called Pom Pom Park on the Ridge Road.

Before progressing further I must make mention of the following. Many of the 2/33rd, 2/31st and 2/25th Battalions who had scrub typhus on the Kokoda track we used as guinea pigs by an entomologist from the Department of Agriculture. He had us sitting out in the jungle on the Atherton Tablelands letting all sorts of wogs crawl over us. His aim was to prepare a concoction to rub over our bodies to prevent any insects biting us. A lotion was perfected. I have forgotten the name of it but it was used by troops who fought in future campaigns in the jungle.

If I remember correctly we sat around for three weeks or more at Barrine and Eacham, two volcanic lakes on the Atherton Tablelands. The decision was made by the medical profession that once you had won your fight back to health from scrub typhus you would not get it again. How true this was I cannot tell. I didn’t hear of any further victims in our Lae –Ramu Valley campaign. When in the jungles all troops had to rub this lotion on their bodies morning and evenings as a preventative.

Now back to our return to New Guinea. Training became more severe. We were going out on three It was important that our bodies acclimatised to the hot humid conditions especially as the area we would be fighting in was a lot more open. Nadzab and the Ramu Valley were mainly covered in kunai grass. Travelling in these fields was very hot and humid and difficult to travel quickly as one was never aware where a Jap could be hiding and could pot off the leading scout.

We had many new procedures to learn before our next move into battle. The 503 American Parachute Battalion plus our artillery battery of 25 pounders with shortened barrels were to land at Nadzab and control the airstrip.

Then our 25th Brigade was to be brought in by the American biscuit bombers, as we then knew these planes. The task for us infantry was to be assimilated into how we would be loaded onto an aircraft and how many troops to each plane. This was all part about training before our next campaign, which was to be Nadzab to Lae then up the Ramu Valley to Shaggy Ridge.

Tom Blamey had inspected our brigade in Pom-Pom Park while we were camped there. He and MacArthur had earlier upset the troops with a comment about the 22nd Brigade, and ours, when on the Kokoda Track we withdrew to Iorobaiwa Ridge for a stronger position in which to hold the Japs.

The two generals, who were never anywhere near the front line at the time, said: “Only rabbits run”. Because of this snide remark Blamey was booed by our troops at this parade. Of course our C.O., Tom Cotton, didn’t take too kindly to the troops’ behaviour. Anyway, no further disciplinary action was taken against our unit. The troops wanted to let it be known that the general on the ground knew what he was doing. The General in the front line at that time was Gabi Allen. He was removed back to base much to the troops discontent. Now back to what happened. Next day the Battalion was up at 2am on September 7 and had been loaded onto trucks and taken to the marshalling area at the end of Jackson airstrip.

All half asleep and sitting in the trucks, our packs on and carrying ammunition, hand grenades and two mortar bombs ready to go straight into action. Planes were taking off the drome going on bombing missions when all of a sudden one of these planes was coming very low.

The pilot couldn’t lift it to clear our convoy and crashed into our tracks loaded with half asleep men. The plane was loaded with four 500-pound bombs. Two went off as soon as the plane hit the ground. The plane was loaded with high-octane fuel. This was alight and thrown over Don Company and portion of C Company. Many of us who were not caught up in the flames rushed to try and help.

Because of the heat and hand grenades and ammunition going off there was little one could do except cut the burning clothes of these troops who were alight. Eventually ambulances and American Army people with protective clothing were on the scene shifting those badly burned and wounded off to hospital.

Amazingly, I did not get a scratch from all of the petrol, bombs and ammunition going off around us. We lost nearly 150 men that morning either wounded, burnt to death or so badly burned or injured that they died later in hospital. Eleven American airmen were on the plane. They were incinerated. It was a terrible tragedy for our whole Battalion especially going nto battle less 150 of our mates with whom we had trained with before and after the Kokoda campaign.

Because we were limited in how many troops could be loaded on each plane and the number of planes available our companies were moved off at different times of the morning. Eventually, after being reassembled, most of our company flew out at 6 am. We were to travel to an American air base at Tsili Tsili only 15 minutes by air from where we were to land at Nadzab the next day.

Often the weather over the Owen Stanley Mountains was so unpredictable planes often had to return to Moresby without reaching their destination to unload the troops. Fortunately we had reasonable weather and arrived at Tsili Tsili airfield and unloaded. The company was put into an area and awaited whatever would happen the next day. For the campaign we were issued with two-man tents. These were fastened together and two men slept in them. We also had an issue of a new pack of food which was easier to carry and more palatable. It contained chocolate, dried fruit, biscuits, tea, powdered milk and some other odds and ends. Plus we were also issued with a new can whereby one could heat a meal without a flame or light showing.

We spent the night listening to the American fighter planes taking off on missions to bomb the Japs on the coast north of Lae where the Australian 9th Division was to make an amphibious landing. Next day we were moved on to Nadzab Airfield which had been taken and consolidated by the 503 American Airborne troops and our artillery. We took over from the Americans and soon we were being sent out on patrols searching for any Japs who could infiltrate our positions.

My C Company was instructed to patrol out to a village one day’s march north-west of Nadzab to ascertain if the Japs were occupying the village. If they were in that area they could cause the Australians trouble by taking us from the rear. None was found which made us happy. We camped the night in the village. Because there were fowls and pigs about we were of the opinion the village people had not long left. No doubt it was known that the war was going to erupt in the Lae-Ramu Valley area very soon. They didn’t want to be part of it. We found some eggs in the village. A number of us pushed a hole in the end and sucked out the yoke. This was my first involvement of eating raw eggs.

We spent some time searching the village for any signs that the Japanese may have been in its vicinity. None was seen and our company commander, Doug Copp, reported this back to the CEO when we arrived at Nadzab next evening. An area had been cleared by the troops for us to spend the night. The 2/25th Battalion was engaged with the Japs on our right in one of the rubber plantations. Our instructions were that we would be moving up the main track to Lae the next day.

It wasn’t long before we were being shelled by the Jap artillery. This meant digging slip trenches to sleep in that night as shells were dropping all around us. No sleep for the wicked that night. As the 7th and 9th divisions were focused on capturing the town of Lae our Brigadier Eather decided to push his troops to capture Lae before the 9th did.

Next morning, at about 7am, 13 Platoon led off up the track and it wasn’t long before we were we were opened up on by a Japanese woodpecker, as we knew this sounds from Kokoda.

A number of our troops were killed and wounded. It was one of the saddest days of my life. Peter Kelly and his brother, Deacon, were great mates of mine in 13 Platoon C Company. Peter received a bullet in the stomach and he was calling out: “Let me up and bayonet the so and so’s.”

Hec Davies and I were trying to bandage him and hopefully get him back to a doctor. There were so many bullets flying around us he passed away very soon. He was buried in that area but his body was never found after the campaign finished. His name is on an honour roll at the gate of the Lae Cemetery as an unknown grave. I was hit in the left arm and was able to pull the bullet out myself. I was sent back to the RAP to have it dressed.

I wanted to come back to my platoon, but the doctor said “no” and sent me back to Moresby and hospital. I had been a Bren Gunner. When the bullet penetrated my arm and into the bone. I was unable to lift to Bren Gun to fire it. That ended my hopes of being one of the troops to reach Lae. Our troops, or brigade, were the first into Lae, much to our brigadier’s delight.

After the capture of Lae and a short rest our brigade was back at Nadzab and moving up the Ramu Valley and took a couple of small villages on their way to Dumpu at the foot of the Finisterre Range and Shaggy Ridge.

Kaiapit, small village in the Markham-Ramu Valley, was taken by the 2/5th Independent Company on the night of the 28th and 29th of September. Dumpu was taken by the 21st Brigade on October 4, which was a date set for the 7th Division to accomplish that attack.

While our troops were moving up the valleys I was in hospital at Moresby the 2/6th Australian General Hospital. Now and again a lone Japanese bomber would come over in the evening and ack acks would open up. Next one would have pieces of shrapnel piercing our tents. This was from the Ack Ack shells. The troops in hospital reckoned our Ack aAck guns caused more damage than the Jap bombs, which usually fell far short of the target.

The Americans had picture shows in the camps most nights. Those of us who were walking wounded were allowed to go to the pictures, which broke the monotony. Also walking wounded, and any troops well enough, used to help the sisters and nurses make beds, sweep the floors and help feed those troops who were unable to feed themselves, especially the men who’d had an arm blown off.

After about three weeks in hospital I was flown up to Dumpu where an airstrip had been built. As usual it was the American biscuit bombers who were using it very successfully. The country was much more open, not so much jungle making building an airstrip so much easier.

I was soon shown where 13 Platoon was stationed and joined some of my mates again. The company was on a hill not far from Dumpu holding a perimeter to guard the airfield. That evening I was sleeping in a two-man tent with Murray Roe when all of a sudden the ground started to move and rolled us out of bed. My first thoughts were: “Here we go again. Another earthquake”. But no, it was just an earth tremor. We were soon to learn this happened often in the Finisterre Range. There were many others while we were holding this position.

Roy “Mo” Rene and his show troupe were giving concerts at night at Dumpu. Many troops were given time to go and see them. One always had a good laugh, as he was a very funny actor around that vintage. I made mention at the beginning of my story about Singe Kitley and I going to one of his shows at the Tivoli Theatre the night before I joined the Army on August 25, 1941. When we were in positions, and safety was assured, many concert parties would come to entertain the troops.

Our Battalion didn’t stay in this position long. After a couple of days we were on the move up to Shaggy Ridge. What a day and night. The very narrow ridge where we could only move in single file had been occupied by another company and our company was to relieve them. The climb to the top was about 1260 feet. We were walking through kunai grass. It was as hot as hell. Many had to stop and rest wherever they could until the evening and moved on when the sun had gone down. I was one. After being in hospital and not doing any training I was as weak as a kitten. We eventually took up our positions that night not knowing what was in front of us or where the Japs were except that we were on a very narrow path and if we moved off this path we could fall 1500 feet unless we hit a tree to stop us.

We erected our tent just off the side of the track and dug out soil so we would have a flat surface . Most nights it rained which pleased us. This was our only water supply. We used to find a hollow cane tree split it in half and tie it to the bottom of the tent. This way we would catch the water and run it into a jam tin or dixie.

Next morning we soon found out where the Japanese were holding their position. They were further along the Ridge and in a higher position to where we were dug in. Our forward position was only about 50 yards from them. Each platoon took turns in holding a position. Our artillery was shelling their position but they were so well dug in the artillery shells did not penetrate their bunkers.

At about 9am the same morning over came about 12 American fighter-bombers and let bomb after bomb fall on their position without success. Some of our troops went out on probing patrols but were soon fired on by the Japs. Because of the narrowness of the track and steep terrain we were unable to attack except in single file, which meant we would have lost many men. Eventually 21 Brigade was able to come at their position from another direction and flush them out, but with many casualties.

Our company was in this position for about 10 days. All the time the artillery and American planes were bombing and strafing their position. The Japs had a great knack of digging tunnels into hills where they were very hard to dislodge. Many of our men were lost in hand-to-hand fighting in such situations.

To continue our action at Shaggy Ridge, 25 Brigade’s 2/31st Battalion took over from the 2/33rd. Our Don Company, with the air support I mentioned earlier, had attacked Shaggy Ridge with heavy losses. To get better review of that action one should read The Footsoldiers, page 348 (2nd edition). The 2/31st Battalion eventually took the ridge with no casualties as the Japs had withdrawn their troops.

Somehow, 13 Platoon and the Pioneer Platoon became mixed up with the 2/31st Battalion. We came home together on an old Dutch coastal vessel. Apparently this was caused through wharf strikes and industrial trouble on the Australian wharves. All I remember now is that we were landed in Brisbane and sent to a holding camp. When the rest of the Battalion joined us we all marched through Brisbane. This was the first time the 7th Division had marched through a city since it had returned from the Middle East and England. The 6th and 9th Divisions had both been given welcome home marches. Once again we were given leave. If I remember correctly I think it was for 14 days

When the time came for our company to be relieved I happened to be back carrying the Bren Gun. Ted McCarthy, a little short chap, was also helping carry it. As we were coming off the top of the ridge the Japs had fallen trees across the narrow track. We found trying to straddle these logs very difficult and Ted kept falling over every time he tried to get over such a log. Anyway I felt sorry for him and made a comment: “ Ted let me carry the Bren Gun. I’m more sure-footed than you.” So I took the Bren and what should happen. The very next log I straddled. over I went and fell about 20 feet down the ridge. Luckily I came to a rest against a sapling that stopped me from falling about 1000 feet. As you can gather I was known as “sure foot” in the Battalion for the remainder of the time.

On arrival at Dumpu our company was given a perimeter to occupy and guard until a decision was made as to our next move. I was receiving letters from home, which had been more regular in this campaign than in the Owen Stanley Kokoda campaign. Jean used to send me books she bought regularly. One was Walkabout. Noelene had asked Jean to write to me. At first she was hesitant, then, over the years after this, we wrote regularly. On one leave, and I can’t remember which one now, we became engaged. That is another long story. I made the decision I would not marry until the war was over. I was in an infantry Battalion. This meant one could be killed in any action. I didn’t think it was fair to ever leave a widow at such a young age.

To continue our action at Shaggy Ridge, 25 Brigade’s 2/31st Battalion took over from the 2/33rd. Our Don Company, with the air support I mentioned earlier, had attacked Shaggy Ridge with heavy losses. To get better review of that action one should read The Footsoldiers, page 348 (2nd edition). The 2/31st Battalion eventually took the ridge with no casualties as the Japs had withdrawn their troops.

I have also have forgotten to mention Bib and Bub, two Wirraway spotter planes flown by Australians who guided the American fighters in to bomb and strafe Shaggy Ridge. These little aircraft were used extensively on the Kokoda Track to keep our top brass informed of unforeseen actions taking place by the enemy, not that they could see much in the jungle except where villages were situated. Sometimes they were used to guide our artillery. I can now to continue regarding our further involvement chasing the Japs in the Ramu Valley. The Battalion was given a perimeter southeast of Dumpu at the Mane Rive to patrol and watch for any apanese patrols coming back to attack the airfields at Dumpu.

There were many further conflicts with the Japs out on patrol. In some, men were killed and wounded. While information kept coming through the grapevine that we were to go on to Madang, on the coast, Major-General Moorehead, who was now the commander of the New Guinea campaigns, would not let General Vasey, the GOC of 7th Division continue. On January 1, 21 and 25 Brigades were flown back to Moresby and Pom Pom Park. Thus ended another campaign. This one had been for four months.

Somehow, 13 Platoon and the Pioneer Platoon became mixed up with the 2/31st Battalion. We came home together on an old Dutch coastal vessel. Apparently this was caused through wharf strikes and industrial trouble on the Australian wharves. All I remember now is that we were landed in Brisbane and sent to a holding camp. When the rest of the Battalion joined us we all marched through Brisbane. This was the first time the 7th Division had marched through a city since it had returned from the Middle East and England. The 6th and 9th Divisions had both been given welcome home marches. Once again we were given leave. If I remember correctly I think it was for 14 days

I know I ended up in Concord hospital again with malaria. On this leave I spent a lot of time with Jean. After my leave I was to report back to camp at Strathpine, a camp 13 Platoon had prepared on arrival back from New Guinea. We used to be given night and weekend leave from this camp. I attended dances in Brisbane and also at Petrie and Caboolture, where we had camped while building the Brisbane line some two years before.

After 10 days at Redcliffe we had already done some combined operational training at Burleigh Heads, now known as the Gold Coast. It was just sand dunes when we were there with the British Navy, climbing down over ship’s sides, down rope ladders and into small landing craft to take us to the beach for attacks on enemy positions.

After weeks of this training for an amphibious landing sometime in the future we still had no idea what our next action would be. There were many rumours such as the Philippines or any other island in the Pacific, but for now we were to entrain and return to Cairns and Trinity Beach where we were to train with the American Navy in further beach landings, this time with the L.C.I.’s (Landing Craft Infantry) and L.C.A.’s (Landing Craft Assault).

This training went on and for a number of days. Eventually we were given a full unit assault recce to accomplish 30 miles north of Cairns where we climbed off the mother ships into LCI’s (Landing Craft Infantry) and made an attack on a beachhead through mangrove swamps up on to high ground. This exercise went on for three days.

Our next move was to return to Kairi on the Atherton Tablelands, where we went on a Brigade exercise lasting three days. After three days and nights of continuous marching and attack and counter- attack we moved back to camp all very footsore. We were now some 30 miles from our camp. Our next exercise was to be a divisional project being held over six or more days. This one was to include the Air Force, also giving us troops some thoughts of what we were going to be involved in and where for our next action. This six- day manoeuvre was to be the largest the Battalion ever took part in through the six years of the Second World War. Every conceivable piece of firepower was used, smoke bombs, tracer bullets, and wooden projectiles that could pierce bodies, and did just that to some troops. The G.O.C. was pleased that this manoeuvre was such a success in bringing out the weaknesses in any future planning for what ever our next action would accomplish.

On a Battalion parade on November 20 our C.E.O, Tom Cotton, informed us the operation we had been training for had been cancelled for the 7th division. Troops who had more than 10 days accrued leave could proceed after Christmas. However, most did fill some disappointment that they were not to take part in the projected adventure that most guessed would be a landing on the Philippines. By February 1945 all troops with the necessary accumulated leave were given it.

One of our 7th Division’s greatest losses took place in an aircraft crash. The plane was carrying the divisional G.O.C.. It was the first week of March when the division heard of the tragic loss of Major- General George Vasey and others who were killed in the crash. Search parties from the division eventually found the bodies.

Vasey was the sort of person that if he saw his troops in action sitting waiting for further action he would sit down and discuss with you your thoughts on how the action we were involved with was progressing. The loss of their popular and respected leader was deeply felt by all soldiers of the 7th division. His familiar frame and red cap could always be seen forward with the troops during hard battles after Kokoda and throughout the Lae – Ramu Valley campaigns. The next general to general to become divisional GOC was Major-General Milford.

During May 1945 the division was still carrying on with divisional demonstrations with the involvement of artillery, live ammunition and some new forms of projectiles such as flamethrowers. We were hesitant these should be used, but the decision was made by the top brass. This would be one way to flush the Japs out of their foxholes without our troops being mown down. Vengeance dive-bombers were used with our artillery in this very real enactment of our attack on the enemy in the future.

One shell from a 25-pound gun dropped short and fell into a mess parade of the 2/14th Battalion. Eight men were killed and 24 wounded. Such were the risks that were taken in training for future actions that the division would be involved in.

On May 1 we read where the 9th Division had landed at Tarakan. Soon we were on the move. On the third and fourth of June our Battalion was entrained at Kairi Railway station en route to the Oonoonbah staging camp near Townsville.

On June 9 we arrived at Council Wharf and embarked on the U.S. Navy liberty troopship U.S.S Howell Lykes. All of 25 Brigade were on-board. The rumour was, as usual, we were on our way to Japan. Our C.E.O. knew different. As usual this was a secret. For the 2/31st and
2/ 33rd Battalions this was the seventh time we had embarked by sea for operational service.

For those who went to Britain it was their eighth voyage. Our trip to the next destination took us along the West Coast of New Guinea, past many islands with their white beaches and palm trees. We passed many landing craft. These craft were now able to move troops and supplies to islands without fear of attack by Japanese ships or planes.

To our dismay when we dropped anchor at Biak Island in the evening the land was covered in lights and we could hear music playing. One thought the war must have been over, but not so.

The Japs had lost control of the island and sea. At 09:00 hours on June 18 the ship dropped anchor of Morotai Island. Our troops had crowded the ships rails since daylight wondering what was in store for us. The water was full of landing craft, infantry L.C.I.’s and L.C.M.’s. The harbour and on land was a hive of movement. Our brigade was offloaded and taken to a staging camp where for the next few days all were being given briefing on what was going to happen after we left Morati.

This was a huge allied base for the Navy, Army and Air Force. When we saw all the landing craft, and after our previous training in Australia, Blind Freddie could see our division was to take part in an amphibious landing. We now knew it was to be Balikpapan on the West Coast of Borneo and a large oil production centre.

Soon we were loaded onto these L.C.I.’s just like sardines. We were allowed to go on deck for some fresh air. Otherwise we slept on bunks crammed below deck. It was so humid and we felt suffocated. If I remember correctly our company went on board had about 9am.

We travelled all day and night and arrived at Balikpapan early the next morning. This was to be the first action where all the 7th Division was to take part.

The 18th and 21st Brigades were to land from L.C.I.’s and take the beachhead. The 25th Brigade was to move through these two and up onto the mountains. The L.C.I.’s were used for moving up onto the beachhead and landing the troops then reversing and clearing out, whereas the L.C.M.’s would pull into the shallow water. The troops then came down a gang plank and jumped or fell into the water and waded ashore the best way you could.

While our Brigade was waiting for the other two brigades to land and consolidate the shoreline line we were able to watch the terrific bombardment of the shoreline and the town of the Balikpapan. Bombing, strafing and the huge Navy guns on board the dozens of warships just about obliterated this area.

Our troops had never had so much heavy armaments support in any of our previous campaigns. From information given to us before the landing the Navy and bombers had been hammering Balikpapan some weeks before our landing was to take place.

At last we were to land. What an eventful time. One was loaded with ammo, hand grenades mortar bombs and, as usual, I was carrying the Bren gun and its ammunition. One fell into bomb holes through barbed wire entanglement before reaching terra firma and on our way up onto a feature called 89 Contour Feature.

Soon it was observed there were land mines and booby traps set on many beaten tracks and roads. After taking these positions we were to stand to and be watchful of any enemy movement. Naval bombardment group organized for shells to be fired every 15 minutes over the Battalion’s position that night. These flares lit up the countryside for up to 1,000 yards. Troops were then able to observe any Jap movement around their perimeter.

Meanwhile, A and D companies were engaging he Japs on another front. They were facing stiff opposition from the Japs who, as usual, were dug into the hillside and difficult to attack from the front. B Company was called to help and also the artillery. In all our actions previously there was never the support we were given in this campaign even though sometimes the artillery fired on our positions because we had taken the positions before they were supposed to fire.

Other times our companies were in the wrong position, inadvertently having moved further forward because of no Jap resistance. Thirteen Platoon was sent out on a patrol to look for one of our bombers shot down by Jap small arms fire. The bomber was flying just above the tree canopy. We troops were aware of what would happen.

We hoped we wouldn’t have to witness the plane being hit and brought down, but this did happen. Our platoon found the plane and all the crew killed and hanging in the trees. It was a gruesome sight for we infantry troops on the ground. In all of the actions over the next few days we were traversing through villages, along roads and up into the mountains we were fired on regularly by the Japs using artillery, mortar and ack ack firepower. In all these actions our companies were losing men killed and wounded.

C Company was ordered to probe and attack a feature called Judge. While this attack was taking place a young officer who had only recently joined the Battalion was killed moving along a ridgeline. In our training it was taboo to put oneself in a position where the enemy could pick you off so easily. Two privates were also killed because they were with the officer.

That morning we had many casualties in all companies. Our Battalion was given the task of attacking and taking three positions being held by the Japs who had very strong fortifications. Much bombing by aircraft, also strafing by fighter aircraft, plus the Navy big guns and our artillery hit these Japanese held positions. After all of the shelling the infantry was sent in to mop up. Even so we still had a difficult battle to dislodge the Japs and take their positions.

Our platoon had taken a feature where the Japanese had an Ack Ack gun emplacement plus tons of rice in bags, which was all wet. The odour coming from the wet rice plus the blowflies was close to making us all sick. Had I not been in this situation one would never have thought rice would give up such a terrible odour.

All companies of the Battalion were out patrolling through villages where many Indonesians had been murdered and disemboweled by the Japs. C Company spent three days eyeball to eyeball in one confrontation. We lost a number of men killed here also wounded.

Our artillery also let us have a pasting with shells landing on our position. Lucky for us Sgt. Bill Elbourne had been an artillery gunner before joining the Battalion, and luckily our telephone line had not been cut as they so often were in all our campaigns. Bill was able to have the artillery called off our position without loss of life.

I can remember an episode here where a Jap kept on sniping at us. Tex McCarthy decided he was sick of this going on and decided to go out and get the Jap. He didn’t move far before the Jap sighted him and he was soon back in a slit trench. Someone shot the Jap soon after that little episode.

We were on their feature when we received news that Hec Davies, who was now a captain in charge of B Company, had been killed by our own mortars landing among B company’s HQ. I was upset when I heard this news. Hec had been 13 Platoon’s officer when Peter Kelly was killed on our way to Lae in our previous campaign. Hec had married not long before this campaign started.

On the night of July 21 two regiments of artillery and a battery of 2/1st Anti Tank Regiment with their 4.2-inch mortars, as well as our Battalion mortars. fired for three hours at the Jap position. The noise was deafening. A total of 6,000 rounds of ammo was fired onto Acid and Abode, the two features the Japs were still holding out on. They were only 400 yards in front of our Battalion position. When a patrol went out from A Company the next morning it was The Battalion’s companies continued to patrol forward of these positions without sighting any Japs but they did find Indonesian civilians, some alive and many dead. As I was now a Lance Sergeant and was in charge of 13 Platoon, we were given a section to patrol from the Metal – Margin area.

As the war was now almost over, after the Americans dropping the atom bombs, I was very aware of the booby traps the Japanese had placed near many of the areas where our boys were patrolling. One was worried one of these could be triggered and thus loose young lives after spending all these years in action and now the war was over. One did not want to see any more loss of life.

Our next move as a company was to guard Jap prisoner of war camps that had been built by our engineers and pioneers. Our company and 13 Platoon were given two different prisoner-of-war camps to look after. One was placed near where we finished our actions. The other was close to the Balikpapan Township. We used the Japanese doing work on roads and many other reclamation jobs, of which there were hundreds after the pounding our Navy artillery and air forces had done to the places.

On July 26, 1945, the Australian Government had decided to release us back to Civy life. This decision had been made before our attack on Balik. Those five-year people were soon on their way back to Australia. This was the start of the breakup of our Battalion and the 7th Division. At this point those of us left, plus we were getting reinforcements from other units who were not in that five-year plan coming into our Battalion, carried on with other pursuits.

On August 10 news came through that the Americans had dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Not long after we were informed the Japanese were seeking a peace deal. On October 12 Tom Cotton flew into Kuching on a Catalina flying boat. C Company was on its way to Pontianah on the H.M.A.S. Barcoo. Pontianah, a large town on the west coast of Borneo, had a large Jap force that had to be rounded up. It was C Company’s job to finalise all of this, plus meet with the local population and arrange to have some form of government working again.

This was important, as all the Sultans had been killed by the Japanese. I took a section of 13 Platoon up to Kuching to talk with the heads of government and inspect the Sultan’s palaces. I was amazed to see how huge they were and to see all the large mirrors and paintings hanging on the walls. While on this tour we attended many luncheons put on by the Dutch and Indonesians. On arrival back at Pontianah our company paraded in the City Square where our CO, Tom Cotton, handed over all future operations to the Dutch.

There was some trouble with the local spokesman who was pushing for Indonesian independence from the Dutch. Our CO used a firm hand in preventing any further conflict. Our company jointed H.M.A.S. Barcoo for the trip back to Klandasan, but not before the ship was loaded with chickens. What a sight. There were two or three hundred of them. Some were flying around the deck and our chaps had had to catch them, ring their necks and clean them ready to go into the ship’s freezer.

I’m not sure if this was accomplished by the time we arrived back at Balikpapan. It was a very informative trip and something different to talk about. I can remember our divisional parade held on a flat top hill where our dead were now buried in a well-kept and developed cemetery. This parade was to remember all troops who had been killed in action through all the divisional fighting campaigns, mostly against the Japs, who, had Curtin not brought his AIF divisions home, would have invaded Australia.

On the Kokoda Track we found plenty of evidence of money they were to use when Australia was invaded. Due respects to what has been written about the Kokoda campaign by most authors.

We continued to guard Japanese prisoner- of-war camps until it was time for us to return to Australia in February. Some troops decided to take the opportunity and join a Battalion made up of 7th Division personnel to go on to Japan as an occupation force. The 1st Gurkha Battalion took over our duties in Borneo.

At last those of the Battalion left in Borneo embarked on the H.M.A.S. Manoora bound for Brisbane, where the Queenslanders disembarked, then on to Sydney where the rest of us were unloaded. The trip back to Australia was enthralling. The ship was a blaze of lights at night after all the trips we had in blackouts. The sea was calm coming home through the small islands of the Celebes via Torres Strait and the east coast of Australia.

Jean took the morning off work and was at the wharf to greet me, and all the other troops had friends and girlfriends there to meet them. What a great feeling.

We were to be discharged, so I thought. Because I was young and being a sergeant the Army had other ideas for me. After some leave I was told I would go to Greta Army Training Camp to train the young chaps who are going to Japan as interim Army troops to carry out duties as a postwar force. Some of these troops ended up fighting in the Korean War later. I had a platoon of Tasmanians to train, which was a pleasant task as I had a number of Tasmanians with me in 13 Platoon throughout the Second World War.

An interesting side to all of this while at Greta was to see so many of our people who had been discharged under the five-year plan who were joining up again. Nearly all couldn’t settle down to a job after so many years in the Army.

There was me trying to get out of the Army as I considered we had done what we joined up to do. The war was over. Towards the end of the passing out of the platoon I had trained I was sent to an N.C.O.s school as a refresher course.

I thought this was my chance not to pass in this course and I could be discharged. The C.E.O. of the school was a nice division major. He decided I would not be a good influence on future recruits coming to the training Battalion. He was happy to let me go. I was discharged on July 3, 1946, after nearly five years of my young life fighting in an infantry Battalion for our country.

Jean and I had written hundreds of letters since we became friends and then becoming engaged. Jean bought the engagement ring, as they were hard to find back then. If I remember correctly it was purchased by our cousin, Eileen Gibson, from the New South Wales Mont de Piete where she was employed. Jean drew a diagram of it and posted same with a letter.

A lot of my letters to Jean were written on old biscuit papers or on the back of her letters which I had received. Any paper one would take into the front line with us would soon get wet and be of no use. Jean wrote often and, as most of us did ,we received many letters together, probably weeks apart. While I was in camp at Greta I used to ring most nights, that is providing one was not on night duty or out on a bivouac. Every opportunity I would get weekend leave at Greta and would be on my way to Sydney to meet Jean. Often Aunty Silvia would take us to Narrabeen or Mona Vale beaches.

A lot of my letters to Jean were written on old biscuit papers or on the back of her letters which I had received. Any paper one would take into the front line with us would soon get wet and be of no use. Jean wrote often and, as most of us did ,we received many letters together, probably weeks apart. While I was in camp at Greta I used to ring most nights, that is providing one was not on night duty or out on a bivouac. Every opportunity I would get weekend leave at Greta and would be on my way to Sydney to meet Jean. Often Aunty Silvia would take us to Narrabeen or Mona Vale beaches.

• Ray Gibson died following a fall at his home in 2016. He was 94.