The Research Booklet - Boronia Park Uniting Church

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Gladesville & Boronia Park Methodist Churches Boronia Park Uniting Church Gladesville and Boronia Park Methodist Church Military Service Members Commemorating the 80 th anniversary of the commencement of World War 2 3rd September 1939 2nd September 1945 Commemoration Service at Boronia Park Uniting Church 20 th October 2019 Reverend Simon Hansford, Uniting Church in Australia, Moderator of the Synod of NSW & ACT & Reverend Seung Jae Yeon, Religious Minister at Boronia Park Uniting Church

Transcript of The Research Booklet - Boronia Park Uniting Church

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Gladesville & Boronia Park Methodist

Churches Boronia Park Uniting Church

Gladesville and Boronia Park Methodist

Church Military Service Members

Commemorating the 80th anniversary of the commencement of World War 2

3rd September 1939 – 2nd September 1945

Commemoration Service at Boronia Park Uniting Church

20th October 2019

Reverend Simon Hansford, Uniting Church in Australia,

Moderator of the Synod of NSW & ACT

&

Reverend Seung Jae Yeon,

Religious Minister at Boronia Park Uniting Church

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(Cover photo: Walter Small and Eileen Gibson marriage in Drummoyne in July 1945)

Flight crew from 458 Squadron RAAF, in front of Wellington aircraft “R for Robert” (Air Gunner Carlyle Ricketts on left), December 1941

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Let us now sing the praises of famous men,

our ancestors in their generations.

The Lord apportioned to them great glory,

his majesty from the beginning.

There were those who ruled in their kingdoms,

and made a name for themselves by their valour;

those who gave counsel because they were intelligent;

those who spoke in prophetic oracles;

those who led the people by their counsels

and by their knowledge of the people’s lore;

they were wise in their words of instruction;

those who composed musical tunes,

or put verses in writing;

rich men endowed with resources,

living peacefully in their homes -

all these were honoured in their generations,

and were the pride of their times.

Some of them have left behind a name,

so that others declare their praise.

But of others there is no memory;

they have perished as though they had never existed;

they have become as though they had never been born,

they and their children after them.

But these also were godly men,

whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten;

their wealth will remain with their descendants,

and their inheritance with their children’s children.

Their descendants stand by the covenants;

their children also, for their sake.

Their offspring will continue for ever,

and their glory will never be blotted out.

Their bodies are buried in peace,

but their name lives on generation after generation.

The assembly declares their wisdom,

and the congregation proclaims their praise.

Ecclesiasticus 44. 1-5

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Gladesville & Boronia Park Methodist Church members who died serving in World War 2

“Greater love hath no man than this, That a man lay down his life for his friend.”

1. Able Seaman Bernard Albert DIEWS Royal Australian Navy “HMAS Sydney”, vicinity Geraldton, Western Australia

20th November 1941, aged 21

2. Deck Hand Attendant Roger Frederick HART

Australian Merchant Navy 14th May 1943, aged 16

“AHS Centaur”, vicinity Stradbroke Island, Queensland

3. Flight Sergeant Douglas Conway HOUGHTON

Royal Australian Air Force 1st September 1943, aged 20

vicinity Merzdorf, Brandenburg, Germany

4. Corporal Leslie Robert SMITH 2nd Australian Imperial Force Thailand/Burma Railway, Thailand

about April 1944, aged 29

5. Gunner Harold John MAGNUSSON 2nd Australian Imperial Force “SS Rakuyō Maru”, vicinity Nagasaki, Japan

12th September 1944, aged 22

6. Warrant Officer William Bruce JUDD Royal Australian Air Force vicinity Leipzig, Germany

17th March 1945, aged 20

7. Flight Sergeant John “Jack” Raymond Wilbur HERPS

Royal Australian Air Force 20th May 1945, aged 24

Truscott Airfield, the Kimberley’s, Western Australia

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Gladesville & Boronia Park Methodist Church members who took part in World War 2

ALEY Ronald Sydney

ALLAN Keith Lewis

ALLEN H W

ARMSTRONG Edward “Ted” George

BALDERSTON William Leander Archibald

BALDERSTON Peter Parnell

BARTLETT Frederick William

BLACK Ronald Noel

BOYES Frank Arthur

BOYES Ronald

CLARE W

COLLYER Leslie

CORNWELL James Mitchell

CORRINGHAM Rowland

COX Hedley Russell

DAVIS R

DEMPSEY George Walter

DEMPSEY William Kenneth

DEMPSEY Jack Morris

DIEWS Albert William

DIEWS Audrey May Margaret

DIEWS Bernard Albert (K)

FARLEY John Robert

FRENCH Alan Douglas

GAMBLE Robert Bruce

GILBERTSON Allan Roy

GILBERTSON Gilbert Sydney

GOWERS Arthur Lindsay

GOWERS Keith Henry

HALBERT Beryl Milford

HARDING Gilbert Harold Joseph

HARRISON J W

HART Lewis Benjamin

HART Roger Frederick (K)

HARTENSTEIN Gordon John

HERKESS James Alexander

HERKESS Robert Cummings

HERPS John “Jack” Raymond Wilbur (K)

HERPS Allan Carlton Brown

HERPS Matthew Douglas “Doug” Wadley

HICKS Sidney John Cecil

HOUGHTON Douglas Conway (K)

JUDD Blossie Emily Ellen

JUDD Lorna

JUDD William Bruce (K)

KITT Albert Leslie

LANCE David Harry

LUCAS Sydney William

MAGNUSSON Harold John (K)

MARTIN John “Jack” William

McDONALD Robert

McGREGOR John Clarence

MILBURN June Holdsworth

MOLLOY Edna Elizabeth

MONTGOMERY Harry Hunter

MORRISON Keith James

MORTON Ronald John

MORTON John “Jack” William Gordon

NEWING A

NICHOLLS Mavis Catherine

PITBLADO James

PRYOR A E

RAMSAY Hedley Osbourne

RAMSAY Colin Murray

READ Wallace John

REEVES John Donald

RICKETTS Carlyle Raymond Stuart DFC

RICKETTS Douglas Neville

RUSH G

RUSH Sydney John

SCOTT Herbert Harold

SCOTT John Robert

SHARPLES Jack

SMALL Keith Reginald

SMALL Leslie Booth

SMALL Walter “Wally” Stewart

SMITH Leslie Robert (K)

SOUTHWELL Peter Raymond

STEWART Harold Arthur

STREATFIELD Allen George

THACKERAY George

WATTS Harold James

WATTS William Henry

WESTON Audrey Ranfurly

WHEEN Edwin Richard

WILLIAMS Robert Edward

WILLIS John Mark

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Reverend Seungjae Yeon, Religious Minister at Boronia Park Uniting Church

Studied and researched with passion, encouraged by family, friends and church members, and now with a huge effort that promises to tell a great story that we are part of, the history booklet written by retired army captain James “Jim” Dummett is one of the most local community based research papers you can grab to read. It is full of individual stories moving and touching when you read it, and at the end of the booklet you can think thankfully about their life-giving sacrifice and loving heart towards the world where now we live with each other.

The booklet consists of eighty-seven members’ personal history, background, family and life, and their service to World War II. And there are more specific stories of seven members who were killed in action. I still remember the time when the whole congregation heard quietly three young people read three individual stories. I was moved by the stories because I am an ex-service man of Korean Army and a parent of three young people whose ages, especially my two boys, are the same with those who went to battle field and were killed. I could feel that the eighty-seven members’ friends and family and their whole community were mourning when they heard they were killed. How sad it is. I pray that the story’s in this booklet will remind us that we should not repeat this tragedy in future.

You might not think it by looking at it from the cover, but the booklet is a real life-giving and meaningful outcome of the author who has committed to seek God’s presence. I would acknowledge that James gives us reason why we should live with each other in harmony and unity. The booklet is a reason that is very much sought to be shared within our community, every day. It is also a tie for us to make us one through the eighty-seven stories no matter where you come from. Ever since I sat down to read it, I have wanted to keep in my book collection. You might feel the same like me. It is meaningful, and you are now being part of the local history of Gladesville and Boronia Park at the same time.

Reverend Seung Jae Yeon,

Religious Minister at Boronia Park Uniting Church

James Cornwell and family Henley, 1941

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Introduction and Thanks This booklet attempts to identify, and in a small way bring to light, the extraordinary efforts of 87 former members from Gladesville and Boronia Park Methodist Churches throughout World War 2 (1939-45). It is a story of ordinary young men and women from a small, semi-rural community on the edge of an emerging modern city, caught up in an extraordinary global tragedy.

Those identified are named in the now Boronia Park Uniting Church Honour Roll Book which was compiled in the early 1950s and formerly on display in the Gladesville Uniting Church War Memorial Hall. With the joining of both these Uniting Churches in 2002, the Honour Book lost its permanent home. The Book however remained in the care of the church elders and over the past year the congregation has encouraged both research into those named and a vision to return the Book to prominent display in the Church.

The names represent a diverse group including heroes who fought with extraordinary courage in now legendary places such as Tobruk, Palestine and the Kokoda Track. Naval battles in the Mediterranean and Pacific and air raids over Germany. However, in the true Australian spirit of equality, the Roll also recognises locals who volunteered and did no more than repair trucks in Liverpool, clerical duties at Concord Hospital and pick and preserve fruit for those serving on the front line. As with any collection of war tales there are regrettably a number of tragic story’s including the loss of so many young men including a 16-year-old on his second night at sea and those who suffered on the Thai-Burma Railway. There are also tales of great adventure including a bravery award for “skill and fortitude in operations against the enemy” and a 19-year-old girl who spied on the Japanese.

Research of those listed on the Roll reveals:

• 87 men and women served from both Gladesville & Boronia Park Methodist Churches. The eldest was 52 and the youngest 16 (average age 22)

• seven died on active service (average age 19)

• eight were women (average age 19)

• 53 served in the Army, five in the Navy, 17 in the RAAF and two in the Merchant Navy

• 11 pairs of brothers and five sets of three brothers and/or sisters served

The majority of the information in this booklet has been researched through the National Archives of Australia which contains nearly 400,000 Australian and New Zealand service records. Records available on “Ancestry.com” provided many of the personal details. Other helpful sources were the Australian War Memorial and the State Library of NSW.

However, the most valuable source of information came from the wonderful members of Boronia Park Uniting Church who shared memories and items to bring this research alive. This included children of those who served and even one who attended the marriage service on the cover of this book!

While the names and events presented have undergone a significant degree of rigour in their validation it has been over eighty years since most of these records were originated. Further research will undoubtedly reveal improved outcomes. This record is intended to be a “living” document and further research is encouraged.

Captain James “Jim” Dummett (Rtd)

October 2019

Jack Martin and family Gladesville, 1941

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Gladesville and Boronia Park Methodist Church members who served in World War 2

1st September 1939 – 2nd September 1945

1. Lieutenant Ronald Sydney ALEY*. Born in Gladesville in 1918, Ronald enlisted as an accountant from Mary St Hunters Hill at age 21 in February 1940. Ronald served with 35

Infantry Battalion in PNG from January to December 1944 and again from February 1945 to January 1946, including the Huon Peninsula campaign which finally removed the Japanese army from New Guinea.

2. Keith Lewis ALLAN. Born in Colloroy in 1926, Keith enlisted from Morrison Rd Gladesville and served with the RAAF.

3. HW ALLEN. Unknown.

4. Edward “Ted” George ARMSTRONG*. Born in Young NSW in 1919 and enlisted from Victoria into the 2nd AIF.

5. Peter Parnell BALDERSTON. Born in Paddington in 1920, Peter like his brother William, served with the RAAF.

Legend

* indicates individual photograph

(K) Died during service in World War 2

CMF Citizens Military Force (or Militia).This was the part-time home defence army and held this role until the start of the war with Japan on 7 December 1941. While not mobilized until that date, all units did a series of brigade camps beginning at the outbreak of war and ending with full-time service on mobilization. Often all members of a CMF unit would transfer to the 2nd AIF in one administrative parade most often in another state, hence many service records show enlistment far from their Gladesville homes.

2nd AIF 2nd Australian Imperial Force. Raised in 1939, this was an all-volunteer force raised for service world-wide and was modelled after the 1st Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) from World War 1.

RAAF/RAF Royal Australian Air Force/Royal Air Force (British)

RAN/RN Royal Australian Navy/Royal Navy (British)

Middle East During the first years of World War II, Australia's military strategy was closely aligned with that of the United Kingdom. In line with this, most Australian military units deployed overseas in 1940 and 1941 were sent to the Mediterranean and Middle East where they formed a key part of the Commonwealth forces in the area. The three AIF infantry divisions sent to the Middle East saw extensive action, as did the RAAF squadrons and warships in this theatre.

PNG/NG Papua and/or New Guinea. Following World War 1 Australia assumed a mandate from the League of Nations for governing the former German territory of PNG. It was administered under this mandate until the Japanese invasion in December 1941 brought about the suspension of Australian civil administration. Much of the territory of PNG, including the islands of Bougainville and New Britain, were occupied by Japanese forces before being recaptured by Australian and American forces during the final months of the war.

Air War Europe

The RAAF's role in the strategic air offensive in Europe formed Australia's main contribution to the defeat of Germany. Approximately 13,000 Australian airmen served in dozens of British and five Australian squadrons in RAF Bomber Command between 1940 and the end of the war.

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6. Leading Aircraftsman William Leander Archibald BALDERSTON*. Born in Irvinebank Queensland in 1909 and was 32 and working as a carpenter at the Gladesville Hospital when he enlisted in the RAAF in December 1942. After passing his RAAF trade test he was employed as a carpenter throughout the war. After initially serving with 30 Squadron in RAAF Richmond, he transferred to 8 Service Flying Training School, near Bundaberg Queensland where he worked for the remainder of the war

7. Frederick William BARTLETT. Born in Sydney in 1923 and enlisted from Milling St Gladesville as a soldier in the 2nd AIF.

8. Sergeant Ronald Noel BLACK*. Born in Burwood in 1923, Ronald enlisted as an asbestos moulder from Prince Edward St Gladesville at age 19 in February 1940. He first served with the army before transferring to the RAAF and training as an armorer in Adelaide during 1942. He served with 11 Squadron RAAF which flew Consolidated PBY Catalina seaplanes in Northern Queensland & PNG from June 1943 to April 1944 and January to September 1945. This included action during the Battle of the Bismarck Sea, a naval battle off the west coast of New Guinea.

9. Sergeant Frank Arthur BOYES. Born in Gladesville in 1917, Frank enlisted as a fitter mechanic from Frederick St Ryde at age 22 in 1939. He first served in the Militia with the 1 Light Horse Regiment before transferring to the RAAF in 1940 and training and serving as an Aircraft Fitter (Mustangs) in Camden & Uranquinty NSW.

10. Ronald BOYES*. Born in Southampton England in 1912, Ronald enlisted in Sellheim Queensland however he gave the same address as his younger brother Frank, as Frederick St Ryde. Ronald served as a soldier in the 2nd AIF.

11. W CLARE. Unknown.

12. Able Seaman Leslie COLLYER*. Born in Oxfordshire, England in 1920, the family arrived in Australia when Leslie was four. Leslie enlisted from Punt Rd Gladesville at the age of 19 in September 1939. Leslie served in the RAN on a number of ships, but most significantly on HMAS Canberra in the Middle East and then later in the support of the defence of Singapore. He later served with the MV Coptic on convoy duties to and from London and New York via the Panama Canal.

13. Lieutenant James Mitchell CORNWELL*. Born in Gladesville in 1923, James was an 18-year-old accountant when he enlisted into the CMF from Dick St Henley on October 1941. James served in NSW with the Australian Army Service Corps providing logistics support to the army, initially part time but then transferring to full time service in January 1942. In July 1943 James undertook officer training at Woodside SA and graduated as a 2nd Lieutenant. Soon after he enlisted in the 2nd AIF James was deployed to serve in NG where he served until April 1944. He returned to Sydney and again deployed to Moratai and Borneo in May 1945. He remained in the area until he returned in September 1946. James remained in the CMF for a further 30 years, retiring in March 1974.

14. Leading Aircraftsman Rowland CORRINGHAM*. Born in Watsons Bay in 1922, Rowland enlisted into the RAAF from Batemans Rd Gladesville as an 18-year-old trainee mechanic. Rowland served as an aircraft fitter in NG with 21, 75 & 80 Squadrons from January 1944 to October 1945.

15. Corporal Hedley Russell COX*. Born in Balmain in 1913, 28-year-old Hedley enlisted from Lancaster Ave West Ryde where he lived with his wife Vivienne. Hedley was employed as a carpenter/joiner on enlistment and as a consequence attended further trade training with the army engineers in Tamworth. He graduated as a linesman and joined 1 Australian Signals Corps in May 1942. Arriving in PNG in August 1942 Hedley would have been engaged in the Battle of Kokoda and the subsequent campaigns which led to the withdrawal of Japanese troops from PNG. Returning to Australia in June 1943 he transferred to 1 Australian Line Maintenance Company which deployed in April 1945 to Moratai Island in northern Indonesia to support the US operation to capture this island as final preparation of the recapture of the Philippines. Hedley returned to Australia in December 1945 and discharged soon after.

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16. R DAVIS. Unknown.

17. George Walter DEMPSEY. Eldest of three Dempsey boys, George was born in Gladesville in 1919, and enlisted from Sydney where he served as an airman in the RAAF.

18. William Kenneth DEMPSEY. William was born in Gladesville in 1922, and enlisted from Ravenshoe Queensland where he served as a soldier in the 2nd AIF.

19. Jack Morris DEMPSEY. Jack was born in Gladesville in 1923, and enlisted from Gladesville where he served as a soldier in the 2nd AIF.

20. Merchant Seaman Albert William DIEWS*. Born in Katoomba in 1894, Albert lived in Raven St Gladesville and was the father of Bernard and Audrey. Albert served in the Australian Merchant Navy on board SS Canberra, a troopship, on six voyages between September 1939 and July 1942.

21. Leading Aircraftsman Audrey May Margaret CROSSKILL (nee DIEWS)*. Born in Huntley’s Point in 1925, Audrey enlisted as a wages clerk from Tennyson Rd Gladesville at age 18 in 1943. After initial training at the WRAAF Depot at Bradfield Park (now West Lindfield) NSW, she remained at that location as a clerk until mid-1944 when she was given a compassionate discharge on marrying LAC Rees Harold Crosskill from Forrest Hill near Wagga Wagga.

22. Able Seaman Bernard Albert DIEWS*(K). See his story on page 24.

23. Signaller John Robert FARLEY*. Born in Gladesville in 1926, John enlisted in the RAAF from Batemans Rd in June 1944, where the 18-year-old was working as a 2nd year apprentice radio technician. He completed his radio training in Bonagilla, Victoria. At the end of the war John was a member of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force Japan where he served for over 18 months from 1946-47.

24. Alan Douglas FRENCH. Alan was born in Gladesville in 1925, and enlisted from Gladesville where he served as a soldier in the 2nd AIF.

25. Robert Bruce GAMBLE. Robert was born in Gladesville in 1917, and enlisted from Gladesville where he served as a soldier in the 2nd AIF.

26. Allan Roy GILBERTSON. Allan was born in Leichhardt in 1915, and while he enlisted in Dubbo, he gave his address as Mars St Gladesville. Allan served as a soldier in the 2nd AIF.

27. Bombardier Gilbert Sydney GILBERTSON. Gilbert was born in Gladesville in 1912. He was the Deputy Manager of Bowens Mercers, a textile company in Gladesville on enlistment in 1942. He was living with his wife Edna in Bencoolan Ave West Ryde when he joined Royal Australian Artillery. Gilbert worked as a clerk with both the 2/9 and 2/12 Field Regiments in New Britain (the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago of Papua New Guinea) from April to December 1945.

28. Private Arthur Lindsay GOWERS*. Born in Gladesville in 1918, Arthur was working as a truck driver living in Sunnyside St Gladesville aged 22 when he enlisted in May 1940. Arthur served with the Australian Army Service Corps as a driver and served in The Middle East between May 1941 and February 1942 during the Siege of Tobruk. He then served in New Guinea from August 1943 to September 1944.

Captain John Collins, inspecting crew member Bernard Diews aboard HMAS Sydney II.

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29. Keith Henry GOWERS. Born in Dundas in 1922, Keith enlisted from Sydney and served as an airman in the RAAF.

30. Beryl Milford HALBERT. Beryl lived in Batemans Rd when she joined to serve in the Australian Women’s Land Army (AWLA) as a 17-year-old salesgirl in April 1945. The AWLA was an organisation created to combat rising labour shortages in the farming sector. The AWLA organised female workers to be employed by farmers to replace male workers who had joined the armed forces. Beryl was based in Batlow NSW which supplied troops with dehydrated fruit and vegetables during the war.

31. Gilbert Harold Joseph HARDING*. Gilbert was born in Sydney in 1917, and though he enlisted in Austral NSW he listed his address Batemans Rd Gladesville. He served as a soldier in the 2nd AIF.

32. JW HARRISON. Unknown.

33. Signaller Lewis Benjamin HART*. Lewis was born in Annandale in 1918 and enlisted in December 1941 into the CMF from Manning St Gladesville, where he was working as a 21-year-old clerk. Lewis enlisted in 35 Battalion and almost immediately they were moved to WA where Lewis remained until September 1942. During this time Lewis trained as a signaller and on arrival to Sydney he joined 12 Australian Corps Signals and remained with them in Sydney until his discharge in December 1945.

34. Deck Hand Attendant Roger Frederick HART (K). See his story on page 24.

35. Gordon John HARTENSTEIN*. Gordon was born in Sydney in 1918, and enlisted in Paddington. John served as a soldier in the 2nd AIF.

36. Sergeant James Alexander HERKESS*. Born in Gladesville in 1926, James lived in High St Hunters Hill where he worked as an accounting clerk. James enlisted into the RAAF from Sydney in January 1944 and initially undertook pilot training in Temora NSW. Having ceased flying training, James undertook 12 months of training in radios at Ballarat and air gunnery in West Sale Victoria.

37. Sergeant Robert Cummings HERKESS. Born in Paddington in 1921, Robert, the elder brother of James, lived in the family home in High St Gladesville where he worked as a salesman for Bebarfolds Furniture in Sydney (opposite Town Hall). The 19-year-old James enlisted into the RAAF from Sydney in January 1941 and initially undertook training as a radio operator in Melbourne and then later at Point Cook. He then spent some time in Townsville before being posted to the Flight Training School in Denilequin in February 1942 and remained there for the duration of the war. During his time in Deniliquin, Robert met and married local Betty Lorraine Seymour in 1945.

38. Flight Sergeant John “Jack” Raymond Wilbur HERPS*(K). See his story on page 28.

39. Corporal Allan Carlton Brown HERPS*. Allan was born in Sydney in 1922. He was an apprentice carpenter in Gladesville on enlistment in June 1942. He was living in his family home at 1 Earl St Gladesville. Allan initially joined the CMF as a carpenter with the Newcastle Anti-Aircraft Search Light Battalion. He was then employed on a number of building projects in the Newcastle and Singleton areas until November 1942 when he was posted to Port Kembla to undertake similar tasks with anti-aircraft units in that area. In January 1943 he was transferred to Queensland then the NT to undertake carpentry duties. Whilst in the NT in May 1944, Allan requested training and transfer as medic with the Australian Army Medical Corps and again served with various Anti-Aircraft units in the NT, but this time as a medic. In March 1945 Allan returned to Queensland where he was posted as a medic with Z Special Forces (the precursors of the SAS) where he remained until September 1945. For the remainder of his service Alan returned to general duties as a medic in Victoria and finally NSW until his discharge in October 1946.

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40. Warrant Officer Class 2 Matthew Douglas “Doug” Wadey HERPS. Doug was born in Haberfield in 1916. He was a land valuer on enlistment in August 1940. He was living in his family home with his two younger brothers at 1 Earl St Gladesville. Doug had attended Sydney Technical College for 4 years and was a proud Associate Member of the Commonwealth Institute of Valuers, where he was an Institute Medallist in 1941. Doug initially joined the CMF as a Private in the 35 Newcastle Battalion for three months before being promoted Corporal with the 2 Australian Field Survey Company based in Sydney. In August 1942 Doug’s unit was absorbed into the 2nd AIF and he became a member of the permanent army. He was promoted Sergeant in May 1943 and with the unit moving to Queensland he was promoted Warrant Officer 2 two months later. In October 1944 Doug embarked on the HMTS Taroona from Townsville and arrived in Lae on the east coast of New Guinea a week later. Doug remained in the Pacific Theatre until June 1945. During that time, he also served in the Solomon Islands. On return from Lae he was granted leave, following which he returned to surveying duties in Sydney prior to his discharge in September 1945.

41. Able Seaman Sidney John Cecil HICKS. Born in Footscray Victoria in 1910, at age 29 Sidney enlisted from his residence in Eltham St Gladesville where he lived with his wife Winnifred Alice in September 1939. Sidney served as a stoker in the RAN on a number of ships, but most significantly on HMAS Birchgrove Park, HMAS Kuramia and HMAS Australia in South West Pacific.

42. Flight Sergeant Douglas Conway HOUGHTON*(K). See his story on page 26.

43. Blossie Emily Ellen HORTON (nee JUDD)*. Eldest of three Judd children engaged in the war, Blossie was born in Gladesville in 1920, and enlisted from The Strand, Gladesville where she served in the RAAF. During the war she married RAAF airman Morton Henry Horton from Morwell Victoria where Blossie moved after the war.

44. Leading Telegraphist Lorna ISON (nee JUDD)*. Lorna was born in Sydney in 1922, and enlisted from Liguria St South Coogee into the WRAN in August 1942. During the war she was a radio/telegraph operator initially at HMAS Kuttabul in Sydney until she was posted to HMAS Cerberus on the Mornington Peninsular, Victoria. In November 1944 Lorna was posted to the highly secretive US Navy Signals Unit located in the Monterey Apartments, Queens Rd South Yarra Melbourne. This joint RAN/USN Fleet Radio Unit codenamed “FRUMEL”, was directly answerable to Admiral Nimitz, Commander USN 7th Fleet. The unit undertook "Sigint" operations which is a code name for signal intelligence. “Sigint” operations were so secret that they were given their own special classification of "Ultra Secret". The word "Ultra" was used as a code name for intelligence derived from interception and decoding of Japanese military and naval messages. Lorna remained there until the end of the war when she returned to Sydney and was discharged in January 1946. During the War she married army signaller Vernard Norman Ison from Bulimba, Brisbane, where Lorna moved to after the war.

45. Warrant Officer William Bruce JUDD*(K). See his story on page 30.

The Judd women, sisters Blossie, Beryl & Lorna

with mother Blossie (snr)

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46. Private Albert Leslie KITT. Albert was born in Canterbury in 1917. He was a mill hand living in his family home at Reserve St Hunters Hill on enlistment into the army in December 1941. Albert joined the CMF and served in the Australian Army Service Corps (AASC) as a driver. In November 1941 Albert enlisted in the 2nd AIF as a regular soldier in the 2/2 Armoured Brigade Company AASC and was attached to both 2 and 3 Australian Armoured Brigades in Queensland for the next year. During May to October 1944 Allan was posted to Darwin with the 2 Armoured Brigade. Returning to Sydney Albert married Edna Joyce Antaw in Parramatta in July 1945.

47. David Harry LANCE. David was born in Leichhardt in 1917, and enlisted in Paddington while living in Cowell St Gladesville, he served as a soldier in the 2nd AIF.

48. Sapper/Private Sydney William LUCAS. Sydney was born in Paddington in 1896 and had served as a Sapper in the 10 Field Engineers Company World War 1. Arriving in France in June 1917 William’s unit was attached to the 3 Australian Division and would have taken part in the Battles of Messines and Passchendaele. He was evacuated to England in early 1918 due to illness where he remained under care until he returned to Australia in 1919. During World War 2 Sydney was 46 years old and living in Gray St Henley with his wife Lydia when he enlisted in June 1942. He joined the Volunteer Defence Unit which was an Australian part-time volunteer military force modelled on the British Home Guard. Mostly composed of ex-servicemen who had served in World War I, they undertook training for guerrilla warfare, collecting local intelligence and providing static defence of each unit's home area.

49. Gunner Harold John MAGNUSSON*(K). See his story on page 25.

51. Gunner/Private Robert McDONALD. Robert was born in Pyrmont in 1890 and living in Burns Crescent Five Dock when he enlisted as a Gunner in 36 Australian Heavy Artillery Group during World War 1. He was already a gunnery instructor with the Militia from 1906-17. Arriving in France in November 1918 just following the Armistice, Robert remained there until he returned to Australia in 1919. During World War 2 Robert was 51 years old and living in Dick St Henley with his wife Grace and 14-year-old son Roderick when he enlisted in April 1942. He was an accountant with the Metropolitan Water Board (now Sydney Water) at the time. Like Sydney Lucas he served in the Volunteer Defence Unit.

50. Corporal John “Jack” William MARTIN*. Jack was born in Gladesville in 1915 and was living in West Ryde when he enlisted in January 1941. Jack initially served in the CMF with 35 Infantry Battalion in Sydney. In May 1942 Jack was transferred to 39 Defence & Employment Platoon based in Darwin. This platoon was responsible for defence and security around Darwin. Jack arrived just prior to one of the most severe Japanese air raids on 16 June 1942 when a Japanese force set fire to the oil fuel tanks around the harbour and inflicted severe damage to the stores and railway yards. Jack then transferred to Wayville SA in September 1943 where he served with 29 Works Company. These companies were established to ensure that the Australian Defence Force had a large quantity of soldiers dedicated to essential labouring tasks, the hard-physical labour needed to maintain the war effort and support the fighting forces. He was transferred to 21 Works Company in Sydney in August 1944. While in Sydney he married Francis Gerrard from Brighton SA in Drummoyne in October 1944. Jack was discharge in November 1945 and moved to Oraston Av Brighton SA.

Marriage of Jack Martin & Francis Gerrard, Drummoyne October 1944

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52. John Clarence McGREGOR*. John was born in Rozelle in 1919 and though he enlisted from Wayville SA, he gave his address as his parents’ home in Prince Edward St Gladesville when he enlisted and served as a soldier in the 2nd AIF.

53. Private June Holdsworth MILBURN (nee JEFFRESS)*. June was born in Sydney in 1922 and enlisted from Milling St Gladesville as June Jeffress in July 1943. During the War she was employed as a typist at Concord Military Hospital. The hospital was completed in 1942 as a general hospital for the Australian army and with 2000 beds it was the largest hospital in the southern hemisphere. In May 1945 June married Signaller Robert Milburn 2/4 Australian Field Artillery Regiment from Young NSW. Following discharge June moved to Roberts’ family property in Young.

54. Lance Bombardier Edna Elizabeth COOK (nee MOLLOY)*. Edna Molloy was born in Gladesville in 1918 and enlisted from Westminster Rd Gladesville as a 24-year-old in December 1942. From January 1943 to May 1944 she served with the Australian Women’s Army Service in 8 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery at Port Kembla NSW where she met and married Bombardier Neil Cook from Ryde in June 1944. Soon after she moved to the 12 Anti-Aircraft Operations Room in Milsons Rd Cremorne. It was responsible for operational command of both AA Gun and Searchlight Batteries in the NSW. The Operations Room accounted for all aircraft approaching a military area including domestic civilian flights and training aircraft. Edna was discharge in January 1945 as she was expecting a baby.

55. Sergeant Harry Hunter MONTGOMERY*. Born in Gladesville in 1921, Harry was an 18-year-old storeman when he enlisted in the CMF from Prince Edward St Gladesville in August 1940. He initially served with 30 Infantry Battalion in Sydney until the Battalion deployed to WA in July 1942. In July 1943 the newly named 30 Battalion was incorporated into the 2nd AIF and were transferred to the regular army. In December the Battalion arrived in Cairns (via Melbourne) and deployed to PNG in January 1944. In June 1944 he returned to Australia for leadership training in Cowra. He suffered an attack of malaria whilst on the course and spent the remainder of 1944 in hospital. In April 1945 he returned to PNG where he served for the remainder of the war, returning to Australia in March 1946.

56. Keith James MORRISON. Keith was born in Sydney in 1922 and enlisted from Sunnyside St Gladesville and served as a soldier in the 2nd AIF.

57. Craftsman Ronald John MORTON*. Ronald was born in Boulder City WA and enlisted from Batemans Rd Gladesville as a 21-year-old welder in June 1940. Wally enlisted as a welder in the Anti-Aircraft workshops and deployed to the Middle East in February 1941. During this time Ronald’s unit served in Palestine, Egypt, Syria & Lebanon. Retuning to Australia in April 1942, Ronald joined the Brisbane based 2/2 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, again as a craftsman he deployed overseas to Buna and Gona NG where the Australian drove the Japanese from northern NG. Ronald returned to Australia on leave in January 1944 where he was soon hospitalised with malaria. He remained under treatment in Sydney for the remainder of the war, discharging in August 1945

58. Leading Aircraftsman John “Jack” William Gordon MORTON*. Born in Gladesville in 1926, Jack was an 18-year-old general labourer at the Colonial Sugar Refineries when he enlisted in the RAAF from Digger Ave Gladesville in March 1944. Jack noted he had been a Cadet in the Air Training Corps and that he was a capable pianist. He had hoped to be trained as a plumber however he undertook general hand training in Adelaide. On completion in August 1944 he was stationed at RAAF Tocumwal which was home to the RAAF's heavy bomber support and operational conversion units for a month before being posted to RAAF Townsville where he joined the Service Police until June 1946. He was granted early discharge as his father requested and returned to Gladesville to undertake a traineeship in plumbing.

59. A NEWING. Unknown.

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60. Private Mavis Catherine NISBET (nee NICHOLLS). Mavis Nicholls was born in Gladesville in 1923 and was working as a tailoress when she enlisted from Morrison Rd Gladesville as a 19-year-old in in August 1942. Mavis enlisted in the Australian Women’s Army Service and was trained as a telephone switchboard operator in Bonagilla Victoria. Mavis then spent six months in Melbourne with 2 Signals Training Battalion before transferring back to Sydney in March 1943. She continued her role as an operator and married soldier Alex Milton Nisbet from "Tholobin Estate" Deniliquin, in Ryde, in March 1945. She received a discharge a few month later and moved to her husband’s property in Deniliquin.

61. Private James PITBLADO. Born in Leith Scotland in 1904, Jack was a 37-year-old motor mechanic when he enlisted in the CMF from Westminster Ave Gladesville in January 1942. James joined 7 Garrison Battalion, which was then located in Brookvale. In June 1942 the Battalion moved to the Atherton Tablelands Queensland for pre-embarkation training. However, in November 1943 James transferred to the 2nd AIF and after undertaking basic training in Kapooka, Wagga Wagga he joined the Royal Australian Engineers. He then completed carpentry and shipwrights’ courses and joined 1 Australian Port Maintenance Company. The Company embarked from Brisbane and arrived in Bougainville in the North Solomon Islands PNG, where he served as a shipwright until returning to Australia and discharge in January 1946.

62. A E PRYOR. Unknown.

63. Hedley Osbourne RAMSAY. Hedley was born in Broken Hill in 1911 and was living in Tennyson Rd Gladesville on enlistment in Paddington. Hedley served as a soldier in the 2nd AIF.

64. Leading Aircraftsman Colin Murray RAMSAY. Colin, brother of Hedley, was born in Broken Hills in 1913 and enlisted in from Tennyson Rd Gladesville on enlistment in Paddington to the RAAF in April 1941. Prior to enlistment Colin was a 3rd year apprentice carpenter with the NSW railways and he continued this training with the RAAF at the Engineering School in Ascot Vale Victoria. He then spent most of 1942 with the bomber training school in Parkes NSW before transferring to the 1 Rescue and Command Squadron in Townsville. The unit was raised to support operations in PNG and undertook a variety of roles including search and rescue, transportation, reconnaissance and casualty evacuation. Colin arrived in Port Moresby in December 1942 and over the next 18 months served in Milne Bay and Goodenough Island PNG. On return to Australia in April 1944 Colin spent some time in Narrandra before finishing the war at RAAF Richmond.

65. Wallace John READ. Wallace was born in Gladesville in 1923 and enlisted from WA while serving with the CMF. Wallace served as a soldier in the 2nd AIF.

66. John Donald REEVES. John was born in Gladesville in 1923 when he enlisted and served as a soldier in the 2nd AIF.

68. Private Douglas Neville RICKETTS*. Douglas, the younger brother of Carlyle, was born in Drummoyne in 1918, and on enlistment in July 1940 he listed his address as the family home in Gladesville Rd Gladesville. The 21-year-old was a carpenter/joiner when he joined the 2/18 Infantry Battalion in Wallgrove (now Eastern Creek). Following training the Battalion arrived in Malaya in February 1941. Douglas had a week’s leave in Singapore in November 1941, just a few weeks later the Japanese invaded northern Malaya and three months later he was listed as missing, believed POW on Singapore Island. Soon after capture Douglas was sent to Kiejo Prison in Seoul, Korea as a “forced labourer”. Korean camps were amongst the best a POW could hope for in territories under Japanese control as they had better food, adequate accommodation, access to Red Cross parcels, delivery of mail (albeit slow), fewer atrocities and well-stage-managed annual inspections by International Red Cross Committee teams. In October 1945 he was “recovered from the Japanese” in Camp Konan, North Korea. He was taken to a recovery centre in Manilla Philippines and returned to Australia a month later. Over half of the 1323 soldiers in his Battalion died in action or as POW’s. Douglas was discharged in Sydney in January 1946.

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67. Flying Officer Carlyle Raymond Stuart RICKETTS DFC*. Carlyle was born in 1915 and listed his address Gladesville Rd Gladesville on joining the RAAF. He initially served in 458 RAAF Squadron flying Wellington bombers in support to the Australian’s in The Middle East. Later in the war he transferred to 101 Squadron RAF and flew Lancaster bombers on raids over Europe. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in June 1944 for “skill and fortitude in operations against the enemy”.

69. G RUSH. Unknown.

70. Corporal Sydney John RUSH. Sydney was born in Paddington in 1915 and living in Westminster Ave Gladesville when he enlisted as a 24-year-old into the CMF. He served initially with 30 Battalion during its deployment to Darley WA. Sydney then transferred to Darwin in February 1942 and joined the 2nd AIF with 129 Australian General Hospital. From June 1945 Sydney served as a general re-enforcement on Moratai Island in support of the Borneo campaign.

71. Wireman Harold Herbert SCOTT*. Born in Northumberland England in 1921, Harold was a 20-year-old electrician when he enlisted in the RAN from Mary St Hunters Hill in July 1941. Harold undertook electrical training at HMAS Cerberus, Mornington Peninsular Victoria until November 1941. He then served a year on HMAS Manoora (a landing/transport ship) on duty in the SW Pacific & New Guinea. He returned to land and spent 1942 at HMAS Huon, Tasmania. He re-joined the “Manoora” in November 1942 where he remained until discharge in 1946.

72. John Robert SCOTT. John was born in Bedlington England in 1923 and living in the family home in Mary St Hunters Hill with his elder brother Harold when he enlisted and served as a soldier in the 2nd AIF.

73. Craftsman Jack SHARPLES*. John was born in Naremburn in 1918 and living in Makinson St Gladesville as a 21-year-old printing machinist with Consolidated Press in January 1940. John remained in the CMF throughout the war, spending over two years as a member of 18 Infantry Battalion. In June 1942 he transferred to the Engineers and undertook electrical mechanic trade training in Tamworth. On completion of the course John was posted to 1 Workshop Company in Liverpool. Jack married Isabel in February 1943 and moved to Dick St Henley. In June 1944 Jack was transferred to Brisbane until discharge in 1946.

74. Gunner Keith Reginald SMALL*. Keith was born in Manly Queensland in 1919 and enlisted in September 1943 into the CMF from Eltham St Gladesville, where he was working as an 18-year-old storeman with the Colonial Sugar Refineries. He served in the artillery with 1 Anti-Aircraft Battery in Greta NSW before joining the 2nd AIF in December 1943 and then taking leave to pick fruit for three months. On return Keith attended jungle warfare training in Canungra Queensland and on completion, deployed with the 2/1 Anti-Aircraft Regiment to Moratai, Borneo in June 1945. Two months later he moved to Balikpapan Indonesia where the Australian successfully fought their final campaign of the war. From February to July 1946 he was based in Rabaul NG before returning home for discharge in August 1946. Keith married Barbara Potts from Bondi in 1948.

Crew of Wellington aircraft "R for Robert" 458 Squadron RAF Holme Yorkshire (Carlyle

Ricketts on left)

Keith & Barbara Small

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75. Lance Corporal Leslie Booth SMALL*. Leslie was born in Ryde in 1917 and enlisted in August 1940 into the CMF from Eltham St Gladesville, where he worked as a 23-year-old printer. He arrived in Darwin in January 1941 and was a signaller with the NT Area Command throughout the Japanese air raids starting in February 1942. From July 1943 to June 1944 Leslie undertook signaller training, first in Adelaide and then Bonagilla Victoria. In December 1944 Leslie transferred to the 2nd AIF as a signaller electrician with the 9

Division Signals Unit and embarked for Moratai near Borneo in April 1945. He served there for two months before being transferred to Balikpapan, Indonesia He returned home and was discharged in January 1946.

76. Driver Walter “Wally” Stewart SMALL*. Wally was born in Gladesville in 1920 and enlisted from Eltham St Gladesville as a book binder in September 1941. On enlistment Wally became a driver and deployed to the Middle East in November 1941 where he was involved with the liberation of Palestine from the French, eventually based in Beirut. Four months after arriving in the Middle East Walter returned to Australia and spent a month in hospital in Adelaide. He was granted 10 days leave to visit family in Gladesville. He remained in Adelaide until transferred to 2/33 Battalion’s Transport Platoon in Woodside SA. Wally then embarked with the Battalion from Brisbane and arrived in Port Moresby PNG in July 1943. Wally would have almost immediately been involved with the Kokoda Track operations between July – November 1943. He remained in NG on detachment to the 2/34 Transport Company and returned to Brisbane from Lae PNG in May 1944. He spent the remainder of the war in the Townsville area, returning to Sydney in October 1945 prior to discharge a month later. Wally married Eileen Gibson in Drummoyne in July 1945 (see cover photo).

77. Corporal Leslie Robert SMITH*(K). See his story on page 32.

78. Peter Raymond SOUTHWELL. Peter was born in Drummoyne in 1921 and enlisted as a soldier in the 2nd AIF. He married Gweneth Lilian Grady in Waverley, 1944.

79. Staff Sergeant Harold Arthur STEWART*. Harold was born in Sydney in 1905 and enlisted from Hillcrest Ave Gladesville where he lived with his wife Eunice and their three children in February 1942. He was working as a commercial traveller when he commenced basic training as an infantry soldier in Sydney. On completion he joined 36 Infantry Battalion which embarked from Townsville and arrived in Port Moresby PNG in June 1942. The battalion was initially employed in a garrison role, conducting long-range patrols in the Owen Stanley Range, before being engaged with the fighting on the Kokoda Track. In January 1943 Harold was evacuated to Queensland and hospitalized in Brisbane with malaria. He returned to Sydney three months later where he remained until returning to PNG in November 1943 where his battalion was conducting garrison duties in a number of regions. In April 1944 he had another malaria attack and returned to hospital in Sydney. In June 1944 he was assessed as unfit to return to PNG and remained in Sydney until his discharge in November 1945.

80. Trooper Allen George STREATFIELD*.. Early in 1942 Allen moved to Darwin before deploying in PNG in July 1944. In the Lae region the squadron undertook a period of jungle warfare training and later reconnaissance missions to Bougainville Island PNG in preparation for a landing. Five months later he landed on Bougainville where in a joint operation with the US they secured the island form the Japanese. He returned to Australia for discharge in December 1945.

81. George THACKERAY*. George was born in Stockton-on-Tees England in 1921 and enlisted and served as a soldier in the 2nd AIF.

82. Harold James WATTS*. Harold was born in Ryde in 1916 and enlisted as a soldier in the 2nd AIF.

83. William Henry WATTS. William was born in Ryde in 1915 and was living at Albert St Gladesville when he enlisted and served as a soldier in the 2nd AIF.

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84. Signaller Audrey Ranfurley ALLEN (nee WESTON). Audrey was born in Gladesville in 1921 and was living in Morrison Rd Gladesville when she enlisted as a 20-year-old process worker at the AWA Factory Parramatta. Audrey enlisted in the Australian Women’s Army Service and undertook signals training with 2 Australian Signals Battalion at Ivanhoe Grammar School Melbourne. After completing training in October 1942 Audrey returned to Sydney and was employed as a signaller in a number of units. Audrey transferred to Darwin in May 1945 and remained there for the rest of the war. Audrey married Edward Arthur Allen in 1952.

85. Edwin Richard WHEEN*. Edwin was born in Bathurst in 1908 and enlisted and served as an airman in the RAAF Volunteer Reserve.

86. Sergeant Robert Edward WILLIAMS. Robert was born in Milthorpe in 1922 and enlisted from his family home in Trelawney St Eastwood as an 18-year-old film projectionist in November 1940. He first enlisted in the CMF as a gunner with 18 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery based in Newcastle. He remained in Newcastle until September 1944 when he joined the 2nd AIF and undertook pre-deployment training in Canungra Queensland. Soon after he was deployed to Moratai and later North Borneo. He returned to Australia and was discharged in April 1946

87. Driver John Mark WILLIS. John was born in Pennant Hills in 1922 and enlisted into the CMF from Victoria Road Gladesville in January 1942. John was an 18-year-old clerk with Dunlop Rubber when he became a truck driver with a number of supply depots in both NSW then Queensland. John transferred to the 2nd AIF in mid-1942 and was posted to Darwin. In March 1945 John was sent to Moratai Island in support of the final campaign to remove the Japanese from the South West Pacific

Jack Herps and his sister Nola

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Gladesville & Boronia Park Methodist Church members who took part in World War 2

Ronald Sydney ALEY

Edward “Ted” George ARMSTRONG

William Leander BALDERSTONE

Ronald Noel

BLACK

Ronald BOYES

Leslie COLLYER

James Mitchell

CORNWELL Rowland

CORRINGHAM Hedley Russell

COX

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Gladesville & Boronia Park Methodist Church members who took part in World War 2

Albert William

DIEWS Audrey May Margaret

CROSSKILL (nee DIEWS) Bernard Albert

DIEWS (K)

John Robert

FARLEY Arthur Lindsay

GOWERS Gilbert Harold Joseph

HARDING

Lewis Benjamin

HART Gordon John

HARTENSTEIN James Alexander

HERKESS

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Gladesville & Boronia Park Methodist Church members who took part in World

War 2

Allan Carlton Brown

HERPS John “Jack” Raymond

Wilbur HERPS (K) Matthew Douglas “Doug”

Wadey HERPS

Douglas Conway

HOUGHTON (K) Blossie Emily Ellen HORTON

(nee JUDD) Lorna ISON (nee JUDD)

William Bruce JUDD (K)

Harold John MAGNUSSON (K)

John “Jack” William MARTIN

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Gladesville & Boronia Park Methodist Church members who took part in

World War 2

John Clarence McGREGOR

June MILBURN (nee JEFFRESS)

Edna Elizabeth COOK (nee MOLLOY)

Harry Hunter MONTGOMERY

John “Jack” William Gordon MORTON

Ronald John MORTON

Carlyle Raymond Stuart

RICKETTS Douglas Neville

RICKETTS John Robert

SCOTT

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Gladesville & Boronia Park Methodist Church members who took part in World

War 2

Jack SHARPLES

Keith Reginald SMALL

Leslie Booth SMALL

Walter “Wally” Stewart SMALL

Leslie Robert SMITH (K)

Harold Arthur STEWART

Allen George STREATFIELD

George

THACKERAY Harold James

WATTS Edwin Richard

WHEEN

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“O hear us when we cry to Thee

For those in peril on the sea”

“Hometown Hero” Able Seaman Bernard Albert Diews - HMAS Sydney II Bernard Diews had just turned 19 when he enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy in 1940. He was born in Raven Street, Gladesville in March 1921 and his family were active members of the Gladesville Methodist Church. He trained for the navy initially at HMAS Penguin in Mosman, Sydney and finally at HMAS Cerberus on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. On completing his training in November 1940, he travelled to Alexandria, Egypt with an Australian troop convoy and joined HMAS Sydney II acting in support of naval operations in the Mediterranean. Ordinary Seaman Bernard Diews went into his first action a few days later, in the Strait of Otranto, off the eastern coast of Italy, in support of the allied attack on the Italian fleet in the Battle of Taranto. Following escort duties mainly around Malta, the ship returned to Sydney. On 11 February 1941, a holiday was declared for school students in Sydney, so they could join the thousands of people who witnessed the ship's company perform a freedom of entry march. It must have been an amazing return to his home town for the 20-year-old Bernard. Following a short refit, “Sydney” sailed for

Fremantle in late February, where she was assigned to escort and patrol tasks in the Indian Ocean. Bernard was promoted to Able Seaman a month later in March 1941. On the afternoon of 19 November 1941, “Sydney” was off the coast of Western Australia, near Carnarvon, and heading south towards Fremantle. Around 4 pm , the cruiser spotted a merchant ship on a northbound course. The “Sydney” quickly turned away from the coast in chase. On approaching the merchant ship, it claimed to be a Dutch vessel bound for the port of “Sydney”. Wary of this claim the “Sydney” approached the vessel with the apparent intention to board it to verify its identity. When asked to reveal a valid identification callsign the ship responded by de-camouflaging and opening fire. The vessel was in fact a German cruiser “HSK Kormoran”. In the subsequent battle both ships were mortally damaged and sunk. While most of the “Kormoran” crew of 399 were rescued, all of the 645 crew of the “Sydney” lost their lives…..including 21-year-old Bernard Diews.

“Boy Sailor” Deck Hand Roger Frederick Hart – AHS Centaur

Roger Hart was born in 1928 in High Street, Hunters Hill, just around the corner form the Boronia Park Uniting Church. Prior to enlistment he was studying chemistry at Balmain Technical College and working as a chemist’s assistant. In May 1943 the 2nd World War at sea was at a critical point, with over 240 German U-Boats wreaking havoc on the allied ships crossing the Atlantic. This month would be known to the allies as “Black May”. The same month on, 12 May 1943, the 16-year Roger Hart sailed out of Sydney Harbour on his first ship, as a Deck Hand Attendant in the Australian Merchant Navy, onboard the Australian Hospital Ship

Centaur, which had been in Sydney making repairs before sailing to Cairns, Queensland. The “Centaur” was originally a British trader belonging to the Merchant Navy sailing along the Western Australian coast, where it ironically rescued a large number of “Kormoran” survivors, including its Captain. The trading ship was converted to a hospital ship in March 1943, and had previously made a lifesaving mission between Port Moresby, New Guinea and Brisbane in April 1943.

Bernard Diews

HMAS Sydney II docking in Sydney 11 February 1941

AHS Centaur recruiting poster

Bernard Diews, George St Sydney February 1941

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At approximately 4:10 am on 14 May 1943, while 44 km northeast of Stradbroke Island, Queensland, the hospital ship “Centaur” was torpedoed by an unsighted submarine. The torpedo struck the portside oil fuel tank approximately two metres below the waterline, creating a hole 8 to 10 metres across, igniting the fuel, and setting the ship on fire. Many of those on board were immediately killed by concussion or perished in the inferno. “Centaur” quickly took on water through the impact site, rolled to port, then sank bow-first, submerging completely in less than three minutes. The rapid sinking prevented the deployment of lifeboats. Only 64 of the 332 survived as most of the crew and passengers were asleep at the time of attack and had little chance to escape. While the submarine which sank the “Centaur” has never been officially recognised it is certain that it was one of three possible Japanese vessels. Although “Centaur” sinking as a hospital ship was a war crime, no one was tried for sinking the vessel. On his second night at sea, 16-year-old war crime victim Roger Hart went down with his ship.

“Prisoner of the Empire” Gunner Harold John Magnusson – SS Rakuyō Maru

Harold Magnusson was born in Rozelle in September 1921, but was working as an insurance clerk and living in his family’s home in Hillcrest Avenue, Gladesville when he enlisted in the regular army as a 19-year-old in June 1941. He had begun his military training in December 1940, as a Gunner with the CMF, 5 Heavy Artillery Brigade, based at North Head, Manly. On his acceptance in the AIF, Harold was posted to the 2/1 Heavy Battery (Coastal). After further training at North Head, Harold, was transferred to Darwin to continue training.

Before the outbreak of war with Japan, used guns from cruisers and battleships had been taken from store and mounted on islands adjacent

to the Australian mainland, as well as defending major port entrances around the coast. As a consequence, Harold’s Battery was deployed as part of “Sparrow Force” to the island of Timor in December 1941 to

operate a number of ex naval guns defending Kupang City, now Indonesia. Sparrow Force was deployed in preparation for the expected Japanese invasion of Portuguese and Dutch Timor which eventuated in February 1942. Despite fighting against the larger and better supplied Japanese force with significantly more air support as well as tanks and even a parachute company, the Sparrow Force held on for over a month. Fighting continued in Timor for most of 1942 however Harold was captured with most of his Battery in March 1942. A noted Australian who was also a member of the 2/1 Heavy Battery, and was captured with Harold, was future Deputy Leader of the Labor Party and a Minister in the Whitlam Government the Honourable Tom Uren, who was a Bombardier (Corporal) with the Unit. The Australian prisoners were taken to Singapore in early 1943, from where Harold was loaded into a railway goods trucks which ended up at Konyu River camp, where the surgeon Lieutenant Colonel Edward "Weary" Dunlop was commanding officer of the men slaving to build the Burma-Thailand railway for the Japanese. One person is said to have died for every one of the over 100,000 sleepers laid on the railway. Having spent nearly 18 months working on the railway Harold returned to Singapore in mid-1944 and was selected to go to Japan to work as a forced labourer. Harold boarded the Japanese transport ships SS Rakuyō Maru and with the SS Kachidoki Maru these two ships carried over 1,300 Australian and British prisoners of war that left Singapore for Japan on 6 September 1944. On the morning of 12 September 1944, the convoy was attacked by American submarines in the South China Sea off the coast of Nagasaki, Japan where the “Rakuyō Maru” was sunk by USS Sealion II and Kachidoki Maru by USS Pampanito. About 150 Australian and British survivors were rescued by American submarines. A further 500 were picked up by Japanese destroyers and continued the journey to Japan. Those not rescued perished at sea. A total of 1,559 Australian and British prisoners of war were killed in the incident, all missing at sea. Among them a 22-year-old Harold Magnusson from Gladesville Methodist Church. These three tragedies on the sea resulted in the deaths of over 2,500 allied soldiers and sailors and each one shocked the nation. Gladesville Methodist Church like many other Australian communities felt each incident deeply and personally, as it lost three precious members of its youth, the oldest 22, the youngest was 16……

Harold Magnusson

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“the red-haired English boy”…..

Flight Sergeant Douglas Conway Houghton In 1943 the result of the war was still in the balance; many sacrifices had

been made and many more were to come. However, this story shows that despite the conflict, there was still a great capacity for basic humanity on an international scale among friends and enemies.

On the afternoon of Wednesday 1st September 1943, at RAF Base Chedbourg on the outskirts of Bury St Edmonds, Suffolk, a young red haired 20-year-old member of the Gladesville Methodist Church volunteered to replace a sick friend as the rear gunner for a bombing raid to be conducted that evening over Berlin.

Flight Sergeant Douglas Conway Houghton enlisted from the family’s home in Manly, however he was born in Hunters Hill in 1923 and

attended Gladesville Public School from 1929 to 35. He then attended both Drummoyne & Manly High Schools, before studying printing at

Sydney Technical College. He was working as a photo lithographer in Five Dock when he enlisted in 1941. He was good at football and hockey as well as athletics.

That afternoon Douglas joined an international of crew of three British and two Canadians. The only other Australian on the mission was the equally young 22 year old Pilot Officer Kenneth John Simpson, also from Manly, who was to pilot the Stirling Mark III Bomber EE970 BU-B.

The Stirling Bomber was one of the RAF’s most effective aircraft as it carried the largest and most destructive bombs over a great range, however this came at the price of speed and manoeuvrability which led it to be typically flown on missions at tree top level speeds, at night. It was also extremely vulnerable to ground fire due to its large size and it tried to avoid enemy fighter planes at all costs as it was regarded as a “sitting duck” in an air battle.

At 8:30 that evening the approximately 12 bombers from 214 Squadron RAF joined with another 600 heavy bombers and 9 Mosquitos fighters crewed by approximately 4,200 airmen for the two-hour flight to Berlin.

After successfully releasing the bomb load over Berlin the plane was hit by German anti-aircraft flak and caught on fire. Despite the serious damage the plane was able to fly nearly 60 kilometres south towards home. However, over the German town of Charlottenfelde in Brandenburg, the plane was barely controllable due to the continuing fire on board, for a few minutes the pilot, Kenneth Simpson, was able to steady the plane sufficiently, allowing for all the crew to bail out before he attempted a crash landing. Unfortunately, Douglas Houghton, reaching for his parachute, found it on fire and useless and at the urging of another crew member, Canadian Sergeant W F Case, he put his arms around him and the two jumped together. When the chute snapped open, Douglas fell free.

Douglas Houghton

Stirling Mark III Bomber

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All other members of the crew successfully bailed out of the burning plane and were subsequently captured and interned as German prisoners of war. German accounts state that Kenneth Simpson maintained control of the plane, however just prior to making an emergency landing the burning wing fell off the plane and it crashed. His body has never been recovered. Over the space of this single night raid 47 aircraft (13% of the force) and over 300 crew were killed or captured.

A few days later a group of French prisoners of war from a local camp were out collecting wood when one-member, French aviator, Monsieur Golding noticed a yellow “Mae West” life jacket on the ground. On further inspection he found the body of a young airman embedded in a tree. The find was reported to the local German authorities and identified as a young, red haired Flight Sergeant. He was buried in the local cemetery in Merzdorf. Initially the German military refused to allow the erection of any markings over the grave, but on the insistence of the French prisoners and a number of local German’s, including 1st World War veteran Mr Shultz, the local inn keeper, a simple cross was erected. Although most of the crew survived, the fate of both Houghton & Simpson was unknown to them and both were listed as Missing in Action.

After the wars end in 1945 this area of Germany came under the control of the Russians and the British were not allowed to enter the Soviet occupied area until two years later in 1947. While in Merzdorf a group of allied officers from the War Graves commission were approached by Mr Shultz and advised of the “red haired English boy” who’s grave the community had been tending for the past four years. After checking Douglas medical records from Australia, they were able to identify him by his dental records and confirmation of his red hair. Douglas’s body was moved to Berlin where he is currently buried in the 1939-1945 War Cemetery.

Even though there was no happy ending to Douglas’s story we should take inspiration from his courage to volunteer for a dangerous mission to help a possible school friend from Manly. The courage of Canadian Sergeant Case to share his parachute with Douglas even though, if he had successfully held on, they were both likely to die on landing. The courage of Australian Kenneth Simpson to fly his burning plane steady while his crew bailed out – an action that cost him his life. The insistence of the French prisoners of war that Douglas body should be treated with respect and the German villages who tended their enemies grave. Even the German and Russian military who eventually ensured basic human dignity was given to this young man from Gladesville Methodist Church, which is now part of Boronia Park Uniting Church.

High Flight Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there, I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air.... Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace. Where never lark, or even eagle flew — And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, – Put out my hand, and touched the face of God. Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee Jr. Royal Canadian Airforce (1922-41)

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Flight Sergeant John “Jack” Raymond Herps

Born in St Ives in 1920, Jack was the middle brother of the three Herps boys that served during the war. He had attended both Rozelle Junior & Central Technical Colleges before graduating (with distinction in metalwork) from Sydney Technical College, then in Paddington, in 1937. Jack was an active sportsman competing in boxing and soccer, he was also a keen chess player. He then attended East Sydney Technical College (now The National Art School, Paddington) where he studied Classical & Commercial Art.

Jack originally enlisted in the CMF from his family home at 1 Earl St Gladesville (now Hunters Hill) as a 20-year-old in late 1940 serving with the Army Headquarters Cartographic Company which were responsible for creating maps to support army operations at all levels. The unit was located in Melbourne and Jack rose to the rank of Sergeant. While in Melbourne Jack continued his studies at

Caufield Technical College.

A year later Jack transferred to the 2nd AIF as a Royal Australian Engineer Sapper with 2/1st Corps Field Survey Company. A month later, in November 1941 Jack left Sydney as one of 25 Reinforcements to join his Unit which had been in The Middle East since early 1941. On arrival the group undertook training at the Australian Reinforcement Depot in Mughazi, Damascus, where the Australian forces were undertaking garrison duties and rebuilding their strength ahead of further operations in the Middle East. Returning to Egypt in early 1943 Jack would have been engaged in both Battles of El Alamein in July then October 1942. Jack was one of the last Australians to depart the Middle East in January 1943 returning to Sydney in March. Jack spent the next year on detachment to a number of other Survey Company’s in NSW and Queensland, where the now 23-year-old Jack enlisted into the RAAF in February 1944.

He initially undertook flight crew training in Narrandra and then gunnery training in Sale Victoria. Jack completed his training as a rear gunner in a Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber in Tocumwal before being transferred to 12 Squadron RAAF based near Toowoomba, Queensland in February 1945. In March 1945 12 Squadron moved to Truscott Airfield, a secret base, on the Anjo Peninsula in the Kimberley’s WA, that was built in 1944 so the RAAF could launch raids to attack Japanese shipping and installations in the Timor, Banda and Arafura Seas. Japanese raiders tried to find Truscott but without success. The base had 3,000 stationed there at its peak, and it was never discovered.

On 19 May 1945 the Liberator “A72-160” and its crew landed at Truscott Airfield, WA in readiness for their fourth mission attacking shipping in the vicinity of Balikpapan (Borneo, Indonesia) over the past fortnight. However, on arrival they were told they were being replaced on this mission by the relief crew of Flying Officer Sismey, including Jack. Before dawn on 20 May 1945 Jack and 10 other new crew members were taking off from Truscott for the bombing raid. Taking off in the dark the aircraft became airborne approximately halfway down the strip. It is believed the aircraft became airborne early due to a noticeable hump in the airstrip causing

Jack Herps

The Australian 2/1st Corps Field Survey Company, near the Turkish–Syrian border,

December 1941

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the aircraft to suddenly climb approx. 20ft. According to the witnesses who were part of a working party directly in front of the aircraft when it became airborne, the aircraft apparently veered left moving rather slowly, gaining little speed or height. The aircraft then rose to about 40ft and then fell sharply to the ground a short distance away from its initial point of take-off. Many of the personnel camped at the airfield were wakened by the loud explosion from the crash and they rushed to the scene but were held back by the Military Police. Fire crews quickly made their way to the scene but any hope of finding survivors was lost when a number of depth charges the aircraft was carrying exploded. Many of the personal effects from the original crew were found in the burnt-out wreckage and for a short while there was some confusion as to which crew had perished in the aircraft. All 11 crew members were initially buried at Truscott. They were later re-interred in the War Cemetery, Adelaide River, NT.

Such was the frenetic and dangerous nature of the war that during the initial burial the afternoon of the crash a Spitfire crash landed at Truscott. The pilot escaped with some burns to his body. At the end of the war the base was abandoned and due to its isolation was left largely untouched for many years and much of the debris from the crash of A72-160 remains at the crash site to this day. Towards the end of the 1990s a group of ex-servicemen from Kununurra formed 'The Truscott Tribute Committee' and through their efforts-built memorials and now hold an annual reunion memorial service on 20 May of each year.

RAAF B-24 Liberator

Jack (standing 2nd right) and the crew of his Liberator, Truscott Airfield, 1945

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Warrant Officer William Bruce Judd

lost to “the war in the air” Having recently moved from Gladesville, William Judd was living in South

Coogee with his parents William (Snr) and Blossie (Snr) and older sisters Lorna and Beryl when he enlisted into the RAAF in November 1942. His oldest sister Blossie was still living in The Strand, Gladesville where William had been born in 1924. William attended Drummoyne High for three years before transferring to Fort Street Boys, leaving in March 1940 after attaining first class passes in math & science. He was also an active sportsman playing hockey, basketball, tennis, soccer and had a Bronze Medallion for swimming. On leaving school aged 17 he commenced an accountancy course

by correspondence and joined the Air Training Corps.. In his spare time, he was also a proud surf life saver! His enlistment was quickly

followed by his sister Lorna who joined the Navy as a WRAN a month later, with Blossie joining him in the RAAF the next year. There can be no doubt the Judd family was fully committed to the war effort.

Williams quest for knowledge and adventure was evident over the next 12 months as he moved from course to course around Australia; basic training in Bradfield Park (now West Lindfield) Sydney, wireless & gunnery courses in Parkes, bombing & gunnery courses in Port Pirie, SA and navigation training in Nhill western Victoria before deployment preparation and leave back in Sydney before embarking for the UK in late November 1943 as a Flight Sergeant. Having learnt his basic skills in Australia, William began another 12 months intense training with British RAF in the specific skills needed by Bomber Command. He then did further radio training in Wiltshire, observer training in Scotland, flight crew training in Wellington Bombers in the Midlands and finally “Lancaster Finishing School” in Lincolnshire. Following over two years of training newly promoted Warrant Officer William Judd was posted to 207 Squadron RAF, a Lancaster bombing unit based in RAF Spitsby, near the Lincolnshire Coast on 17 March 1945, he was 20 years old. Three months later on 21 March 1945, William’s crew departed their Base and joined 224 Lancaster’s and 11 Mosquito’s for a bombing raid over the German oil refineries around Bohlen (near Leipzig), Saxony, Germany. Following the crew’s departure nothing more is known except they never returned from the mission.

Letter sent by William’s Wing Commander to the Judd family three days after the fatal mission…….

By the time you receive this letter, you will have been informed that your son, Warrant Officer William Bruce Judd, was reported missing from air operations on the night of 20/21st March, 1945. You appreciate that, as complete radio silence must be maintained by all aircraft from the time of take-off, it is not possible to know what may have happened, but with such an experienced and well-trained crew, there is always the possibility that they may be prisoners of war. Should this be the case, you will either hear from your son direct, or from the Air Ministry, who receive information through the International Red Cross. The Squadron lost one of its best crews when your son’s aircraft did not return. He had completed 10 operations against the enemy and had proved himself a capable and keen flyer. Your son was exceedingly popular with all the boys on the Squadron, and is sadly missed by every one of us. Our hearts go out to you in sympathy in your tragic loss and it is our earnest prayer that you will be given the strength to bear his loss with courage. On behalf of the entire Squadron, I wish to convey to you and your family, our heartfelt sympathy in your time of sorrow. We all admire and honour the unselfish sacrifice your son made so far from his own country in the cause of freedom, and we are proud to have known him. If there is any way, however small, in which I can be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to write to me.

William Judd

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Despite an extensive effort after the War, the fate of William’s crew was never discovered. He was recorded as “KIA Bohlen, Saxony, Germany, in Flying Battle". William Judd’s name is remembered at The Air Forces Memorial, or Runnymede Memorial, in Englefield Green, Surrey, England. The memorial dedicated to some 20,456 men and women from air forces of the British Empire who were lost in air operations during World War II. Among those names are three youths from Gladesville Methodist Church…….

The War in the Air For a saving grace, we didn't see our dead, Who rarely bothered coming home to die But simply stayed away out there In the clean war, the war in the air. Seldom the ghosts come back bearing their tales Of hitting the earth, the incompressible sea, But stayed up there in the relative wind, Shades fading in the mind, Who had no graves but only epitaphs Where never so many spoke for never so few: “Per ardua”, said the partisans of Mars, “Per astra”, to the stars. That was the good war, the war we won As if there was no death, for goodness's sake. With the help of the losers we left out there In the air, in the empty air. Flying Officer Howard Nemerov RCAF (1920-1991) (later 1st Lieutenant USAF) “Per ardua ad astra” is a Latin phrase meaning "through adversity to the stars" is the motto of the RAF and other Commonwealth nations including the Royal Australian Air Force

Lancaster Mark III with 207 Sqn markings

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Corporal Leslie Robert Smith

Leslie Smith was born in Gladesville in April 1918, with the Smith family then living in Percy St Gladesville. The family remained in Gladesville until Leslie was about 16 when they moved to Dee Why. Leslie was working as an iron worker when he enlisted in the 2nd AIF in June 1940 from Banksia St Dee Why. After recruit training in Manly Leslie was posted to 2/12 Field Company Engineers then located in Bathurst. In July 1941 the unit embarked from Sydney and arrived in Singapore a month later as part of the deployment of the 8th Division. Leslie was promoted Corporal in October. The Japanese invasion of the Malaya Peninsula began just after midnight on 8 December 1941 before the attack on Pearl Harbour. It was the first major battle of the Pacific War. The Malayan campaign

was fought between the invading Japanese and the British Commonwealth forces in Malaya from 8 December 1941 – 31 January 1942. It was dominated by battles between British Commonwealth army units, and the Imperial Japanese Army with minor skirmishes at the beginning of the campaign between British Commonwealth and Royal Thai Armed Forces. The Japanese had air and naval supremacy from the opening days of the campaign against the British, Indian, Australian and Malayan forces defending the colony. Leslie was engaged in the first and most significant action on the Peninsula between 14 and 22 January 1942 at the Battle of Muar, where Leslie’s Engineer Company destroyed a vital bridge at Gemenchehv on the Muar River, in the state of Negri Sembilan, Malaya. Following the Battle, the Commonwealth Forces retreated south arriving at Johor Bahru on the southern tip of the Peninsula where a causeway separated Malaya from Singapore. On 31 January 1942 Leslie’s Company destroyed the causeway by setting off two charges, thus isolating the commonwealth forces from the advancing Japanese. The commonwealth forces were subsequently under siege with Leslie’s engineers being deployed in defence of the oil refineries to the east of the destroyed causeway. On 11 February 1942 Leslie was admitted to hospital with malaria. He was still a patient when the Japanese forced the surrender of the garrison a few days later. Leslie, now a POW was allocated to A Force which was a 3,000-strong group of Australians drawn mainly from the 22nd Australian Brigade which left Singapore for Burma. A Force sailed in the “SS Celebes Maru” on 15 May 1942 , from Singapore to Victoria Point, in Burma, where they disembarked. After constructing airfields, A Force moved to Thailand to work on the Burma Railway in late 1942. In all, 479 Australian soldiers died on this section of the railway. Following its completion, in October 1943. A Force returned to Singapore. Leslie however remained in a Thai Prison camp and in early 1944 Leslie suffered another attack of malaria and died “about April 1944”. He is buried in Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Thailand 130 km north west of Bangkok aged 25.

At the beginning of time the clock struck one Then dropped the dew and the clock struck two From the dew grew a tree and the clock struck three The tree made a door and the clock struck four The man came alive and the clock struck five Count not, waste not the years on the clock Behold I stand at the door and knock. Captain Eric Lomax “The Railway Man” POW 1942-45

Leslie Smith

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Gladesville Methodist Soccer Club

“for God and Sport”

The research involved to obtain individual photos of those who served has been difficult, as many in Service Records are absent. However due to the Church’s collection of team photos from the pre-war years of the Gladesville Methodist Soccer Club, “The Blue and Whites”, many service members were able to be identified albeit in their youth. The Gladesville soccer club commenced in 1936 as a member of the New South Wales Protestant Churches Soccer Football Association. This Association began in the early 1920s and it grew to be the largest soccer association in the Southern Hemisphere during the 70s and 80s, having at one time as many all age teams as the rest of NSW combined. During World War 2 there was only one team, the Under 12’s,

managed and trained by Doris Masters. After the war, the club grew larger with returned veterans Harold Stewart and Ron Boyes playing a great role in teaching and training club teams. Under their guidance the soccer club became very successful in all groups. At one stage, 25 teams represented Gladesville Methodist (later Uniting Church) Soccer Club in the competition. Records for the pre-war era are patchy however Gladesville either won or were runners up in a number of competitions. It would appear the club’s most successful periods were in the 1960’s and 70’ where teams from all age groups from Under 8’s to Open won or were runners up in over 30 competitions. I can imagine there were many intense local derbies matches during this period against very competitive teams from All Saints Hunters Hill, Christ Church Gladesville and Gladesville Presbyterian. One of the team members during this period was Adam Spencer, then a local resident and now Australian comedian, media personality and former radio presenter. The Gladesville soccer club was responsible for successfully lobbying the Methodist Conference resulting in the rule being changed by Conference to allow dancing at social functions held on church property by church organisations. The Club also presented a set of Australian and British flags which were mounted on the wall in the Gladesville Church above a Second World War Memorial Plaque. In 2016 the Association’s name changed to Churches Football Association Sydney Inc. The Gladesville soccer team would have played matches against many famous Australians such as Socceroo’s Johnny Warren and Tim Cahill, cricketers Richie Benaud, Brian Booth, Bobby Simpson, Len Pascoe & Jeff Thomson and even former Prime Minister John Howard. CFA Sydney continues to provide competitions for children aged from five years to adults.

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RAF and RAAF Squadrons served in by members

11 Squadron RAAF Sergeant Ronald BLACK

12 Squadron RAAF Flight Sergeant Jack

HERPS

207 Squadron RAF Warrant Officer William

JUDD

458 Squadron RAAF 101 Squadron RAF 214 Squadron RAF Flight Sergeant Douglas

HOUGHTON Flying Officer Carlyle

RICKETTS DFC

RAN Ships served in by members

HMAS Canberra HMAS Sydney II HMAS Australia

Able Seaman Leslie COLLYER

Able Seaman Bernard DIEWS

Able Seaman Sidney HICKS

HMAS Manoora

Wireman Harold SCOTT

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Photo of original grave of Douglas Houghton in Berlin, sent to his parents (the military acknowledge & apologised for the incorrect date).

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Epitaph for a Soldier Build me no monuments should my time come; please do not weep for me and waste your tears. Write not my name on honour rolls of fame to crumble with man's memory through the years. Wear no dark clothes, speak in no saddened voice seeking rare virtues which did not exist. Just let me lie under the cool sweet earth and sleep in peace where I will not be missed. I ask one thing - that in still far off days someone who knew me should, in their daily rounds, suddenly pause - caught by some sight or sound, some glance, some phrase, some trick of memory's rays which brings me to his mind. Then I shall wait - eager with hope, perhaps, to hear how great if he were with us still. Then, at the end, all that I wish for is just - he was my friend. Captain David Ramsay McNicoll (1914-2000) 7th Division Cavalry 2nd AIF & noted Australian Journalist

Will ye no come back again? Will ye no come back again?

Better loed ye canna be; Will ye no come back again?