Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

LEO GEORGE BANGE


Born on the 23rd February 1919 in Clifton on the Darling Downs, Leo George Bange was the first born son of John and Bertha Bange. He was raised in the country at Back Plains on the family farm and worked hard on the property alongside his younger brothers and sisters, Leo attended the Back Plains State School in Queensland and displayed exceptional scholastic ability and a thirst for knowledge which he carried with him all his life. He became quite a good cricketer and played for the Back Plains team for a number of years before the war and after.

As a young adult, he volunteered to serve in the Royal Australian Air Force during the WW2 in Europe. During his training in Canada, he met and married Allois Charmaine Thomas in Winnipeg in 1943.
He survived the missions that were flown in B25 Mitchel bombers considering the unbelievable risks and dangers that were faced every time they flew out. The Tactical Air force were the ‘SWAT’ teams when called in by the advancing Allied armies. After ‘V’ day in Europe he left England via Canada to take his wife home to Australia1945. Leo was very proud of his service with 180 Squadron 2nd Tactical Air Force. He didn't really talk about it though, and it is only through continued communication and research from his bomber association and relations of his old crew that we have been able to "debrief" his activities during that period. The mention of "D" Day and the belief that there were no Australians directly involved always invoked the abrupt statement from him" ...I would like to know what the hell we were doing there then! Sadly, his own logbook and decorations relating to his service aren't to be found. Leo was president of the Clifton RSL for many years and was awarded a life member of the RSL.

After military service he returned to Clifton where he worked for a period as an assistant grocer and more significantly as a fuel distributor for the Shell oil company until the early 1950's.
He then moved to the family property and recommenced farming until the 1970's. Leo was passionate about two sports namely indoor and outdoor bowls, both to which he proved to be extremely successful.
He experienced the difficulty and pain of farming and like so many others reluctantly sold the property.
Leo worked around Clifton in rural endeavors before being coaxed to move to Ipswich. Here he gained work at the Morris Woolen Mills at Redbank where he remained until they closed . He kept working until he was Eighty although it was "part time" as a "lolly pop"man, but someone forgot to tell him that part time meant exactly that !. he worked at the same crossing for many years and built up quite a rapport with the community.
Finally, he gave up working and concentrated on gardening. Indeed, it was the vegetable growing address of Raceview.
As age began to take its toll and after a period of uncertainty about his future, he found great comfort with the caring folk at Trinder Park Rest home.

Leo was alert and bright even to the last. As an example, on the second last night while having dinner and when family arrived the first thing he asked, was he correct in thinking that he had won a small prize in his weekly Gold Lotto. Yes, he had! He certainly had his priorities right.
Leo George Bange passed away peacefully and suddenly on the afternoon of 1st July 2008 and is buried at the country cemetery at Back Plains