GROENING, Harold William
| Service Number: | VX60708 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 31 July 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia , 27 November 1921 |
| Home Town: | Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Telecommunications Technician |
| Died: | Electrocution, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 14 August 1985, aged 63 years |
| Cemetery: |
Mount Thompson Memorial Gardens & Crematorium, Queensland |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 31 Jul 1941: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX60708 | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Mar 1946: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX60708 |
Help us honour Harold William Groening's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Sonya McMillan
Albert John Frederick Groening enlisted in the army 31 July 1941 under the name Harold William Johnson VX60708 claiming his birth date as 26 Nov 1919. His real date of birth was 27 November 1921. Bert was worried about having a German name which is why he enlisted under a false name - he was really quite young and perhaps a little naive.
Bert was posted to the Armoured Unit Workshop and there are a few wonderful photo's showing Bert (the little blonde one) working on tanks. Bert told stories of his work on tanks in PNG during the war - some of his stories were about how damaged some of the tanks were and it was always fascinating to hear his stories.
Bert continued his love of all things engineering - mechanical and electrical - throughout his life after leaving the army.
He was a prolific writer and a great orator - telling many wonderful stories and writing numerous poems.
Sadly, he took his own life by electrocution in 1985.
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