STOCK, Donald Bruce
| Service Number: | VX93691 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 October 1943, Royal Park, Vic. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 29/46 (amalgamated) Infantry Battalion AMF |
| Born: | Elsternwick, Victoria, Australia, 8 July 1925 |
| Home Town: | Oakleigh, Monash, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Dairy Farmer |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 20 Oct 1943: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX93691, 29/46 (amalgamated) Infantry Battalion AMF, Royal Park, Vic. | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jul 1947: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX93691 |
Help us honour Donald Bruce Stock's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed
Son of William Donald STOCK, 28 Davey Avenue, Oakleight, Victoria.
Before his war service, Donald worked on a dairy farm in Toora, Victoria. In October 1943, aged 18, he enlisted in the Australian Army. Donald did his initial training with the 33rd Infantry Training Battalion in Warwick, Queensland. He then went through jungle warfare training at Canungra, Queensland, before being posted to the 29th/46th Australian Infantry Battalion. In January 1945, Donald and his unit were sent to the island of New Britain.
In New Britain, Donald and his unit patrolled the jungle and kept the remaining Japanese forces on the island contained. After the war, Donald was assigned as an escort aboard a ship returning German and Italian former prisoners of war to Europe.
Donald was discharged in July 1947. He said he enjoyed the travel and mateship. He recommends that younger serving members ‘work hard and enjoy life in this amazing country of ours’.
After the war, Donald was employed in the construction of timber work on the inside of rail carriages. He married Valerie in 1953 and the couple raised 4 children together. They now have 8 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Sadly, Valerie died in 2016.
When Donald was younger, he enjoyed fishing, making timber boxes and stained-glass windows, landscape painting and travelling.
Donald credits his longevity to ‘working hard and a lot of luck’.
Click images to start slideshow.