Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

“When Australia became involved in the war, a friend, Alan Nosworthy, and I  wanted to join the Air Force,  the only service that was currently calling for volunteers, so we applied.   When I went home and told my parents about my intentions,  that's when the storm broke.   Mother reminded me, that I was not 21 and they could  stop me from proceeding, by withholding their consent. This infuriated me and I became very defiant and stubborn. I threatened to run away and join up in another state by putting my age up. After much discussion and argument, my parents realised that further objections were useless, so they reluctantly agreed to give their consent. After the decision was made, it was amazing how my mother couldn't wait to tell her friends that her son had joined up!

Next day, as planned, Alan and I went to the Recruiting Office in St, Pauls Terrace and completed the necessary application forms and were sent for our medical examinations.

To cut a long story short, Alan was rejected as medically unfit, while I passed with flying colours. I therefore found myself alone, as a member of the R.A.A.P. and totally unsure of what I had let myself in for.   Later, when old enough, brother Arthur joined the army.

Although I applied and had been accepted in early September 1939,

It was not until the middle of January 1940 that I received a letter from the authorities advising me that I was to report to Melbourne for the signing on ceremony.  Although later, people were received into the Air Force in all states, but at this point of time the only induction centres for the R.A.A.F were at Laverton in Victoria and Richmond in New South Wales.  After travelling to the R.A.A.F. Laverton as a civilian, I was sworn in on arrival and commenced my basic training, which took a period of six weeks.

The completion of basic training coincided with the imminent departure for Singapore of No I Squadron (Lockheed Hudson bombers). One additional member was required in a hurry as a result of one of the members failing to pass an additional stiff medical test. so they called for volunteers.  As twelve people volunteered (including myself), they decided that the fairest way to decide was by holding a lottery, so all our names went into a hat, with one being drawn out, which was of course, yours truly.   I was immediately given pre-embarkation leave as the squadron was leaving in a week's time, so in the afternoon of a day that started as any other day, I found myself on a train heading for Sydney, where I transhipped for Brisbane, after ringing home to inform the family that I would be home the following day. My parents were overjoyed to see me and immediately arranged a party to bid me "Bon Voyage" Mum must have contacted everybody that ever knew me as it was an immense affair.”