Virtual
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Australia

Long term resident of Cowell. Son of Otto Daniel. Husband of Roma. Long and valuable service rendered to the Cowell RSl Sub Branch

Gordon Laurence Schutz was born in Eudunda, South Australia on the 14th of February, 1924, the son of Otto Daniel Schutz. Gordon grew up in  Wunkar, South Australia.  He attended Wunkar Public School and passed the Qualifying Certificate studying multiple subjects including Maths, English and Geography. Gordon enjoyed playing football, tennis and swimming. With truck driving being his occupation he helped deliver goods to customers as his father ran a store in Wunkar. Gordon often went to Adelaide to get supplies for his father’s store. Gordon followed Christianity, attending  the Lutheran Church in Wunkar with his family.

Gordon Laurence Schutz enlisted as a single man on the 16th of July 1942 in Adelaide with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) aged 18 years and 3 months. On Gordon’s enlistment papers he stated  “Have driven a motor car for 3 years, have carried out my own running repairs and have taken parts from the engine and replaced them.” Gordon applied to the RAAF to become a flight mechanic. He was deemed suitable as an aircraft hand, comments from Flight Sergeant Burton described him as  ‘Rather small, slim build, fair hair, blue eyes. Country type not particular in personal appearances, answers questions fairly well’. 

Gordon Laurence Schutz presented to the No1 Recruit Depot at Shepparton, Victoria in July 1942. He then transferred to No 7 Flight training School in Deniliquin, New South Wales in August 1942 and attended various training schools. He transferred to Milne Bay, New Guinea in March 1943 which was at the end of the Milne Bay battle. Milne Bay is remembered as the first defeat of Japan on land in the Pacific War. Gordon then returned to Australia and proceeded on temporary duty by rail to the RAAF base at Strathpine Queensland in May 1943. He embarked at Brisbane in January 1944 then disembarked at Lae in New Guinea on 28/1/44. Gordon served at the Nadzab 4 Radio Installation and Maintenance Unit (RAAF) for nearly six months. After multiple moves Gordon spent time at Noemfoor, Morotai and Labuan.  After nearly two years in New Guinea, Leading Aircraftman Schutz then made his final move home to Adelaide 4 Personnel Depot, Australia on the 4th of November 1945. Gordon contracted malaria at some point while overseas but didn't have any side effects when he got home.

Gordon returned to Loxton, SA and drove trucks for his family business. In 1952 his parents moved to Cowell as did Gordon.  In Cowell the Schutz’s owned a dairy, were fishermen and builders. Gordon owned a hardware store in Cowell called the 'Schutz Brothers' with his 2 other brothers Errol and Vern. The three brothers helped build many things in Cowell including the Lutheran Church, aged cottages and their hardware store. Gordon married Roma and they had 5 children (Robert, Tony, Janet, Beverley and Timothy). He loved to go fishing with his family, play bowls and enjoyed doing a lot of community work. Gordon even helped put together all the tyres down at the local boat ramp. He was a big part of the Cowell RSL having long service there including time as treasurer, vice president and committee member.  Gordon was also the president of the Franklin Harbour Chamber of Commerce.

Gordon passed away on the 16th September 2014, and was buried in the Cowell Cemetery that year. Beverley’s (daughter of Gordon) favourite memory of him was when all the grandchildren and kids went on a houseboat for Gordon's 80th from Blanchetown. “He was full of life, telling lots of stories and jokes and just always having a laugh. He enjoyed swimming in the river as well at the time”.

Written by Xavier, a great grandson of Gordon.

References:

NAA
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=4574532

World War 2 Biographies. Stocker, B. Cowell RSL

Australian War Memorial Website

Family members