Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Charles Robert Ireland (Figure 1) was born on the 1st of June 1921, he grew up in a small town of Parilla Southern Mallee, South Australia. Charles’s grew up with his family consisting of his father, Leonard Francis Ireland, mother Edith Ethel Kerley, and his siblings Lionel, Violet, and Doris. Charles’s sister Violet was born in 1917 and lived until 2014 in Hahndorf, she was aged 97. Another one of Charles’s siblings Doris tragically died at a very young age of 14 (cause of death undocumented). This would have had a lasting impact on the family. Before Charles enlisted to World War 2, he worked on a farm at his hometown Parilla alongside his father Leonard. Finally, Charles would make the difficult decision enlist into the war. Charles had no previous relationships or partners, and his decision to enlist meant leaving behind everything he knew and loved. His actions, along with countless others, helped give the freedom and safety of Australia.

October 14th, 1941, Charles Robert Ireland enlisted into the war and was selected to be a part of the 18th Garrison Infantry Battalion. The 18th Garrison Battalion was listed on his attestation document, but he was later transported to the 61st Infantry Battalion. The 61st Infantry Battalion was first created in 1917 in the event of World War 1, the battalion was disbanded the same year. After many years, the battalion was rebuilt as part of the Militia due to tensions rising in Europe. During the year 1940, the 61st Battalion was called upon for World War 2 and united into the 7th Brigade. This Brigade included the 9th/49th, 7th and 61st Battalions. The 7th Brigade received training in Chermside before the 61st Battalion moved to the No 3. Strip at Milne Bay (Turnbull Field) to defend the area from expected Japanese invasion. On August 27, 1942, Japanese troops landed and attacked Milne Bay and the 61st Battalion was reported to be the first in the action but was unable to hold the Japanese back. The Japanese managed to get to the airfield but by dawn the next day, the 61st Battalion was backed up by the 25th Battalion. Japan made a push but was losing severely, the Japanese withdrew from the attack.

After the battle of Milne Bay, the 61st Battalion remained at Milne Bay for some t, moving to Bougainville in 1945. At Bougainville, troops were active in the southern sections and advanced between islands. Documents say, “During this time there were morale problems within the battalion”. On the 6th of March 1945 Charles Robert Ireland was reported as deceased, he was killed in action. At the time he died, he was at Bougainville on active duty, Charles was only 23 years old. The Adelaide Chronicles state “his duty nobly done”. The 61st Infantry disbanded not long after, just 11 months after Charles’s tragic death. The conclusion of the Milne Bay attack resulted in 373 Australian casualties. Charles’s body was buried in Port Moresby located in Papa New Guinea; this determines a soldier must have recovered his body.