Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Gordon grew up in Col. Light Gardens S.A. the son of Bertha and Charles Kranz.He was baptised and confirmed in the Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Adelaide. Among his friends in Col. light Gdns were neighbours Gil and Noel Langley. Gordon was one of 4 brothers, two older half brothers and one younger brother. The younger brother also enlisted. Gordon presented himself for voluntary enlistment on 27th Feb 1940 and at the time he had a girlfriend named Ina KOCH. Gordon was 21 and Ina just 17 years. His army number the Warradale Army Camp was S29328. Gordon and His sweet heart Ina were engaged on 4th April 1941 her 20th birthday.
Gordon's pride and joy before he enlisted was his motor bike. It was requisitioned by the Army and painted kahki green!
Gordon was involved in a train smash in Nov 1941 while transporting vehicles to Melbourne, he sustained a severe cut to his cheek just below his right eye, resulting in a large scar. Shortly after in the same year Gordon was called up for full time war service, a fact that filled Ina with dread.
The two love birds were married in Sept 1942, followed by a honey moon at Victor Harbor. Gordon left for Alice Springs shortly before Christmas 1942 and on 21 April 1943 Gordon transferred to the 121st Aust General Transport Co. In May 1944 one of his trips back Alice Springs by train he was involved in an accident at Putapa Gap, near Copley in the North of S.A. A good account of this can be read in Convoys up the Track written by Allen Smith. Sadly four men were killed and 27 were injured. Gordon is mentioned in the account. A very Lucky escape. Ina thought her husband had been killed, a very traumatic couple of days for her. Gordon enjoyed most of his time in the outback, he had great respect for the indigineous people of the area and he revelled in the mateship and larrikinism of his comrades. It was however a very lonely time back home for wife Ina. Gordon wanted to volunteer for service in New Guinea as a coast watcher. Ina had other ideas, thankfully, as most of the coast watchers perished. Most of the soldiers who served in the Northern Territory didn't qualify for any government pension even though they had been away from their jobs, their homes and families for years. This fact upset Gordon greatly.
Gordon was demobilised in Oct 1945 and went home to his wife and to his parents home where he and Ina lived until their war service home was completed in 1949.

My parents were battlers born of pioneers of this land, but battle on they did raising two daughters. Dad was a kind man, he loved camping, fishing, shooting (rabbits) and was particularly happy and proud when his first grandchild, a boy, arrived. My father Gordon is buried in the general section of the Centennial Park cemetery he was only 58 when he died. The Last Post was played at the Graveside, he would have been proud, I was proud.
Ina loved her man in his uniform and slouch hat, She reckoned he was the most handsome soldier in the whole Army. Ina was reunited with her soldier on Christmas morning 2013.