Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

His first training involved marching from the showgrounds to Woodside with full kit on (just to wear the boots in). When preparing to travel by ship to the warzone, the trial evacuation involved jumping off a ship into the ocean with full pack on (he realised then he could swim). His regiment was the 2/27th and he was in company C, 3rd Platoon. His Platoon went to New Guinea and defended Port Moresby. Finally they surrounded the Japanese at a place called Shaggy Ridge. Then he was relieved of his duties and sent back to Port Moresby. He went home on much deserved leave and then was sent back to a place outside of Brisbane called Strathpine. Then up to the Atherton Tablelands for further training. He then embarked for Morotai for the landing at Borneo. The 7th Division finally took the area which had huge oil fields which the Japanese were using. There was sporadic fighting for a while but gradually things calmed down. Then out of the blue it was announced the Japanese had surrendered after the atomic bomb was dropped at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. They were then sent to Makassar in the Celebes to accept the Japanese surrender. They were supposed to be home for Xmas 1945, instead did not come home until early 1946. When arriving home Claude found out his discharge papers would not be looked at for 3 weeks so he accompanied a troop train loaded with war weapons to Alice Springs. When he returned he was discharged.