Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Donald Jasper Reddaway was born at Orroroo 21 February 1922, eldest son of William George and Amy Ethel (nee Jasper) Reddaway. William and Amy farmed Section 136, Hundred of Willowie.

Don enlisted 9 March 1942, aged 20 and reported to the 4 Military District Recruit Reception Depot before being detached to the SA Line of Communication (L of C) Area Motor Vehicles Trades Training Centre (MVTTC), where he underwent training as part of Number 12 Primary Course. He qualified as Driver – Motor Transport on 30 May 1942. He was then attached to the SA L of C Area Bulk Issue Petrol and Oil Depot (B.I.P.O.D) from the SA L of C Area Army Trades Training Centre (ATTD) on the 20th August of that year. Further training saw him qualify as Mechanic Motor Vehicle Group 2 Class 3, 2 December 1942. Don entrained to Vic L of C Area AASC Training Depot at Watsonia (Victoria) thirteen days later where he was based for almost six months, before moving to the 3 Motor Training Transport Depot at Bonegilla 8 May 1943.

In October 1943 he moved to Townsville in preparation for posting overseas, and on 11 November 1943 he boarded the ship HMAT ‘Katoomba’ for New Guinea, disembarking in Port Moresby four days later. He was assigned to the 2/34 Australian Supply Depot Platoon, which at that time was stationed at Wau, and spent the next seven months in New Guinea before boarding the ship SS ‘Taroona’ at Lae on 12 June 1944, disembarking at Townsville on 17 June 1944. On the platoon’s return to Australia, it became part of the 2/2 Supply Depot Company.

Further training in Australia ensued, including the 7th Australian Division “Waterproofing of Vehicles School Course 3” . He left Australia again 25 May 1945, aboard the American ship ‘LST 753’, disembarking at Morotai on 12 June but this was to be a brief stopover. The Borneo campaigns, collectively known as ‘Operation Oboe’ were about to begin. Seven days later, on the 19th June, he boarded ‘LST 168’ in preparation for the landing at Balikpapan which commenced on 1 July 1945. These operations ultimately constituted the last campaigns of Australian forces in the war against Japan.

26 September 1945 Don was again on the move, boarding the frigate HMAS ‘Gascoyne’ for service with Makassar Force, in Indonesia. This ship took part in the surrender of Japanese forces in Borneo, being used to transport the Commanding General of the Japanese 2nd Army. After the Japanese surrender Makassar Force was formed from 21 Infantry Brigade Group to take the surrender at Makassar and the South West Peninsula of the Celebes and they are sometimes referred to as Makforce.

25 November 1945 he boarded the SS ‘Poyang’ at Makassar to return home, arriving in Australia 1 December 1945. Don was discharged from the army 18 December 1945 having served a total of forty two months on active service.

Don returned to Willowie and worked on the farm for a period. 28 March 1947 Donald became engaged to Dulcie Florence Ind. They married 2 February 1949 at the Methodist Church, Peterborough. Donald and Dulcie purchased a general store, the ‘Post Office Store’ in Peterborough in December 1949, which they operated for many years. As Dulcie’s health was suffering they sold the shop in 1976. She passed away in 1977.

By then Don was working at the Peterborough Abattoirs. He retired from the meatworks in 1987 as his health was deteriorating. He spent his final years living with his son and daughter in law at Brentwood, south of Minlaton, Yorke Peninsula.

Whenever he was asked about the war he always said he didn’t do much – he ‘just drove’. Don died on 28 September 1989, aged 67 years at Minlaton Hospital and is buried at Peterborough Cemetery, Protestant Section 6A, Grave 2124.

Excerpt taken from "Diggers From the Dust" (2018) Di Barrie & Andrew Barrie.