Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Pat Brinkley enlisted in the 2nd AIF on 7 November 1939, aged 23.  He was sent to England for further training in 1940 and saw action in Palestine and Lebanon in 1941. In March 1942 his batallion was called back to Australia in order to join the Australian troops fighting the Japanese in Papua-New Guinea.  He arrived in New Guinea on the 9th of September and was killed two months later (10/11 November) during the climactic battle of Oivi-Gorari, the last major battle of the Kokoda Track Campaign before the battle of Buna-Gona and, according to historian Paul Ham, the first decisive strategic land victory over the Japanese in the Pacific War. He was then 26.

Captain Brinkley was the second son, third child of John Rowland Lloyd Brinkley and Dorothy Page (died 1918) of Katanning, later Perth, Western Australia; brother of Flight Lieutenant John Lloyd Brinkley (who served with the RAAF and RAF 1940-45) and Mrs Helen Yvonne Argyle, also of Perth.

The following is from a letter written to his father and sister shortly after his death:

"Just a short note [from New Guinea] to offer my deepest sympathy at your very great loss.  Pat joined us from the 25th Brigade H.Q., and as nearly always the case in a transfer the going was pretty tough.  Soldiers generally have a great dislike for staff people - and on top of that a few officers were a little upset - seniority reasons.  Pat not only overcame all these obstacles but became a very popular and efficient leader of men.  This speaks volumes for his guts and perserverance and I had the greatest admiration for him.  He eventually received command of a company and his leadership and personal courage was an inspiration to his men.  The day he was hit he had taken his men out, to allow his platoon commanders to rest - and he was doing a truly magnificent job.  He died like the soldier and gentleman he was, and believe me Mr Brinkley it was a very grievous loss to the Battalion..."  Gordon Bennett

A similar letter was received from Major Thomas Cotton, 2/33 Bn AIF, who risked his own life to haul Pat back from the open ground where he lay wounded.  Cotton survived the war.