Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From stories told by my father:

Although born in Rockhampton, Reg was still a toddler when his parents moved south to the Gladstone district where his sisters, Bonnie and Enid were born in 1926 and 1929.

Reg received a basic primary school education in the early 1930's, enough to read and write. In January 1938, his mother bought him bought him a bicycle for his birthday which he saw as an opportunity to leave home.

Early one morning, 13yo Reg set out south on his bike. He had travelled over 270 klms in over a week to reach Maryborough before he had had enough of the rough roads and flat tyres. He sold his bike and used the money to buy a train ticket to Brisbane.

Unforunately for Reg, his mother had reported him as a "runaway". The Police found him sitting on the train before it left Maryborough and took him back to man who had bought his bike. Before long, Reg, and his bike, where on a north-bound train to Gladstone.

By December 1941, Australia was at war with Japan and Reg's Family had moved south again to Bundaberg. His 19yo brother, Vin, a meatworker, had enlisted in the AIF. Reg, only just turned 17, wanted to enlist too, claiming, "Why should Vin have all the fun?", but he was too young and his parents would not give their permission.

9 March 1943, 18yo Reg enlisted in the AIF, giving his date of birth as 12 January 1924, a date that stayed on his records right up to his death in 2008.

Unfortunately for Reg, being in AIF wasn't much fun as he thought, as he noted, "Japanese blokes kept shooting at me". When a senior officer in his unit wanted a "Batman" (personal servant), Reg jumped at the opportunity, again noting that, "The Japs weren't shooting at this AIF officer!". Sadly for Reg, the officer was transferred back to Australia, and Reg was "back on the line".