Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John Edwards Matthew Delaney was my Grand Uncle. He was one of 16 Children born into a family of original Irish bark hut settlers in Gayndah QLD.

He was a much loved member of my Grandmothers large family who was often spoken off for decades after his death. He was a keen boxer and a bit of a scally wag. He enlisted June 1940 and spent the next 4 years in the 2/33 Battalion as a truck driver and mechanic.

He saw service in Africa and the middle east, prior to returning to Australia in 1942, where the 2/33 were given leave, prior to mobilising to Port Moresby at the height of the Kokoda Campaign. Just as the 21st Brigade were in sight of Port Moresby on a fighting retreat under the expert leadership of Brigadier Arnold Potts MC. The 2/33 Battalion arrived to reinforce the retreat and commence pushing back the over extended Japanese forces that Potts had allowed to over extent themselves. With the 2/33 forcing the Japanese all the way back to the North Coast of PNG.

John Delaney served for four years in WW2 eventually being medically discharged to Australia after badly burning his hand. After surviving so long over seas he was tragically killed within months of returning home to Australia after crashing a truck he was driving. Gone but not forgotten, Lest We Forget.