Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Dad was working in the family business with my Grandpa Kennith and brothers Bruce and Gordon (ACME Saws and Machines) when he was conscripted at 20 years of age. Apparently Grandma was mad at dad because he became conscripted!

Mum and dad we also attemting to get married and had a couple of false starts due to compulsory army training. I remember dad telling me he'd never felt so fit, bouncing on the balls of your feet with energy.

Eventually mum and dad were married on St. Patricks day in 1966. Dad shipped out from Perth to Singapore destined for Borneo. Mum was left home with a surprise for dad, who returned in time for me to be born in December 1966.

We were living with my grandparents at Clovelly Park before moving into a new house at Pasadena in 1969 with another addition to the family, followed by my youngest brother in 1973. Dad  was back in the family business at Mile End that moved to Anzac Highway until the mid 1980's.

Now retired, mum and dad still live in the same house to this day (as at August 2023).

Dad enjoys his golf and his annual army reunions, proudly displaying his units colours stuck to the rear window of his car.

I remember seeing many slides from dad's time in Borneo, pictures I still recall vividly in my mind today. Based in an old WW2 camp in the jungle with rivers levels rapidly rising then falling just as quickly, large snakes and an orangutan that lived in the camp with them.

Only once has dad returned to Borneo since 1966, for the anniversay reunion in Sabah. He could not believe how much of the jungle has disappeard.

Darren Allyn Evans