Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Ian was born in Brisbane, QLD, in 1925.  Son of Byrne HART, 30 Sutherland Avenue, Ascot, Brisbane, Queensland.

Ian was a student when he enlisted in the Australian Army in February 1944. After his recruit training at Cowra NSW, Ian was sent to the 1st Royal Australian Engineers Training Centre at Kapooka, near Wagga Wagga in NSW, for specialist training. In June, he was posted to the 1st Australian Water Transport Group (Small Craft) for service in water transport units. The Army’s water transport unit were part of the Royal Australian Engineers and played an important role in the Second World War, as water transport was essential for moving troops and supplies around the islands in the Pacific.

In May 1945, Ian embarked for overseas service, travelling via Bougainville to Borneo. In September, he arrived at Labuan and was posted to 11 Australian Small Ships Company. One of the small ships he served on was shipwrecked and the crew were picked up by a US cargo ship. Ian returned to Australia in January 1946 and was discharged from the Army in June. Ian says he valued the life skills and knowledge he gained while serving as well as the mateship.

Ian then worked in accounting and later ran a cattle property and started deer farming in Australia. He was also the first to use artificial insemination in commercial beef cattle. Ian married Winifred, who had been a signalman in Australian Army from September 1942 until October 1945. The couple went on to have 4 children and now have 10 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

In his spare time Ian enjoyed fishing, horses, computers and making coffee.