Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Dudley Klee was born 20 Dec 1923 at Kingaroy the 2nd child of Henry & Daisy Klee. Henry Klee had settled in Wooroolin about 1910 and married Daisy Keid in 1917. His sister Emmie Klee married Andrew Jessen the following year.
Dudley & his sister Trixie both attended Wooroolin School with their cousin Gordon Jessen. Dudley attended the 100th celebrations of Wooroolin School and there are comments from him in the book on the History of Education in Wooroolin. He attended from 1930 to 1937 and probably rode a horse to school.
Dudley, aged 19 years, joined the Australian Army on 09 Jun 1943. His records are not yet available on the NAA website but the WW11 nominal rolls show that when he was discharged on 04 Jun 1946 he was a Private in the 57/60 AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BATTALION.
An extract from the AWN website states: Meanwhile, the 15th Brigade was in the process of moving to Caboolture, north of Brisbane. In December the 58th/59th moved to Cooroy, where it carried out further training. In 1943 the 3rd Division moved to New Guinea, with the 57th/60th arriving in the Goon Valley, behind Port Moresby, in March. The division's ultimate destination was the Lae-Salamaua front. However, the 57th/60th was to miss out on that battle. Instead, it was sent to protect the American airbase at Tsili Tsili. The Australians captured Salamaua on 11 September and Lae fell on 16 September.
After Salamaua, there was a brief respite and the 15th Brigade moved to Port Moresby and then the Donadabu Highlands, behind the city. In early 1944 the 15th Brigade returned to the front, this time to Dumpu in the Ramu Valley, where it was under the command of the 7th Division. The brigade supported the clearing of the Ramu Valley and the advance on Madang. A patrol from the 57th/60th captured Madang on 24 April.
Read more about the briagade on this link. https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U56138
Dudley Klee married Thelma Hazel Knowles on 20 Dec 1946 when he was 23 years old. They lived at Morayfield where they ran a Poultry Farm. In 1975 Dudley took an Ariel view photo of their property at the junction of Petersen Road and J. Dobson Road Morayfield. The Klees had the farm between 1947 and 1989. The photo is in the collection at the Caboolture Library.
Dudley, late of Caboolture South, formerly of Morayfield, passed away peacefully 23rd August 2015, Aged 91 Years. His online obituary stated: Beloved Husband for 68 Years of Thelma, loving Father and Father in Law of Carol and Hans, Gary and Deanna, and Gail (Dec'd). Adored Pop and Great Pop of their families. A Funeral Service for Dudley was held Tuesday 25th August 2015.
Lest We Forget