Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Paul & Annie Moore lived at West Wooroolin with their 6 sons, John, Raymond, James, Stanley, Eric and Gordon. The book of History of Education in Wooroolin has some interesting and entertaining stories about the history of Schools in that area. Gordonbrook and West Wooroolin schools were both attended by the Moore Lads.
Mr Paul Moore was not only a farmer and founder of the Sunnyside A.I.S. stud but also a Councillor for the then Wondai Shire. It was at a meeting called by him at Wooroolin Memorial Hall that the Wooroolin Comforts Fund was formed in 1939 per the closing speech by my Grandmother. This story is about his 2 sons who served in the Air Force and Australian Army during WW11. Mr Paul Moore died on 19 Dec 1942 at Wondai whilst his sons were serving in armed forces.
Raymond Paul Moore, known as Ray, was born 15 Mar 1918 at Kingaroy. Even though he is older than James, he is second in this story only because of the alphabet! Ray attended both Gordonbrook and West Wooroolin Schools. He was a labourer after he left school per his army records.
On 16 Jan 1941 Ray joined the Australian Army and was assigned to 49 Battalion. Just 2 months later he was sent to Port Moresby where he was a classified signaller. At the end of 1941 he was promoted to Corporal and transferred to the Intelligence Section. In March 1942 he was promoted to Sergeant. His records show he was part of the NFG – New Guinea Force.
Yet another learning curve for me reading about the NFG: At the outbreak of hostilities, Australia did not have forces in place for the defence of New Guinea and the New Hebrides, due to the League of Nations mandate under which the former German territories were administered. Prior to the formation of New Guinea Force, in January 1942, the 30th Brigade was deployed to New Guinea arriving on the troopship RMS Aquitania, with the 39th and 53rd Infantry Battalions, and took command of the 49th Infantry Battalion.
Ray’s army records are available on the NAA website and show much info that I am unable to understand plus I do not know much about the Intelligence section… Ray got Malaria and was very sick during his time in New Guinea. He was discharged from the Army on 22 May 1943 and returned to Wooroolin where the electoral rolls show him as a Share-farmer.
His daughter, Jan de Jersey, wrote: My father served in the Army in New Guinea. He married Laura Isabelle Semgreen in 1944 and owned three farms in the Kingaroy area, all called “Bellerae”. The first Bellerae was in Haly Creek where Jannette, Isabelle and Pamela Adele (now Fleischfresser) were born. The family moved to Coolabunia West to the dairy farm which was later purchased by Vic Tessmann and his family. The final Bellerae only a short distance away in Coolabunia West where Laura Anne (Ryan) and Laurel Rae (Curley) were born was bought from his Brother-in-law Lyle Semgreen. In the early years Dad grew peanuts, maize, soya beans and navy beans and even some broad acre sweet peas and zinnias for Yates. In later years Mum and Dad developed a Charolais beef cattle stud. He was an active member of the Kingaroy Methodist Church, the Rotary Club, various school committees at Coolabunia and was instrumental in the formation of the Bean Board in Kingaroy. A wonderful man who valued and supported his family, his community and his God.
Ray died in 2002 and is buried at Taabinga Cemetery.
Lest We Forget