Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Dad was born 20th April 1920 in Normanton the youngest of three boys. Unfortunately his Mum died from childbirth when Dad was 10 days old. His Dad and his Mother in Law (who had lost her husband) moved to Eumundi.
Dad went to BBC college in Brisbane where he completed year 12. His Dad was Manager of Bank of New South Wales and so Dad too joined the bank and found himself transferred to Proserpine where he met and married my Mum Jean Carpenter. From Proserpine he enlisted in the Army with fellow Proserpine men and after training sent to New Guinea.
Dad had a number of fingers missing from trying to disarm a bobby trap whilst serving in New Guinea. Upon discharge he was offered a TPI pension (I think it was called) but he declined as he told them he could still hold a pencil. He always skited he never had to cut his fingernails.
The Bank in those days transferred every two years so every two years Mum came home to Proserpine and had one of us kids before moving on to new town. There were four children 2 boys and 2 girls of which I am the youngest. Unfortunately our eldest brother Peter passed away at age 15 years from Encephalitis and is buried in the Proserpine Cemetery. We were in Ingham when this happened.
Dad loved sport and played tennis Rugby League for Proserpine. Later in life he played bowls.
In 1971 at the age of 51 he passed away from pancreatic cancer.
Each year I help put the Australian flags up in the cemetery before ANZAC day. I also try to get the section Dad is in, to honour him and the local boys he served with.